Acute Kidney Failure - Let's be aware of this!

Have you ever thought about the two most powerful filters in our body? They are our kidneys . What would happen if they suddenly stopped working, like a power outage? That is what we call “Acute Kidney Failure ” or “Acute Renal Failure” in medicine. This can happen within a few hours or a few days. But don’t worry, if you are aware of this and get treatment quickly, most of the time your kidneys can be restored to normal.

Simply put, what is the function of these kidneys?

Let's understand this simply. The main job of the kidneys is to filter our blood and remove the unwanted waste products from it as urine . Not only that, but these two small organs also do many important things like controlling the amount of water in the body, controlling blood pressure , helping to make red blood cells , and balancing the electrolytes essential to the body. So when these are damaged, all these things go wrong.

What is the difference between Acute and Chronic?

You may have heard of something called “Chronic Kidney Disease” ( CKD ). That and “Acute Kidney Failure” are two different things.

• Acute Kidney Failure: This happens suddenly, all of a sudden . If treated properly, there is a chance of complete recovery .
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): This is a gradual, long-term condition that causes the kidneys to weaken over time . It is usually caused by long-term conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure . This damage is often permanent .

Your doctor can easily confirm which of these two conditions you have by performing an ultrasound scan. In general, in CKD, the kidneys appear smaller in size.

How to identify the stages of kidney disease?

There is a measure of kidney function, which we call `(eGFR – estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)`. Simply put, this is how well your kidneys filter the blood. This value is used to classify the stages of the disease.

Be aware of these symptoms!

Sometimes this condition can occur without any symptoms. It is sometimes found incidentally during tests for another condition. However, if you do develop symptoms, they may include:

• The amount of urine output is greatly reduced.
• Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet (due to fluid retention).
• Constant feeling of extreme fatigue and sleepiness.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Vomiting or nausea.
• The food is tasteless.
• Itchy skin.
• Difficulty in making up one's mind (Confusion).
• Chest pain or tightness.
• Muscle twitching.
• Stomach or back pain.
• Fever, skin rash, or nosebleeds.

Why is this happening? 3 main reasons!

There are three main categories of causes of sudden kidney failure.

1. Impaired blood flow to the kidneys

This may be due to:

• Severe dehydration or severe burns.
• Infections.
• Heart failure.
• Liver failure.
• Certain painkillers (NSAIDs such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen) and some medications for high blood pressure.

2. Obstruction in urination

If the passageway becomes blocked so that urine produced in the kidneys cannot exit, that pressure can back up and damage the kidneys.

• Kidney stones.
• Enlarged prostate in men.
• Cancer of the bladder, cervix, colon, or prostate.
• Damage to the nerves in the urinary tract.

3. Direct damage to the kidneys themselves

Some things can directly damage kidney cells.

• Some medications (e.g. NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs, some antibiotics).
• Inflammation of the fine tubes that filter urine from the kidneys (Glomerulonephritis). This can be caused by infections or autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
• Blood clots or cholesterol deposits.

How is it treated?

The good news is that if it is detected early, it can be treated and cured. The treatment depends on your condition and the cause.

• Hospitalization: In most cases, this condition requires hospitalization for treatment.
• Treating the cause: The first thing to do is to find the cause of the kidney failure and treat it. For example, if it is dehydration, saline is given, if it is an infection, antibiotics are given, and if it is due to a medication, it is stopped.
• Diet: Your doctor may tell you to limit foods high in salt and potassium until your kidneys heal. This is because excreting these is a burden on your kidneys. They may tell you to limit things like bananas, spinach, tomatoes, oranges, and potatoes and instead eat foods low in potassium like apples, grapes, strawberries, and cauliflower .
• Medications: Medications can be given to control the levels of phosphorus and potassium in the blood.
• Dialysis: If the damage to the kidneys is severe, a machine will need to do the work of the kidneys until they recover. This is called dialysis. This does not cure the kidneys, but it does help remove waste products from the body and save life until the kidneys recover.

Can't we protect ourselves from this situation?

Of course it is possible. If you take care of a few simple things, you can reduce this risk.

1. Be careful with painkillers: Avoid continuous and excessive use of over-the-counter painkillers (NSAIDs) (such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen). Consult your doctor before taking any medication.

2. Follow your doctor's instructions: If you have any medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, control them properly. Use the medications your doctor prescribes exactly.

3. A healthy lifestyle: Drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet, and exercise. These things keep your entire body healthy, not just your kidneys.

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