What Is Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease results from damage to the nephrons, the tiny structures
inside your kidneys that filter blood.

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Usually the damage occurs very gradually over years. It happens in both
kidneys. There aren’t any obvious symptoms, so you don’t know it’s
happening.

Common causes of kidney disease

• Diabetes: In diabetes, the body doesn’t use glucose (sugar) very well. The
  
  glucose stays in your blood and acts like a poison. If you have diabetes, you
  
  can prevent kidney disease by controlling your blood sugar levels.
• High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels
  
  in your kidneys. When this happens your kidneys cannot filter wastes from your
  
  blood very well. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) be sure to take
  
  any medicines your doctor prescribes.
• Heredity: Some kidney diseases result from hereditary factors, and can run
  
  in families. If your family has a history of any kind of kidney problems, you
  
  may be at risk for kidney disease and should talk to your doctor.

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