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The New Silent Killer: Chronic Kidney Disease

by , | Last updated Jul 29, 2026 | Kidney Health

One-third of people in the USA are at risk for kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 1 in 7 U.S. adults—an estimated 37 million Americans. Chronic kidney disease involves a gradual loss of kidney function. Want to lower your risk for CKD? This blog reveals lifestyle practices that reduce your risk for chronic kidney disease.

The Highly Esteemed Kidneys

Suppose you own a small company, and maybe some of you do. If you pay one employee 24% of your company’s profits, you would consider that worker very valuable indeed. The heart delivers 24% of its cardiac output to the kidney at rest. Of course, as we exercise, some of our blood is shifted away from the kidneys to the muscles.

What makes the kidneys so important? They remove undesirable by-products of metabolism and unneeded compounds and substances to balance your body’s chemistry. Even water, glucose, sodium, potassium, etc. can cause sickness and death if allowed to accumulate. The kidneys also substantially impact your blood pressure and red blood cell production.

The kidneys also influence the production of red blood cells. They help to regulate blood pressure by three distinct mechanisms.

Are You at Risk for Kidney Disease?

If you have an apple-shaped obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, or high blood pressure, you are at risk for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy. Although it may take months or even years to develop fully, it is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide.

Approximately 9 in 10 individuals with early-stage chronic kidney disease remain unaware of their condition due to a lack of initial symptoms.

The disease affects 10-16% of the adult population in Asia, Australia, and Europe, and the US.1 

More Risk Factors for CKD!

Obesity increases the lifetime risk of CKD by 25% compared with individuals with normal weight.2  Hypertension and diabetes contribute to 2/3 of the cases of CKD.

38% of individuals with diabetes will develop CKD.3 49% of adults aged 18 or older with type 1 diabetes were estimated to have CKD.4 Why is this?

High blood sugar damages the kidney’s blood vessels and the filtering units within the kidneys. Additionally, diabetes promotes inflammation inside the kidneys, causes thickening of the renal filters, and reduces blood flow in the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys. Diabetes increases the risk of bladder and kidney infections.5  Prediabetes significantly increases the risk of chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension can constrict and narrow the blood vessels supplying the kidneys. This eventually damages and weakens them throughout the body, including in the kidneys. The narrowing reduces blood flow. High blood pressure can scar the kidneys and damage the filtering mechanisms in the kidneys/

Other Risks Factors

Brain Disorders: Older adults (aged >60 years) with Alzheimer dementia (AD) or depression have an increased risk of end-stage kidney disease  by 67% and 44%, respectively.6

Autoimmune conditions: Systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common autoimmune disease that can damage the kidneys. The are other rarer ones.

Heart disease and heart failure reduce the proper amount of blood flowing to the kidneys.

Smoking accelerates kidney decline.

Polycystic Kidney Disease: An inherited genetic disorder causing fluid-filled cysts to enlarge and replace normal kidney tissue over time.

Untreated hypothyroidism: Thyroid hormones per se are critical regulators of kidney structure and function. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have shown that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with declining kidney function.7 Although not fully conclusive, mounting evidence suggests that hypothyroidism is a risk factor for incident CKD, CKD progression, and higher death risk in kidney disease patients.8

Meds: Frequent and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause permanent kidney damage. Certain antibiotics (Vancomycin, Aminoglycoside antibiotics, like gentamicin), contrast dyes, diuretics, bisphosphonates, and anti-viral medications also raises one’s risk, especially if other CKD risk factors are present,

Complications from Chronic Kidney Disease?

CKD increases the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and progression to kidney failure, even when excluding other traditional risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes.9

Chronic kidney disease triples the risk of dying from the coronavirus COVID-19.10

Annual Checks

Those at elevated risk for CKD should talk to their health care providers.

The National Kidney Foundation recommend checking for CKD can be done with two simple tests: A blood test known as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
A urine test known as the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR)
Both tests are needed to have a clear picture of your kidney health. Having an eGFR under 60 and/or a uACR over 30 for three months or more is a sign you may have kidney disease.

What Are the Problems Resulting from CKD?

  • Anemia, or having a low red blood cell count, can cause fatigue and weakness
  • Extra fluid in the body and swelling in the legs
  • A weakened immune system
  • Loss of appetite or nausea
  • Confusion, problems with memory, brain fog, depression
  • Low calcium and elevated phosphorus levels
  • Osteoporosis
  • Elevated potassium, which can lead to an irregular heartbeat and death

How to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy:

1. Keep your blood sugar in the normal range.

Diabetes substantially increases your risk for CKD and kidney failure. An estimated 33 million Americans have diabetes. Of these, 7 million have yet to be diagnosed. About 40% of diabetics will develop CKD. It gets more serious though. Prediabetes describes the condition of someone who is on the pathway to developing diabetes. In a large study, more than one third of the people with prediabetes were found to have two signs of kidney disease. 11

2. Keep your blood pressure in the normal range (below 120/80).

Hypertension is a definite risk factor for CKD. The converse is also true: CKD can cause hypertension. By adopting a largely plant-based diet of unrefined foods and engaging in daily moderate exercise, one can substantially decrease their risk for type 2 diabetes and hypertension.  Ideally, you want your blood pressure to be consistently below 120/80, but not in the range of low blood pressure.

If you do develop prediabetes, type 2 diabetes or hypertension, you might seriously consider coming to a lifestyle program like the one Wildwood Lifestyle Center offers. Many times lifestyle strategies prevent or can reverse type 2 diabetes and significantly help hypertension. In some cases, the judicious use of medicine is important for controlling these diseases.

3. Eat adequate but not excessive amounts of protein.

Excess protein, especially animal protein, has the potential for damaging the filtering units of the kidneys, especially if one is over 65, or has another risk factor associated with CKD.12 Most people with early CKD do not know they even have it. They are unaware that their higher-protein diet accelerates the decline in kidney function more than if they consumed a lower-protein diet. Reducing protein intake to and substituting soy protein for animal protein can help in the early stages of CKD.

Soy milk consumption is associated with better blood pressure control among diabetic patients with kidney disease.13 Increased consumption of vegetable protein has been linked with prolonged survival among individuals with kidney disease.14

4. Limit the sodium.

Although we need a little sodium and salt, a high-sodium diet accelerates decline in kidney function. Excessive sodium intake impairs the function of tiny blood vessels (arterioles) and can increase arterial stiffness, which increases the risk of high blood pressure. Hypertension, like diabetes, damages the kidneys.

Lowering salt intake improves the heart and kidney health of chronic kidney disease patients.15  Aged cheese, processed foods, and pickles are typically high in sodium. It is a wise policy to read labels. One teaspoon of salt per day is enough for healthy adults. If you have hypertension, prediabetes,  congestive heart failure, or kidney disease, follow your doctor’s and dietitian’s instructions.

5. Eliminate Soft Drinks

Those who frequently consume diet soft drinks are more likely to experience a decline in kidney function. Individuals who drink two or more diet sodas per day have double the risk of faster kidney function decline. This was true even after the researchers accounted for age, caloric intake, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease.16 Because of their high fructose corn syrup content, regular consumption of non-diet sodas may also adversely affect the kidneys. Consuming artificial sweetened beverages also damages the kidneys.

A study of 156,000 individuals concluded that artificially sweetened beverage consumption was linked to an increased risk of incident CKD. Substitution analysis indicates no advantage to using them instead of sugar to reduce the risk of CKD.17

6. Emphasize whole fruits and vegetables.

Whole fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium. Higher levels of urinary potassium excretion, which closely correlate with intake amounts, were linked with a slower decline of kidney function and a lower incidence of cardiovascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes and normal kidney function.18

Potassium is found in fruits and vegetables. Individuals with a serious decline in kidney function need their potassium, sodium, and phosphate intake restricted. They should consume only low-potassium foods under a dietician’s supervision. Potassium-rich foods reduce the risk of hypertension. As kidney disease progresses and the kidneys start to fail, they cannot remove the excess potassium. Hence, low-potassium foods are needed. Salt and phosphorus need to be restricted for the same reason.

Low-potassium veggies: (Use fresh or frozen without sauce or cheese).

  • Asparagusz
  • Brocolli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Green peas
  • Green bean
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Bell peppers
  • Yellow squash
  • Zucchini

Boiling vegetables and draining the water can reduce potassium levels.

Low-potassium fruits (Fresh or plainly frozen)

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Berries
  • Cherries
  • Grapes
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Plums

7. Adapt a healthful plant-based diet.

Plant-based diets counteract the state of insulin resistance typical of patients with chronic kidney disease, and improve blood pressure control.19  20   A higher fiber diet reduces toxic, proinflammatory compounds in kidney disease.21

Evidence from randomized controlled trials supports the role of a vegan, low-protein diet in delaying dialysis, mainly through better control of uremic status (reduced levels of uremic toxins, improved mineral metabolism and acidosis), and in maintaining good nutritional status.22

Prevent and promptly treat bladder infections.

Frequent urinary tract infections may lead to CKD. Bacteria can travel from the bladder, up the ureters, and to the kidneys. A few suggestions here: Drink plenty of water. Cranberries and blueberries help prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls. Ladies, after using the toilet, wipe from front to back.

8. Cultivate a regular schedule.

An internal clock inside the kidneys plays an important role in maintaining balance within the body. The kidneys possess such an intrinsic circadian clock that regulates and coordinates a variety of the organ’s functions.23.

Disturbed circadian rhythms adversely affect the kidneys. Unfortunately, CKD negatively influences our body clocks. Impaired renal function is associated with later onset, shorter duration, and increased sleep fragmentation.24 In individuals with type 1 diabetes, circadian disruption precedes microalbuminuria (protein in the urine) or other clinical evidence of kidney disease.25 

8. Get tested.

As previously mentioned, the risk factors for kidney decline include obesity (especially apple-shaped obesity), diabetes, and hypertension. Glomerulonephritis is a group of diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the kidneys’ filtering units. Recurrent urinary tract infections and polycystic disease may lead to CKD. Moderate and severe psoriasis is associated with renal decline. Certain autoimmune diseases increase the risk for CKD. Obstructions like kidney stones, tumors, or an enlarged prostate gland in men may contribute to CKD. If you have any risk factors, please get the three simple tests that can detect CKD: blood pressure, urine albumin, and serum creatinine.

Most people may not have any significant symptoms until their kidney disease is advanced. People at risk for CKD will want to be very proactive and get the appropriate lab work. The good news is that if caught early enough, its progression can, in many cases, be slowed down considerably. However, if you go undiagnosed too long until the symptoms develop, dialysis might be your only option.

9. Know the symptoms of CKD!

Please note CKD can affect anyone, but men with CKD are 50% more likely to progress to kidney failure than women. The risk for developing chronic kidney disease is 3.8 times higher in African Americans and 2 times higher in Native Americans than for whites. The Asian and Hispanic populations are also at high risk for CKD.26

According to the National Kidney Foundation, the following are possible symptoms of chronic kidney disease. You may notice that you:

  • feel more tired and have less energy
  • have trouble concentrating
  • have a poor appetite
  • have trouble sleeping
  • have muscle cramping at night
  • have swollen feet and ankles
  • have puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning
  • have dry, itchy skin
  • need to urinate more often, especially at night.

10. Improve your gut health.

Inside your gut reside over 100 trillion microorganisms. Many are beneficial and release anti-inflammatory compounds that protect the health. Unfortunately, we have some unfriendly gut bacteria that release pro-inflammatory compounds that attack the gut integrity, enter into the blood, and encourage chronic inflammation. Mounting evidence suggests that chronic systemic inflammation poses risk factors for the cardiovascular complications of chronic kidney disease. If you are at risk for CKD, take special care of your gut health! See these validated ways of improving gut health! It is so much more than eating a high-fiber diet and taking probiotics.

11. Engage in regular moderate exercise.

Avoid extreme exercise. At rest, the kidneys receive 24% of the cardiac output. The kidneys receive only one percent of the cardiac output during running. That is not good if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or CKD. However, increased physical activity may slow kidney function decline in the early stages of kidney disease.27 Regular exercise improves physical and walking capacity for patients with non-dialysis CKD.28

Disclaimer: The information in this article is general and educational in nature. Wildwood Sanitarium, its entities, or authors do not intend this information as a substitute for proper diagnosis, treatment, or counseling from a qualified medical provider who knows the person’s medical history and laboratory work.

Copyright © by Wildwood Sanitarium, Inc. 2026

References:

  1. Man A. Management of Obesity in Adults with CKD. JASN 32(4):p 777-790, April 2021.[↩]
  2. Friedman A. Management of Obesity in Adults with CKD. JASN 32(4):p 777-790, April 2021.[↩]
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/kidney-disease/php/data-research/index.html[↩]
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