Understanding Kidney Disease and High Blood Pressure: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a leading cause of kidney disease and kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). On the other hand, kidney disease can also cause a type of high blood pressure called renal hypertension. It's essential to understand the connection between these two conditions and how to manage them effectively.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease often develops without noticeable symptoms, making it difficult to detect in its early stages. However, some signs may indicate the presence of kidney disease, including:

• High or worsening blood pressure

• Decrease in the amount of urine or difficulty urinating

• Edema (fluid retention), especially in the lower legs

• A need to urinate more often, especially at night

Diagnosing Kidney Disease

To diagnose kidney disease, your doctor may perform certain laboratory tests that indicate whether your kidneys are eliminating waste products properly. These tests include serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen; elevated levels of either can indicate kidney damage. Proteinuria, an excess of protein in the urine, is also a sign of kidney disease.

Risk Factors for Kidney Disease Caused by High Blood Pressure

While kidney disease caused by high blood pressure affects every group and race, certain groups are at higher risk, including:

• African-Americans

• Hispanic-Americans

• Native Americans

• Natives of Alaska

• People with diabetes

• People with a family history of high blood pressure and kidney disease

Preventing Kidney Disease

To prevent kidney damage from high blood pressure, it's crucial to take the following steps:

1. Keep your blood pressure controlled and get it checked regularly

2. Eat a proper diet

3. Get moderate exercise, such as walking, for 30 minutes daily

4. Take the medication your doctor prescribes

Treating Kidney Disease and Renal Hypertension

For patients with high blood pressure and kidney disease, the most important treatment is to control their blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medication. The most important blood pressure medications to treat renal hypertension include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).

Renal hypertension, a type of high blood pressure caused by kidney disease, is usually caused by a narrowing in the arteries that deliver blood to the kidney. This condition is called renal artery stenosis and is most often caused by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). In some cases, procedures such as angioplasty, stenting, or surgery on the blood vessels of the kidney may help improve blood flow and control blood pressure.

It's essential to work closely with your healthcare provider to develop an individualized treatment plan that effectively manages your kidney disease and high blood pressure. By understanding the connection between these conditions and taking proactive steps to prevent and treat them, you can help protect your kidney health and overall well-being.

For more information on kidney disease and high blood pressure, visit:

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• National Kidney Foundation

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention