While it's not possible to reverse kidney damage, you can take steps to slow it down. Taking prescribed medicine, being physically active, and eating well will help. You'll also feel better and improve your overall well-being.
Acute kidney failure can be fatal and requires intensive treatment. However, acute kidney failure may be reversible. If you're otherwise in good health, you may recover normal or nearly normal kidney function.
If you decide not to begin dialysis treatments, you may live for a few weeks or for several months, depending on your health and your remaining kidney function. Many of the complications of kidney failure can be treated with medicines, but only dialysis or transplant can filter wastes from your blood.
Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar (diabetes) all harm the kidneys and can lead to chronic kidney disease. If you are leading a heart-healthy lifestyle (regular exercise and a nutritious plant-based diet), that will help protect your kidneys.
If the decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is due to acute kidney injury with a sudden decrease in kidney function, this can commonly be reversed. If the kidney disease is due to chronic kidney disease (CKD), the recovery of eGFR is usually not possible.
GFR generally declines at a rate of 1 mL/min/year. However, patients who lose renal function faster than the average age-related decline in GFR tend to progress to ESRD. Krolewski et al. defined progressive renal decline as an eGFR loss of ⩾3.3% per year.
Don't eat ham, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunch meats, chicken tenders or nuggets, or regular canned soup. Only eat reduced-sodium soups that don't have potassium chloride as an ingredient (check the food label.) Also, only eat 1 cup, not the whole can.
Life Expectancy by Sex
For a 60-year old woman, stage 1 life expectancy is 18 years, while stage 2 is only one year less. For stage 3 kidney disease, her life expectancy would be 11 years.
As mentioned before, stage 3 kidney disease can be managed efficiently when diagnosed early. Although it may be different for every patient since their lifestyle factors play an important role, the average life expectancy for people diagnosed at 40 is 28 years for women and 24 for men.
70- to 74-year-olds on dialysis live 3.6 years on average, compared with 12.2 years for their healthy peers; 75- to 79-year-olds on dialysis live 3.1 years on average, compared to 9.2 years; 80- to 85-year-olds on dialysis live 2.5 years on average, compared to 6.7 years; and.
Urine and blood tests are used to detect and monitor kidney disease. Currently, the key markers used include abnormal urine albumin levels and a persistent reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
A GFR of 60 or higher is in the normal range. A GFR below 60 may mean kidney disease. A GFR of 15 or lower may mean kidney failure.
Avoid processed foods and choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead. Follow a low-salt diet. Salt should be limited especially if you have high blood pressure, protein in your urine, or swelling, or difficulty breathing. Eating less than 2000 mg a day of sodium is recommended.
A low GFR means your kidneys aren't filtering your blood as well as they should. A GFR under 60 means you have kidney disease. If the number is below 15, you have kidney failure and will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Healthy options for kidney disease are protein, egg whites, fish, unsaturated fats, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, apple juice, grape and cranberry juice, light colored soda. The amount of protein intake per day varies depending on the stage of kidney disease.
Avocados: Avocados are often touted for their nutritious qualities, including their heart-healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants, but one thing they aren't good for is your kidneys. This is because avocados are a very rich source of potassium.