March is National Kidney Month. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. 37 million American adults have CKD, and millions of others are at increased risk. Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure. Learn more about CKD and how Telligen can help your members manage this condition below.
Signs of Kidney Disease
Early kidney disease usually doesn’t have any symptoms. Testing is the only way to know how well your kidneys are working. The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the sooner you can get treatment to help protect your kidneys. Get checked for kidney disease if you have any of the following conditions:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- a family history of kidney failure
As kidney disease gets worse, a person may experience the following symptoms:
- chest pain
- dry skin
- itching or numbness
- feeling tired
- headaches
- increased or decreased urination
- loss of appetite
- muscle cramps
- nausea
- shortness of breath
- sleep problems
- trouble concentrating
- vomiting
- weight loss
Complications of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease can lead to other health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and anemia (low blood count). CKD can also increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
CKD is divided into five stages. The stages are based on the eGFR test result and how well your kidneys work to filter waste and extra fluid out of your blood. As the stages go up, kidney disease gets worse and kidney function decreases. At each stage, it is important to take steps to slow down the damage to your kidneys.
Managing Kidney Disease
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you can take steps to protect your kidneys from more damage.
The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the better. The steps you take to protect your kidneys from damage also may help prevent heart disease—and improve your health overall. Making these changes when you have no symptoms may be hard, but it’s worthwhile.
Ten Ways to Manage Kidney Disease
- Control your blood pressure
- Meet your blood glucose goal if you have diabetes
- Work with your health care team to monitor your kidney health
- Take medicines as prescribed
- Work with a dietitian to develop a meal plan
- Make physical activity part of your routine
- Aim for a healthy weight
- Get enough sleep
- Stop smoking
- Find healthy ways to cope with stress and depression
Telligen can help your members manage CKD through all stages of the disease. Our Chronic Kidney Disease Care Management program provides early identification of CKD to allow a timely initiation of measures aimed at slowing disease progression. Our case managers and health coaches work one-on-one with members to understand their conditions and coordinate care. We help members adhere to their treatment plan to avoid the emergency room and inpatient admissions, improving health outcomes and reducing health costs for both members and their employers.
Contact a Health & Well-Being Expert
Learn more about how we can help improve your members’ health.