Kidney Disease

• Causes of kidney disease
• Kidney Stones
• Preventing kidney disease
• Symptoms Of Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease Defined

The main function of your kidneys is to remove waste from the blood in your body. If the kidneys fail to remove waste products efficiently, kidney disease (also known as renal disease) and other health conditions can occur. The kidneys are the organs responsible for balancing the minerals and vitamins in your blood and assist with regulating blood pressure. The kidneys also affect the amount of red blood cells produced by your body.

Kidney disease usually affects people with high blood pressure and diabetes.

 

Types Of Kidney Diseases

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys stop functionally gradually over months or years. Chronic kidney disease can be serious as there are often few symptoms until the kidneys have been seriously damaged.


Acute Kidney Failure

Acute kidney failure is when the kidneys suddenly stop functioning. Also known as acute renal failure, kidney failure is a serious condition that requires urgent treatment. Acute kidney failure is often caused by traumatic  injury causing a loss of blood flow to the kidneys, infection or the use of certain drugs or toxins.


Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are a recurrent condition affecting the kidneys that cause blockages in the urology tract and make passing urine difficult.

Symptoms Of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease symptoms can often be confused with other less serious illnesses in the initial stages of disease. Symptoms include fatigue, a rash or skin irritation, feeling cold, shortness of breath, swelling in the body caused by the kidneys failure to remove fluid and a change in urination. Blood tests are used to diagnose kidney disease.

Kidney Disease Treatments

The goal of treatment for kidney disease is to prevent further deterioration of renal function. If diagnosed early, nephrologists may be able to treat kidney disease with a monitored diet and drugs. However, kidney disease is often not diagnosed until the disease has progressed. Dialysis is often needed to treat kidney disease. Dialysis replicates the functionality of the kidneys to remove the waste from the body. In cases of acute renal failure or chronic kidney disease that is not diagnosed until a later stage of the disease, a kidney transplant may be the only treatment available.