Know about Kidney diseases

When a person suffers from kidney disease, he/she may exhibit numerous physical signs, but sometimes people attribute them to other conditions. It is also observed that in kidney disease person tend not to experience symptoms until the very late stages, when the kidneys are damaged or when there are large amounts of protein in the urine.

Kidney problems can be either acute or chronic. Acute kidney problems come on quickly but the kidneys often recover after treatment. Chronic kidney disease happens when the kidneys are impaired or are not functioning properly.

When person has kidney disease, he/she may show following signs:

Patient suffering from kidney disease feel more tiredness, have less energy or have problem in concentration. Another complication of kidney disease is anaemia, which can lead to weakness and fatigue.

Patient have difficulty in sleeping. When the kidneys do not filtering properly, toxins stay in the blood instead of leaving the body through the urine. This can make it difficult to sleep. There is also a linkage between obesity and chronic kidney disease, and sleep apnea is more common with patient of chronic kidney disease.

Patients have dry and itchy skin. Healthy kidneys function properly and remove wastes and extra fluid from body, help make red blood cells, help keep bones strong and work to maintain the right amount of minerals in blood.

Patients go to urine frequently. If patients feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night, this may be a sign of kidney disease. When the kidneys filters are damaged, it can cause an increase in the need to urinate.

Patients who have kidney problem may see blood in their urine. Healthy kidneys typically keep the blood cells in the body when filtering wastes from the blood to create urine, but when the kidney's filters have been damaged, these blood cells can start to "leak" out into the urine.

Patient’s urine is foamy. This shows protein in the urine.

Patients of kidney disease may experience persistent puffiness around their eyes. Protein in the urine is an early sign of kidney disease.  

Patients also exhibit the symptoms of swollen ankles and feet. Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium retention that causes swelling in feet and ankles.

Patients have a poor appetite. Though it is a general symptom, but a build-up of toxins resulting from reduced kidney function can be the cause of kidney disease.

Sometimes with kidney disease, there is symptom of muscles cramping. This may be due to Electrolyte imbalances that impair kidney function.

Kidney disease and age: Statistical data signifies that elderly people are at high risk of kidney diseases. It is because kidney function reduces as people grow older.

Two simple tests to check for kidney disease:

1. Albuminuria-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Albuminuria happens when there are higher amounts of a type of protein called albumin in the urine. It is a common indicator of kidney damage. The ratio of albumin-to-creatinine is recommended as the best technique to determine albuminuria. All patients with chronic kidney disease should be tested for albuminuria at least annually.

2. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This is estimated from results of a blood-based creatinine test. It is a sign of how kidneys are working to remove wastes from person’s blood. Glomerular filtration rate is calculated using the serum creatinine and other factors such as age and gender. In the early stages of kidney disease, Glomerular filtration rate may be normal. If Glomerular filtration rate number is less than 60, it indicates that person has kidney disease.

Major risk factor for kidney diseases:

1.      Diabetes

2.      High blood pressure

3.      Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease

4.      A family history of kidney failure.

Treatment:

If the kidneys fail, treatment options can be dialysis or a kidney transplant to replace kidney function.

To prevent kidney disease, it is recommended by doctors to do regular exercise, take balanced diet. It is said that garlic and watermelon is good for proper functioning of kidneys. People must reduce salt intake if they have complaint of kidney impairment. It is also advisable that person must not take pain killers without prescription of doctor. It is important to control blood pressure.