Discovering the Links between High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease

Kidney disease or chronic kidney disease which is also known as chronic kidney failure, is a long lasting and irreversible condition that is caused by damage to the kidneys.

The kidneys carry out numerous important functions in the body such as filtering waste from the blood and regulating the blood flow. This is why chronic kidney disease or CKD as it can also be known, is a serious condition that has large implications on the bodys functionality

The most common cause of chronic kidney disease is damaged caused to the kidneys by other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Interestingly, the groups that are most likely to suffer from chronic kidney disease are the same groups of people that are most likely to suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension). For reasons not entirely understood, people of Afro-Caribbean and South Asian (India, Pakistan and Bangladeshi) origins are more likely to develop high blood pressure than other ethnic groups[1] and these are the same groups that are also most likely to develop chronic kidney disease.

Kidney disease often goes unnoticed for some time which is why ‘World Kidney Day’ aims to create awareness of kidney disease and related conditions. The World Kidney Day campaign is running in partnership with World Hypertension Day, which will be held on May 17.

According to Dr. George Mellotte, the President of the Nephrology Society kidney disease is a disease “multiplier” that causes death in many people with diabetes and hypertension and predicts the development of heart problems such as cardiac arrest or heart attack.

He said people found to have chronic kidney disease (CKD), regardless of whether they develop kidney failure, have at least tenfold greater risk of dying from cerebrovascular disease, perhipheral artery disease and heart failure. He also went on to say at least one in three patients over the age of 50 with hypertension has some degree of kidney disease.[2]

High blood pressure affects in the region of 16 million known sufferers in the UK, which equates to approximately one in three of the adult population. High blood pressure can be treated, or prevented, by making changes to your lifestyle, such as exercising more regularly and eating a healthier diet, and cutting back on alcohol consumption and by stopping smoking.

Controlling and monitoring high blood pressure can be assisted by owning a personal blood pressure monitor. Whilst blood pressure is measured during doctor’s visits, it is often beneficial to monitor blood pressure in between appointments to give a more consistent and accurate reading. Home monitoring of blood pressure can help sufferers stick to their lifestyle changes by providing a visual reminder of their condition and give visual progress indicators.

Buying a blood pressure monitor can be very confusing for the individual as these pieces of kit that were once only used by professionals, come with supported by all sorts of numbers and technical terminology. The best advice to follow is that of the British Hypertension Society. The BHS have conducted studies on the leading blood pressure monitors and have compiled a recommendation list based upon the research findings of each.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleID=203

[2] irishhealth.com/article.html?id=15182

Medical Equipment ,
First Aid Kits