Nephrosclerosis is a condition where blood vessels in the kidneys thicken and harden, leading to kidney failure. It’s more common in older adults and people of African descent, and can be caused by chronic high blood pressure or glomerulonephritis. Treatment involves managing blood pressure through medication, diet, and exercise. Preventative measures include keeping blood pressure low and stable through lifestyle changes.
Nephrosclerosis is a condition characterized by thickening and hardening of the blood vessels in the kidneys. This condition can lead to kidney failure and can be very serious. Many older adults have a benign form, which means their blood vessels are slowly changing, but the changes don’t happen quickly enough to require treatment. For patients with benign nephrosclerosis, it’s still a good idea to be aware of the condition and take steps to prevent the progression from accelerating. Other patients have malignant nephrosclerosis, in which case the damage occurs quickly enough for treatment and surgery to be necessary.
This condition appears to be more common in adults over 60 and in people of African descent. Some studies have suggested that the higher rate in people of African descent may be related to social rather than genetic factors, as these individuals sometimes have difficulty accessing health care, particularly preventive care. It can occur more commonly in people with chronic high blood pressure or glomerulonephritis. The condition also causes high blood pressure, leading to a constant rise in blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause headaches, vision changes, nausea, and organ damage, among other things.
A doctor can diagnose nephrosclerosis with a blood test to check the levels of different components in the blood, along with urinalysis, a CT scan, and a patient interview to discuss the patient’s life history and determine the onset of the symptoms. Doctors may also examine the eyes for signs of damage caused by high blood pressure, especially if a patient reports visual disturbances or vision problems.
Treatment for nephrosclerosis is to manage your blood pressure. Medications can be used to lower blood pressure, or the patient can try to control it with diet and exercise. By keeping blood pressure low, patients can prevent the secondary complications of nephrosclerosis, including organ damage, vision loss, and kidney failure.
Although some changes to the arteries are inevitable as people age, there are some steps people can take to prevent malignant nephrosclerosis and sclerosis of other areas of the vascular system. Keeping your blood pressure under control is probably the most important step; dietary measures and exercise can be taken to keep blood pressure low and stable. If a patient begins to suffer from chronic hypertension even after following the lifestyle recommendations, a doctor should be consulted to see if there is an explanation for the increased blood pressure.
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