Chronic Kidney Disease?!

Chronic Kidney Disease?

Hey guys! I'm 31, slightly overweight but active, with chronic high blood pressure that I have been taking medication for several years. In my annual blood test, it shows that glomerular filtration rate is weakening and the creatinine rate is increasing. The doctor is saying that I am developing chronic kidney disease.
Has anyone else been diagnosed with this so young? If so, what lifestyle changes have you had to do to help combat it?

Thanks!

Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD, is an all too common phenomenon amongst the US population and its two most common causes are Essential Hypertension and Diabetes. Hypertension that is not well controlled, i.e., keeping the blood pressure at or less than 140/80, has been shown in multiple studies to be a strong predictor of hypertension related comorbities such as CKD.

The actual serum creatinine should be interpreted in light of your age, body build, physical activity and very importantly your total body muscle mass. Creatinine actually results from the turnover or metabolism of muscle protein. Many things affect its level in the serum.

Parameters necessary to completely answer your question and further discuss it are:

1. What was your baseline serum creatinine at diagnosis of your hypertension?
2. At the time of diagnosis, did you have any proteinuria?
3. Is the GFR (glomerular filtration rate) you mention a measured value or one calculated from your age, weight and serum creatinine?
4. What are the GFR and total protein excretion in a 24 hour urine collection? These are fairly accurate measurements of renal function.
5. What is your serum HC03; i.e., do you have any degree of metabolic acidosis?
6. If you are overweight, how far above your ideal body weight are you, exactly? Obesity plays a negative role in the treatment and outcome of hypertension.
7. Is your blood pressure well controlled?
8. Have you been assessed for Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS)? In your age group if you have significant HTN that is somewhat or very difficult to control Secondary causes of hypertension must be sought. These include RAS, endocrine disease, pheochromocytoma, etc.

I would strongly recommend you have a nephrologist evaluate you. Not only does a nephrologist specialize in renal disorders, of which there are several primary glomerulopathies which may afflict you, they are also experts in the evaluation and treatment of hypertension.

Don't wait for further evaluation and treatment. Hypertension does its damage over time and the longer you wait the more damage will occur, not just to your kidneys but other organs as well, especially the cardiovascular system.

I hope this is helpful to you.

DrEarp