5 Things You Can Do to Stop Early-Stage Kidney Failure From Worsening

Kidney disease begins when these vital organs become damaged. Though several health conditions can damage the kidneys, the top two causes are diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Unfortunately, once kidney disease begins, it turns into a long-lasting disease. The damage can’t heal and progressively worsens. As more of each kidney is affected, kidney function continuously decreases.

Whether you want to prevent kidney disease or need medical care after it begins, you can turn to board-certified kidney expert Deon Middlebrook, MD, and his caring team at Deon D. Middlebrook MDPC. We provide personalized care to maintain optimal kidney health so you don’t progress to kidney failure.

Kidney disease stages

Chronic kidney disease moves through five stages, based on the extent of the damage and how well your kidneys are working. You can slow or stop the disease at every stage with lifestyle changes.

Stages 1 and 2

During stages 1 and 2, the kidney damage slowly worsens, but you have enough kidney function that you won’t have symptoms. 

Stages 3a and 3b

Stage 3a represents mild to moderate loss of kidney function, while 3b is moderate to severe. You start experiencing symptoms as you progress to stage 3b, such as:

• Urinating more or less often than usual
• Itchy, dry skin
• Feeling tired
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Swelling in your arms, legs, ankles, or feet
• Muscle aches
• Shortness of breath

The same symptoms occur in stages 4 and 5, but they worsen.

Stage 4

If you reach stage 4, your kidneys are significantly damaged and functioning at 15% to 29% of healthy kidneys. You can still slow or stop ongoing kidney damage by following the tips below, but the risk of progressing to kidney failure is high.

Other serious kidney disease complications may begin in this stage. A few common health concerns include heart disease, anemia, and hyperkalemia (high potassium).

Stage 5

Stage 5 is kidney failure. This stage begins when your kidneys are functioning at 15% of their healthy capacity. The disease keeps worsening, with kidney function dropping to 10% or lower.

The more support you give your kidneys at this stage, the longer you may delay dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Five steps to slow down kidney failure

Your lifestyle habits and overall health can support kidney health or contribute to ongoing damage. Here are five ways to maintain optimal kidney function:

1. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight affects your kidneys, causing inflammation and making them work harder to filter your blood. Over time, these changes cause kidney damage.

2. Stop smoking

Smoking contributes to high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Chemicals in the smoke you inhale also damage blood vessels in the kidneys and cause renal artery disease (blockages in the arteries carrying blood to your kidneys). As a result, smoking accelerates kidney disease. 

3. Manage chronic diseases

If you have type 2 diabetes and/or high blood pressure, it’s essential to keep them under control. Managing them — keeping blood sugar and blood pressure within healthy ranges — can prevent or slow kidney failure.

Chronic disease management includes dietary changes, losing weight, and getting more exercise. If these steps don’t work, you’ll need medication.

4. Follow a kidney disease diet

Your diet has a vital role in slowing kidney damage. At every stage, limiting salt and eating a healthy diet is essential.

A diet supporting kidney health includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, and lean meat. At the same time, it’s also important to avoid sugary foods, sweetened drinks, and processed foods (like hot dogs and smoked meats).

At stages 4 and 5, you need to make more substantial dietary changes to slow the decline to kidney failure. For example, you may need to limit the amount of fluids, protein, potassium, and calcium you take in.

Each person’s dietary changes are customized, because what they can safely consume depends on their kidney function tests and symptoms.

5. Adjust medications

Your kidneys remove medications from your blood. As kidney function declines, medications build up in your body and threaten your overall and kidney health. We can review all your medications and recommend changes.

You should also avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) because they can harm your kidneys. NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, and indomethacin.

In stages 4 and 5, we may prescribe medications to slow the loss of kidney function and manage chronic health conditions.

Call Deon D. Middlebrook MDPC or request an appointment online for expert kidney disease care.