K.N.O.W. Home Health - POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) – Patient Education

What It Is

Polycystic kidney disease is a condition where many cysts (small, fluid-filled sacs) grow in the kidneys. These cysts make the kidneys bigger and can stop them from working properly.

Causes and Risk Factors

PKD is usually inherited, meaning it runs in families. It happens when certain genes are passed from parents to children.

You are more at risk if:

A parent or close family member has PKD
You are middle-aged or older (cysts often grow over time)

Signs and Symptoms

Early warning signs:

Pain or fullness in your back or sides
Feeling tired or weak
Blood in your urine (pee)

Other symptoms:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Kidney stones
Swollen belly from large kidneys or cysts
Headaches (sometimes from high blood pressure)

Complications if Untreated or Not Following Care Plan

If PKD is not managed well, it can cause:

Kidney failure (loss of kidney function)
Severe high blood pressure that can harm your heart and brain
Kidney infections
Problems in other organs like liver cysts or aneurysms (bulging blood vessels)

Treatment and Self-Care Measures

Control high blood pressure with medicine and healthy lifestyle.
Drink enough water to stay hydrated but check with your doctor about fluid limits.
Take medicines as prescribed to protect your kidneys.
Avoid smoking—it harms kidneys and blood vessels.
Manage pain with safe medicines advised by your healthcare provider.
Treat infections quickly with antibiotics.

Common Types of Medications

Blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors, ARBs)
- Purpose: Lower blood pressure to protect kidneys and heart.
- Side effects: Dizziness, cough, or high potassium levels.
Pain relievers (acetaminophen recommended; avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen if kidneys are weak)
- Purpose: Manage pain safely.
- Side effects: Some medicines can harm kidneys if used too much.
Antibiotics – Used if infections occur.

Dietary Needs

Eat a balanced diet low in salt to help control blood pressure.
Limit foods high in sodium like canned or processed foods.
Follow your doctor’s advice about protein and fluid intake.
Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.

Lifestyle Changes

Exercise regularly but avoid heavy lifting or contact sports that might hurt your kidneys.
Quit smoking to protect your kidneys and heart.
Keep stress low and get enough sleep.
Keep regular medical checkups to monitor kidney health.

Safety Considerations

Take all medicines as prescribed and report side effects.
Avoid over-the-counter pain medicines unless approved by your doctor.
Watch for signs of infection or worsening symptoms.
Wear a seatbelt and avoid injuries to your belly area.

Prevention and Maintenance Tips

Monitor blood pressure regularly.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Avoid dehydration but follow your doctor’s advice on fluid intake.
Report any new symptoms quickly to your healthcare provider.
Follow all medical appointments and lab tests to track your kidney function.

When to Call for Help

Call your Home Health Agency or Doctor if:

You notice swelling in your legs, ankles, or belly
You have pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse
Your urine changes color or has blood
You have fever or symptoms of infection
You feel very tired or dizzy
You notice headaches or vision changes

Call 911 or Go to the Emergency Room if:

You have severe difficulty breathing
You have chest pain or sudden weakness/numbness
You lose consciousness or have seizures
You have severe belly pain or injury
You pass very little or no urine for a long time

Patient Homework/Assessment

Instructions: Choose “True” or “False” for each statement. Correct any false statements.

True or False – PKD causes cysts to grow in the kidneys.
True or False – PKD can be inherited from family members.
True or False – High blood pressure is not related to PKD.
True or False – Pain in your sides or back can be a symptom of PKD.
True or False – Blood in the urine is never a sign of PKD.
True or False – Controlling blood pressure helps protect your kidneys.
True or False – Drinking lots of water is always bad for people with PKD.
True or False – Smoking damages your kidneys and should be avoided.
True or False – You can take any over-the-counter pain medicine safely with PKD.
True or False – Regular checkups and lab tests are important for PKD management.
True or False – PKD can cause kidney failure if not managed well.
True or False – Diet and lifestyle have no effect on PKD progression.
True or False – Swelling in the legs or belly can be a warning sign in PKD.
True or False – Antibiotics are used to treat infections in PKD patients.
True or False – Exercise is not recommended at all for PKD patients.
True or False – Avoiding injuries to your belly is important in PKD.
True or False – Headaches can be caused by high blood pressure in PKD.
True or False – You should report any sudden vision changes to your doctor.
True or False – Kidney stones and infections are common problems in PKD.
True or False – You should follow your doctor’s instructions about diet and fluids.

Individualized Patient Questions

Do you know if PKD runs in your family?
What medicines are you taking for blood pressure or pain?
How often do you check your blood pressure?
Have you noticed any changes in your urine?
Do you have any pain in your sides or back?
How much water do you drink daily?
Have you had any infections or fevers recently?
Are you following a low-salt diet as recommended?
Do you smoke or use tobacco products?
When is your next appointment or lab test scheduled?

Answer Key with Explanations PKD

True – PKD causes many cysts to grow in the kidneys.
True – PKD is often inherited from parents or close family members.
False – High blood pressure is commonly related to PKD and can worsen kidney damage.
True – Pain in your sides or back can be a symptom of PKD due to cyst growth.
False – Blood in the urine can be a sign of PKD and should be reported.
True – Controlling blood pressure helps protect your kidneys from further damage.
False – Drinking water is important, but sometimes fluid intake needs to be limited based on doctor advice.
True – Smoking harms the kidneys and blood vessels and should be avoided.
False – Some over-the-counter pain medicines can harm the kidneys and should be taken only if your doctor approves.
True – Regular checkups and lab tests help monitor kidney health and disease progression.
True – Untreated PKD can lead to kidney failure.
False – Diet and lifestyle changes can help slow PKD progression and protect your health.
True – Swelling in legs, ankles, or belly can be a sign of worsening PKD.
True – Antibiotics are used to treat infections that can occur with PKD.
False – Exercise is encouraged but should be safe and avoid heavy lifting or contact sports.
True – Avoiding injuries to your belly is important to protect your kidneys and cysts.
True – High blood pressure from PKD can cause headaches.
True – Sudden vision changes may be related to blood pressure issues and need prompt medical attention.
True – Kidney stones and infections are common in PKD.
True – Following your doctor’s instructions about diet and fluids is important for managing PKD.