CKD stage 3

So, you or someone you love have been diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

What does this mean? In a nutshell, it means your kidneys are noticeably damaged and can no longer function in an optimal way.

Without proper care and lifestyle changes, stage 3 CKD can develop into kidney failure, a life-threatening condition also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

This is sad news, but it’s no reason for despair!

With the help of an experienced nephrologist, patients with stage 3 CKD may avoid renal failure and recurrent dialysis altogether—or at least delay these events for several decades.

Let’s take a good look at some of the most important things you should know about stage 3 CKD to deal with the condition effecively.

CKD stage 3 symptoms: diagnose it ASAP!

Diagnosing CKD as early as possible is essential for the effective management of the disease. With proper care, progressive damage of the kidneys may be stopped or slowed down, preventing the condition from getting worse.

Early symptoms of stage 3 CKD may include:

  • Back pain (particularly in the lower back)
  • Changes in urination (frequency, color, transparency)
  • Swollen feet, hands, shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle cramps

 

However, most people don’t experience any symptoms at all, until the condition reaches stage 4 or 5. That’s the real danger of CKD.

If you have a family history of kidney disease, you should visit a nephrologist every year or two even if you don’t have any symptoms. Better safe than sorry, after all!

How you can prevent CKD stage 3 from getting worse

  1. Control your blood pressure. Arterial hypertension is detrimental to kidney health, so taking care of it could help you prevent your CKD from progressing
  2. Adopt a kidney-friendly diet. For example, eating too much protein may worsen CKD, so nephrologists often recommend sticking to a daily limit of 0.6-0.8 g of protein per kg of body weight. Other restrictions could include table salt, alcohol, and hydration in general. This is one of the most important components of CKD management.
  3. Control your blood sugar, especially if you have diabetes. High blood glucose is another common danger for kidney health. That’s why it’s important to limit your sugar intake and manage your diabetes with all due care.
  4. Quit smoking. Tobacco smoking is a major independent factor of CKD progression, so that’s one more reason to drop this habit for good.
  5. Take care of excess weight. There is a clear association between excess weight and CKD, as reported by scientific studies, so normalizing one’s BMI is an essential component of CKD management.

These five simple principles always have a huge beneficial effect on kidney health, but it’s highly recommended to discuss everything with a professional nephrologist to take care of all the details together.

Conclusion

Stage 3 CKD shouldn’t be taken lightly, but it’s not a tragedy either.

Make an appointment with one of our expert nephrologists to create a personalized strategy of CKD management that will be effective in your particular case.

Remember, with proper care, it’s possible to slow down the progression of CKD and avoid kidney failure, dialysis, and transplantation!