Times have changed and so have our lifestyles. We all live in a world, where each one is running a race of their own. The stress levels have gone up and life spans have down. While we all have a fair amount of knowledge about heart diseases and the importance of heart health, there is one organ of the body which goes unattended- The kidneys. Our kidneys play an important role in the daily functioning of the body and maintain the general well-being of our system. Thus, being aware of Chronic kidney disease and ways to keep our kidneys healthy will go a long way in keeping our body healthy. In this article, we shall bring to light some important aspects of kidney diseases like their causes, chronic kidney disease symptoms, Stages, and Treatment.
- Chronic Kidney Failure
- Chronic Kidney Disease Causes
- Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms
- Chronic Kidney Disease Stages
- Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment
Chronic Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is described as slow and progressive failure of kidney function. It is a gradual loss and worsens with the passage of time. Many a time it goes undetected and thus it can result in permanent loss of kidney function. As this chronic disease advances with time, it leads to dangerous levels of fluids and waste building up in the body.
Chronic Kidney Disease Causes
The causes of chronic kidney failure can be associated with other underlying diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. Such underlying diseases often impair normal kidney function and damage the kidneys over several months or years. Since there is no specific cure for kidney diseases the treatment is focused on reducing the symptoms.
Following are the Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease-Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms
A very interesting fact about chronic kidney failure is that the disease gets worse slowly without the appearance of any chronic kidney disease symptoms in the early stage. While one kidney may fail completely, the other is still functional. The symptoms begin to show up only after the kidneys have been damaged completely. By this time the damage is irreversible. In the advanced stages, one may notice symptoms caused by extra fluid building up in the body. Chronic kidney disease symptoms include-
- Muscle cramps
- Excessive/very less urine
- Nausea/ Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in urine
- Itchy skin
- Anemia
- Edema- swollen feet, hands, and ankles
People with a high risk of developing kidney diseases should undergo regular check-ups in order to detect any failure in the early stage itself. Early detection can help in preventing serious kidney damage.
Chronic Kidney Disease Stages
Chronic Kidney disease stages are divided into 5 categories. Stage 1 is when the disease is very mild with no damage and no symptoms. Whereas stage 5 is complete failure and damage to the kidney function. The stages of kidney disease are based on the ability of the kidneys to carry out their function smoothly. In the earlier stage, the kidneys are still able to carry out waste elimination. However, in the later stages, they stop working completely. eGFR is a blood test that can help to measure how well the kidneys can filter waste from the blood. The stages of kidney disease depend upon the eGFR number.
- Stage 1- eGFR is above 90 with no symptoms.
- Stage 2- At this stage, the eGFR is 60-89. This indicates normal kidney function, but there may be symptoms like protein in the urine.
- Stage 3- This stage of kidney disease indicates moderately damages kidneys. An eGFR of 30-59 indicates that the kidneys are not functioning as they should.
- Stage 4- With an eGFR of 15-30, this stage indicates moderately to severely damaged kidney function. This is the last stage before kidney failure and needs to be taken seriously. At this stage, symptoms are more common like swelling in hands and feet, back pain, etc.
- Stage 5- An eGFR of less than 15 indicates complete failure/ near failure kidney function. Most of the symptoms are visible at this stage like dark urine, no urine, anemia, etc.
Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment
The damage caused to the kidneys is irreversible. Though there is no chronic kidney disease treatment, some steps can be taken to keep the kidneys as healthy as possible. The following ways can help in preventing further damage.
- Maintain a healthy blood pressure
- Control blood sugar levels
- A healthy diet with low-salt and low-fat
- Exercise daily
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and smoking
Talking about organic treatment, numerous studies have shown that a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can help in preventing and controlling chronic kidney disease. Vitamin E has been known to show many beneficial effects in the end stages of kidney diseases. Similarly, omega-3 fatty acids help in reducing inflammation.
It is very important to pay attention to minute health details of oneself and others in the family too. Early diagnosis and treatment can help in preventing deadly diseases and maintaining a healthy body. It is important for each one of us to maintain a healthy lifestyle from the very beginning in order to curb diseases.
Also, read about: Do Antibiotics Raise Kidney Stone Risk?.For any Kidney related issue do consult with a Nephrologist today or book an appointment with India's Best Nephrologist in Bangalore.
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