What Is End Stage Renal Disease?

End-stage renal disease, is also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically the fifth stage of CKD.A diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease means that you are in the final stage of kidney disease, and your kidneys are not functioning well enough to meet the needs of daily life.This kind of kidney failure is permanent. It cannot be fixed.End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the last stage (stage five) of chronic kidney disease (CKD). When CKD, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) or other kidney diseases develop into ESRD, dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary to live.
What Causes End-Stage Kidney Disease?Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when there is permanent damage to your kidneys.Your kidneys may still work well enough for you to live, even if they have some damage.Many types of kidney diseases attack the nephrons—the tiny units in the kidneys that actually do the filtering.Most cases of ESRD are caused by diabetes or high blood pressure . Some problems you are born with, some reactions to medicines, and some injuries can also cause ESRD. If you have ESRD, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.

How can I prevent ESRD?The main job of the kidneys is to clean wastes and extra fluid from your blood.If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.These are treatments to help replace the job of the kidneys.Other Management Techniques.Diabetics and those with hypertension must control their conditions.Both conditions benefit from drug therapy using angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).A diet low in sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes may be needed, along with fluid restrictions. Caloric intake may need to be increased, and protein consumption may need to decrease.If you have been diagnosed with end stage renal disease, it is important to follow your healthcare team's advice regarding treatment.