5 factors that contribute to the worsening of chronic kidney disease! The more you have, the more dangerous it is

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly insidious disease with a long course. If not properly controlled, the condition can easily worsen and even develop into renal failure, seriously threatening the patient's life and health. A deep understanding of the factors that worsen chronic kidney disease is crucial for patients to control their condition and delay disease progression. The more of the following five factors are present, the greater the risk the patient faces.

1. Poor blood pressure control

Hypertension and chronic kidney disease affect each other, forming a vicious cycle. Continuous hypertension will increase the pressure in the renal blood vessels, leading to glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, and accelerated kidney function damage. According to statistics, about 70% of chronic kidney disease patients are accompanied by hypertension. If blood pressure is not effectively controlled for a long time, the kidneys will be damaged under high pressure and the condition will deteriorate rapidly. For example, some patients with chronic kidney disease do not take antihypertensive drugs on time, and their blood pressure fluctuates above 160/100mmHg. In just a few years, renal function indicators such as blood creatinine will increase significantly, and kidney damage will be significantly aggravated. The ideal blood pressure control range is very important for patients with chronic kidney disease. It is generally recommended to control blood pressure below 130/80mmHg. For patients with large amounts of proteinuria, the blood pressure target should be stricter.

2. Long-term fluctuations in blood sugar

Diabetes is one of the important causes of chronic kidney disease, and long-term unstable blood sugar is a "catalyst" for the deterioration of chronic kidney disease. Under high blood sugar conditions, the microvessels of the kidneys will be diseased, the glomerular basement membrane will thicken, and the filtering function of the kidneys will gradually be impaired. If the glycated hemoglobin of a diabetic patient is higher than 7% for a long time, the risk of irreversible damage to the kidneys will increase significantly. Large fluctuations in blood sugar, whether too high or too low, will place an additional burden on the kidneys. Some diabetic patients have irregular diets and improper use of insulin. Their blood sugar sometimes soars to more than 15mmol/L and sometimes drops sharply to below 3mmol/L. This unstable blood sugar environment will accelerate the progression of chronic kidney disease and lead to rapid decline in renal function.

3. Uncontrolled proteinuria

Proteinuria is a typical symptom of chronic kidney disease and an important factor that exacerbates the disease. The loss of a large amount of protein in the urine means that the filtration barrier of the kidney is damaged. Continuous proteinuria not only causes malnutrition in the body, but also activates the inflammatory response in the kidneys, leading to accelerated renal fibrosis. Studies have shown that patients with chronic kidney disease whose 24-hour urine protein quantification exceeds 1 gram have a significantly faster decline in kidney function than patients with lower urine protein quantification. If urine protein is not effectively controlled for a long time, kidney tissue will gradually be replaced by scar tissue and eventually develop into renal failure. Therefore, actively reducing urine protein levels is a key measure to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease.

4. Frequent infection

Infection is a common cause of worsening of the condition of patients with chronic kidney disease. Since patients with chronic kidney disease have decreased immunity, they are vulnerable to invasion by pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, etc. are more common. Once an infection occurs, the body will initiate an immune response and produce inflammatory mediators, which will further damage kidney tissue. For example, if patients with chronic kidney disease frequently suffer from respiratory tract infections, their kidney function indicators will deteriorate to varying degrees after each infection, with increased blood creatinine and proteinuria. Preventing infection is crucial for patients with chronic kidney disease. They should pay attention to personal hygiene, add or remove clothes according to the season, avoid going to crowded places, and get flu vaccines and other prevention measures when necessary.

5. Exposure to Nephrotoxic Substances

Long-term exposure to nephrotoxic substances can directly damage the kidneys and aggravate chronic kidney disease. Common nephrotoxic substances include some drugs, heavy metals, organic solvents, etc. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aminoglycoside antibiotics, etc., if used irrationally, can cause acute or chronic damage to the kidneys. Long-term exposure to heavy metal environments such as lead and mercury will also accumulate in the kidneys, destroying the structure and function of kidney cells. Some chronic kidney disease patients working in the chemical industry have worsening kidney damage and rapid disease progression due to the presence of nephrotoxic substances such as organic solvents in their working environment and inadequate protective measures. Avoiding contact with nephrotoxic substances is an important part of protecting the kidneys and delaying the deterioration of chronic kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease should pay close attention to these five factors and take active measures to control them, reduce the risk of worsening of the disease, improve the quality of life, and prolong the duration of kidney function.