Live Life Team
The irreversible, long lasting damage of the kidneys is termed as chronic kidney disease or chronic kidney failure. This is a very fatal condition because the kidney is one of the most vital parts of the body that helps in the regulation of blood flow as well as filtration of wastes from the blood.
Chronic kidney failure is caused by conditions like
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
Established renal failure is a condition where the damage to kidney cannot be prevented. In this case, the kidney loses its entire functioning capability. This condition is also termed the end-stage kidney disease. People who suffer from established renal failure must undergo kidney transplantation or dialysis for remaining alive.
Symptoms
Chronic kidney disease is a very slow and gradual process. So for the symptoms to appear, a long period is required.
In majority of the cases, people do not feel the symptoms until the conditions reach a situation from where it will be difficult to get back to the normal state.
The symptoms that are typical to chronic kidney failure are:
- Swollen feet, ankles and hands due to the retention of water
- Tiredness
- Fatigue
- Shortness on breath
- Presence of blood in urine, known as haematuria
- Presence of proteins in urine, known as proteinuria
- Micturation, usually during night
- Itchy skin
- Nausea
As well as - Erectile dysfunction in men
Causes
The two major causes of chronic kidney failure are hypertension and diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes where insulin is properly produced has higher chances of causing chronic kidney failure.
The hypertension in people can cause damage to the blood vessels of the kidney. This in turn can result in the improper filtering of the wastes by the kidney.
The other triggers of kidney failure are:
- Glomerulonephritis,
- Pyelonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Abnormal development of the kidney in foetus
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- yellow fever
- malaria
- jaundice
- over-usage of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs
- illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin
- exposure to solvents, lead and fuels
- blockage due to renal stones
Treatment
People suffering from chronic kidney failure must undergo treatment for various conditions.
The treatment of anaemia by intravenous transfusion of blood. The balance of phosphates needs to be maintained by intake of low phosphate diet to eliminate the phosphates that have accumulated in the kidney. In certain cases, use of phosphate binders like Adcal is advised.
For deficiency in vitamin D, one might be advised the usage of calcitrol or alfacalcidol, which are vitamin D supplements, for prevention of damage to the bones.
People having hypertension will be asked to use drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme for the control of blood pressure.
Use of diuretics is advised in cases where people have oedema in leg, hand or ankles due to retention of fluids.
Use of antihistamines is advised to get relief from the itching sensation that occurs due to the accumulation of phosphates.
Use of Antiemetics is advised to eliminate the toxins from the body.
The advanced stages of chronic kidney failure which is known as established renal failure is treated using kidney transplantation or dialysis.
