How Chronic Kidney disease affects and how to prevent it ?

Chronic kidney disease, or long-term kidney failure, means your kidneys are slowly not working well. Your kidneys are like filters that get rid of waste and extra fluids from your blood, so when they’re not working right, things can get messed up. If your kidney disease gets bad, your body can end up with too much fluid, electrolytes, and waste, which can be dangerous.

In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may experience few signs or symptoms. You may not become aware of your kidney disease until it has progressed.

The primary goal of treating chronic kidney disease is to stop kidney damage. We accomplish this by addressing the underlying cause, but this is not always sufficient to prevent further damage. The scary part is that chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure, in which case artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant are the only options for survival

What are the symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease appear gradually if kidney damage progresses slowly. Loss of kidney function can result in fluid accumulation, body waste, and electrolyte imbalances. 

Depending on the severity, loss of kidney function can result in:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Sleep problems
  • Urinating more or less
  • Decreased mental sharpness
  • Muscle cramps
  • Swelling of feet and ankles
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • High blood pressure (hypertension) that’s difficult to control
  • Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs
  • Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart

Kidney disease symptoms are often nonspecific, making them difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. Although the kidneys have the ability to compensate for lost function, visible signs and symptoms may not appear until irreversible damage has occurred.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms of kidney disease, you should see your doctor. Early detection can help prevent the disease from progressing to kidney failure.

If you have any underlying medical conditions that could increase your risk of developing kidney disease, your doctor may recommend regular monitoring of your kidney function and blood pressure. This may include urine and blood tests during your office visits. Be sure to ask your doctor if these tests are necessary for you.

What Are the Causes?

Chronic Kidney Disease is a progressive condition that develops over months or years when an illness or condition impairs kidney function and worsens kidney damage.

Several diseases and conditions can contribute to chronic kidney disease, such as

  • Type one or type two diabetes
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Glomerulonephritis is the inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units (glomeruli).
  • Interstitial nephritis is the inflammation of the kidney tubules and surrounding structures.
  • Polycystic kidney disease and other inherited kidney diseases.
  • Prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract is caused by conditions such as enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and some cancers.
  • Vesicoureteral reflux is a condition in which urine backs up into the kidneys.
  • Recurrent kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis.

What are the risk factors involved?

The following factors can increase your risk of developing chronic kidney disease:

  • Diabetes
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Heart (cardiovascular) disease.
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Being Black, Native American or Asian American
  • Family history of kidney disease
  • Abnormal kidney structure
  • Older age
  • Frequent use of medications that can damage the kidneys Complications

Chronic kidney disease can affect almost every part of your body. Potential complications include:

  • Fluid retention, which could lead to swelling in your arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs (pulmonary oedema)
  • A sudden rise in potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia) may impair your heart’s function and be life-threatening.
  • Anemia
  • Heart disease
  • Weak bones and a higher risk of fractures
  • Reduced sexual drive, erectile dysfunction, or decreased fertility
  • Damage to the central nervous system can result in difficulty concentrating, personality changes, or seizures.
  • Reduced immune response, making you more susceptible to infection.
  • Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac-like membrane that encircles your heart (pericardium).
  • Pregnancy complications that pose risks to both the mother and the developing fetus
  • End-stage kidney disease is irreversible damage to your kidneys that eventually requires either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.

What are the prevention techniques?

To lower your chances of developing kidney disease:

Follow the package instructions when taking nonprescription pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others), and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Taking too many pain relievers over a long period may cause kidney damage. Maintain a healthy body weight. If you are at a healthy weight, keep it up by being physically active most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, talk to your doctor about healthy weight loss options.

Do not smoke. Cigarette smoking can harm your kidneys and exacerbate existing kidney damage. If you are a smoker, talk to your doctor about quitting. Support groups, counselling, and medications can all help you quit.

Manage your medical conditions with your doctor’s assistance. If you have any diseases or conditions that increase your risk of kidney disease, consult your doctor to get them under control. Consult your doctor about tests to detect signs of kidney damage.

 

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Bhatli Chowk, Bargarh, Odisha, 768028

Phone: +91-9040-246-332 or +91-9437-487-332

Email: kishorihospital@gmail.com