Your kidneys may be small organs, but they play a big role in your body. Devang Shah, MD, Nimisha Shah, MD, and the entire Morgan Hill Internal Medicine team are ready to help you get the treatment you need to lead a healthy life even with chronic kidney disease. Get started with your treatment and protect your long-term kidney health by calling the office in Morgan Hill, California, or booking your appointment online today.
Chronic kidney disease is the name given to the gradual failure of your kidneys over time. When your kidneys are working properly, they filter water and waste from your body, producing urine. They also help to balance your blood’s mineral and salt levels, play a role in controlling your blood pressure, maintain your bone strength, and create red blood cells.
Clearly, your kidneys play an important role in your body. When you have chronic kidney disease, your kidneys’ ability to do their job lessens progressively over time. At first, this doesn’t pose a significant threat to your health. But left unchecked, it can cause kidney failure. At that point, you need either dialysis or a kidney transplant or your body won’t be able to properly filter and remove waste.
That’s part of the problem. Early on, chronic kidney disease doesn’t come with any notable symptoms. If you have a condition that heightens your risk for this disease, talk to Dr. Shah about steps you can take to protect your kidneys and testing to check your kidney function.
These conditions heighten your risk for chronic kidney disease:
Additionally, a family history of kidney failure makes you more likely to have this disease.
As chronic kidney disease progresses, lessening your kidney function, it causes symptoms like:
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, don’t wait to talk to Dr. Shah about it.
Yes, but the damage it’s already done to your kidneys can’t be reversed. That’s why it’s important to seek care as soon as you notice any symptoms and to regularly check your kidney function if you have a heightened risk for chronic kidney disease.
When you’re diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, Dr. Shah focuses your treatment on slowing the damage to your kidneys, protecting their ability to function long-term.
To get the care you need to defend your kidneys against further damage, call Morgan Hill Internal Medicine, or schedule an appointment online today.
