The kidney spiral: High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease (information for patients)

HHS HealthBeat (April 13, 2011)
The kidney spiral

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

With health problems, one thing can lead to another. Kidney disease is a case in point. Diabetes can lead to kidney disease, and this in turn to heart disease.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nilka Rios Burrows:

``The primary causes are diabetes and high blood pressure. And all too often, these two conditions occur together, particularly as people age.’’ (7 seconds)

She says high blood sugar and high blood pressure damage the kidneys. So people can reduce their risk of kidney disease – or help manage kidney disease if they have it – by keeping blood sugar and blood pressure under control. Healthy eating, physical activity and regular checkups can help with that.

An announcement about kidney disease awareness is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease
The kidney spiral
Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:01:00 -0500

On this page:

•What is high blood pressure?
•How does high blood pressure hurt the kidneys?
•What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure?
•What are the signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
•How can kidney damage from high blood pressure be prevented?
•How can blood pressure be controlled?
•Can medicines help control blood pressure?
•Who is at risk for kidney failure related to high blood pressure?
•Points to Remember
•Hope through Research
•For More Information

The kidneys play a key role in keeping a person’s blood pressure in a healthy range, and blood pressure, in turn, can affect the health of the kidneys. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can damage the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels. Extra fluid in the body increases the amount of fluid in blood vessels and makes blood pressure higher. Narrow, stiff, or clogged blood vessels also raise blood pressure.

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Hypertension can result from too much fluid in normal blood vessels or from normal fluid in narrow, stiff, or clogged blood vessels.

People with high blood pressure should see their doctor regularly.

open here to read the full-text:
High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease


Points to Remember

•Every year, high blood pressure causes more than 25,000 new cases of kidney failure in the United States.
•Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is present when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is below 60 milliliters per minute (mL/min).
•More than 30 milligrams of albumin per gram of creatinine in a urine sample is another sign of CKD.
•People with CKD should try to keep their blood pressure below 130/80.
•Two groups of medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) lower blood pressure and have an added protective effect on the kidneys.
•African Americans are six times more likely than Caucasians to develop hypertension-related kidney failure.
•Early management of high blood pressure is especially important for African Americans with diabetes.