Last was Kidney Week – an annual rager organized by the American Society of Nephrology (the study of kidneys). Over 13,000 doctors and professionals gathered in Philadelphia to discuss all things related to the kidney – scientific findings, kidney news and whether or not kidney beans are better than lima beans. Are they? All kidding aside, there is one thing nephrologists kept bringing up – like it was that kid that farted during homeroom attendance – and that is sleep apnea’s ability to decrease kidney function in diabetic patients with kidney disease.
If you stay tuned to the Easy Breathe blog, you’ll know that there is a major link between type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea. However, there is also a link between diabetes and chronic kidney disease. But could there be a link between sleep apnea and decreased kidney function or kidney disease? Dr. Roberto Pisoni – from the Medical University of South Carolina – wanted to find out. Pisoni analyzed patients who had both diabetes and chronic kidney disease – the patients were also screened for sleep apnea by using a standard questionnaire.
Lo and behold, 61% of patients that scored highly on the sleep apnea questionnaire had much lower kidney function than the patients that had a lower score. This test is probably the only failing grade you’d be proud to put on your fridge. For the people that got higher scores, the news wasn’t entirely grim – there is a silver lining. Researchers can now use this survey and questionnaire method to determine who is most at risk for the progression of kidney disease and renal failure as a result of type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea.
The researchers also concluded their findings with some more good news: early detection of obstructive sleep apnea is the key to stopping the progression of kidney disease and kidney failure. They also mentioned that besides patients with diabetes – patients with a high risk for hypertension and a familial history of kidney failure are also at a high risk of making their condition worse by not getting tested and treated for sleep apnea. Hypertension, which is a fancy name for high blood pressure, and diabetes, make up over two-thirds of cases.
At the end of the day, you could say that your kidneys are just as important as your lungs or heart –they filter blood, they balance fluids and electrolytes. Without your kidneys, you’d be dead as a doornail. This is exactly why nephrologists recommend that you get tested for sleep apnea if you have any suspicion that you may be suffering from the condition. And one of the best ways to get tested is to test yourself – in the comfort of your own home. If you have a physician, you can opt for the Home Sleep Test. If you do not, you can opt for the Easy Sleep Apnea Test. Regardless, both tests may just offer the answers you need to get your life and kidneys back on track.
Source: “Sleep Apnea Linked to Chronic Kidney Disease,” Your Health. 11/14/2014.
