Is kidney failure inevitable in old age?

[hairyfairy]

I have read a number of times that it`s common for the kidneys to fail as a result of old age. Is there a way to preserve good kidney function for life?

[phillen]

I think its just like anything they wear out! i imagine the best you can do is look after yourself as best you can eat healthily keep fit etc, for most people other things have caused the kidneys to fail sooner like heart problems high blood pressure & other illnesses which are out of your control!

[wingsofadove]

Sometimes it would seem to be simply the luck of the draw as with many illnesses. But as phillen says, healthy eating, healthy living and moderation in all things, these are all good advice. I would say that disposing factors such as high BP can be controlled, and this is very important. Being told at 40 years of age that I would be facing kidney failure if my Creatinine levels went much higher I am now 83, my levels have risen but i am 'healthy' still. My high BP was not found until my late thirties, and perhaps doctors should monitor blood pressure regularly from a fairly early age? Also any urinary infections should be taken very seriously and not only dealt with but monitored to check they have cleared properly following antibiotics, as I understand that repeated infections if left untreated, as happened to me many moons ago, can actually cause high BP and heart problems. In an ideal world these checks would happen.......but.....!

[jaykay777]

I've read that old age can cause kidney disease, but I've never read that old age itself is the cause of kidney failure. I am 85 and was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease 6 month ago. I have a good nephrologist, and follow the diet recommended by a renal dietician. So far, my condition has remained stable. However, old age does make a person more likely to develop other conditions, like high blood pressure, that can affect the kidneys. My uncle's kidneys shut down when he was  93, but by then he suffered from multiple other diseases.