Chronic Kidney Disease: Causes, Pathophysiology, and Impacts

Running head: NURSE AND COMMUNITY 1
Nurse and community
Name
Institution

NURSE AND COMMUNITY 2
Abstract
The thesis of the term paper presented entails deep evaluation of the chronic disease specifically
chronic kidney disease which has been a major health challenge in the community. Chronic
kidney disease is common among the male gender who are above forty years of age, therefore,
its management and prevention, impacts on the individual or the family are necessary in attempt
to control or prevent a further attack to the elderly members of the community.
The paper also discusses the main cause of chronic kidney disease and its brief pathophysiology
and citing some of the management procedures and how to handle patients who have been
diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Impacts of chronic disease to the patients and to the
community as a whole are also critically discussed in the context of the paper.

NURSE AND COMMUNITY 3
Chronic kidney disease
The term chronic kidney diseases can be literally defined as the lasting damage to the
kidneys that can worsen over time. It is a long-lasting kidney disease which can lead to renal
failure. The disease is mainly caused by diabetes that is type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure
(Chang, et al, 2016).
The medication for chronic kidney disease has not been established since the condition
cannot be completely treated but medication can be given in order to control the symptoms from
getting worse. Dialysis treatment can be done in order to perform some of the kidney duties
which is essential for last stage of the chronic kidney disease that is stage five. Kidney transplant
is also necessary for controlling the disease as it controls some of the symptoms during stage five
of the chronic kidney disease (Akchurin & Kaskel, 2015).
Causes of chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease is caused by various factors which predispose one to the attack of the
chronic disease. The most common cause of chronic kidney disease is identified as high blood
pressure and type 2 diabetes. The mentioned causes are discussed in the context as follows.
High blood pressure. High blood pressure has been identified as the second leading cause of
chronic kidney disease since circulatory systems and the kidney are closely linked by their
functions in the body. kidney is responsible for ultrafiltration of waste products from the blood
and get rid of such waste product from the body hence when there is any blood vessel damage or
malfunction, the kidney will not be able to operate effectively since ultrafiltration process
involves various vessels like nephrons which are responsible for the filtration process, therefore,
any damage of such vessel will result to kidney failure (Crowley, et al, 2017).

NURSE AND COMMUNITY 4
The kidney will be likely affected by the malfunction of the nephrons due to excess waste
products in the body. Waste materials like salts are very harmful to the body hence filtration is
necessary so that they can be disposed from the body but will faulty blood vessels responsible for
the ultrafiltration process, such waste materials will flock in the kidney hence causes kidney
failure (Ganz & Nemeth, 2016).
Damaged kidneys will not able to regulate the blood pressure due to the lack of the
aldosterone hormone which regulates the blood pressure. Aldosterone hormone is secreted in the
kidney hence damaged kidney will not secret the hormone to regulate blood pressure hence high
blood pressure will result in kidney failure. Furthermore, kidney damage and uncontrolled blood
pressure result in a negative spiral as more arteries will be blocked and stops functioning thus
leading to kidney failure.
Type 2 diabetes. One of the main causes of chronic kidney disease is identified as the
diabetes mellitus that is type diabetes. High blood glucose is likely to damage blood vessels
which are found in the kidneys which result in kidney failure. When a blood vessel in the kidney
is damaged, the kidney will not perform its functions normally due to damage of the tiny blood
vessels which are responsible for ultrafiltration process hence a lot of glucose will be discharged
in the kidney which eventually leads to kidney failure (Graciolli, et al, 2017).