Stage 3 Kidney Disease (CKD): Symptoms & Treatments

Chronic kidney disease is a problem affecting about one in seven American adults^[1], and most of them do not even know that they have the disease.  If you skip regular doctors appointments, you may not know that you have poor kidney function until you reach end stage renal disease.

The severity of chronic kidney disease is measured on a scale from 1 (mild) to 5 (severe). If you are diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease, there are steps you can take to preserve your existing kidney function and prevent kidney failure.

If you have moderate kidney damage or stage 3 disease, making some changes to your lifestyle can give you a longer life expectancy and help you avoid some of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with the later stages of kidney disease.

Stage 3 Kidney Disease

Stage three CKD is defined as moderate damage to the kidney. It is diagnosed using blood tests and urine tests to measure the amount of creatinine and other toxins in your blood that are normally filtered by the kidneys.

Symptoms of stage 3 CKD include:

• Itchy skin.
• Fluid retention.
• Low red blood cells.
• Changes in urination.

To preserve kidney function:

• Maintain healthy blood pressure.
• Control blood sugar levels.
• Follow a kidney diet.
• Manage your stress.
• Avoid hypertension.
• Take your prescriptions as directed.

If you do not take early action to prevent further kidney damage, your disease may progress to stage 5 chronic kidney disease, which may require dialysis or even a kidney transplant.

What Is Stage 3 Kidney Disease?

When kidneys are functioning normally, they filter your blood to clear out toxins and regulate your electrolytes and fluid balance. Kidneys also release hormones that help your body make red blood cells and prevent bone disease.

A slow progression of decreased kidney function means you have chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease stage 3 means that you have mild to moderate kidney damage. A kidney doctor can measure the extent of your kidney damage using a blood test to look for high potassium levels, high creatinine, and low sodium.

Treatments For Stage 3 Kidney Disease

Eat The Right Foods

A kidney diet is usually low in sodium, phosphorus, potassium, and protein. Most patients who have severe kidney disease also have to limit their fluid intake. Kidney patients should consume a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat.

Since a kidney diet requires low protein intake, patients with kidney problems need to be picky and only eat high-quality sources of protein like lean meats and fish.

Doing some research about what foods repair kidneys can help you avoid progression to kidney failure. Foods that help with anxiety are important for lowering your blood pressure and preventing disease progression.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your kidney health. According to the National Kidney Foundation^[2], smoking can cause changes in your blood vessels that decrease blood flow to your kidneys. This reduced blood flow puts you at increased risk of developing stage 3 chronic kidney disease or even kidney failure.

Quitting smoking is not just good for your kidneys. When you quit smoking, you decrease your risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. 

Take Your Medication

If you have advanced kidney disease, it is important to follow your treatment plan closely. You may need to take iron supplements, blood pressure medicine like ace inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers to prevent further damage to your kidneys.

Manage Your Blood Pressure

One of the best ways to manage your blood pressure is to eat more foods that lower blood pressure.  You can also look into the best CBD oil for blood pressure to help you.

Manage Your Blood Sugar

High blood sugar can cause kidney damage in a few different ways. First, high blood sugar can cause systemic high blood pressure, which is not good for the kidneys. In addition, large amounts of sugar going through the kidneys can cause damage to the tiny blood vessels and filters inside the kidney, making it hard for them to function properly.  A renal dietitian can help you create a kidney-friendly diet to manage your blood sugar levels.

Tips For Living With Stage 3 Kidney Disease

If you are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, do not lose hope. You can manage your kidney disease by making a few lifestyle changes.

Exercise Daily

Research published by Nephron Clinical Practice^[3] shows that daily exercise is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Exercise can help you get better blood flow to your kidneys, maintain bone strength, and improve your mental health. All of these can improve your overall health if you are dealing with CKD stage 3.

Manage Stress

If you have high stress levels or trouble sleeping, you may be at an increased risk of kidney disease. High levels of stress increase your blood pressure and stress hormones, both of which are harmful to your kidneys.

Journaling, deep breathing, and visualization can all help manage stress and anxiety.  In addition to using calming techniques, you can try other natural remedies for anxiety like CBD, herbs, and essential oils.

Maintain A Healthy Diet

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends^[4] that people with CKD or in the early stages of renal failure avoid high salt and high potassium foods. People with CKD should also decrease their protein intake and avoid saturated fats whenever possible.

You might also choose to add supplements like multivitamins or CBD gummies for high blood pressure. Make sure you speak to your medical provider before adding any new supplements or making big changes to your diet, since both may interact with the medications you take.

When To See A Doctor

If you suspect you may have chronic kidney disease, it is important to seek medical care right away. Early detection of kidney problems can help you manage your condition and prevent further damage.

If you notice that you are gaining water weight, have frequent muscle cramps, are urinating more or less frequently than normal, have itchy skin, or get tired easily, you may need some lab tests or imaging tests to take a look at your kidney function.

In addition, if you have uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure readings, or a family history of kidney problems, you should talk to your doctor about your risk of developing advanced kidney disease.

Conclusion

If you notice symptoms of CKD or a kidney doctor diagnoses you with stage 3 CKD, you will need to make lifestyle changes to prevent your initial diagnosis from progressing to end-stage kidney disease.

Management of stage 3 CKD includes taking your prescription medications, eating a kidney-friendly diet, exercising, and quitting smoking. If you are diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension, talk to your doctor about what you need to do to preserve kidney function.

While chronic kidney disease can be a scary diagnosis, following your treatment plan and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will keep you from progressing to advanced stages of kidney failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

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