Clear the Confusion About Kidney Disease: Basics of Kidney Function

Macey Thompson
May 30
3 min read

Written by Macey Thompson RDN student, Reviewed by Danielle Gersmehl, RD LDN

About 815,000 Americans are living with kidney failure. Around 9 out of 10 people are unaware that they have kidney disease. These statistics demonstrate that it is important to be aware of your kidney health. Kidney health is vital for filtering blood, removing waste, and the overall balance of fluids in the body. Since the kidneys are involved in complex bodily processes, kidney disease can be difficult to manage. The first step in prioritizing kidney health is to understand the basic functions of a healthy kidney and the changes as kidney disease develops.

The Role of the Kidney

As mentioned above, the kidneys regulate the fluids in the body. The kidneys filter the blood to remove waste and toxins, like urea, creatinine, and acids. The waste products are excreted from the body as urine. This filtering process helps control blood pressure and maintains a balance of minerals in the blood. The regulation of sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium is vital for the cellular functioning of muscles and nerves. The kidneys also play a role in red blood cell production and bone health. Unfortunately, the kidneys can become damaged leading to the slow loss of these functions.

The kidneys filter an impressive 30 gallons of blood daily, highlighting their crucial role in excreting waste and maintaining bodily functions.

Damaged Kidneys

Chronic kidney disease is when the kidneys stop functioning properly. Some common causes of kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, and drug use. The kidneys become damaged, which causes a harmful imbalance of fluid and for useful substances to be excreted from the body. There are 5 stages of kidney disease that progresses from normal functions (stage 1) to kidney failure (stage 5).

Stages of chronic kidney disease illustrated: Stage 1 (Normal function), Stage 2 (Mild loss of function), Stage 3 (Moderate loss of function), Stage 4 (Severe loss of function), and Stage 5 (Kidney failure).

Progression and Detection

The chart above illustrates the progression of the loss of kidney function. There are often no symptoms in the early stages. Around stage 3 is when some individuals start feeling weak and having swelling in the hands/feet. By stage 5, the imbalance of minerals and build up of waste will cause severe health consequences. The use of a dialysis machine to filter the blood or a kidney transplant becomes necessary for survival. Some other symptoms of chronic kidney disease are muscle cramps, dark urine, foamy urine, itchy skin, frequent urination, sleep problems, and a loss of appetite. Although the kidneys are vital to health, there are methods to manage kidney disease through nutrition and a dialysis machine.

A diagram illustrating the process of dialysis, where a machine filters a patient's blood to compensate for impaired kidney function: blood enters the machine, is filtered, and then returned to the patient.

Management

The process of filtering the blood through a dialysis machine is shown in the diagram above. Since the kidneys are not able to regulate substances like normal, individuals must also regulate the minerals and fluid that they consume. Individuals with chronic kidney disease on dialysis may need to regulate their consumption of potassium, fluids, phosphorus, and sodium.

Getting connected with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist can be valuable for navigating the challenges of chronic kidney disease and learning how to prioritize kidney health. Click this link

to schedule a meeting with Danielle, a Registered Dietitian who specializes in kidney health!

Sources:

Clear the Confusion About Kidney Disease: Basics of Kidney Function

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