Anemia is a common complication for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that can get progressively worse as a person’s kidney function declines. Anemia happens when your body produces too few red blood cells, and if anemia is severe enough, it can cause depression, fatigue, heart problems and even stroke.
The kidneys play an important role not only by filtering impurities from your blood, but also by releasing certain hormones that help control your blood pressure and stimulate your body to produce red blood cells. When kidney function begins to decline, the kidneys produce lower hormone levels (Erythropoietin), which usually promotes red blood cell development. This is what causes anemia.
While the symptoms of anemia can vary, you may experience any of the following:
These symptoms can also indicate other conditions, so it is important to bring them up with your primary care provider or nephrologist.
Depending on how advanced your anemia and chronic kidney disease are, your nephrologist may recommend one or many of the following treatment options:
At Hattiesburg Clinic, our board-certified nephrologists are some of the most experienced and tenured kidney care doctors in the region, providing high-quality treatment for those living with kidney disease. Diagnosis and timely management of the complications of kidney disease can be half the battle, offering patients a higher quality of life and heading off disease progression down the road. Our primary goal is prevention, and we focus on coordinating your care with each of your doctors here within Hattiesburg Clinic’s network to achieve that result. Contact one of our practices below with any questions or to make an appointment.