Divya Arora The short answer Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor, while losartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). Both block the renin-angiotensin system, which helps regulate blood pressure and pressure inside the kidney’s filtering units, called glomeruli. In people with CKD—particularly those with albuminuria (excess albumin in the urine)—ACE inhibitors and ARBs can reduce pressure within … Read more
The short answer If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), the main over-the-counter pain relievers to be cautious about are NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), including ibuprofen, naproxen, and high-dose aspirin. These medicines can reduce blood flow through the kidneys and may trigger acute kidney injury (AKI) or worsen existing CKD, particularly with higher doses, repeated … Read more
The short answer Gout and kidney disease are closely connected, but the relationship goes in both directions. Your kidneys normally remove much of the body’s excess uric acid, a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. When kidney function is reduced, uric acid may accumulate in the blood. High uric acid can contribute … Read more
The short answer Flank pain is common in polycystic kidney disease (PKD), especially autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD), but the pain is not always caused simply by “large cysts.” Pain can come from cyst growth and pressure, but sudden or severe pain may also result from cyst bleeding, cyst infection, kidney stones, urinary infection, or another … Read more
The short answer IgA nephropathy (IgAN), also called Berger’s disease, is a kidney disease in which IgA-containing immune deposits build up in the glomeruli—the tiny filters that clean your blood. This can cause inflammation and allow blood and protein to leak into the urine. (NIDDK) The disease varies considerably from person to person. Some people … Read more
The short answer Renal artery stenosis can cause high blood pressure, but not every person with renal artery narrowing has renovascular hypertension. Renal artery stenosis means that one or both arteries supplying the kidneys have become narrowed. When the narrowing significantly reduces blood flow, the affected kidney may interpret the reduced pressure as if the … Read more
The short answer Diabetic kidney disease usually develops gradually, but there is no single timeline that applies to everyone. Persistent high blood glucose can contribute to changes in the kidney’s tiny filtering units, called glomeruli, along with changes in the kidney’s blood vessels and supporting tissues. One important correction to the idea of a simple … Read more
The short answer: Some low-sodium salt substitutes can be a problem for people with CKD because they replace some or most of the sodium chloride with potassium chloride. This can substantially increase potassium intake, which matters when the kidneys cannot remove potassium efficiently. However, not everyone with CKD needs to avoid potassium or salt substitutes. … Read more
The short answer: If you have CKD and need to control phosphorus, checking the ingredient list can be more useful than looking only at the Nutrition Facts panel. Phosphorus added during food processing is generally absorbed much more readily than phosphorus naturally present in many plant foods. Look for ingredient names containing “phos”, including phosphoric … Read more
The short answer: The amount of protein you eat may matter as much as, or more than, whether it comes from plants or animals. High protein intake can increase pressure and blood flow within the kidney’s filtering units, a process called glomerular hyperfiltration. In CKD, avoiding excessive protein is therefore important. Evidence also suggests that … Read more