The kidneys play a crucial role in eliminating excess fluid and wastes from the body by filtering these out of the blood.
Chronic kidney disease occurs when someone suffers from gradual and usually permanent loss of kidney function over time. This deterioration
occurs gradually over months or years. As there few signs or symptoms in the early stages of kidney failure many people don't realise that there
is a problem until kidney function has decreased to 25% of normal.
The most common causes of chronic kidney disease are high blood pressure and diabetes.
NHS Direct states that in the UK between 1 and 4 people in every thousand are thought to be affected by chronic kidney disease.
The risk of developing this condition increases with age. The average age of someone affected is 77.
Cronic kidney disease is most common amongst South Asian, African and Afro-Caribbean comunities.
The kidneys have four major functions:
- Blood filtering is carried out in the kidneys by millions of tiny filters known as nephrons. When blood passes through the kidneys the nephrons filter out
excess fluid and waste passing these on to the bladder for urination;
- Regulating body fluids. Healthy kidneys help to maintain a proper balance of the various chemicals that the body need to function. The most important
of these is potassium which is used for nerve and muscle control. The wrong levels of potassium in the body can lead to weak muscles and heart problems.
Healthy kidneys are also involved in balancing the levels of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium in the blood;
- Balancing body fluids. Healthy kidneys are effective in getting rid of the right amount of fluids and saving the rest so that the body can function
properly;
- Release of hormones. Healthy kidneys are responsible for for releasing several vital hormones into the blood including renin which regulates blood
pressure and erythropoietin which helps bone marrow to make red blood cells. Kidneys activate a form of vitamin D which regulates calcium absorption from food
and helps maintain healthy cells.
