Take the Kidney Disease Quiz Kidney Stones Slideshow Pictures High Blood Pressure Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Pranay Kathuria, MD, FACP, FASN

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention

Chronic kidney disease cannot be prevented in most situations. You may be able to protect your kidneys from damage, or slow the progression of the disease by controlling your underlying conditions such as diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.

• Kidney disease is usually advanced by the time symptoms appear. If you are at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease, see your health care practitioner as recommended for screening tests.
  
  
• If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, follow the treatment recommendations of your health care practitioner. See your healthcare practitioner regularly for monitoring. Aggressive treatment of these diseases is essential.

Avoid exposure to drugs especially NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs), chemicals, and other toxic substances as much as possible.