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More than 800 million people across the world today are suffering from chronic kidney disease or CKD – one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, according to a new study. Researchers believe that what makes this disease even more dangerous is that it does not have many signs or symptoms in the early stages, and most people realise it only after the condition becomes advanced. ,The study, conducted by The Lancet, revealed that cases of kidney disease have doubled since 1990. “Globally, in 2023, 788 million (95% uncertainty interval 743 to 843) people aged 20 years and older were estimated to have CKD, up from 378 million (354 to 407) in 1990. The global age-standardised prevalence of CKD in adults was 14·2 per cent (13·4 to 15·2), a relative rise of 3·5 per cent (2·7 to 4·1) from 1990,” according to the study. ,,What is chronic kidney disease? , Chronic kidney disease means that there is damage to your kidneys and they are not working as well as they should. Your kidneys are like a filter in your body, which takes out wastes, toxins, and extra water from your blood. They also help with other functions like bone and red blood cell health. So, when your kidneys begin to lose their function, they are not able to filter waste, which means the waste builds up in your blood. ,Kidney disease is also known as chronic because kidney function slowly decreases over time. CKD causes kidney failure, also called end-stage kidney disease. Not everyone with CKD will develop kidney failure, but the disease will often worsen without treatment. There’s no cure for chronic kidney disease. ,,What causes CKD? , Chronic kidney disease happens when your kidneys get damaged and are not able to filter your blood. With chronic kidney disease, the damage tends to happen over the course of several years. A few reasons include: ,,Glomerulonephritis , This condition damages the glomeruli, which are the filtering units inside your kidneys. ,,Polycystic kidney disease , It is a genetic disorder that causes many fluid-filled cysts to grow in your kidneys, reducing the ability of your kidneys to function. ,,Membranous nephropathy , It is a disorder where your body’s immune system attacks the waste-filtering membranes in your kidneys. ,,Kidney stones , Obstructions of the urinary tract due to stones ,,Nephrotic syndrome , It is a collection of symptoms that indicate kidney damage. ,,Diabetes-related nephropathy , It happens due to damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves, which is caused by diabetes. ,,Signs and symptoms of CKD , A few signs and symptoms of kidney disease do not show any signs, but as the disease worsens, a few symptoms may include: ,A need to pee more often Tiredness, weakness, low energy level Loss of appetite Swelling of your hands, feet, and ankles Breathlessness Foamy or bubbly pee Puffy eyes Dry and itchy skin Trouble concentrating Trouble sleeping Numbness Nausea or vomiting Muscle cramps High blood pressure Darkening of your skin
