What is kidney failure? What are its types? And what are its reasons? And what is the treatment?
What is kidney failure?
Kidney failure is a condition in which one or both of the kidneys do not work well, according to the Academic Interdisciplinary Medical Center website.Cleveland Clinic”.
Types of kidney failure
Acute renal failure
Acute kidney failure begins suddenly, quickly, and is treatable.
Chronic renal failure
Chronic kidney failure develops slowly over at least 3 months and can lead to permanent kidney failure Stanford University.
What are the early signs of kidney failure?
Many people experience few symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease. However, chronic kidney disease may cause kidney damage despite feeling better.
Symptoms of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure vary between people. If your kidneys are not working properly, you may notice one or more of the following signs:
- extreme tiredness
- Vomit.
- nausea.
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating.
- Swelling (edema), especially around your hands, ankles, or face.
- urinating a lot.
- muscle spasms
- dry skin
- Itch.
The smell of urine from the mouth
The German Urology Association said that the smell of urine or ammonia from the mouth or body warns of kidney failure. As the kidneys in this case are unable to perform their function, and they cannot dismantle the various products of metabolism.
As a result, the kidneys produce less urine and water builds up in the body (edema). In addition, urine enters the blood (uremia) and a foul odor is produced.
The association stressed the need to consult a doctor immediately upon noticing this unpleasant odor, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling of the legs and face, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, fever, pale skin and itching, in addition to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a feeling of general weakness and lack of concentration. and disturbances of consciousness.
Causes of kidney failure
- Uncontrolled diabetes, in which blood sugar is elevated without control. Continuing this can damage the kidneys and other organs.
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure, in which blood travels forcefully through the blood vessels of the body. Over time and without treatment, the extra force can damage the tissues of the kidneys.
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic condition that causes fluid-filled sacs to grow inside the kidneys.
- Glomerular diseases, which affect how well the kidneys filter waste.
- Lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause organ damage, joint pain, fever and rash.
Causes of acute renal failure
Kidney failure can develop quickly because of the unexpected, and it occurs when the kidneys suddenly lose their ability to work, and it may happen within hours or days, and it is often temporary.
Common causes of acute kidney failure include:
- Autoimmune kidney disease.
- Certain medications.
- severe dehydration
- Urinary obstruction.
- Untreated diseases, such as heart disease or liver disease.
The average age of patients with renal failure?
Kidney failure is the most serious stage of kidney disease and is said to be fatal without treatment. If one of us has kidney failure, he may live only a few days or weeks without treatment, according to specialists.
Specialists also say: If a person is undergoing dialysis, then the average life expectancy is from 5 to 10 years, and some can live up to 30 years on dialysis.
And they add: When a patient undergoes a kidney transplant, the average life expectancy if he receives the kidney from a living donor is 12 to 20 years, while the average life expectancy if he receives the kidney from a deceased donor is from 8 to 12 years.
Can kidney failure be cured?
There is no cure for kidney failure, but you can live a long life with treatment. Kidney failure is not a death sentence, as people with kidney failure live an active life and continue to do the things they love. According to the US National Kidney Foundation.
Stages before renal failure?
There are 5 stages of chronic kidney diseasethe first four precede renal failure, namely:
Kidney disease..stage one
Stage 1 CKD means that a person has a normal glomerular filtration rate of 90 milliliters/minute or more and mild kidney damage. In this case, the kidneys are still working well, so the patient may not show any symptoms, and he may have other signs of kidney damage, such as the presence of protein in the urine.
AndGlomerular filtration rateGlomerular filtration rate (GFR) measures the amount of blood filtered by the kidneys every minute, and is measured in milliliters per minute (ml/min). The lower the glomerular filtration rate, the lower the level of kidney function. According to the Mayo Clinic.
Kidney disease.. second stage
Stage 2 CKD means that the glomerular filtration rate has dropped to between 60 and 89, and the person has mild kidney damage. Most of the time, the kidneys are still working well, so the patient may not have any symptoms and may have other signs of kidney damage, such as protein in the urine.
Kidney disease.. third stage
Stage 3 CKD means a glomerular filtration rate between 30 and 59 with mild to moderate damage to the kidneys. In this case, the kidneys often do not work properly to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, and this waste can accumulate in the body and begin to cause other health problems, such as high blood pressure and bone disease. The person may begin to experience symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, or swelling of the hands or feet.
Kidney disease.. fourth stage
Stage 4 CKD means a glomerular filtration rate between 15 and 29, with moderate to severe kidney damage.
At this stage, the kidneys do not work properly to filter waste from the blood, and this waste can accumulate in the body and cause other health problems, such as high blood pressure, bone disease and heart disease. The person is likely to have symptoms such as swelling of the hands and feet and lower back pain.
The fourth stage is the last before kidney failure. It is important for a patient to see a doctor regularly to take steps to slow kidney damage, and to plan ahead for potential treatments for kidney failure.
Kidney disease.. stage five
Stage 5 CKD means the glomerular filtration rate is less than 15 and there is severe damage to the kidneys. The kidneys are close to failing or have already failed and stopped working, as a result Waste accumulates in the body.
Kidney failure treatment
When the kidneys fail, treatment options for survival include dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Dialysis helps the body purify the blood. There are two types of hemodialysis:
Hemodialysis
In this type, a machine cleans your blood regularly. Most patients who need this type of treatment undergo dialysis 3-4 days a week.
Peritoneal dialysis
In this type of dialysis, blood vessels in the peritoneal membrane of the abdominal wall (also called the peritoneum) replace the kidneys in filtering blood. Washing is done by installing a bag on the abdomen with a solution that enters and exits with the waste from the peritoneal space.
Peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home or while traveling, provided that the person doing it is trained and masters his skills.
Kidney transplant
It is a process during which the surgeon places a healthy kidney in the body that performs the tasks of the damaged kidney. A healthy kidney may come from a deceased or living donor, and it is possible to live well with one healthy kidney.