Why Chronic Kidney Disease Isn’t Healing?

There are many lifestyle changes, such as diet changes, you can make to slow down, halt, or even reverse chronic kidney disease (CKD).

You probably know some of them. But if you know what you can do, why isn’t your CKD getting better?
A new study published in Kidney Medicine reveals what may be the main reason that CKD progresses and how to address it.

CKD is a health condition in which the kidneys do not function properly. Patients with CKD need to follow specific dietary and activity guidelines to manage their disease. Managing CKD correctly can help slow it or halt its progression.

However, self-management isn’t always easy. Patients with CKD often face emotional and psychological challenges that can influence how well they manage their condition.

This fact prompted a group of scientists from Leiden University in the Netherlands to study the relationship between psychological distress and adherence to CKD self-management.

The scientists surveyed 460 CKD patients online. The patients had various estimated glomerular filtration rates, indicating a range from mild to severe CKD.

The patients completed online questionnaires, providing insights into their mental health (depressive symptoms, anxiety, and psychological distress) and how they were managing their CKD.

After consolidating all the responses, the scientists drew the following key conclusions.

1. More than a quarter (27.2%) of the CKD patients reported experiencing psychological distress.

2. Of those who experienced psychological distress, 69.8% failed to follow one or more self-management recommendations.

3. Those with higher degrees of psychological distress were less likely to follow dietary recommendations and were less physically active. Their smoking habits and body mass index (BMI) weren’t influenced by their psychological state.

4. Almost 80% of patients who reported psychological distress failed to follow at least one self-management guideline. Those with more severe distress symptoms often failed to adhere to three or more recommendations.

5. Depressive symptoms had effects similar to those of general psychological distress, while anxiety primarily influenced patients’ dietary adherence.

Every increase in psychological distress was linked to a higher likelihood of not following multiple self-management recommendations. In other words, the more distressed patients felt, the more likely they were to neglect various guidelines for managing their CKD.

This means that ignoring mental health can become a significant barrier for CKD patients trying to manage the condition. Addressing psychological well-being can be as crucial as addressing physical health.

How exactly can you halt and even reverse your CKD? Thousands of readers have done just that using the simple lifestyle guidance found here…