How to Treat CKD

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methods

1Changing Your Diet

2Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

3Addressing Related Conditions

4Living with Late-Stage CKD

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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a serious condition, but treatments are available. You can get relief from some symptoms and get the most out of your life. First, it’s important to change your diet to remove foods that put more stress on your kidneys. You should also maintain a healthy lifestyle to minimize your symptoms and improve your quality of life. If you have complications, your doctor will prescribe medications to treat them. If you reach late-stage CKD, you can choose between several treatment options, depending on your unique situation.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Changing Your Diet

1. 
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   Eat a healthy diet. Diet is very important for managing CKD, as certain foods contain nutrients, such as minerals, which are harder on your kidneys as they move through your digestive process. In general, your diet should consist of lean protein options, vegetables, and fruits. However, you’ll also need to follow specific recommendations about which foods to avoid, as well as how much protein you should consume.

   • For example, red meat, eggs, dairy, and fish contain nutrients which stress your kidneys. Similarly, bananas, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, and spinach can stress your kidneys, as well.
   • It’s best to work with a dietitian to build a menu for you. Ask your doctor for a referral.
2. 
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   Reduce your protein consumption. Your kidneys have to work extra hard to process protein, which also produces a lot of waste. Limiting protein can relieve some of the pressure on your kidneys. However, protein is also a necessary nutrient that maintains your muscles and helps keep you healthy, so you don’t want to eliminate it from your diet.

   • There is no one-size-fits-all protein recommendation. How much protein you need depends on your size and the health of your kidneys. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian about how much protein will best meet your needs.
   • In most cases, you’ll need to consume about 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds (68 kg), you would eat 54 grams of protein a day.
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3. 
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   Choose fruits and veggies that contain less potassium. Potassium can stress your kidneys, so you may need to eat less of it. Talk to your doctor or dietitian to get the best recommendation for you. In the meantime, choose low-potassium produce.

   • Good produce choices include apples, grapes, strawberries, carrots, green beans, and cabbage.
   • Produce that you should avoid includes bananas, oranges, spinach, tomatoes, and potatoes.
4. 
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   Limit high-phosphate foods, such as eggs, red meat, dairy, and fish. Although it’s a healthy nutrient, phosphate can cause thinning bones, called osteopenia, if it builds up in your body. If you have CKD, your kidneys often struggle to filter out the phosphate in your blood, so it can harm your bone health over time.

   • Ask your doctor or dietitian how much of high-phosphate foods you should eat. They can advise you on the right portion sizes for you.
5. 
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   Reduce your salt intake. Salt can complicate your CKD by causing you to retain more fluids. Don’t add salt to your food, and avoid products that have added salt. This includes processed foods, frozen dinners, salty snacks, fast food, canned goods, and soups.

   • Stay below 2,300 mg of sodium a day. If your doctor or dietitian suggests you eat less, you should follow their recommendation.
6. 
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   Manage your fluid intake, if necessary. If your CKD is in the early stages, you may not need to manage your fluids. However, your doctor may recommend consuming less fluids if your body is retaining fluids. If this is the case, stick to their guidelines.

   • Choose water over other drinks. It’s especially important to avoid drinks that contain sodium, such as soda.
   • Eat less salty food so that you feel less thirsty.
   • Avoid getting overheated.
   • Freeze water or juice and eat it like a popsicle. This allows you to prolong the time it takes to consume it, making it feel like you’re having more fluids.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

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   Continue to do activities you enjoy. When you’re dealing with a chronic health condition, it’s easy to lose focus of who you are. However, this makes it harder to maintain a good life for yourself. Living well with CKD is possible, and you deserve to be happy!

   • Set aside time every day to do something that you enjoy.
   • Keep up with your hobbies.
   • Prioritize your needs, and ask for help when necessary. Remember, your loved ones want you to live a healthier, longer life.
2. 
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   Join a support group for people with kidney disease. A support group can help you cope with the stress and psychological weight of living with a chronic disease. Additionally, you can share your experiences and learn from other people who are going through the same things you are.

   • Ask your doctor about groups that meet in your area, or search online. You can find groups through the National Kidney Foundation, the American Association of Kidney Patients, or the American Kidney Fund.
3. 
   3
   Lose weight if you are overweight. Carrying extra weight forces your kidneys to work harder. It also increases your risk for other conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, which can exacerbate your CKD.

   • Talk to your doctor about the target healthy weight for you.
4. 
   4
   Reduce or eliminate your alcohol consumption. Alcohol puts pressure on your kidneys. In excessive amounts, it can harm your kidneys. You should drink no more than 1-2 servings of alcohol per day. However, it’s best to drink as little alcohol as possible.

   • A serving of alcohol means 12 ounces (340 g) of beer, 5 ounces (140 g) of wine, or 1 ounce (28 g) of liquor.
   • Some people with CKD should not drink at all. Ask your doctor if drinking small amounts is okay for you.
5. 
   5
   Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Being active helps keep your body healthy and limits complications, such as weight gain, that can worsen your CKD. Choose a light cardio activity that you enjoy. Here are some great options:

   • Go for a walk or hike.
   • Swim.
   • Take a dance class.
   • Join a group aerobics class.
6. 
   6
   Stop taking NSAIDs, unless they’re prescribed by your doctor. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are often used for pain relief, can harm your kidneys. If you have CKD, you should not take them unless the doctor decides that their benefits outweigh the risks to your kidneys.

   • NSAIDs include over-the-counter treatments like ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, and naproxen.
7. 
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   Stop smoking, if you do. Smoking stresses your body and harms your organs. Continuing to smoke can reduce your quality of life and make your CKD worsen.

   • Quitting is hard, so talk to your doctor about quitting aids. You may be able to use prescription medication, gum, or patches to help you quit.
8. 
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   Talk to a therapist for feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression. This is especially important if your feelings are negatively affecting your life. A therapist can help you work through your feelings and learn to cope better. It’s normal to feel this way when you have a chronic illness, but that doesn’t mean you can't feel better.

   • You can find a therapist by searching online
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Addressing Related Conditions

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   Relieve swelling with diuretics. Retaining water is a common side effect of CKD. This causes swelling, especially in your legs. Fortunately, your doctor can prescribe diuretics to help manage it.

   • Diuretics will make you urinate more often, so plan to have access to a restroom.
   • Follow all of the directions for using the medication.
2. 
   2
   Treat your high blood pressure if you have it. High blood pressure contributes to CKD and can worsen as a result of your CKD. Your doctor will likely prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers to help manage your blood pressure and keep your kidneys functioning.

   • Untreated high blood pressure can significantly worsen your CKD. Similarly, low blood pressure can occur in CKD patients, which requires treatment.
   • Take your medication as directed.
   • Your doctor will take frequent blood tests to make sure that the medication is not harming your kidney function, as your kidneys can worse on high blood pressure medicine before they improve.
3. 
   3
   Take cholesterol medicine if your doctor decides it’s right for you. High cholesterol is a common ailment in people with CKD. If left untreated, high cholesterol can result in plaque buildup that narrows your blood vessels. It also increases your risk of heart disease. Your doctor can prescribe statins to help lower your cholesterol.

   • Always take your medication as directed.
4. 
   4
   Preserve healthy bones with vitamin D and calcium. CKD patients often experience weakened bones, which can result in injury. This is because phosphate builds up in your blood, since your kidneys can’t remove it. Increasing your consumption of vitamin D and calcium can balance out the phosphate. A supplement can help keep your bones strong.

   • Talk to your doctor to find out if a supplement is right for you. Don’t take any supplements without first speaking to your doctor, especially if you’re on other medications.
5. 
   5
   Treat symptoms of anemia if your red blood cells are low. Anemia can also result from CKD, causing you to feel weak and fatigued. Anemia is easily treatable using the hormone erythropoietin and/or iron supplements. Talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.

   • Don’t take iron supplements without talking to your doctor, especially if you’re taking other medications. Additionally, iron can build up in your body and become harmful if your body isn’t able to process the amount that you consume..
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Living with Late-Stage CKD

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   Undergo haemodialysis to remove waste from your blood. If your kidneys cannot remove the waste and fluids from your blood, a machine can help. Haemodialysis is 1 of 2 forms of dialysis. A machine will remove the blood from your body, clean it, then pump it back into your body.

   • Haemodialysis is commonly administered 3 times a week either in a medical facility or at home.
   • You will likely experience discomfort during dialysis. However, it can lengthen your lifespan and give you time as you wait for a kidney transplant.
2. 2
   Get peritoneal dialysis as an alternative. This is the second type of dialysis. A healthcare professional will insert a catheter into your abdomen so that the treatment solution can flow into your body. It will absorb the waste and excess fluid, then leave your body.

   • Peritoneal dialysis is often done several times a day, usually in your home. It may also be done overnight while you sleep.
   • This type of dialysis also causes discomfort.
3. 
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   Talk to your doctor about a kidney transplant. Once your kidney stops functioning properly, you may need a new kidney. Fortunately, you can receive a kidney from either a living or deceased donor, as people only need 1 kidney to live. If a matching kidney is found, your doctor will replace your kidney with a healthy donor kidney.

   • If you get a transplant, you’ll need to take medicine for the rest of your life to keep your body from rejecting it.
   • Kidney transplant recipients are chosen based on past lifestyle and expected quality of life after the transplant.
   • You can get a kidney transplant even if you aren’t on dialysis.
4. 
   4
   Ask about conservative care if other treatments aren’t right for you. Some patients with CKD cannot remain on dialysis and/or may not receive a transplant. If this is the case for you, your medical team can help you manage your symptoms for as long as possible. Most often, this includes medications and psychological support.

   • While it won’t extend your life, conservative care helps you have the best quality of life possible.
   • It’s best to include your family in your decision to opt for conservative care. In some cases, they will also receive psychological support services.
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Tips

• Although there is no cure for CKD, you can relieve your symptoms and slow the progress of the disease.
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