Disease Insights: kidney-disease
Welcome to the ultimate guide on kidney disease. Here, you'll find answers to the most common questions to help you or your loved ones understand and manage this condition better.
Description for kidney disease
A condition where the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste and excess fluids from the blood.
Symptoms of kidney disease
fatigue, frequent urination, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, swelling in ankles and feet
Precautions for kidney disease
Monitor kidney function regularly, Follow a kidney-friendly diet, Avoid nephrotoxic medications, Stay hydrated
Questions Covered:
- what is kidney disease?
- What are the usual symptoms of kidney disease?
- causes of kidney disease?
- How do doctors usually figure out if someone has kidney disease, diagnosis?
- How do doctors usually treat kidney disease?
- What are the possible complications that could arise from kidney disease?
- What are the ways to prevent kidney disease?
Answers:
Question: what is kidney disease?
Kidney failure occurs when your kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from your blood sufficiently. It may not cause symptoms in the early stages.
Your kidneys filter your blood and remove toxins from your body. These toxins go to your bladder and are eliminated when you urinate. When this doesn't work properly, you can get kidney failure.
If your kidneys aren't able to function properly, toxins can overwhelm your body. This can lead to kidney failure, which can be life threatening if left untreated.
Keep reading as we break down everything you need to know about kidney failure, including symptoms, stages, treatment, and the typical outlook.
Question: What are the usual symptoms of kidney disease?
Early-stage kidney failure often doesn't cause noticeable symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
, about 90% of people with chronic kidney disease don't know they have it.
As kidney disease progresses, symptoms may include:
reduced amount of urine
swelling of your legs, ankles, and feet from fluid retention
shortness of breath
trouble sleeping
muscle cramping at night
excessive drowsiness or fatigue
persistent nausea
confusion
chest pain or pressure
seizures
coma
Early signs of kidney failure
Symptoms of early-stage kidney disease may be subtle and hard to identify. They may include:
decreased urine output
swelling in limbs
shortness of breath
Kidney failure urine color
The color of your urine doesn't tell you much about the state of your kidney function until damage to the kidneys has progressed.
Still, urine color changes may be an early indicator of some issues.
Urine color Indication
clear or pale yellow well-hydrated
dark yellow or amber dehydrated
orange dehydration or bile in the bloodstream
pink or red blood in the urine or having eaten certain foods, like beets
foamy contains a lot of protein; potentially an indicator of kidney disease
Question: causes of kidney disease?
Kidney failure can result from various causes. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the two most common include high blood pressure and diabetes.
People who are most at risk usually have one or more of the following:
Loss of blood flow to the kidneys
A sudden loss of blood flow to your kidneys can prompt kidney failure. Some causes include:
heart attack
heart disease
scarring of the liver or liver failure
dehydration
severe burns
allergic reactions
severe infection, such as sepsis
High blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medications can also limit blood flow.
Urine elimination problems
When your body can't eliminate urine, toxins build up and overload the kidneys. Some cancers can block the urine passageways, such as:
prostate
colon
cervical
bladder
Other conditions can interfere with urination and possibly lead to kidney failure, including:
kidney stones
enlarged prostate
blood clots within your urinary tract
damage to the nerves that control your bladder
Other causes
Other factors that may lead to kidney failure include:
a blood clot in or around your kidneys
heavy metal poisoning
drugs and alcohol use
vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels
lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation of many body organs
glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the small blood vessels of the kidneys
hemolytic uremic syndrome, which involves the breakdown of red blood cells following a bacterial infection, usually of the intestines
multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in your bone marrow
scleroderma, an autoimmune condition that affects your skin
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a disorder that causes blood clots in small vessels
chemotherapy drugs that treat cancer and some autoimmune diseases
dyes used in some imaging tests
certain antibiotics
unmanaged diabetes
Question: How do doctors usually figure out if someone has kidney disease, diagnosis?
Doctors use several tests to diagnose kidney failure. Common tests include:
Urinalysis: A urine sample can show how much protein or sugar is in your urine. A urinary sediment examination looks for red and white blood cells, high levels of bacteria, and high numbers of cellular casts.
Urine volume measurements: Measuring urine output can help diagnose kidney failure. Low output may suggest that kidney disease is due to a urinary blockage.
Blood samples: Blood tests can measure substances filtered by your kidneys, such as blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. A rapid rise in these levels may indicate acute kidney failure.
Imaging: Tests like ultrasounds, MRIs, and CT scans provide images of your kidneys and urinary tract to identify issues.
Kidney tissue sample: Doctors use a kidney biopsy to collect and examine tissue samples.
Question: How do doctors usually treat kidney disease?
The type of treatment you need depends on the cause and stage of your kidney failure.
Dialysis
Dialysis filters and purifies the blood using a machine to performs the function of the kidneys. Depending on the type of dialysis, you may be connected to a large machine or a portable catheter bag.
Along with dialysis, you may need to follow a low potassium, low salt diet.
Dialysis doesn't cure kidney failure, but going to regularly scheduled treatments can extend your life.
Kidney transplant
A transplanted kidney can work fully, so you no longer need dialysis.
There's usually a long wait to receive a donor kidney that's compatible with your body. If you have a living donor, the process may go more quickly.
Transplant surgery might not be the right treatment option for everyone. It is not always successful.
You must take immunosuppressant drugs after the surgery to prevent your body from rejecting the new kidney. These drugs have their own side effects, some of which can be serious.
You can talk with a doctor about whether you're a good candidate for a kidney transplant.
Lifestyle modifications
Minimizing your intake of alcohol and making dietary changes may help prevent kidney failure from progressing.
At the early stages and beyond, it's possible to manage and slow progression with lifestyle factors such as:
Dietary changes
The guidelines for what you eat will often depend on the stage of kidney disease you have and your overall health. Some recommendations might include:
Limiting sodium and potassium: Aim to eat less than 2,000 milligrams per day of both sodium (salt) and potassium.
Limiting phosphorus: Try to stay below 1,000 milligrams
of phosphorus.
Following protein guidelines: In early and moderate kidney disease, you might want to cut back on protein consumption. But you may eat more protein in end-stage kidney failure, depending on your doctor's recommendations.
Beyond these general guidelines, a doctor may also ask you to avoid certain foods.
Lowering alcohol intake
If you have kidney failure and drink alcohol, your kidneys must work harder than they already do. Alcohol doesn't metabolize out of your system, so if you have complete kidney failure, you'll feel its effects until you receive dialysis to filter it from your blood.
Beer, ale, and wine also contain large amounts of phosphorous. Severe heart issues and death are possible if your kidneys cannot filter it out.
If you have kidney failure or late-stage kidney disease, a doctor may recommend you limit alcohol. Eliminating alcohol from your diet, if possible, may be best.
Question: What are the possible complications that could arise from kidney disease?
Kidney failure can lead to various complications. These can include:
anemia
bone weakness, due to an imbalance of phosphorus and calcium
fluid retention (edema)
heart disease
high potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
metabolic acidosis, when the blood becomes too acidic
Many people with kidney failure develop secondary complications. These can include:
depression
liver failure
fluid buildup in the lungs
gout
nerve damage
skin infections
Question: What are the ways to prevent kidney disease?
You can take steps to lower the risk of kidney failure.
Follow directions when taking over-the-counter medications. Taking doses that are too high, even of common drugs like aspirin, can create high toxin levels quickly. This can overload your kidneys.
Many kidney or urinary tract conditions lead to kidney failure without prompt treatment.
You can help lower your risk of kidney failure by:
eating a balanced diet
maintaining a moderate weight
taking prescribed and over-the-counter medications as directed and not taking more medication than is safe
keeping conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, well managed and following a doctor's advice
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Conclusion & Takeaways
Learning about kidney disease is the first step toward taking control of your health. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments, you empower yourself to make informed decisions. Remember to consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice and support.