>> A doctor speaks with a patient in his office.
>> Are there medications for kidney disease?
>> Well, most people with diabetes or high
blood pressure, which are the major causes
of chronic kidney disease, are
on a number of medications.
They are on medications to lower
blood sugar if they have diabetes.
They are on medications frequently
for blood cholesterol,
and they may be on other medications.
Controlling high blood pressure
is very important.
And most people with chronic kidney
disease require several medications.
Among the medicines that we use to control
blood pressure are two kinds of medicines
that have a specific benefit to the kidney.
They not only lower blood pressure
but they are actually known
to protect the kidney from damage.
Those medications are either ACE inhibitors
or angiotensin receptor blockers,
also known as ARBs.
Many people with chronic kidney
disease benefit from being
on these medications among all the
other medications that they might be on.
>> What about a water pill?
>> Well, many people with chronic kidney disease
and high blood pressure are on
what's known as a water pill.
The medical name is a diuretic.
And it's actually not a water pill; it's a
pill to help your kidney get rid of salt.
And as it gets rid of salt, the water follows.
People can avoid having to take a water pill
or diuretic or may be able to reduce their dose
if they're careful about the
amount of salt that they eat.
