blood pressure and kidney disease · the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get...

High blood pressure is the second most common cause of kidney disease.

Your heart pumps your blood through tubes (blood vessels) called arteries and veins. When your blood moves through the blood vessels, it pushes against the inside of them and creates pressure. Blood pressure is the pressure created inside your arteries and veins when your blood �lows through.

High blood pressure and your kidneys

High blood pressure (hypertension) means your heart is working too hard to pump your blood. It usually shows no signs. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get tested.

High blood pressure can cause kidney disease. When blood �lows too forcefully through the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys, this can hurt or weaken these tiny vessels. Over time, this can lead to kidney disease. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure. Healthy kidneys help control your blood pressure. When your kidneys don’t work well, they don’t do a good job controlling your blood pressure. This can cause high blood pressure.

• It measures how hard your heart is working to pump blood.

• It uses an in�latable cuff that tightens around your arm and slowly loosens. As it loosens, a meter measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart pumps.

• A blood pressure test can be done by your doctor or nurse, at home, or in some pharmacies and grocery stores.

• Check your blood pressure regularly, and tell your doctor if you get a high result.

KidneyFund.org | 866.300.2900 | [email protected]

Blood pressure andkidney disease

What does a blood pressure test do?

What’shealthy?

120/80120/80 (120 over 80) or less is considered healthy for most people.

140/90 140/90 (140 over 90) or more is too high.

Lessthan

Morethan


Keep a healthy blood pressure to help prevent or control kidney disease.

Take your medicine every day, as directed• Skipping doses of your medicine can be harmful to your health.• If your doctor told you to take medicine to lower your blood pressure, take your

medicine exactly how your doctor told you to.

Follow a heart-healthy diet• There are certain changes you can make in your diet that can help keep your heart

healthy.• Limit salt. Eat less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium (salt) per day.• Limit unhealthy fats. Eat less than 13mg saturated fat per day and avoid trans fats (found on a nutrition label).• Eat nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Do not smoke or use tobacco• Smoking raises your blood pressure and can make kidney disease worse. • Get advice from your doctor about how to quit.

Exercise most days of the week• Exercise is important for heart health.• Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week.• Be creative! Try walking, dancing, or playing a sport.

Keep a healthy weight• Even losing just a few pounds can make a big difference for your health.• Talk to your doctor about how much you should weigh.

Limit alcohol• Drinking too much can increase your blood pressure.• Men should have no more than 2 drinks per day, women should have no more than 1

drink per day.

Reduce stress• Stress can raise your blood pressure. • Work with your doctor to learn ways to manage and cope with stress.

For more information about the connection between high blood pressure and kidney disease, visit: KidneyFund.org/hbp

Blood pressure andkidney disease

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease.

Diabetes is a disease that causes your body to have trouble making or using insulin. Insulin is a hormone (a chemical your body makes) that helps your body turn the sugar you eat into energy. In a healthy person, insulin controls the amount of sugar in your blood, and keeps the sugar at a healthy level.

Diabetes and your kidneys

In a person with diabetes, insulin is not used the right way, and too much sugar stays in your blood. Over time, having too much sugar in your blood can damage the small blood vessels in your kidneys and can lead to kidney disease.

Diabetes can also damage the body’s nerves. The nerves in your bladder make you feel like you need to urinate (pee) when your bladder is full. If your nerves are damaged, you might not feel the need to urinate. This can cause urine to build up in the bladder, or stay in the bladder too long, which can lead to kidney damage.


Diabetes andkidney disease

You are at higher risk for diabetes if you:

45+

Are over 45 years old Are overweight Have a family memberwith diabetes

Have highblood pressure

Are African-American,Hispanic, Native American,

or Asian Paci�c Islander

If you think you might be at risk, talk to your doctor about getting tested.

Diabetic kidneyKidney

Blood vesselsBloodstream

Sugar

Too much sugar stays in

your blood.

Healthy kidney

Tests to diagnose diabetesFasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood after fasting overnight (not eating or drinking).

Low riskof diabetes

High riskof diabetes

99Lessthan

140Lessthan

100Morethan

141Morethan

Kidney

Blood vesselsBloodstream

Sugar

A1C blood test - An A1C test is used to diagnose diabetes or measure how well you are managing your diabetes if you already have it. It measures the average amount of glucose (sugar) that has been in your blood over the last three months.

Non-fasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood about 2 hours after you have had something to eat or drink.

Less than5.7%

Normal

More than6.5%

Diabetes

5.7%-6.4%

Pre-diabetic

Control your diabetes to help prevent kidney disease.


Diabetes andkidney disease

Control your blood sugar• Take your medicine exactly the way your doctor told you to.• If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar often to know your levels. When you have

diabetes, your blood sugar should be:

• Visit your doctor regularly, and have an A1C blood test at least two times a year. Aim to have an A1C of 7% or less if you have diabetes.

Work with your health care team• Visit your doctor regularly. Tell them if your blood sugar is often too high or too low.• Meet with a diabetes educator. A diabetes educator is a health care professional who can

teach you how to manage your diabetes.• Meet with a dietitian. A dietitian can help you make a healthy eating plan that works for

you and your family.

Follow a diabetic diet• Keep a low-salt, low-sugar diet. Limit unhealthy fats. Eat less than 13mg saturated fat per day and avoid trans fats (found on a nutrition label).• Eat nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose foods that are

high in �iber. Drink water instead of juice or soda.• Practice portion control. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables, one quarter with

lean protein (like chicken breast or �ish) and one quarter with whole grains.

Exercise most days of the week• Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week.• Be creative! Try walking, dancing or playing a sport.

Keep a healthy weight• Talk to your doctor about how much you should weigh.• Even losing just a few pounds can make a big difference for your health.

Do not smoke or use tobacco• Get advice from your doctor about how to quit.• Smoking can make diabetes and kidney disease worse.

For more information about the connection between diabetes and kidney disease, visit: KidneyFund.org/diabetes

70-130 Beforeeating 180 2 hours after

eating 90-150 atbedtime

lessthan

Your kidneys are vital organs. You need them to live, just like you need your heart and lungs. They �ilter waste and extra �luid out of your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also do other important jobs including: • Control chemicals and �luid in your body. • Help control your blood pressure. • Help keep your bones healthy. • Help your body make red blood cells.

Most people have two kidneys. Each kidney is located near the middle of your back, one on each side of your spine. Each kidney is connected to your bladder by a thin tube called a ureter.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)• CKD means you have lasting damage to your kidneys that may get worse over time.• It is most often caused by diabetes or high blood pressure. • CKD may be preventable. Finding and treating CKD early may delay or even prevent kidney failure.


You are at higher risk for CKD if you:

All aboutkidney disease

60+

Are over 60 years oldHave a family memberwith kidney disease

Haveheart disease

Havediabetes

Have highblood pressure

Are African-American,Hispanic, Native American,

or Asian Paci�c Islander

kidneyureterbladder

Blood enters the kidney

Filtered blood exits the kidney

Blood goes through the kidney �ilters and waste is carried out through urine

Blood enters the kidney

Waste stays in the body instead of being carried out through urineDamaged kidneys do not

�ilter out waste from the blood as they should

Healthy kidney

The kidneys

Damaged kidney


Signs of advanced kidney diseaseCKD usually gets worse slowly. Most people have no symptoms until the kidneys are badly damaged. If your kidneys are beginning to fail, you may notice any of the following symptoms: • Itchy skin • Muscle cramps • Nausea and vomiting • Not feeling hungry


All aboutkidney disease

• A test to look for blood or protein (albumin) in your urine.• Blood or protein in your urine can be an early sign of kidney disease. • There are usually no visible signs of blood or protein in your urine unless your kidney damage is very bad.

• A blood test that shows how well your kidneys are working.• Your eGFR is a number based on your age, gender, race/ethnicity, and how much creatinine (a natural waste product) is in your blood. • You might have kidney disease if your eGFR is less than 60 for three months or more.

For more information about chronic kidney disease, visit: KidneyFund.org/ckd

Tests for kidney disease

Preventing kidney disease• Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney disease. If you have either of these conditions, talk to your doctor about how to control your blood sugar or blood pressure.• Live a healthy lifestyle:

• Swelling in your feet and ankles • Too much or not enough urine (pee) • Trouble catching your breath • Trouble sleeping

Follow a low-fat,low-salt diet

Set a goal to exercisefor 30 minutes a day,

5 days per week

Have regular checkupswith your doctor

Do not smokeor use tobacco

Limitalcohol

Keep ahealthy weight

Kidney failure• Kidney failure happens when the damage to your kidneys is very bad and your kidneys stop working.• It is also known as ESRD (end-stage renal disease).• ESRD has no cure, and you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.

eGFR testestimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

(blood creatinine test )

Urine test


Tests forkidney health

Urine test

eGFR test estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (blood creatinine test )

• A urine test looks for blood or protein (albumin) in your urine.• A technician will look at a sample of your urine under a microscope to check for blood or protein.

• Check your blood sugar often to know your levels. In most cases, your blood sugar should be:

• Aim to have an A1C of 7% or less if you have diabetes.

• The eGFR blood test shows how well your kidneys are working.• Your eGFR is a number based on your age, gender, race/ethnicity, and how much creatinine (a natural waste product) is in your blood. • Healthy kidneys �ilter creatinine out of your blood. Having too much creatinine in your blood can be a sign of kidney disease.

Blood or protein in your urine could be a sign that your kidneys are not working as well as they should.

2025

30 35 40 45

If your eGFR is below 15, you may have kidney failure and need to start dialysis or have a kidney transplant.

If your eGFR is under 60 for 3 months or more, you may have kidney disease.

If your eGFR is 60 or more, this usually means your kidneys are working the way they should.

To diagnose diabetes

Tests for diabetes

If you have diabetes

15 60

60Morethan

Lessthan Less

than

70-130 Beforeeating 180 2 hours

after eating 90-150 atbedtimeLESS THAN

Fasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood after fasting overnight (not eating or drinking). 99Less

than

140Lessthan

100Morethan

141Morethan


Non-fasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood about 2 hours after you have had something to eat or drink.

Less than5.7%

Normal

More than6.5%

Diabetes

5.7%-6.4%

Pre-diabetic

Low riskof diabetes

High riskof diabetes

For more information about testing for kidney disease, visit: KidneyFund.org/tests

Visit your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your test results!


Tests forkidney healthBlood pressure test

Body mass index (BMI) test

• A blood pressure test measures how hard your heart is working to pump your blood.• High blood pressure is the second most common cause of kidney disease.• Kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure.

• BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight.• Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of kidney disease.

1. When your kidneys are permanently damaged and don’t work as well as they should, it is called chronic kidney disease (CKD).

2. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.

3. The best ways to help prevent kidney disease are to keep a healthy blood sugar level and a healthy blood pressure.

4. Finding and treating kidney disease early may help prevent kidney failure.

5. The best way to know how well your kidneys are working is to get a blood or urine test.

Important things to remember

140/90 140/90 (140 over 90) or more is too high.Morethan

120/80 120/80 (120 over 80) or less is considered healthy for most people.

Lessthan

Normal

Underweight

Obese

Overweight

LESS THAN 18.5

18.5 - 24.9

30+

25 - 29.9

Body mass index (BMI)


eGFReGFR test

estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate(blood creatinine test )

• The eGFR blood test shows how well your kidneys are working.• Your eGFR is a number based on the amount of creatinine (a natural waste product) in your blood.• Creatinine is a waste product that comes from using your muscles. People who are more muscular naturally have higher levels of creatinine. • Healthy kidneys �ilter creatinine out of your blood. Having too much creatinine in your blood can be a sign of kidney disease.

Learn your eGFR• The only way to know your eGFR is to have a blood test to check how much creatinine is in your blood.• eGFR is calculated using your creatinine level, age, gender and race/ethnicity.

If your eGFR is less than 60• An eGFR of less than 60 for 3 months or more could mean you have kidney disease.• If this was your �irst eGFR test, ask your doctor when you will need to be tested again.

If your eGFR is less than 15• An eGFR of less than 15 could mean you have kidney failure.• Visit your doctor right away.

If your eGFR is 60 or above• This is a normal result for most people.• Ask your doctor when you should be tested again.• Follow a healthy lifestyle to prevent kidney disease.

15 6020

2530 35 40 45

5055

Kidney disease

NormalKidney failure

60Morethan

60Lessthan

15Lessthan


Slow or help prevent kidney disease!If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar.

Keep a healthy blood pressure.

Follow a low-fat, low-salt diet.

Do not smoke or use tobacco.

Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week.

Keep a healthy weight.

Ask your doctor if there are any medicines you should take to protect your kidneys.

For more information about eGFR, visit: KidneyFund.org/egfr-test

eGFR and the stages ofchronic kidney disease (CKD)

Stage 1: Kidney damage and eGFR greater than 90 • Stage 1 CKD means you have some signs of kidney damage (like protein in your urine, or physical damage to the kidneys), but your eGFR is greater than 90.• An eGFR greater than 90 is considered healthy if you do not have other signs of kidney damage.• Follow a healthy lifestyle, and talk to your doctor about how to prevent your kidney damage from getting worse.

Stage 2: Kidney damage and eGFR 60-89• Stage 2 CKD means you have some signs of kidney damage (like protein in your urine, or physical damage to the kidneys), but your eGFR is between 60 and 89.• An eGFR between 60 and 89 is considered healthy if you do not have other signs of kidney damage. • Follow a healthy lifestyle, and talk to your doctor about how to prevent your kidney damage from getting worse.

Stage 3: eGFR 30-59• Stage 3 CKD means your kidneys are moderately damaged, and are not working as well as they should.• Talk to your doctor about seeing a nephrologist (a kidney doctor).

Stage 4: eGFR 15-29• Stage 4 CKD means your kidneys are severely damaged, and are not working nearly as well as they should.• Work with your nephrologist to make a treatment plan.

Stage 5: eGFR less than 15• Stage 5 CKD means your kidneys are getting close to complete failure, or have already failed. • Once your kidneys have failed, you will need to start dialysis or have a kidney transplant to live.

blood pressure and kidney disease · the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get...

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