When your kidneys don’t work well for longer than 3 months, doctors call it chronic kidney disease. You may not have any symptoms in the early stages, but that’s when it’s simpler to treat.
Diabetes (types 1 and 2) and high blood pressure are the most common culprits. High blood sugar levels over time can harm your kidneys. And high blood pressure creates wear and tear on your blood vessels, including those that go to your kidneys.
Other conditions include:
• Immune system diseases (If you have kidney disease due to lupus, your doctor will call it lupus nephritis.)
• Long-lasting viral illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C
• Pyelonephritis, a urinary tract infectionswithin the kidneys, which can result in scarring as the infection heals. It can lead to kidney damage if it happens several times.
• Inflammation in the tiny filters (glomeruli) within your kidneys. This can happen after a strep infection.
• Polycystic kidney disease, a genetic condition where fluid-filled sacs form in your kidneys
Defects present at birth can block the urinary tract or affect the kidneys. One of the most common ones involves a kind of valve between the bladder and urethra. A urologist can often do surgery to repair these problems, which may be found while the baby is still in the womb.
Drugs and toxins, such as lead poisoning, long-term use of some medications including NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and naproxen, and IV street drugs can permanently damage your kidneys. So can being around some types of chemicals over time.
