Kidney Failure
Your kidneys are connected to your bladder by tubes called ureters.
Most people have two kidneys.
Remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood
Help keep your bones healthy
Help you make red blood cells
Nephrotoxic medicines: certain medicines are toxic to the kidneys, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic medicines like idomethacin, ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. Other potentially toxic medicines also include antibiotics such as gentamicin, Nafcillin, and anesthetic medicines like diethyl ether.
Kidney Failure
What are the kidneys?
What your kidneys do?
What causes kidney failure?
What are treatments for kidney failure?
How to diagnose kidney failure?
What are the kidneys?
Our kidneys are an important part of our body.
The Basics about kidneys:
• Most people have two kidneys.
• The kidneys are located on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage.
• Each kidney is about the size of your fist.
• The kidneys are shaped like "kidney beans".
• Your kidneys are connected to your bladder by tubes called ureters.
Back topWhat Your Kidneys Do
Think of your kidneys like a pasta strainer or filter. Your kidneys keep some things in your body that you need, and get rid of other things that you don't. The kidneys also do many other jobs that you need to live.
The kidneys:
Make urine
Remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood
Control your body's chemical balance
Help control your blood pressure
Help keep your bones healthy
Help you make red blood cells
Any factor that could impair the kidneys will make them work inappropriately.
Back topWhat are the Causes of kidney failure
Kidney failure can occur from an acute situation or chronic problems.
In acute kidney failure, kidney function is lost over a period of hours, days, or in some cases, weeks. The causes of acute kidney failure are categorized based on where the injury is set.
Pre-renal causes
Pre-renal kidney failure occurs due to decreased blood supply to the kidneys. Pre-renal causes mainly include the follows:
Low blood volume due to blood loss
Dehydration from loss body fluid, examples of which include: vomiting, diarrhea, severe sweating, high fever, etc.
Insufficient fluid intake
Such medicines as diuretics may result in severe water loss
Abnormal blood flow to and from the kidney due to obstructions in renal arteries or veins
Renal Causes
Renal causes of kidney failure (factors that damage kidney itself) mainly include:
Sepsis: the body's immune system is overwhelmed from infection and causes inflammation and shutdown of the kidneys. This usually doesn't occur with urinary tract infections.
Nephrotoxic medicines: certain medicines are toxic to the kidneys, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic medicines like idomethacin, ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. Other potentially toxic medicines also include antibiotics such as gentamicin, Nafcillin, and anesthetic medicines like diethyl ether.
Multiple myeloma
Acute glomerulonephritis or inflammation of glomeruli, the filtering system of the kidneys. Diseases that could cause the inflammation mainly include Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Goodpasture Syndrome, Wengener's granlomatosis, etc.
Post-renal causes of kidney failure are factors that affect outflow of urine. Common causes mainly include urinary tract stones, bilateral pelvic effusion, prostatic hyperplasia, tumors in the abdomen that surround and obstruct the ureters.
Chronic renal failure (CRF), or chronic kidney disease (CKD), is a slow and progressive decline of kidney function. The most common causes of chronic kidney failure are Diabetes and high blood pressure.
One of the complications resulting from diabetes or high blood pressure is the damage to the small blood vessels in the body. The blood vessels in the kidneys also become damaged, resulting in CKD.
Other common causes of chronic kidney failure include:
Recurring pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
Polycystic kidney disease (multiple cysts in the kidneys)
Autoimmune disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Purpura
Hardening of the arteries, which can damage blood vessels in the kidney
Urinary tract blockages and reflux, due to frequent infections, stones, or an anatomical abnormality that happened at birth
Excessive use of medications that are metabolized through the kidneys
Back topSymptoms and complications of kidney failure:
Common symptoms of kidney failure may include:
Itching (pruritus) and dry skin
Headaches
Weight loss without trying
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Other symptoms may include:
Abnormally dark or light skin
Nail changes
Bone pain
Drowsiness and confusion
Problems concentrating or thinking
Numbness in the hands, feet, or other areas
Muscle twitching or cramps
Breath odor
Easy bruising, nosebleeds, or blood in the stool
Excessive thirst
Frequent hiccups
Low level of sexual interest and impotence
Menstrual periods stop (amenorrhea)
Sleep problems, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or obstructive sleep apnea
Swelling of the feet and hands (edema)
Vomiting, especially in the morning
Metallic taste in mouth
Abdominal pains
Back topWhat is the treatment for kidney failure?
Prevention is always the goal with kidney failure. Conditions such as Diabetes and high blood pressure are devastating because they can cause severe damage to the kidneys and other organ failure. Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar within targeted range is life-long affair to reduce risks. Specific treatment depends on the underlying causes of diseases.
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