High blood pressure (Hypertension) is a leading cause of kidney disease and kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). It is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its prevalence ranges from 60% to 90% depending on the stage of CKD and its cause.

 

What is High Blood Pressure?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, force of blood pressing against the walls of your arteries. When it is too high, your heart has to work harder.This can cause serious damage to your arteries.

 

How does High Blood Pressure affect the kidneys?

Hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels and filters in the kidney, making removal of waste from the body difficult. Once a person is diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, dialysis – a blood cleansing process or kidney transplantation are necessary.

 

What are the symptoms of Kidney Disease?

The symptoms of kidney disease include:

• High /worsening blood pressure
• Decrease in amount of urine or difficulty urinating
• Oedema (swelling/fluid retention), especially in lower legs.
• A need to urinate more often, especially at night

 

Symptoms of advanced kidney disease may include -

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sleep problems
• Weight loss
• Muscle cramps
• Feeling tired / drowsiness
• Shortness of breath, etc.

 

Who is more likely to develop High Blood Pressure or kidney disease?

You are more likely to develop high blood pressure if -

1. You are older. Blood pressure tends to increase with age as blood vessels naturally thicken.
2. It runs in your family.
3. Have unhealthy lifestyle habits. Unhealthy habits include consuming a high salt diet, alcoholism, and not being physically active.

 

Apart from high blood pressure, kidney disease can also be caused by -

1. Diabetes
2. Family history of kidney disease

 

“High blood pressure can be both the cause and a result of kidney disease”.

 

How can I prevent Kidney Disease from high blood pressure?

 

The best way is to take the necessary steps to keep your blood pressure normal.These steps include a combination of lifestyle changes –

1. Try to keep your blood pressure controlled.
2. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked on regular basis.
3. Quit smoking.
4. Be physically active and exercise regularly – regular physical activity lowers blood pressure. Simple aerobic activities like brisk walking, swimming, and cycling can be very helpful. 
5. Watch your body weight – if you are obese or overweight, aim to reduce your weight. Measure your Body Mass Index(BMI) and your goal should be BMI lower than 25, to prevent or control high blood pressure.
6. Be careful with your medicines – if you have been detected with high pressure, take the medicines prescribed by your doctor, for keeping it under check. Some over-the-counter painkiller medications, especially NSAID (Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), include popular pain relievers and cold medicines that can damage your kidneys if you take them for a long time. Alternative medicines could do more damage to the kidneys due to heavy metal content.
7. Manage stress – Develop mechanisms to cope with your stress and relax. Find what works for you – be it yoga or meditation or listening to music or focusing on something calm and peaceful.
8. Diet and Nutrition- Following a healthy eating plan can help lower your blood pressure. Reducing the amount of sodium in your diet is an important part of your healthy eating plan.
   

   Your diet should have:

   • Fruits, vegetables, whole grains
   • Should be low in fat and cholesterol
   • Should have fat free or low-fat milk and dairy products, fish, poultry and nuts.
   • Should have less of red meat, sweets, added sugars and sugar-containing beverages.
   • Should be rich in nutrients, protein and fiber