Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis: Tests & Early Signs

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a medical condition where your renal functions start to go down progressively. When your kidney functioning starts to deteriorate over six months or more, you are said to be suffering from chronic kidney disease. An early chronic kidney disease diagnosis is necessary for an effective treatment of this disease.

What are the First Signs of Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease symptoms in females are not particularly different from those in males. Symptoms that may help you decide whether you are suffering from any sort of kidney disease or not are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue and a weakness that does not go away easily
• Sleep issues
• Changing patterns of urination
• Vague memory and trouble concentrating
• Muscle cramps
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Dry, itchy skin
• High blood pressure
• Shortness of breath as there is a fluid build-up in the lungs
• Chest pain due to a build-up of fluids around the chest lining

Experiencing any of these symptoms? Don't ignore them—consult with our specialists today. Chat with us on WhatsApp or call us to schedule an urgent consultation.

Chronic Kidney Disease Stages

CKD stages are based on eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) results:

• Stage 1 (G1): eGFR of 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 or higher, with implicit signs of kidney damage like proteinuria or hematuria. Your kidneys have mild damage, but they function normally.
• Stage 2 (G2): eGFR of 60–89 mL/min/1.73 m2, with visible signs of kidney damage. Damage starts to worsen.
• Stage 3a (G3a): eGFR of 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2.
• Stage 3b (G3b): eGFR of 30–44 mL/min/1.73 m2. Mild to severe loss in kidney functions.
• Stage 4 (G4): eGFR of 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2. Severe loss in kidney functions.
• Stage 5 (G5): eGFR of less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Stage 5 means your kidneys have almost lost all of its functioning.

CKD Diagnosis Criteria or Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis

The chronic kidney disease diagnosis criteria are decreased GFR (<60 ml/min), albuminuria (ACR ≥ 30 mg/g), and any abnormalities found with the urine sediment. If any of these abnormalities persist for over 3 months, then you are said to be suffering from chronic kidney disease.

Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Care

Some self-care tips for managing chronic kidney disease are:

• Water: Make a habit of drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water every day. This allows your body to remove toxins from the body in an effective manner.
• Say No to Caffeine: Caffeinated products like tea, coffee, etc. are not good for renal patients. Replace caffeinated drinks with green tea, dandelion root tea, chamomile tea, etc.
• No Alcohol and Tobacco: Alcohol is linked with cardiovascular diseases and it also damages the liver. Tobacco damages kidney cells and reduces the functioning of the kidneys; refrain from both of them.
• Probiotics: Probiotics like yogurt and curd increase the count of good bacteria in the body and are good for renal health too.
• Parsley juice: Parsley juice is a nutrient-dense diuretic and greatly strengthens renal functions.

Want personalized dietary advice for CKD? Talk to our nutrition experts—contact us via WhatsApp or call us now.

CKD is a common kidney disease. If you went for a chronic kidney disease diagnosis test and got a positive report, then you should start the treatment early. An early treatment will reverse the accumulated kidney damage and help you get a holistic cure for your disease.