Kidney failure: causes, symptoms, to treatment

Definition

What is kidney failure?

Kidney failure is a condition when the kidneys lose the ability to properly filter waste products from the blood. If the kidneys lose the ability to filter, there will be a buildup of waste and chemical substances in the blood to become imbalanced.

The kidneys are a pair of organs located at the lower back. One of the kidneys is located on the side of the spine and both function to filter the blood and remove toxins from the body. Then, the kidneys send the remaining waste to the bladder and excrete it through the urine.

Stages of kidney failure

Kidney failure that is not treated immediately can cause complications that endanger the body. The reason is, the buildup of excess fluid, especially in the lungs and changes in chemical substances in the blood affect the function of the heart and brain.

Reporting from Harvard Health, there are three stages of kidney failure that usually occur.

1. Acute kidney injury

If your kidneys stop working suddenly, within a short time (usually two days or less), you have acute kidney injury (AKI) or acute kidney injury. This condition is a serious problem and must be treated immediately.

Unlike other types which are the result of gradual kidney damage, AKI can heal if treated quickly.

2. Chronic kidney failure

Acute kidney injury is treatable. However, not a few people experience kidney damage for a long time after AKI occurs. This condition is known as chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease steadily decreases kidney function and can lead to end-stage renal failure if not treated properly.

3.End-stage renal failure (ESRD)

End-stage renal failure (end-stage renal disease) is a chronic and permanent end stage kidney disease. This condition occurs when kidney function decreases so that the organs cannot function completely.

The disease, which is the end result of chronic kidney disease, requires dialysis and a kidney transplant for the patient to survive.

How common is this condition?

Kidney failure can occur in patients at any age. However, kidney damage can be treated by reducing risk factors.

Acute kidney injury can cause complications if not treated properly. However, this condition is very likely to be cured. If your body is in good health, you can restore kidney function to normal or nearly normal.

For patients who have entered the stage of chronic renal failure, this condition is at risk of developing to a late stage. If left untreated without dialysis or a transplant, it can have life-threatening consequences.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of kidney failure

Initially, the signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often non-specific and can be caused by other diseases. In fact, some people who have acute kidney failure don't experience any symptoms.

This condition is caused by the kidneys which are easy to adapt and easily cope with loss of function. As a result, symptoms of kidney disease may not appear until irreparable damage occurs.

Generally, one or two symptoms when the kidneys have decreased function, such as:

• skin feels itchy,
• muscle cramp,
• nausea and vomiting,
• tired easily,
• loss of appetite,
• swelling of the arms and legs,
• changes in the frequency and volume of urine,
• shortness of breath, and
• hard to sleep.

Meanwhile, when the kidneys stop functioning suddenly (acute kidney injury), there are some signs that you may experience, namely:

• stomach pain,
• back pain,
• diarrhea,
• fever,
• nosebleed, and
• skin rash.

The symptoms of kidney failure are actually quite varied. If there are signs and symptoms that are not mentioned above and you are worried, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.

When should I see a doctor?

Immediately see a doctor if you feel signs or symptoms of kidney failure. If you have a health condition that increases your risk of kidney disease, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure and kidney function with blood and urine tests.

Everyone's body is different. If you have signs or symptoms above or other questions, consult your doctor about managing your kidney health condition.

Cause

What causes kidney failure?

Kidney failure is usually caused by other health problems. These various diseases then cause gradual damage to the kidneys. Generally, people who are at high risk of developing kidney failure also experience diabetes and hypertension.

Apart from these two main causes, there are other conditions that cause kidney failure based on the type, which are as follows.

Causes of acute kidney injury

In general, acute kidney injury is very likely to occur due to the following factors.

• Low blood flow that occurs as a result of other conditions, such as a heart attack.
• Swelling of the kidneys the result of a reaction to certain infections or drugs.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
• Urinary tract problems which causes toxins to build up in the kidneys.

However, acute kidney injury can still be managed to near normal function when the cause is properly addressed.

Causes of chronic kidney failure

Meanwhile, chronic kidney disease is a permanent loss of kidney function which is generally caused by several things, namely:

• high blood pressure,
• chronic glomerulonephritis,
• diabetes,
• lupus disease,
• polycystic kidney disease,
• blocked urinary tract, and
• kidney infection.

Risk factors

What factors increase the risk of acute kidney injury?

Acute kidney injury is almost always associated with other health conditions or problems. Here are some conditions that can increase your risk of acute kidney injury.

• Been hospitalized for serious health problems.
• Blockage of a blood vessel in an arm or leg.
• Diabetes.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
• Liver disease (liver).
• Heart failure.
• Suffered from cancer and was undergoing treatment.
• History of other kidney diseases.

What factors increase the risk of chronic kidney failure?

There are a number of factors that can increase a person's risk of chronic kidney failure. Some factors cannot be avoided, while others can be controlled.

Here are some irreversible risk factors for chronic kidney disease.

• Genetic, aka other family members suffering from chronic kidney failure.
• African-American and Asian descent.
• Are over 65 years of age.
• Abnormal kidney structure.
• Low birth weight impairs kidney development.

Apart from some of the risk factors above, there are several other things that can put you at risk of developing chronic kidney failure. However, please note that the following factors can be changed through lifestyle.

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Type 1 diabetes before age 20.
• Less able to control blood glucose in type 1 and 2 diabetes.
• Smoking, which can cause narrowing of the kidney blood vessels.
• Obesity.

Diagnosis

How is kidney failure diagnosed?

If you have a factor in the form of a disease or health problem that increases your risk of kidney failure, your doctor will watch for signs and symptoms of this disease. Your doctor may recommend that you undergo blood and urine tests.

In addition to these two kidney function tests, the doctor will also check blood pressure and monitor related signs and symptoms. Here are some tests that are done to see if you have kidney failure or not.

• Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which shows the condition when the kidneys filter.
• Creatinine test which checks creatinine levels, which are waste that the kidneys remove from the blood.
• Albumin urine test, namely checking for albumin, a protein in the urine when the kidneys are damaged.
• Urinalysis, laboratory tests to determine problems with urine.
• Imaging test, such as an ultrasound that shows the size and shape of the kidney.
• Kidney biopsy by taking a small piece of kidney tissue and examining it under a microscope.

Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms of kidney failure are often similar to those of other diseases. The only way to determine whether you have this disease or not is to undergo kidney function tests.

Treatment

Kinds of treatment and management of kidney failure

If the kidney condition gets worse, the doctor may discuss with you the preparations for treatment for kidney failure. The treatment that is carried out aims for a better body condition and longer survival.

There are several types of treatment when a person has kidney failure. However, the type of treatment needed will depend on the cause of the disease.

Treatment of acute kidney injury

Basically, the treatment of acute kidney injury is done by overcoming the cause, such as blood pressure or glucose that is too high. In addition, treatment for this disease is also carried out in a hospital with a duration depending on how quickly the kidneys can recover.

Initially, the doctor will order intravenous fluids to determine whether there is sufficient blood flow to the kidneys. If this is not done, it means that the fluid buildup in the kidneys is severe. Here are the treatments you may need.

• Medication to balance water levels in the blood.
• Treatments control potassium in the blood.
• Restores calcium levels in the blood.
• Dialysis to remove toxins in the blood.

Chronic kidney disease treatment

In contrast to acute kidney injury, chronic kidney failure cannot be treated. However, treatment of this disease aims to relieve the symptoms experienced and reduce the risk of complications and their severity.

This is because when the kidneys are badly damaged, you may need treatment for end-stage kidney disease, such as transplants and dialysis.

In addition to treating the cause, treatment for chronic kidney disease usually includes:

• a diet low in protein and low in salt,
• drugs to control chemicals in the blood,
• drugs to control blood pressure, and
• a hormonal drug (erythropoietin) to treat anemia.

Your doctor may do regular follow-up checks to see if your kidneys are stable or improving.

Treatment for end-stage kidney disease

End kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to get rid of waste on their own and the kidneys have failed to function. This condition is usually treated indefinitely by undergoing dialysis or until finding a donor for a kidney transplant.

Dialysis is used to remove waste from the blood. In some patients who have a history of hypertension, both kidneys may need to be removed surgically before transplantation.

Dialysis

Dialysis filters and cleans the blood using a machine that performs kidney functions. Depending on the type of dialysis, you can be connected to a large machine or a portable catheter bag.

A low-potassium, low-salt diet is usually recommended while on dialysis. Dialysis does not cure kidney failure, but it can prolong your life if done on a scheduled basis.

Kidney transplant

Another treatment option is a kidney transplant, but you usually have to wait quite a while to receive a suitable kidney donor. The advantage of transplantation is that the new kidney can work perfectly, so dialysis is no longer needed.

Meanwhile, the drawback is that immunosuppressive drugs must be consumed after surgery. These drugs have side effects, some of which are quite serious. In addition, transplant surgery can fail and can be life threatening.

For some people who choose not to have dialysis or a transplant, the third option is to treat kidney failure with conservative measures. However, if you have this disease, your general life expectancy is only a few months.

Home remedies

Home remedies for kidney failure

Most people with kidney failure may panic because they find out their organs are not functioning properly.

However, the existence of this disease is actually a strong reason to change your lifestyle to be healthier and take the time to undergo treatment.

Healthier diet

One part of the treatment for kidney failure that doctors will recommend is going on a kidney failure diet. Changes in diet to be healthier aim to ease the work of the kidneys.

In addition, your doctor may suggest some of the following, depending on your health condition and kidney function.

• A low-salt diet, such as avoiding frozen foods andfast food.
• Choose foods low in potassium, such as apples, cabbage, carrots, strawberries.
• Limit protein and phosphorus intake by determining the amount of daily consumption.

Another guide to treating kidney failure at home

In addition to changing your diet, you also need to live a healthier lifestyle to maintain the health of damaged kidneys.

• Use of drugs in accordance with doctor's rules to avoid toxic buildup.
• Limit exposure to chemicals, such as room cleaners, cigarettes and pesticides.
• Exercise regularly.

Complications

What happens if this condition is left alone?

Untreated kidney failure can lead to end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis treatment and a kidney transplant to survive.

Dialysis is performed to replace kidney function, but this method is certainly not the same as how healthy kidneys work. This means you need to take extra steps to stay healthy and avoid complications from the disease.

Following are some of the complications that often occur when kidney failure is left without proper and proper treatment.

• Anemia due to the kidneys not being able to meet the needs of red blood cells.
• Bone disease because bone health is not maintained with damaged kidneys.
• Heart disease because the kidneys are unable to flow blood to the heart.
• Hyperkalemia because the kidneys cannot filter and limit potassium in the blood.
• Too much fluid in the body causes heart and lung problems.