Kidney disease: preventing progression

Although it was once believed that most chronic kidney disease inevitably progressed to end stage renal disease, we now know that it is possible to slow or even halt the progression of kidney disease.

So what can you do? Surprisingly, there is quite a bit you can to slow down kidney disease, including the following:

• Eat a healthy diet and follow any dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian.
• Exercise regularly.
• Keep your blood pressure and blood sugar under control.
• Quit or cut down smoking.
• Take medications as prescribed by your doctor.
• Follow other recommendations made my your health care team.

Your doctor may prescribe you a blood pressure medication called an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (e.g., ramipril, perindopril) or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB, e.g., valsartan, losartan), as they slow the progression of kidney damage.

It is important for people with kidney failure to have their kidney function monitored regularly, preferably by a nephrologist, so that treatments can be adjusted accordingly.