Chronic kidney disease occurs when you suffer from gradual and permanent loss of kidney function over time. There is no way to cure chronic kidney disease but we can do our best to slow down its progression.

The five stages of chronic kidney disease
If your kidneys are performing their filtering function and there are no signs of blood or protein in the urine then they are considered to be healthy. Filtering function strength depends on your age and many other factors. If your kidney function is permanently decreased you are considered to have “chronic kidney disease”. Your kidneys will gradually lose their ability to filter toxic wastes out of your blood. The chronic kidney disease process is divided into 5 stages. Between stages 1-4 the focus is on preserving the kidney function. Once the patient has reached stage 5, dialysis or a kidney transplant is the only way to stay alive.

Stage 1 & 2: Not very noticeable symptoms
During stage 1 & 2 you are probably not aware that you have a reduced kidney function. It is important that your blood pressure is regularly monitored and under control. If you suffer from diabetes you should regularly check that your blood sugar levels are at the right level. You doctor will help you to keep these important factors under control.

Stage 3: Action required
At stage 3 your kidney function has reduced to between 60% – 30% of its normal capability. It is now important to follow the progression of the disease and do everything possible to slow it down. At this stage, the aim is to delay and if possible prevent the progression to stage 4 or 5. You will be prescribed some medications. Special diets and exercise programs will be recommended. At this stage, you need to start planning for the consequences of the disease and the need for dialysis or kidney transplant.

Stage 4 & 5: Your kidney can no longer perform their duty
Kidney failure occurs when the kidney has lost 85%-90% of its filtering capacity. The result is an accumulation of toxic wastes, water and other substances that may be dangerous in your blood. When the disease has progressed this far, you need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.