March 2008 National Kidney Month
What causes chronic kidney disease?
The 2 main causes of chronic kidney disease, which are responsible for up to two-thirds of the cases, are diabetes and high blood pressure.
Other conditions that affect the kidneys are:
- Glomerulonephritis is a group of diseases that cause inflamation and damage to the kidney's filtering units. These disorders are the third most common type of kidney disease.
- Inherited diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease, which causes large cysts to form in the kidneys that damage the surrounding tissue
- Malformations that occur as a baby develops in its mother's womb. For example, a narrowing may occur that prevents normal outflow of urine and causes urine to flow back up to the kidneys. This causes infections that may damage the kidneys.
- Lupus and other infections that may damage the body's immune system.
- Obstructions caused by problems like kidney stones, tumors or an enlarged prostate gland in men.
- Repeated urinary infections.
- Medications/drug abuse.
- HIV
Know if you are at risk!!