Kidney failure is when your kidneys stop working well enough for you to live without dialysis or a kidney transplant. Kidney failure can happen very suddenly (called acute renal failure) or slowly over time. In most cases, kidney failure is permanent. This is called end-stage renal disease or ESRD. How is kidney failure (ESRD) different from chronic kidney disease (CKD)? What causes kidney failure? How can I prevent kidney failure? What are the tests for kidney failure?
CKD means that your kidneys are damaged. With CKD, your kidneys may still be working some, but theyre not working as well as they should. Kidney failure is the most severe stage of CKD. Kidney failure is when your kidneys are no longer working well enough for you to live without dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Diabetes and high blood pressure cause most cases of ESRD. Other causes include:
The best way to prevent kidney failure is to prevent CKD. If you have CKD, work with your doctor to slow it down. You may not be able to fix the damage that is already done, but you might be able to keep the damage from getting worse. If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, it is very important for you to manage these. Work with your doctor to learn how.
Other ways to help protect your kidneys are to:
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The tests for kidney failure are the same as the tests for CKD. If you think that you may be at risk for kidney failure, ask your doctor about these tests:
eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)
Urine Test
Blood Pressure
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Kidney Failure Causes, Tests, and Preventions - American ...