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Kidney Month - What is Kidney Disease?

Updated on March 13th, 2025

Save up to 88% on your medications

Written and medically reviewed by Dorcas Morak, Pharm.D

March is National Kidney Month, a time to raise awareness about kidney health and the risks of kidney disease. Our kidneys are small but mighty organs that play a crucial role in keeping our bodies balanced and functioning properly. Yet, many people don’t realize they have kidney disease until it reaches an advanced stage. Let’s explore what kidney disease is, its causes, and how you can take steps to protect your kidneys.

What Is Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease occurs when your kidneys cannot effectively filter waste and excess fluid from your blood. Over time, this can lead to dangerous levels of waste buildup in the body. Healthy kidneys also help regulate blood pressure, produce essential hormones, and maintain electrolyte balance. If left untreated, kidney disease can progress to kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), where dialysis or a kidney transplant becomes necessary.

What Are the Causes of Kidney Disease?

There are two main types of kidney disease: acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

  • Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): This occurs suddenly due to severe infections, medication side effects, dehydration, or a loss of blood flow to the kidneys. It is often reversible with prompt treatment.
  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): CKD develops gradually over time, usually due to long-term conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It is the most common form of kidney disease and can lead to kidney failure if not managed properly.

Other causes of kidney disease include polycystic kidney disease, lupus nephritis, kidney stones, chronic infections, obesity, smoking, and long-term use of nephrotoxic medications like NSAIDs, certain antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs.

What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease often goes unnoticed in its early stages because symptoms may be mild or absent. However, as kidney function declines, you may experience:

  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Swelling in the feet and ankles
  • Frequent urination or reduced urination
  • Foamy urine (a sign of protein leakage)
  • Persistent itching
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Muscle cramps
  • High blood pressure
  • Loss of appetite and shortness of breath (due to fluid buildup in late-stage CKD)

How Is Kidney Disease Diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects kidney disease, they may recommend:

  • Blood tests to measure waste levels in your blood (such as creatinine and blood urea nitrogen)
  • Urine tests to check for protein or blood in the urine
  • Imaging tests (ultrasound or CT scans) to assess kidney size and structure
  • A kidney biopsy in some cases to determine the underlying cause of kidney damage

What Medications Are Used to Treat Kidney Disease?

While there is no cure for CKD, certain medications can help manage the condition and slow its progression. These include:

  • ACE Inhibitors and ARBs: Blood pressure medications, such as lisinopril (Zestril) and losartan (Cozaar), that protect kidney function by reducing protein loss in the urine and lowering blood pressure.
  • Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors: Medications like dapagliflozin (Farxiga) and empagliflozin (Jardiance) help slow kidney disease progression, even in people without diabetes.
  • Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs): Medications such as darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) that help treat anemia associated with kidney disease by stimulating red blood cell production.
  • Diuretics: Medications like furosemide (Lasix) that help remove excess fluid and reduce swelling (typically used in later-stage CKD with fluid retention).
  • Phosphate Binders: Medications like sevelamer (Renvela) that help control phosphate levels in the blood, preventing bone problems in advanced kidney disease.

Note: Treatment plans should be individualized based on the severity of kidney disease and other underlying health conditions.

How Can I Save on Kidney Medications with the RxLess™ Assurance Plan?

Managing kidney disease can be expensive, but the RxLess™ Assurance Plan can help you save on prescription costs. The plan allows you to compare prices at different pharmacies and find the most accurate and lowest-cost options. By downloading the free RxLess™ app, you can save up to 88% on your kidney medications.

How Can I Keep My Kidneys Healthy?

Even if you don’t have kidney disease, taking steps to support kidney health is important. Here’s what you can do:

  • Stay hydrated by drinking enough water daily.
  • Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
  • Control blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
  • Manage blood pressure to prevent kidney damage.
  • Avoid excessive use of NSAIDs like Aleve and Motrin, other kidney-harming medications.
  • Get regular check-ups to monitor kidney function, especially if you have risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Taking care of your kidneys is essential for overall health. If you or a loved one are managing kidney disease, explore ways to save on medications through the RxLess™ Assurance Plan, and take proactive steps to protect your kidney health.

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