Is CKD the same as acute kidney injury (AKI)?

No. AKI is a sudden decrease in kidney function that can often recover; CKD is long-term, usually permanent damage.

Can my eGFR improve once I have CKD?

It can rise a little with better blood pressure or glucose control, but large sustained jumps are rare—focus on slowing further loss.

What is a safe blood pressure target if I have diabetes and stage 3 CKD?

Most guidelines aim for under 130/80 mmHg, but your doctor may individualize this based on age and side-effects.

Do herbal supplements help kidneys?

Many “kidney cleanse” herbs are untested and some, like aristolochic acid, can worsen kidney damage. Always ask a clinician first.

How much water should I drink daily with CKD?

Unless your doctor limits fluids, 1.5–2 L a day is typical; severe CKD with swelling may require less.

Should I avoid all NSAID pain relievers?

Regular or high-dose NSAIDs can speed CKD progression. Occasional low doses may be acceptable but only with clinician approval.

Can I exercise on dialysis days?

Light cycling or walking during dialysis is safe for many people and can improve energy, but clear it with your dialysis team.

Is transplant always better than long-term dialysis?

Transplant offers longer survival and better quality of life for most eligible patients, but not everyone qualifies.

How often should children with a family history of kidney disease be screened?

Pediatricians often start yearly urine and blood pressure checks from age 5, earlier if symptoms appear.

What does it really mean when a doctor says you have chronic kidney disease?

What exactly is chronic kidney disease?

CKD is permanent damage to the kidneys’ tiny filters (nephrons). Over months to years, fewer nephrons can remove urea, potassium and excess fluid, so waste builds up in the blood.

A persistently low eGFR defines CKDYour eGFR is calculated from serum creatinine, age, sex and ethnicity; values under 60 for more than 90 days confirm stage 3 CKD or worse.
Protein in urine shows filter leakageAn albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) above 30 mg/g is abnormal even if eGFR is still normal.
CKD progresses in 5 stagesStage 1 keeps eGFR above 90; stage 5 (end-stage kidney disease) is below 15 and often requires dialysis or transplant.
Most people feel no symptoms early onUp to 90 % of U.S. adults with stage 3 CKD are unaware they have it.
Quote from the team at Eureka Health“Calling it ‘chronic’ means the kidney injury has been present long enough that the tissue cannot bounce back on its own,” explains the team at Eureka Health.
CKD affects 37 million AmericansAn estimated 37 million U.S. adults—around 1 in 7—are living with chronic kidney disease, according to federal health data. (NIDDK)

Which symptoms or lab numbers mean CKD is getting dangerous?

CKD often stays silent until the kidneys lose 70 % of function. Certain body changes and blood values signal urgent trouble.

Swelling in ankles or around eyes signals fluid overloadRising sodium and water retention can trigger sudden weight gain of more than 2 lb in 24 hours.
A potassium over 5.5 mmol/L is an emergencyHigh potassium can stop the heart; call 911 if paired with muscle weakness or chest pain.
Shortness of breath can mean fluid in the lungsPulmonary edema may appear when eGFR drops below 20 and urine output falls.
Hemoglobin under 10 g/dL indicates severe kidney-related anemiaThe kidneys make the hormone erythropoietin; low levels decrease red blood cell production.
Quote from Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI“When a patient’s creatinine suddenly jumps by 0.5 mg/dL within a week, we treat it as a red flag that the chronic disease may have an acute hit on top,” notes Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI.
Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio over 30 mg/g flags early kidney injuryCDC recommends follow-up when UACR is 30 mg/g or higher, because this protein leak often precedes a fall in eGFR. (CDC)
eGFR below 15 mL/min/1.73 m² marks outright kidney failureThe ANNA fact sheet places Stage 5 at GFR less than 15, a level where dialysis or transplant discussions should start immediately. (ANNA)

Why does chronic kidney disease happen and who is at highest risk?

CKD almost always starts with another long-standing condition that injures blood vessels in the kidneys.

Diabetes causes 40 % of new CKD casesHigh glucose stiffens glomerular capillaries, leading to diabetic nephropathy.
High blood pressure is the second leading culpritEach 10 mmHg rise in systolic pressure accelerates eGFR decline by roughly 1 mL/min/year.
Autoimmune diseases scar the filtersLupus and IgA nephropathy create immune complexes that directly inflame kidney tissue.
Genetics play a bigger role than many realizePeople of African ancestry carrying APOL1 risk variants progress to dialysis three times faster.
Quote from the team at Eureka Health“Knowing your personal risk factors is the first step toward stopping kidney loss before it starts,” states the team at Eureka Health.
Older age and Black ancestry heighten CKD riskCKD is significantly more common in adults over 65 and in non-Hispanic Black individuals, reflecting demographic factors that compound disease-related causes. (TXHHS)
Nine in ten people with CKD are unaware they have itNational Kidney Foundation data show that although roughly 1 in 7 U.S. adults already have CKD, about 90 % have not yet been diagnosed, making early testing vital. (NKF)

Daily actions that slow CKD progression

Lifestyle changes can cut the yearly eGFR drop in half. They work best when started early.

Limit sodium to under 2,000 mg per dayLess salt lowers blood pressure and protein leakage; read labels—one fast-food sandwich can contain the full daily limit.
Aim for 0.8 g of protein per kg body weightHigh-protein diets push the kidneys to hyper-filter; a 70 kg person should stay near 56 g daily unless advised otherwise.
Walk at least 150 minutes a weekRegular activity improves insulin sensitivity and keeps phosphate in a safer range.
Quit smoking to double survival timeSmokers with CKD reach dialysis roughly four years sooner than non-smokers.
Quote from Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI“A food diary plus weekly weight check is a simple but powerful way to catch hidden salt and fluid,” recommends Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI.
Keep blood pressure under 140/90 mm HgNIDDK calls hitting this target “the most important step” for slowing CKD; lowering pressure eases glomerular strain and preserves eGFR. (NIDDK)
Meet blood-sugar goals to shield kidneysAbout one-third of adults with diabetes already have CKD; staying near an A1C of 7 % or less curbs further damage, per CDC guidance. (CDC)

Tests and medicines your clinician may order for CKD

Lab tracking and drug therapy aim to slow damage and manage complications.

Quarterly eGFR and ACR testing tracks progressionFast decliners (more than 5 mL/min/year) may need nephrology referral.
ACE inhibitors or ARBs cut proteinuria in halfThese blood-pressure drugs lower glomerular pressure but must be stopped if potassium climbs above 5.5 mmol/L.
SGLT2 inhibitors now slow eGFR loss by 37 %Originally diabetes drugs, they benefit many CKD patients even without diabetes.
Monthly potassium and bicarbonate checks prevent surprisesMetabolic acidosis (bicarbonate <22 mmol/L) speeds fibrosis; oral bicarbonate may help.
Quote from the team at Eureka Health“Lab frequency should match disease speed—a stable stage 3A patient needs fewer draws than someone racing toward dialysis,” remind the Eureka Health medical team.
UACR ≥30 mg/g flags early kidney damageCDC guidance defines a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio of 30 or higher as evidence of CKD and recommends repeat monitoring to guide therapy. (CDC)
Statins curb heart disease risk across CKD stagesBecause cardiovascular events are the leading cause of death in CKD, the National Kidney Foundation lists statins among core medications to cut lipid-driven risk in stages 3–5. (NKF)