Causes of chronic kidney failure that you need to know

Chronic kidney failure is a condition when kidney function gradually decreases until it reaches permanent damage. This kidney disease is often caused by other conditions that cause kidney problems. So, what are the causes and risk factors for chronic kidney failure that need to be watched out for?

Causes of chronic kidney failure

The kidneys act as a filter for toxic substances and regulate the amount of water and acid in the blood. This bean-like organ is susceptible to disturbances, especially when you have certain diseases that can damage your kidneys.

If the kidneys are damaged, other organs of the body will be affected due to the buildup of waste, acids and fluids. Therefore, recognizing the causes of chronic kidney failure may help you reduce your risk of developing this disease in the future.

Here are some of the causes of chronic kidney disease reported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

1. Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that is the main cause of chronic kidney failure. When the blood contains too much blood sugar (glucose), it can damage the kidney's filtering system.

If this condition is allowed, the kidneys will experience a decline in function until permanent damage and can no longer filter waste and excess fluid.

Kidney disease caused by diabetes sometimes does not show obvious symptoms. However, some cases showing symptoms of chronic kidney failure due to diabetes can be seen in the presence of protein in your urine.

This happens because when the filter breaks down, a protein called albumin leaves your blood and enters your urine. In fact, healthy kidneys should not allow albumin to flow from the blood to the urine because it is needed to keep the body healthy.

Therefore, the only way to determine whether the kidneys are experiencing problems due to diabetes is to do a kidney examination. Health care providers will check albumin levels and blood tests to see how the kidneys function when filtering the blood.

2.High blood pressure (hypertension)

Chronic kidney failure can also be caused by a person's high blood pressure, aka hypertension. This one cause often occurs in patients with chronic kidney failure because high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the kidneys.

Problems with the blood vessels of the kidneys can damage the function of the kidneys, which are supposed to remove toxic substances and extra fluid from your body. If there is a buildup of waste and excess fluid, the blood vessels will increase blood pressure.

The above conditions can create a dangerous cycle and cause further damage that can lead to kidney failure.

3. Glomerulonephritis

Although diabetes and hypertension are often the main causes of chronic kidney failure, there are other health problems that can contribute to permanent damage to the kidneys. Glomerulonephritis is one of them.

Glomerulonephritis is a glomerular disease that causes inflammation in the liver. In the liver there is usually a small filter consisting of small blood vessels that is responsible for filtering the blood when there is excess fluid, electrolytes, and waste.

Furthermore, these filters called glomeruli will carry them into the urine for disposal. If the glomeruli are damaged, kidney function is also affected. As a result, the buildup of excess fluid and waste in the blood occurs.

This condition can also cause protein and red blood cells to leak into the urine. Blood that can't absorb extra fluids can cause swelling, especially in the arms and ankles. Therefore, pressure on the kidney's filtering system can lead to chronic kidney failure.

Other causes of chronic kidney failure

Apart from the four health problems above, there are several other causes of chronic kidney failure that may be quite rare. However, it doesn't hurt to know that, right?

• Recurrent kidney infection (pyelonephritis).
• Polycystic kidney disease, which can cause swollen kidneys.
• Lupus nephritis and other autoimmune diseases.
• Use of drugs that damage the kidneys, such as pain relievers.
• Vesicoureteric reflux, when urine flows back into the kidneys.
• Heavy metal poisoning body.
• Urinary tract problems, such as urinary tract obstruction.

In some cases, chronic renal failure disease is idiopathic, aka no underlying cause is found.

Factors that increase the risk of chronic kidney failure

If you have factors that can increase your risk, it means that you are more likely to develop chronic kidney failure. However, there are times when these risk factors can be avoided. Here are some things that can increase your risk of causing chronic kidney failure.

1. Blockage of blood flow

There are several things that can cause clogged blood flow to become a risk for chronic kidney failure, namely:

• scars due to kidney infection,
• birth defects that make one or both ureters harden,
• cholesterol plaques or blood clots, and
• kidney stones that block urine flow.

2. Use of certain drugs for a long time

Did you know that the use of certain drugs, such as pain relievers, for a long time can put a person at risk for chronic kidney failure?

This can occur because excess non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are likely to cause allergic reactions or side effects that damage the kidneys. Therefore, you need to be aware of several drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen which have the potential to make kidney problems.

3. Undergo a color X-ray test

Those of you who have had an X-ray may not know that the dye used to enhance contrast can harm the kidneys. This dye, which is often used in X-rays, CT scans, and MRI examinations, can cause chronic kidney failure if it is done frequently.

In addition, there are several factors that make X-rays a high risk, namely:

• kidney is damaged,
• suffer from congestive heart failure,
• people with diabetes and have high blood pressure, as well
• are more than 75 years old.

4. Other risk factors

The three factors above are often the things that can increase a person to develop chronic kidney failure. However, there are several other things that can be the mastermind behind the causes of chronic kidney failure, namely as follows.

• A family history of genetically inherited kidney disease.
• Premature birth due to calcium deposits in the kidney filter.
• Experiencing an accident or trauma that causes acute kidney injury.

If you experience some symptoms of chronic kidney failure and are among those who are at risk, you should immediately consult a doctor. The reason is, cases of kidney disease sometimes have no known cause, so it needs to be checked to be more certain.