Causes of Kidney Disease

Causes of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is usually caused by other conditions that put a strain on the kidneys. Often it’s the result of a combination of different problems.

kidney disease can be caused by:

• high blood pressure – over time, this can put strain on the small blood vessels in the kidneys and stop the kidneys working properly
• diabetes – too much glucose in your blood can damage the tiny filters in the kidneys
• high cholesterol – this can cause a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels supplying your kidneys, which can make it harder for them to work properly
• kidney infections
• glomerulonephritis – kidney inflammation
• polycystic kidney disease – an inherited condition where growths called cysts develop in the kidneys
• blockages in the flow of urine – for example, from recurrent kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
• long-term, regular use of certain medicines – such as lithium and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

You can help prevent kidney disease  by making healthy lifestyle changes and ensuring any underlying conditions you have are well controlled.

Tests for kidney disease

kidney disease can be diagnosed using blood and urine tests. These tests are used to look for high levels of certain substances in your blood and urine that are signs your kidneys aren’t working properly.

If you’re at a high risk of developing kidney disease – for example, you have one of the conditions mentioned above – you may be advised to have regular tests to check for kidney disease so it’s picked up at an early stage.

The results of your blood and urine tests can be used to tell the stage of your kidney disease. This is a number that reflects how severe the damage to your kidneys is, with a higher number indicating more serious kidney disease.

Read more about how kidney disease  is diagnosed.