According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 30 million adults in the U.S. have chronic kidney disease. Of these cases, many go undiagnosed. High blood pressure is often considered one of the highest risk factors for CKD. While it may not seem like blood pressure and chronic kidney disease are an obvious connection to keep track of, understanding changes in your blood pressure could be a lifesaver.
The Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Chronic Kidney Disease
Once you understand the relationship between blood pressure and chronic kidney disease, maintaining a healthy blood pressure will seem even more important. At Durham Nephrology, we are here to provide resources and the best course of treatment for your health situation.
How are blood pressure and chronic kidney disease connected?
Blood pressure is considered one of the most common symptoms to diagnose chronic kidney disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the most crucial step you can take to treat kidney disease is to control your blood pressure. While it may be one of the keys to discovering the condition, it can also be one of the most important ways to get a handle on it.
What are the best methods to monitor my blood pressure?
Whether you are at home or in a doctor’s office, there are multiple ways to stay on top of monitoring your blood pressure. At your usual doctor’s appointments, your doctor will take your blood pressure and ensure it is in the best place compared to your current health and the measures taken in the past.
However, if you prefer the ability to be at home while still ensuring your medical needs are taken care of, remote medical monitoring can be the optimal option for you. Simple to set up and easy to use, our partners at OnTrack Technologies provide the resources you need to stay healthy from home. The Bluetooth capabilities allow doctors to monitor the data even though they are not there. This makes it easy to keep track of your health data while not worrying about self-reporting.
How can I lower my blood pressure?
While medication is often used to lower blood pressure levels, it is also possible to do with changes to your lifestyle. The Mayo Clinic provides a list of ten practical ways to reduce the levels without introducing medication.
- Control weight increase or lose weight if necessary
- Keep up with a regular exercise routine
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Aim to reduce sodium in your diet
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Quit smoking
- Reduce your caffeine intake
- Find ways to reduce stress
- See your doctor regularly
- Get support
What are the risk factors of chronic kidney disease?
While understanding the relationship between blood pressure and chronic kidney disease is essential, knowing the disease’s risk factors is also vital. This is to ensure you are moving forward with the knowledge to want to maintain a healthy blood pressure to prevent the possibility of the disease in your health journey.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health, many health problems can stem from chronic kidney disease. One of the main concerns for chronic kidney disease is renal failure.
Blood pressure and chronic kidney disease can form a dangerous relationship for someone’s health. Once you understand that relationship, you can make the necessary changes to your lifestyle and monitor the situation as needed. Are you looking for a way to monitor your health data from the comfort of your own home? Our staff at Durham Nephrology can answer any of your questions about OnTrack Technologies and help you decide if that is the best course of action for you. Check out our website or give us a call at (919) 477-3005.
