What Are The Symptoms
Most people may not have any severe symptoms until their kidney disease is advanced. However, you may notice that you:
- feel more tired and have less energy
- have trouble concentrating
- have muscle cramping at night
- have swollen feet and ankles
- have puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning
- have dry, itchy skin
- need to urinate more often, especially at night
What Happens When Kidneys Fail
Kidney failure does not happen overnight. It is the result of a gradual loss of kidney function. Some people do not even know they have kidney disease until their kidneys fail. Why not? Because people with early kidney disease may not have any symptoms. Symptoms usually show up later in the progression of the disease and may include:
- trouble sleeping
- muscle cramps
- swelling of your feet or ankles
- anemia
- trouble sleeping
Healthy kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood. But when your kidneys fail, wastes and excess fluid can build up in your blood and make you feel sick. Once you begin treatment for kidney failure, your symptoms will improve, and you will start to feel much better.
What Is Kidney Transplantation
Kidney transplantation involves placing a healthy kidney into your body where it can perform all of the functions that a failing kidney cant. Kidneys for transplantation come from two sources: living donors and deceased donors. Living donors are usually immediate family members or sometimes spouses. This is possible because a person can live well with one healthy kidney.
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Living With Kidney Disease
Kidney disease affects different people in different ways, both physically and emotionally. It can impact on many aspects of life, including personal relationships, jobs and social life.
Get help with the many aspects of living with kidney disease, including mental health, diet, fluid restrictions, questions to ask you doctor, and benefits, on our Living with kidney disease section
We also have information on the following:
What Will Happen If My Doctor Suspects Chronic Kidney Disease
Your doctor will want to pinpoint your diagnosis and check your kidney function to help plan your treatment. The doctor will perform these blood and urine tests:
Albumin to creatine ratio urine test: Albumin is a protein that shouldn’t be found in urine and indicates kidney function problems.
Blood test for creatinine: This determines if there is too much creatinine, a waste product, in the blood.
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About Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Because of this, excess fluid and waste from blood remain in the body and may cause other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
15% of US adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease, that is about 37 million people.
Some other health consequences of CKD include:
- Anemia or low number of red blood cells
- Increased occurrence of infections
- Low calcium levels, high potassium levels, and high phosphorus levels in the blood
- Loss of appetite or eating less
- Depression or lower quality of life
CKD has varying levels of seriousness. It usually gets worse over time though treatment has been shown to slow progression. If left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease. When the kidneys stop working, dialysis or kidney transplant is needed for survival. Kidney failure treated with dialysis or kidney transplant is called end-stage renal disease . Learn more about ESRD.
Not all patients with kidney disease progress to kidney failure. To help prevent CKD and lower the risk for kidney failure, control risk factors for CKD, get tested yearly, make lifestyle changes, take medicine as needed, and see your health care team regularly.
Seven Simple Home Remedies That Can Help Stop The Progression Of Chronic Kidney Disease
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The purpose of this article is to share some simple strategies that can prevent CKD leading to kidney failure and the need for dialysis. But to understand how to stop the kidneys from deteriorating, we first need to be clear about what CKD actually is
Kidney Disease Quite simply, the kidneys have become damaged and cannot perform their function of filtering the blood properly.
Chronic this means the condition worsens over a period of time.
So, that is the bad news, but you already knew that, right? Well, the good news is that if we understand the causes and risk factors of CKD, we can then modify these, potentially even removing them from the picture and in the process stop the progression of CKD!
Now, there can be many causes of CKD, but there are some conditions that can increase the risk of developing it or increase the risk of existing CKD leading to kidney failure. Even if you do not suffer any of these conditions now, developing one of the following conditions will put your kidneys under more pressure. If you do suffer from one or more of these conditions, or if you have a family history of any of them, it is even more important that you continue reading this article. So here are the big three risk factors:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes or insulin resistance
- Heart disease
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Limit Fluids In Advanced Kidney Disease
Water is necessary for life. However, if you have advanced kidney disease you might need to limit the amount of fluids you take in each day. This is because kidneys that are damaged arent able to efficiently eliminate extra fluid as they normally would.
This causes an accumulation of excess fluid in your body, which can lead to high blood pressure, swelling , difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, and heart failure .
Like all nutrients on a renal diet, your level of water restriction will depend on the severity of kidney disease you have. People with stages 1 and 2 kidney disease often do not need to limit water intake, and might actually be encouraged to drink enough water each day to keep their kidneys hydrated and working well.
Fluids not only include the water and other beverages you drink throughout the day, but also foods that contain a lot of water. This includes soups, stews, broths, gelatin, pudding, ice cream, popsicles, sherbet, and some fruits and vegetables.
Recommendations For Stages 4 And 5 Ckd
As the disease progresses and your renal function drops below 70 percent of what it should be, your nephrologist will recommend a restriction of phosphorus and potassium, two electrolytes that can harm the body if they accumulate excessively.
Among the considerations:
- Phosphorus is important to the body as it helps to convert the foods we eat into energy, aids in bone growth and muscle contraction, and regulates blood acidity. If you have too much, it can lead to a condition known as hyperphosphatemia which can damage the heart, bones, thyroid gland, and muscles. To avoid this, adults with stage 4 to 5 CKD would need to restrict their daily intake to 800 to 1,000 mg per day by cutting back on phosphorus-containing foods.
- Potassium is used by the body to regulate the heart rate and balance of water in cells. Having too much can lead to hyperkalemia, a condition characterized by weakness, nerve pain, abnormal heart rate, and, in some cases, heart attack. To avoid this, you would need to eat on a low-potassium diet, consuming no more than 2,000 mg per day.
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Kidney Disease And Cardiovascular Risks
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in people with chronic kidney disease. Compared to the general population, people with chronic kidney disease are two to three times more likely to have cardiovascular problems such as:
This increased risk is partly caused by factors common to both chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure. However, researchers are discovering that chronic kidney disease is, in itself, an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, and a history of cardiovascular disease is a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease.
The kidneys regulate water and salts, remove certain wastes and make various hormones. Kidney disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in many ways, including:
Chronic Kidney Disease Dietary Guidelines:
Given below are the foods to eat for a CKD sufferer and also listed foods that a chronic kidney disease sufferer should avoid if he is serious about reversing his CKD naturally at home.
You need to avoid protein-rich foods as they produce uric acid, which the kidneys have to excrete. This unnecessarily creates problems for the already affected kidneys. This includes chicken, red meat, pork, beef, and animal organs.
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What Can I Expect If I Have Kidney Disease
If you have kidney disease you can still live a productive home and work life and enjoy time with your family and friends. To have the best outcome possible, its important for you to become an active member of your treatment team.
Early detection and appropriate treatment are important in slowing the disease process, with the goal of preventing or delaying kidney failure. You will need to keep your medical appointments, take your medications as prescribed, stick to a healthy diet and monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar.
Symptoms Of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is called a silent disease as there are often few or no symptoms. In fact, you can lose up to 90 per cent of your kidneys functionality before experiencing any symptoms. Some signs and symptoms include:
- a change in the frequency and quantity of urine you pass, especially at night
- blood in your urine
- changes in the appearance of your urine
- puffiness around your legs and ankles
- pain in your back
- pain or burning when you pass urine
- high blood pressure.
If your kidneys begin to fail, waste products and extra fluid build up in your blood. This, and other problems, gradually leads to:
- tiredness and inability to concentrate
- generally feeling unwell
- bad breath and a metallic taste in the mouth.
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Healthy Kidneys Helps Us To :
#1. remove waste by-products of digestion and muscular activity from our blood
#2:balance water and concentration of minerals in our body
#3:synthesize the enzyme renin required to maintain optimal blood pressure
#4 synthesize the enzyme erythropoietin, which in turn stimulates the production of erythrocytes.
Kidneys also help maintain optimal bone health by synthesizing an active form of vitamin D. Continued loss of renal function over time, which may range from months to years, is referred to as kidney disease.
Kidney disease occursas a result of genetic problems, some injury, or overreaction to some drugs. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, or genetic predisposition are at greater risk of developing it.
The disease glomerulonephritis also brings about the continued loss of kidney functioning. Kidney stones, prostate disease, pinworm infestation of the kidney, vasculitis, polycystic kidney disease, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome are also the causative factors of kidney disease.
Long-distance runners who ignore fluid consumption may develop acute renal failure that damages their kidneys.
Symptoms Of Ckd That Vanish With Natural Kidney Disease Treatment
The following signs and symptoms are indicators of the development of a kidney problem:
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Stay Away From Pain Relievers:
Somebody may increase the risk of kidney cancer due to overuse of pain relievers such as aspirin, naproxen and acetaminophen. Therefore, if you want to find the natural way on how to treat kidney disease, you should avoid using pain relievers. These drugs and medication will affect your kidney badly and may lead to severe complications. When you experience pain caused by kidney disease, you should try natural remedies instead.
Avoid Alcohol And Coffee
The kidneys most important role is to filter out harmful substances and toxins, and both alcohol and caffeine can require extra work from the kidneys. This may hinder the process of healing from an infection.
Alcohol and antibiotics also shouldnt be mixed, so avoid alcohol during your treatment for this reason as well.
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What Are The Stages Of Kidney Disease:
At this stage, patients must take control of their hypertension and diabetes, exercise regularly, cut down on stress, and avoid smoking and alcohol.
Younger patients who reach the last stages of kidney disease are often at the risk of developing cancer.
Limit Foods High In Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral found in many foods that helps keep your bodily tissues, muscles, and other cells healthy. Phosphorus also works with calcium and vitamin D to keep your bones strong.
Damaged kidneys are unable to filter out extra phosphorus in the blood. Too much phosphorus in the body can cause calcium to be removed from your bones, leading to weak bones, as well as calcium deposits in the blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and heart. Over time, this increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Phosphorus is naturally found in protein-rich foods such as meats, poultry, fish, nuts, beans and dairy products. Phosphorus from animal sources is more easily absorbed than from plant sources.
Foods high in phosphorus include chocolate, milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, organ meats, oysters, sardines, processed meats, bran, whole wheat bread, nuts, seeds, beans, beer, and dark-colored cola drinks.
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Diabetes And Kidney Disease
About 20 to 30 per cent of people with diabetes develop a type of kidney disease called diabetic nephropathy. This is a serious disease and may worsen other diabetic complications such as nerve and eye damage, as well as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of kidney failure .
Tips For Managing Your Medicines
The next time you pick up a prescription or buy an OTC medicine or supplement, ask your pharmacist how the product may
- affect your kidneys
- affect other medicines you take
Fill your prescriptions at only one pharmacy or pharmacy chain so your pharmacist can
- keep track of your medicines and supplements
- check for harmful interactions
Keep track of your medicines and supplements:
- Keep an up-to-date list of your medicines and supplements in your wallet. Take your list with you, or bring all of your medicine bottles, to all health care visits.
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Benefits Of A Kidney Disease Diet
According to the National Kidney Foundation, 37 million American adults have chronic kidney disease. People with CKD often need to change what they eat to help avoid further damage to their kidneys.
Following a renal disease diet can help preserve kidney function and prevent further decline in their ability to filter the blood of waste and fluids. This can help decrease some symptoms of kidney disease, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, problems with urination, and kidney pain.
In addition, following a healthy renal diet can help provide you with energy, maintain a healthy weight, decrease infections, and prevent loss of muscle mass. Continue reading to learn more about diet for people with kidney disease.
Medical Treatment For Kidney Infections
Antibiotics are always the first line of defense against a kidney infection. If the kidney infection isnt severe, a doctor will likely give you oral antibiotics to take once or twice a day for 7 to 14 days.
Its important to take the entire course of antibiotics, even if you feel better within several days. Stopping early could lead to antibiotic resistance or re-infection. A doctor will also encourage you to drink plenty of water.
In some cases, kidney infections may require going to the hospital. Youll be given fluids and antibiotics intravenously through an IV, both of which can help treat the infection.
In addition, lab work and imaging may be done to determine the severity of the infection as well as the cause, such as a blockage due to a kidney stone or anatomical abnormality.
If you have recurring UTIs that increase your risk of frequent kidney infections, a doctor will help you establish the cause of their frequency and help you prevent further infections from occurring.
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