Kidney Disease and High Blood Pressure: How are They Related

How the kidneys work

The kidneys are essential organs of the body that are approximately the size of your fist. You have one of them right below each side of the rib cage next to the spine. Blood flows into the kidneys where it goes through a filtering process.

The kidneys are made up of numerous filtering units that help filter the blood. These filtering units are called nephrons. Within the nephron are the glomerulus, a tubule and important blood vessels, including the renal artery and renal vein.

Blood from the renal artery flows into the glomerulus, which allows smaller molecules like toxins and nutrients to pass through to the tubule. The tubule then allows water and important nutrients to be reabsorbed back into the blood and returned to the rest of the body via the renal vein. The fluid and waste that is left in the tubule becomes urine and is excreted from the body.

How kidney disease and blood pressure are related

Because the kidneys are composed of an elaborate network of blood vessels, blood pressure can affect how the kidneys work. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the kidneys to narrow and weaken, which can decrease blood flow to the kidneys. When the blood vessels are damaged, the nephrons in the kidney do not receive enough oxygen or nutrients and are unable to filter the blood.

Without proper filtering of blood in the kidneys, toxins can build up in the body. This can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Over time CKD that is untreated can lead to kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which can be life-threatening. People with ESRD will either need a kidney transplant or life-time dialysis treatments, or treatments that use a machine to filter the blood. According to the CDC, about 30 million people of 15% of adults have CKD.

People with high blood pressure do not often experience symptoms. For this reason, high blood pressure can be a silent disease that is only felt when it leads to a serious problem like kidney failure. Symptoms of kidney problems may include:

• Trouble urinating
• Increased urgency to urinate, especially during the night
• Edema, or swelling, in the legs
• Worsening high blood pressure

Take care of your kidneys by taking care of your blood pressure

Kidney problems often develop over a long period of time. That means there are ways to help reduce your risk of kidney disease or kidney failure. One of the primary ways to take care of your kidneys is to watch your blood pressure. By preventing or managing high blood pressure, you can reduce your risk of complications from kidney disease. Other ways to prevent kidney disease and high blood pressure include:

• Quitting smoking
• Managing stress
• Adhering to a heart-healthy diet (with limited salt intake)
• Sticking to a regular exercise routine
• Managing body weight

Medications are also an important component of managing high blood pressure. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, taking your medications is one of the best ways to prevent kidney problems. Medications for high blood pressure include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as Lisinopril, benazepril or enalapril, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), like Edarbi, losartan, or valsartan, as well as diuretics, like torsemide or spironolactone.

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