Good Essay On Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Information:

Illness/disease name and information.
Chronic Kidney Disease is a long term kidney disease due to evident kidney damage reducing its function to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and persistent albuminuria of greater than 30mg of urine albumin per gram of urine creatinine. Research shows that 13% of the population or 20 million people in United States suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease. Most of the time it is associated with aging. But it it most cases this is a complication brought about by diabetes and high blood pressure. This also creates persistent complications such as high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, and nerve damage. In worst case it can lead to kidney failure that will require dialysis or kidney transplant (National Kidney Foundation, n.d.).

Anatomy/physiology of illness/disease.

CKD is brought about by other diseases most commonly diabetes and hypertension or high blood pressure. When the blood sugar is high, it damages different organs such as the kidney. It can also be caused by autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, and sclerroderma, birth defects such as polycistic kidney disease. When kidney gets damaged, over time, it reduces its function in filtering metabolic substances in the blood thus the toxins spreads in the body which leads to other symptoms or problem. If not treated, it progressively destroys the kidney until it cannot filter blood anymore and needs to have a dialysis or transplant (UMMC, 2013).

Signs/Symptoms associated with illness/disease.

Some people are not diagnosed with chronic kidney failure not until kidney functions start to fail. Most commonly, early stage looks like other diseases that show loss of appetite, ill-feeling, headache, nausea, and unintentional weight loss.
When this progresses, persistent symptoms that can be observed may include: abnormal color of skin, bone pain, poor concentration, numbness or swelling of hands and or feet, ketone breath, easy bruising, excessive thirst, frequent hiccups, problems with sexual function, amenorrhea, shortness of breath , sleeping problems and vomiting most often in the morning. This may not all happen at the same time, but if observed, this is indicative that the kidney has gotten worse (UMMC, 2013).

Common treatments, procedures, medications, etc. associated with illness/disease

It is said that this disease has no instant cure, but there are a variety of treatments and medications that can be done to address the symptoms by either slowing down or preventing the progressions (NHS, 2014). There are two ways to treat this disease. One is through taking up medicine that would be helpful in managing high blood pressure. The use of drugs with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is one of the suggested medications. However, there are side effects in taking these drugs, which include persistent, dry cough, dizziness, tiredness or weakness and/or headaches. The strict observance of the limit of the blood pressure count should be monitored that it would be at or below 130/80 mmHg (NHS, 2014).
Another way of treating the disease requires a lifestyle change. Usually, these include stopping smoking, eating foods that are low in fat and cholesterol value, avoiding intake of foods with too much salt and potassium and alcoholic drinks and exercising regularly (UMMC, 2013).

Describe health promotion activities within the community that address the needs of the identified population affected by the health issue:

Health promotion activities within the community are not specifically identified for the chronic kidney disease, but are also generally for every disease or illness that might infect a person. Activities such as zumba sessions, fun runs and cycling events are being organized to promote physical fitness activities to people of all ages (from children to the elderly). The designation of no smoking zones (especially in public areas) is also one of the initiatives of the community that addresses the needs of the affected population.

Discuss demographics (regional, national, global): (Include typical of affected persons, incidence rates, death rates, risk factors, etc.)

High prevalence of CKD is reported among people ranging from 60 years old and above for United States. Mortality rates in USA have declined over the past years since 2001 while survival rates are growing steadily since 1995 (National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, 2012).

Describe social issues related to illness/disease:

Include treatment cost, loss of employment, availability of resources for treatment and any other relevant issues you may identify.
Because there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, treatment is costly for patients because medications can go on one’s whole lifetime. Resources for treatment Because of the vulnerability and exposure of the patient to different sicknesses due to CKD, it adversely affects their employment potential, leading to foregone income. This in turn affects the problem of the costly treatment of CKD.

Health agency perspectives/Regulatory issues:

Prevalence, cost, common issues faced, regulatory requirements, community needs, impact on health care team, etc.The lack in health care resources, such as facilities, equipment and number of health care providers has been an emerging problem by the health agencies.

Health care policy impact or need.

There is a need for the creation of health care policies specifically designed for CKD patients with the consideration of the problems that were identified by the different sectors concerned.

References

National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). About Kidney Chronic Disease. Retrieved February 27, 2015 from https://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease/aboutckd
NHS-UK. (2013). Chronic kidney disease – Treatment. Retrieved February 27, 2015 from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Kidney-disease-chronic/Pages/Treatment.aspx
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. (2012). Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States. Retrieved February 27, 2014 from http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/KUDiseases/pubs/kustats/#12