N18.5: Chronic kidney disease, stage 5

Your kidneys are damaged. As a result, your kidney function has been insufficient for a long time.

There are normally 2 kidneys in the body. They filter blood and create urine. They thus help to detoxify the body. Furthermore, the kidneys regulate blood pressure and the mineral levels in the blood, among other things.

If your kidneys’ function is insufficient, they can no longer perform their tasks properly. This is also known as kidney failure. Kidney failure can develop as a result of long-term high blood pressure or elevated blood sugar, for example.

If your kidneys’ function is insufficient, you may feel weaker than usual. You may also get high blood pressure or existing high blood pressure can get worse. If the kidneys stop producing enough urine, you excrete little urine. Too much fluid then remains in the body. This fluid can then collect in the legs, for example.

With kidney failure, substances accumulate in the body which are normally excreted along with the urine. These accumulated substances can damage the body. They can cause damage to the heart or the brain, for example. You may get tired quickly and find it difficult to concentrate. You may also be short of breath, and feel nauseous or itchy.

The kidneys also produce messenger substances. With kidney failure, there may be insufficient production of messengers. This can impact on the body in many ways. For example, the bones may become less solid. Not enough of the red blood pigment may be produced. The mineral levels and the acidity in the blood may also change.