Chronic Kidney Disease

If you’re diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), you face a challenging, incurable condition that demands expert care to prevent it from progressing to kidney failure. At Nephrocare MD, double board-certified nephrologist Chadi Saad, MD, offers compassionate and comprehensive kidney care. Dr. Saad helps you prevent kidney disease whenever possible, creates personalized treatment plans to manage CKD, focuses on teaching you how to stay healthy, and provides exceptional dialysis management if your kidneys stop working. Call one of the two offices in Dearborn, Michigan, today or use online booking to get help for CKD. 

What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Chronic kidney disease begins when a health condition injures your kidneys. Though you can slow the progressive disease and reduce future kidney damage, any existing tissue injuries are permanent.

As CKD progresses, you’ll experience signs such as:

• Edema (swelling of your legs, feet, and ankles caused by excessive fluids)
• Frequent urination (especially during the night)
• Dry, itchy skin
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Muscle cramps
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Foamy or bubbly urine

Without treatment, CKD eventually causes such extensive damage that your kidneys can’t work. At that stage, toxic wastes build up in your blood, fluids accumulate in your tissues, and you’re at risk for complications like high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, and imbalances in the minerals needed to keep your nerves, heart, and muscles working.

Why do I have chronic kidney disease? 

Diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) are the top causes of chronic kidney disease. Other health conditions also cause CKD, including:

• Renal artery stenosis
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Glomerulonephritis
• Obstructive uropathy
• Lupus nephritis
• Chronic viral illnesses

Excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and substance misuse can also damage your kidneys.

Can I prevent chronic kidney disease?

Dr. Saad specializes in helping people prevent CKD. He identifies your chances of developing the disease based on your family history and the following risk factors:

• Unhealthy diet
• Lack of exercise
• Overweight or obesity
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• High blood sugar
• Smoking

At Nephrocare MD, you can depend on Dr. Saad to create a prevention plan and teach you how to support healthy kidneys.

How is chronic kidney disease treated?

Dr. Saad closely monitors your kidney health using advanced diagnostics to track the amount of tissue damage. Throughout your treatment, he provides education about every aspect of your care, including teaching you how to understand lab tests and manage life challenges caused by kidney disease, like sexuality and fertility.

He creates individualized care to control your symptoms, slow disease progression, and reduce your risk for complications. CKD treatment always includes a diet to reduce the stress on your kidneys.

You may also need medications to relieve swelling, maintain healthy bones, and treat hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. If your CKD progresses to an advanced stage and your kidneys fail, Dr. Saad offers exceptional dialysis management.

Call Nephrocare MD today or book an appointment online for exceptional care for chronic kidney disease.