Hypertension & CKD Workbook: Your Guide to Blood Pressure Control and Kidney Protection
Control Your Blood Pressure. Protect Your Kidneys. Strengthen Your Heart Health.
High blood pressure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are closely connected—and understanding that relationship is one of the most important steps you can take toward protecting your health.
High blood pressure can damage the kidneys' delicate filtering system. At the same time, declining kidney function can make blood pressure increasingly difficult to control.
But there is good news; effective blood pressure management is one of the most important strategies for protecting kidney and cardiovascular health.
The Hypertension + CKD Workbook, developed by practicing nephrologist Andrew Kowalski, MD, FASN, provides a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to understanding and managing high blood pressure in people living with chronic kidney disease.
This 45-page interactive workbook transforms complex medical information into easy-to-understand lessons, practical monitoring tools, and personalized action plans.
Through 10 educational sessions, you'll learn how blood pressure affects kidney function, how to measure it accurately, which lifestyle changes matter, and how different blood pressure medications help protect your health.
What You'll Learn
1. Understand How High Blood Pressure Damages the Kidneys
Discover how hypertension affects the kidneys' filtering system, contributes to protein leakage into the urine, and may accelerate kidney function decline. Learn why kidney disease can also increase blood pressure through sodium retention, hormonal changes, and altered fluid balance.
2. Understand Your Blood Pressure Numbers and Personal Targets
Learn the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, understand blood pressure categories, and discover why treatment targets may differ based on kidney function, age, medical conditions, and measurement methods. Understand why your ideal blood pressure goal should be individualized with your healthcare team.
3. Learn How to Measure Blood Pressure Correctly
Accurate blood pressure monitoring is essential for making informed treatment decisions. Choose an appropriate home blood pressure monitor, position your body correctly during measurement, and avoid common mistakes that cause inaccurate readings
4. Understand Home Blood Pressure and 24-Hour Monitoring
Discover the difference between office blood pressure readings, home measurements, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Learn about white-coat hypertension, masked hypertension, and why blood pressure patterns outside the doctor's office may provide important information.
5. Discover Lifestyle Changes That Support Healthy Blood Pressure
Explore evidence-based strategies that may help improve blood pressure control. Reducing sodium intake, increasing appropriate physical activity, and other proven methods.
6. Understand Blood Pressure Medications and Kidney Protection
Learn how commonly prescribed blood pressure medications work and why multiple medications may be needed.
Explore the roles of:
ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
Beta blockers
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists
Other treatments used for difficult-to-control hypertension
Understand why certain medications may provide kidney protection beyond simply lowering blood pressure.
7. Learn Why Blood Pressure Can Be Difficult to Control
Discover the difference between apparent and true resistant hypertension. Understand why inaccurate measurements, medication-related problems, excess sodium intake, sleep apnea, and certain hormonal conditions may contribute to persistent hypertension.
8. Recognize Medication Side Effects and Safety Concerns
Learn why blood pressure treatment requires careful monitoring, particularly in people with chronic kidney disease.
Explore important considerations involving:
Low blood pressure and dizziness
Changes in kidney function
Potassium abnormalities
Dehydration
Medication interactions
Acute illness and sick-day planning
9. Track Your Blood Pressure and Kidney Health
Learn how to connect blood pressure readings with important health information, including eGFR, creatinine, urine albumin, potassium, symptoms, and medication changes.
10. Build Your Personalized 90-Day Blood Pressure Action Plan
Develop realistic goals for blood pressure monitoring, medication understanding, lifestyle changes, and follow-up care. Create a practical plan to discuss with your nephrologist or primary care clinician.
More Than a Blood Pressure Guide...An Interactive Kidney Protection Workbook
The Hypertension + CKD Workbook helps you turn knowledge into practical action.
Inside, you'll find:
10 educational sessions written in understandable language
Interactive exercises and self-assessments
Home blood pressure monitoring guidance
Blood pressure tracking tools
Medication education and review worksheets
Sodium reduction and lifestyle planning activities
Resistant hypertension assessment exercises
Medication safety and symptom monitoring tools
Questions to discuss with your healthcare team
A personalized 90-day blood pressure management plan
Knowledge checks, an answer key, and a medical glossary
Most sessions take approximately 20–40 minutes and can be completed at your own pace.
Who Is This Workbook For?
This workbook is designed for:
Adults living with chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure
Individuals newly diagnosed with hypertension
Patients with CKD stages 2–5 who want to better understand blood pressure management
People taking multiple blood pressure medications
Individuals struggling with difficult-to-control or resistant hypertension
Patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or protein in the urine
Family members and caregivers supporting someone with CKD or hypertension
Anyone interested in understanding the relationship between blood pressure, kidney health, and cardiovascular risk
Developed by a Practicing Nephrologist
Created by Andrew Kowalski, MD, FASN, the Hypertension + CKD Workbook reflects the mission of Kidney Strong: empowering patients through practical, understandable, and evidence-based kidney education.
Dr. Kowalski emphasizes that successful blood pressure management involves more than achieving a specific number.
It requires accurate measurements, appropriate medications, sustainable lifestyle habits, and an understanding of how blood pressure influences kidney, heart, and brain health.
Take Control of Your Blood Pressure and Kidney Health
High blood pressure often causes no noticeable symptoms, even while it contributes to damage throughout the body. Learning how to measure your blood pressure correctly, understanding your treatment options, and working with your healthcare team can help you take a more active role in protecting your health.
Your Blood Pressure Is More Than a Number. It's an Opportunity to Protect Your Future.
Get Your Hypertension + CKD Workbook Today and Start Building Your Personalized Blood Pressure Protection Plan.
Educational use only. This workbook does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, medication prescribing, or treatment recommendations from your healthcare team.