Identifying Risks/Testing
Your nephrologist evaluates kidney function through specific tests. Your Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is key, revealing how effectively your kidneys filter blood and determining your kidney disease stage.
The five stages of GFR are:
- Stage 1: Normal kidney function (GFR > 90)
- Stage 2: Mild decrease (GFR 60-89)
- Stage 3: Moderate decrease (GFR 30-59)
- Stage 4: Severe decrease (GFR 15-29)
- Stage 5: Kidney failure (GFR <15)
Protecting Your Kidneys
Your kidneys are essential for your health. They filter your blood, balance minerals, and help create hormones for strong bones and red blood cells. If they don’t function properly, waste can accumulate, blood pressure may rise, and you might retain excess fluid.
Specific health issues can increase your risk of kidney problems, including:
- High blood pressure: can damage the kidney blood vessels
- Diabetes: affects kidney filtering
- Being overweight: adds strain to your kidneys
Monitoring these conditions is vital for protecting kidney health. If your kidneys fail, treatments like dialysis can help.
A kidney diagnosis can be overwhelming, but our healthcare team is here to support you with personalized care and nutritional guidance.
