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Kidney disease – a silent killer

In light of the recent Kidney Action Week (1-7 July), this month’s blog takes a look at kidney disease.

Known as a silent killer, there are often no symptoms of the disease and people can lose up to 90 percent of kidney function before any symptoms appear.

In Australia, 12 percent of deaths are kidney related and 3 out of 4 Australians are at risk of developing kidney disease.

What do kidneys actually do?

These bean-shaped organs play a vital role and are one of the hardest working organs in our bodies. Most people are born with two kidneys, that sit in your abdomen below the ribs at the back. They are around the size of your fist and weigh around 150 grams each.

Their primary purpose is to filter out waste products, excess water, and other impurities from your blood and turn these into urine.

They also help to keep your blood pressure regular and manage the body’s production of Vitamin D, which is crucial for maintaining strong bones and producing red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body.

Our kidneys clean around 200 litres of blood per day, with your entire blood supply cycling through your kidneys at a rate of around 12 times per hour!

What causes kidney disease?

When your kidneys don’t function as well as they should, waste gradually builds up in your body and can result in kidney disease.

Kidney disease impacts 1.7 million Australians each year. It mostly occurs gradually, over several years, and is often undetected in the early stages.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Chronic Kidney Disease (CDK) contributed to around 22,000 deaths in Australia in 2022, with the number of deaths related to CDK more than doubling since 2000.

What are the symptoms of kidney disease?

While symptoms of the disease are often rare, there are some noticeable signs of reduced kidney function. These include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Changes in the amount and number of times urine is passed
  • Changes in the appearance of your urine (for example, frothy or foaming urine)
  • Blood in your urine
  • Puffiness in your legs, ankles, or around your eyes
  • Pain in your kidney area
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Headaches
  • Lack of concentration
  • Itching
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Bad breath and a metallic taste in your mouth
  • Muscle cramps
  • Pins and needles in your fingers and toes

Risk factors of kidney disease

There are a number of other factors that can also increase your risk. These include:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Established heart problems (including heart failure, heart attack or stroke)
  • A family history of kidney disease or kidney failure
  • Obesity
  • Smoking
  • Being aged 60 years or older
  • Being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin
  • A history of acute kidney injury

Kidney Health Australia has developed this quick and easy test to help you see if you are at risk of developing kidney disease – Kidney Risk Test>>

If you experience any of the symptoms or risk factors outlined above, or you are concerned about your kidney health, see your GP sooner, rather than later. When detected early, changes to lifestyle, diet and medication can be implemented to help prevent any further damage.

Kidney health check

If kidney disease is suspected, your doctor will undertake a Kidney Health Check involving the following tests:

  1. Blood test – to see how well your kidneys are filtering your blood.
  2. Urine test – to check for albumin (a type of protein) or blood in your urine.
  3. Blood pressure test – because high blood pressure and kidney disease are related.

If you have any risk factors, it is recommended you get a Kidney Health Check every 1-2 years.

Treatment

In the early stages of the disease, treatment will involve changes to diet and medication, to help increase the life of your kidneys.

When kidney function is reduced to less than 10 percent, treatment will most likely involve dialysis. Dialysis helps to remove waste products and extra water from the blood by filtering it through a special membrane, or fine filter, and can be performed at home.

In some cases, a kidney transplant may be required, although not everyone is suitable for a transplant. A transplanted kidney will require a lifetime of ongoing management and care.

The survival rate following a kidney transplant is high, with 97 percent of recipients from deceased donors still alive after one year, and 90 percent alive at five years. The survival rate following a kidney transplant from a living donor is even higher, with a survival rate of 99 percent at one year, and 96 percent at five years.

Preventing kidney disease

There are a number of simple ways to help keep your kidneys healthy, including:

  • Eat well – include lots of fruits, vegetables, and grain-based foods in your diet and stick to lean meats.
  • Limit the amount of salt and fatty foods you consume.
  • Avoid smoking – people who smoke are three times more likely to have reduced kidney function.
  • Keep up with regular exercise and be active most days of the week.
  • Minimise long periods of time sitting.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding soft drinks and fruit juice.
  • Minimise alcohol and limit your intake to less than two standard drinks per day. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of kidney disease.
  • Get your blood pressure checked regularly and take your blood pressure medication, as prescribed.
  • Minimise stress – do things that help you to relax and reduce your stress levels.

Concerned about kidney health?

If you are concerned about your kidney health, book in with one of our GPs to discuss your concerns. Appointments can be made online or by contacting us directly on (08) 9208 6400.

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