What you need to know about Kidney Failure

Kidneys are a small but very important organ in our body. They are like two super filters that filter out waste products in our body. But what happens if these two filters stop working, whether slowly or suddenly? That is what we medically call Kidney Failure. It is very important for all of us to be aware of this condition. Because, if we recognize it early, we can control the damage it can cause to a great extent. So let's talk about this in detail.

Simply put, what is the function of these kidneys?

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs about the size of the palm of your hand. They are located on your back, just below your rib cage. Most people have two functioning kidneys, but if one kidney is working well, it is enough to live a healthy life.

The kidneys have many jobs. The most important and important of them is to clean our blood . Like a water filter at home, the kidneys filter out all the unwanted waste and toxins from our blood and excrete them from the body as urine .

Imagine what would happen if this filter were to break. That's what happens when your kidneys don't work properly. The toxins in your body start to build up inside your body instead of being able to get out. When that happens, you start to feel sick, and if left untreated, it can even be life-threatening. But don't worry, with proper treatment, many people can control this condition and live a good life.

What are the five stages of kidney disease?

There is a special measurement that doctors use to measure how severe kidney disease is. It is called eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) . This is a value obtained from your blood test. Simply put, this eGFR value tells you how well your kidneys are filtering waste products. A healthy person's eGFR value is above 90. The lower this value, the less effective your kidneys are.

Kidney disease can be divided into five main stages.

What are the primary warning signs of kidney failure?

As mentioned earlier, there may be no symptoms in the early stages. However, as kidney function declines, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Feeling too tired to do anything (fatigue): Not just normal fatigue, but a feeling of being exhausted no matter how much sleep you get.
• Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting along with loss of appetite.
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating: Difficulty concentrating, forgetting things.
• Swelling (edema): Swelling, especially in the hands, ankles, feet, and face. It feels like a dimple when pressed with a finger.
• Change in the frequency of urination: You may start urinating more or less than usual. Sometimes you may notice foamy or bloody urine.
• Muscle spasms: Muscle spasms in the legs and arms.
• Dry and itchy skin: When toxins are not properly eliminated from the kidneys, the skin can become dry and unbearably itchy.
• Appetite: You may not feel like eating, and you may notice a metallic taste (like iron) in the food you eat.

Having these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you have kidney failure. However, if you have one or more of these symptoms, it's important to see your doctor right away for advice .

What are the main causes of kidney failure?

Kidney failure can occur in two main ways. One is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which develops slowly over time . The other is Acute Kidney Injury, which occurs suddenly .

Main causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD)

There are two main reasons why many people in our country develop kidney disease.

1. Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes causes blood sugar levels to remain high. This excess sugar damages the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys, like rust eating away at a corpse. Over time, this damage reduces the kidneys' ability to filter blood.

2. High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure means that the blood is moving through the blood vessels with excessive force. When this excessive force continues, the delicate tissues of the kidneys are damaged. This is also a major cause of kidney failure.

In addition to these two main reasons, there are other reasons:

• Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): This is a genetic condition that is passed down through generations. In this condition, fluid-filled cysts (cysts) form inside the kidneys, which can damage the kidneys as they grow.
• Glomerular diseases: These are diseases that affect the filtering units of the kidneys.
• Autoimmune diseases: In diseases like lupus, our own immune system attacks and damages the kidneys.

Causes of sudden acute kidney failure

This can happen suddenly, over a few hours or days. However, most of the time, this condition is temporary and can be cured with proper treatment.

• Certain medications: especially long-term use of painkillers.
• Severe dehydration: Not getting enough water into the body.
• Urinary tract obstruction: Obstruction of urine flow due to urinary stones or other causes.
• Other untreated diseases: Severe illnesses such as heart disease or liver disease.

How to diagnose kidney disease?

If your doctor suspects that you have kidney disease, they may perform several tests to confirm the diagnosis.

• Blood tests: These mainly check the levels of waste products like creatinine and urea in the blood. If the kidneys are not working properly, their levels increase in the blood. The eGFR value is also calculated from this blood test.
• Urine tests: Your urine will be checked for protein or blood. Healthy kidneys do not normally excrete protein. Protein in the urine is a sign that the kidneys' filtering system is damaged.
• Imaging tests: An ultrasound scan, CT scan, or MRI scan of the kidneys can check the size, shape, and presence of any blockages or tumors.

What are the treatments for kidney failure?

Kidney failure is an incurable, lifelong condition. But don't worry. The main goal of treatment is to preserve the remaining kidney function for as long as possible and to control the progression of the disease.

Treatment methods vary depending on the cause and severity of the disease.

Treatment with medication

Your doctor may prescribe medications such as these, depending on the cause of the condition:

• Blood pressure medications: Medications such as ACE inhibitors or ARBs.
• Diuretics: Drugs that help remove excess water from the body through urine.
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs (Statins): Reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Medications for anemia: Kidney patients may have reduced red blood cell production. Medications that help with this.
• Vitamin D and calcium: Keep bones strong.

Treatment when the disease is severe

Once kidney disease reaches the final stage (Stage V), special treatment is required to survive. There are two main treatment methods.

1. Dialysis:

This involves cleaning the blood using a machine instead of the kidneys that have failed. There are two types of dialysis:

• Hemodialysis: In this, your blood is sent to a machine that filters out waste products and returns clean blood to your body. This usually requires you to go to a hospital or dialysis center three or four days a week.
• Peritoneal Dialysis: In this procedure, a tube (catheter) is inserted into your abdomen and a special fluid is injected through it. This fluid removes waste products from your blood and then the fluid containing the waste products is returned to your body. This can sometimes be done at home.

2. Kidney Transplant:

This is the best treatment for end-stage kidney disease. In this, a healthy kidney is surgically transplanted into the body to replace the damaged kidney. This healthy kidney can be obtained from a deceased donor or a living donor. After the kidney transplant, the body will need to take medications for the rest of its life to prevent the new kidney from being rejected.

Can kidney disease be prevented and controlled?

Although kidney disease cannot be completely reversed, the rate of progression of the disease can be largely controlled by adopting a healthy lifestyle and following proper medical advice.

• If you have diabetes , keep your blood sugar levels within the appropriate range .
• If you have high blood pressure , control it properly .
• Avoid smoking completely.
• Limit foods high in salt and potassium. Consult your doctor or a nutritionist about this.
• Do not continue to use painkillers (NSAIDs) without consulting a doctor.
• Keep all tests and appointments prescribed by the doctor on time.

Kidney Failure, Kidney Disease, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, eGFR, Creatinine