Nearly 50% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension. More than 1 in 7 have chronic kidney disease. With such high percentages, it’s likely you or someone you know has one or both of these conditions.

You may not know that hypertension and kidney disease are related. The development of the other can be led by either condition.

High blood pressure can damage the organs in the body. If you have a disease like kidney disease, the extra fluid and toxins left in the body can lead to high blood pressure.

You may not experience any symptoms during the early stages of hypertension. Symptoms may appear as the conditions progress.

If you have hypertension or a related disease, you should know what to do if you experience 10 symptoms.

Swelling, or edema, can occur because damaged kidneys are unable to get rid of extra fluid and salt in the body. Edema is most likely to occur in the legs, feet, and ankles. It can also occur in the hands or face.

You may experience muscle cramps from fluid and electrolyte imbalances from poor kidney filtering. Blood flow problems can also cause people with hypertension and kidney disease to feel muscle cramps.

compounds can build up in the body if the kidneys are not functioning. Your sense of taste can be affected.

This can cause a lack of appetite, which can lead to weight loss.

As damaged kidneys allow waste and fluids to build up in the body, feelings of nausea and vomiting can occur.

As hypertension progresses and increases pressure in arteries throughout the body, you may experience greater pressure in the arteries within the cranium, which can lead to headaches.

As toxins build up in the body, it can affect the brain and cause confusion.

The progression of one condition can cause the other to do the same.

Poor functioning of the kidneys can cause elevated high blood pressure.

An increased urge to urinate at night can be a sign of developing a disease.

As the damage to the kidneys progresses, you may find yourself going to the bathroom less often.

Chronic kidney disease has been linked to an increased probability of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. (Having sleep apnea can also increase your risk of hypertension.)

It can be harder to sleep if you have more toxins in the blood.

As toxins build up in the body, you may find that you feel itchy or develop a rash. An imbalance of minerals and nutrients in the blood can cause skin discoloration.

Excess liquids in the body can cause a build up of fluid in the lungs. This can cause chest pain.

Additionally, hypertension can lead to arteries becoming less elastic. This can also lead to angina.

Symptoms and treatments may vary

It’s important to remember that the above-described symptoms and signs of hypertension and kidney disease can vary from person to person.

You may not experience any symptoms, but you may also have more than one symptom at the same time.

All of that can affect the specific treatment options. Make sure to discuss this with your healthcare team.

lifestyle changes and medication are used to address hypertension and kidneys disease.

lifestyle changes your healthcare professional may suggest

  • Reducing or completely eliminating alcohol use is a possibility.
  • quitting smoking
  • Increasing physical activity.
  • Maintaining a moderate weight.
  • A heart-healthy diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Reducing the amount of stress in your life is something that can be done.

Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may suggest a combination of medications.

Doctors believe that lower blood pressure may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.

The drugs are thought to help slow the progression of the disease by keeping the blood vessels from narrowing. The kidneys can remove fluids from the blood with the help of dehydration.

Blood pressure medications do carry some kidney-related risks, though. For example, research indicates that the combination of ibuprofen, Dehydration., and renin angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors can increase the risk of acute kidney injury.

Research from 2021 has also raised questions about whether long-term use of ACE inhibitors may contribute to kidney failure.

Researchers noted that people should continue to take their prescribed ACE inhibitors since they can be lifesaving and play an important role in the treatment of hypertension. But they do state more research into any potential long-term implications for the kidneys is needed.

If you have high blood pressure and/or kidney disease, you can experience a range of symptoms. If you think you have signs of hypertension or a related disease, you should talk to a doctor.

In many cases, treating the conditions will help relieve some of the symptoms you are experiencing and improve your overall quality of life.