Overview

Kidney function is crucial to overall physical health; they remove toxins, extra water, and other harmful substances from the bloodstream. The bladder stores these toxins until they are discharged during urination.

Kidney problems develop when kidneys are damaged to the point where they are unable to filter waste from the blood. Diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions can cause long-lasting damage.

Kidney disease is a leading cause of bone fractures, neuropathy, and nutritional deficiencies.

What are the types of kidney disease?

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

CKD is when the kidneys gradually lose their capability to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. Accumulating waste in the body is harmful to anyone’s well-being. This damage and your kidney function can worsen over time, leading to kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease.

• Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Acute kidney injury (AKI), also referred to as acute renal failure (ARF), is an unexpected incident of kidney failure or kidney damage that occurs within hours or days. An acute kidney injury (AKI) makes it difficult for your kidneys to regulate your body’s fluid levels, accumulating waste products in your blood. AKI can affect additional organs, including the brain, heart, and lungs.

• Kidney Stones

Renal calculi, more commonly known as kidney stones, are crystalline masses that can form in the urinary tract. The urinary tract consists of the the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, and any of these four areas is at risk for stone development. Most kidney stones are roughly the size of a chickpea, but they can be as small as a sand grain and as big as a golf ball. Larger stones may need to be surgically removed from the urinary system, while smaller ones can pass on their own.

• Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is an infection of the kidney’s tiny filters (glomeruli). The residual fluid and waste that glomeruli filter out of the bloodstream are released from the body as urine. Acute glomerulonephritis can also develop more slowly over time (chronic). You can develop glomerulonephritis on its own, or it could be a symptom of something like lupus or diabetes.

• Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic condition that develops clusters of cysts in the kidneys, causing the kidneys to enlarge and gradually lose function. Cysts are fluid-filled, round sacs that are not cancerous. The sizes of the cysts range widely, and some can be pretty large.

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

The urinary system could get infected with bacteria, which is a condition commonly referred to as Urinary Tract Infections. UTIs cause redness and irritation in the bladder and urethra. The irritation can cause lower back pain, pelvic pain, and a heightened desire to urinate.

What are the symptoms of kidney disease?

Kidney problems often go undiagnosed until it has progressed to a severe stage. Early signs of kidney disease include:

• Concentration Problems
• Difficulties Sleeping.
• Poor Appetite.
• Muscle Spasms.
• Swollen Feet And Ankles.
• Morning Eye Puffiness
• Scaly, Dry Skin.
• Urinating Frequently, Especially At Night.

Some serious signs that your kidney disease is getting worse and could lead to kidney failure are:

• Lack of hunger or desire to eat.
• Changes in urine production.
• Fluid retention.
• Low sex drive.
• Potassium levels spike unexpectedly (hyperkalemia).
• Inflamed pericardium (fluid-filled sac that covers the heart).

How Is Kidney Disease Diagnosed?

First, your physician will establish if you are at increased risk for renal dysfunction. They’ll check your kidney function using a range of tests. Some examples of such examinations are:

• Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): This test will evaluate the severity of kidney damage by measuring the functionality of your kidneys.
• Ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) Scan: Imaging techniques like ultrasound and CT scan provide for precise visualisation of the urinary system and kidneys. This test checks kidney size, detects malignancies and identifies structural issues.
• Kidney biopsy: This surgery involves removing a small tissue sample to diagnose kidney illness and assess the severity of the damage.
• Urine test: Urine samples help to evaluate albumin levels. When your kidneys are injured, you may notice that you are passing more albumin than usual in your urine.
• Blood Creatinine Test: Creatine is a chemical held in muscle and released into the bloodstream when creatine is broken down. If your kidneys aren’t filtering waste effectively, your blood’s creatinine levels will rise.

How Are Kidney Problems Treated?

As with most chronic diseases, treating kidney illness typically involves addressing its underlying cause. This means that your doctor will work with you to reduce your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. The following techniques may be used to treat kidney damage:

• Medications

Kidney disease severity can be slowed by certain blood pressure medicines such as angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE).

You could also be given medication to lower your cholesterol. These can help keep your kidneys healthy while lowering your blood cholesterol levels. Your doctor may also recommend medication to address anaemia and inflammation, although this will depend on your specific symptoms.

• Dietary And Lifestyle Changes

Adjusting one’s diet is as crucial as medication in restoring health. Many of the risk factors for developing kidney disease can be avoided by adopting a healthy way of life. Sometimes a physician will advise that you:

• Using insulin injections to control diabetes.
• Limit high-cholesterol foods.
• Minimise salt intake.
• Consume a diet high in heart-healthy foods, including fresh produce, whole grains, and low-fat dairy.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Quit smoking.
• Maintain a highly active lifestyle.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.

Treatment for end-stage renal disease begins once the kidneys can no longer filter waste materials. That may involve:

• Dialysis

When kidney function is too low, extra fluid and waste are removed from the body via two methods:

• Hemodialysis: entails having your blood cleaned and filtered by a machine.
• Peritoneal dialysis: involves inserting a catheter, a thin tube, into the abdomen. The waste and fluids are then absorbed by a solution that is injected into the abdominal cavity. The solution leaves your system after a while.
• Kidney Transplant

A healthy donor kidney is surgically implanted in the body in place of the patient’s failing kidney. The donor may be alive or deceased. You’ll need to take medication indefinitely to help stop your immune system from refusing to accept the new kidney.