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Chronic kidney disease is usually caused by other conditions that put a strain on the kidneys

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys don’t work as well as they should, the NHS said.

But what are the symptoms and stages of the disease?

Here’s what you need to know.

Chronic kidney disease is a common condition often associated with getting older.

Although it can affect anyone, it’s more common in people who are black or of south Asian origin.

The condition can get worse over time and eventually the kidneys may stop working altogether, but this is uncommon.

Many people with CKD are able to live long lives, the NHS said.

In the early stages, there are usually no symptoms of kidney disease.

It may only be diagnosed if you have a blood or urine test for another reason and the results show a possible problem with your kidneys.

At a more advanced stage, symptoms can include:

Chronic kidney disease is usually caused by other conditions that put a strain on the kidneys. Often, it’s the result of a combination of different problems.

CKD can be caused by:

The NHS said you can help prevent CKD by making healthy lifestyle changes and ensuring any underlying conditions you have are well controlled.

You should see a GP if you have persistent or worrying symptoms that you think could be caused by kidney disease.

CKD can be diagnosed using blood and urine tests, which look for high levels of certain substances in your blood and urine that are signs your kidneys aren’t working properly.

If you’re at a high risk of developing kidney disease you may be advised to have regular tests to check for CKD so it’s found at an early stage.

The results of your blood and urine tests can also be used to tell the stage of your kidney disease.

This is a number that reflects how severe the damage to your kidneys is, with a higher number indicating more serious CKD.

Your test results can be used to determine how damaged your kidneys are, known as the stage of CKD.

This can help your doctor decide the best treatment for you and how often you should have tests to monitor your condition.

Your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)  is a measure of how well your kidneys are working and results are given as a stage from 1 of 5:

Your ACR (urine albumin to creatinine ratio) test helps identify kidney disease that can occur as a complication of diabetes and results are given as a stage from 1 to 3:

For both eGFR and ACR, a higher stage indicates more severe kidney disease.

Although there’s no cure for CKD, treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse.

Your treatment will depend on how severe your condition is, but the main treatments are:

You will also be advised to have regular check-ups to monitor your condition.