Hey! Don’t joke with your health, particularly your Kidney. These days it is difficult to read the news without seeing someone suffering from kidney failure or who just died from kidney failure. Here is an article we came across that will help you know more about kidney failure, causes, symptoms and how it could be prevented.
What is Kidney and its function
Kidneys are the organs that remove waste products from the blood and make urine. They are also involved in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and red blood cell production in the body.
What is kidney
failure?
Your kidneys are a pair of organs
located toward your lower back. One kidney is on each side of your spine. They
filter your blood and remove toxins from your body. Your kidneys send toxins to
your bladder. Your body later removes toxins during urination.
located toward your lower back. One kidney is on each side of your spine. They
filter your blood and remove toxins from your body. Your kidneys send toxins to
your bladder. Your body later removes toxins during urination.
Kidney failure occurs when your
kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from your blood sufficiently. Many
factors can interfere with your kidney health and function, such as:
kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from your blood sufficiently. Many
factors can interfere with your kidney health and function, such as:
1. toxic
exposure to environmental pollutants or certain medications
exposure to environmental pollutants or certain medications
2. certain
acute and chronic diseases
acute and chronic diseases
3. severe dehydration
4. kidney
trauma
trauma
Your body becomes overloaded with
toxins if your kidneys can’t do their regular job. This can lead to kidney
failure and even be life-threatening if it’s left untreated.
toxins if your kidneys can’t do their regular job. This can lead to kidney
failure and even be life-threatening if it’s left untreated.
What
are the symptoms of kidney failure?
Many different symptoms can occur
during kidney failure. Usually someone with kidney failure will have a few
symptoms of the disease, though sometimes none are present. Possible symptoms
include:
during kidney failure. Usually someone with kidney failure will have a few
symptoms of the disease, though sometimes none are present. Possible symptoms
include:
1. a
reduced amount of urine
reduced amount of urine
2. swelling
of your legs, ankles, and feet from retention of fluids caused by the failure
of your kidneys to eliminate water waste
of your legs, ankles, and feet from retention of fluids caused by the failure
of your kidneys to eliminate water waste
3. unexplained
shortness of breath
shortness of breath
4. excessive drowsiness or fatigue
5. persistent nausea
6. confusion
7. pain
or pressure in your chest
or pressure in your chest
8. seizures
9. coma
What
causes kidney failure?
causes kidney failure?
People who are most at risk for
kidney failure usually have one or more of the following causes:
kidney failure usually have one or more of the following causes:
Loss of blood flow to the
kidneys
kidneys
A sudden loss of blood flow to your
kidneys can prompt kidney failure. Some diseases and conditions that cause loss
of blood flow to the kidneys include:
kidneys can prompt kidney failure. Some diseases and conditions that cause loss
of blood flow to the kidneys include:
1. a heart attack
2. heart disease
3. scarring of the liver or liver failure
4. dehydration
5. a severe burn
6. an allergic reaction
7. a
severe infection, such as sepsis
severe infection, such as sepsis
High blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medications can
also limit blood flow.
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. These include prostate (most common type in men), colon, cervical, and bladder cancers.
toxins build up and overload the kidneys. Some cancers can block the urine
passageways. These include prostate (most common type in men), colon, cervical, and bladder cancers.
Other conditions can interfere with
urination and possibly lead to kidney failure, including:
urination and possibly lead to kidney failure, including:
1. kidney stones
2. an enlarged prostate
3. blood clots within
your urinary tract
your urinary tract
4. damage
to the nerves that control your bladder
to the nerves that control your bladder
Other causes
Some diseases and conditions may lead
to kidney failure, including:
to kidney failure, including:
1. a blood clot in or
around your kidneys
around your kidneys
2. infection
3. an
overload of toxins from heavy metals
overload of toxins from heavy metals
4. drugs
and alcohol
and alcohol
5. vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels
6. lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause
inflammation of many body organs
inflammation of many body organs
7. glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the
small blood vessels of the kidneys
small blood vessels of the kidneys
8. hemolytic uremic syndrome,
which involves the breakdown of red blood cells following a bacterial infection,
usually of the intestines
which involves the breakdown of red blood cells following a bacterial infection,
usually of the intestines
9. multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells
in your bone marrow
in your bone marrow
10. scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that affects
your skin
your skin
11. thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura,
a disorder that causes blood clots in small vessels
a disorder that causes blood clots in small vessels
12. chemotherapy drugs, medications that treat
cancer and some autoimmune diseases
cancer and some autoimmune diseases
13. dyes
used in some imaging tests
used in some imaging tests
14. certain
antibiotics
antibiotics
15. uncontrolled
diabetes
diabetes
Preventing kidney failure
There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of kidney failure.
Follow directions when taking over-the-counter medications. Taking doses that are too high (even of common drugs such as aspirin) can create high toxin levels in a short amount of time. This can overload your kidneys.
Whenever possible, you should limit your exposure to chemicals, such as household cleaners, tobacco, pesticides, and other toxic products.
Many kidney or urinary tract conditions lead to kidney failure when they’re not managed properly. Follow your doctor’s advice, always take prescribed medicine as directed, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Source: Healthline
