Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : May 21, 2014 4:52 PM IST
Kidney disease is a silent killer. Most patients who have reduced kidney function don't realize it unless their condition worsens or other health conditions develop alongside. Early signs of kidney disease are very subtle and could be easily ignored or missed. Hence, it is important to know the risk factors of kidney disease so that you can take appropriate measures and reduce the chances of worsening the condition.
Risk factors for kidney disease are grouped under modifiable and non-modifiable categories. Although you cannot do anything about the non-modifiable risk factors, lifestyle related factors can be controlled well in time to reduce the progression of kidney disease.
1. Diabetes: Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney disease. In fact, 44 percent of people who have to undergo dialysis treatment have kidney disease caused by diabetes. High sugar levels due to diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) tend to damage primary filtering units of kidneys called nephrons. Your kidney is made up of millions of such nephrons hence it takes several years for the damage to become evident. That is why, diabetics should not only control their sugar level but also go for a regular check up which includes the kidney function test.
2. Hypertension: Following diabetes, hypertension or high blood pressure is the 2nd leading cause of kidney disease and kidney failure. In high blood pressure, the force with which blood flows through the blood vessels is relatively high. Under the force, the blood vessels expand or stretch more in order to allow easy flow of blood, . Prolonged high BP can therefore weaken the blood vessels due to over-stretching and scarring. If the blood vessels in the kidneys are damaged, they may interfere with the main function of kidneys-- removal of wastes and extra fluid from the body.
3. Heart disease: Your heart and kidney function are closely related. With every heart beat, blood gets pumped through the kidneys for filtration. So, poor heart function or heart disease can cause scarring and even permanent kidney damage.
4. Obesity: Obesity is already linked to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. And all of these are potential risk factors of kidney disease. Therefore, obesity is an indirect risk factor for kidney disease. Apart from this indirect link, studies have found that obesity itself is likely to have an independent effect on blood dynamics of the kidneys.
5. Smoking: Smoking contributes to kidney disease in many ways. It increase BP, reduces blood flow to the kidneys and narrows down blood vessels in the kidneys. Moreover, people who already have a slightly reduced kidney function tend to accelerate kidney damage by smoking cigarettes. The risk is even greater in people with diabetes who smoke.
6. Alcohol intake: Like smoking, alcohol also causes high BP. Moderate alcohol intake can be tolerable but uncontrolled drinking can lead to end-stage renal failure. Alcohol prevents the kidneys from striking a proper balance between body fluids and minerals. It damages the kidney cells by altering their structure and function.
7. Drug abuse/drug overdose: Inappropriate use of drugs or prescription and over-the-counter medicines can lead to neprotoxicity. All medicines you take have to go through the filtration process of the kidneys. Overdose of drugscan cause may result in accumulation of drug metabolites in the kidney which can cause potential harm. Here are 7 ill effects of drug overdose.
8. Family history of kidney disease: Having a family history of kidney disease puts you at an increased risk of kidney failure. Certain aspects like kidney functionality and reduced number of nephrons may be genetically determined. So if you have a mother, father, sister or brother who has had kidney failure, you are at an increased risk.
9. Old age: Your kidneys are not going to stay functionally effective throughout your life. The filtration capacity of your kidney will naturally start declining after you cross your 30s-40s. With every decade after your 30s, your kidney function is going to reduce by 10%. That's the reason why end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is more common in older adults in their 70s.
10. Race/Ethnicity: Estimates show that African Americans are more likely to develop ESRD than Whites, whereas Hispanics less likely to develop ESRD than non-Hispanics. According to the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP), American Indians are about 1.8 times likelier to develop kidney failure compared to Whites.
11. Male sex: Gender is another non-modifiable risk factor contributing to kidney disease. As per a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), the lifetime risk of kidney failure is higher for men at all ages and levels of kidney function, compared with women. The risk of kidney failure in men was found to be 2.66% and for women was 1.76%.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease.
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