Kidney Failure: Signs, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

All You Need to Know About Kidney Failure

What are Kidneys?

Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs found in your back on either side of the spine. The main role of kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid through urine from your body. Besides, kidneys help balance the elements in your blood and they make all the hormones that control red blood cells and high blood pressure.

What is Kidney Failure? (Renal Failure)

Kidney failure is a fatal condition that occurs when one or both kidneys are no longer working on their own. The condition is also called renal failure. When the kidneys are not working perfectly, waste products build in the body, leading to serious diseases.

Most individuals have two kidneys, but one can live with one provided it does it’s work efficiently.

Kidney failure is treatable and your kidney can return to normal that is if it is diagnosed and treated early. However, this condition can be progressive in some situations and can be irreversible. If your kidneys fail to function completely, you will require a dialysis or kidney transplant which is very expensive.

Signs of Kidney Failure

1. Problems with urination

The function of kidneys is linked to urine production. If you notice that you are urinating more or less than normal, this can be a sign of kidney failure, mostly at night. Still, check for other signs, including:

• A decrease in urine production 
• Foamy, cloudy, or discolored urine 
• Experiencing a burning sensation or pain when urinating. 

2. Swelling

The work of kidneys is to remove excess fluid from the blood. When the kidneys are not able to remove excess fluid, fluid will build up in the body, causing swelling in your:

• Hands 
• Feet 
• Ankles 
• Face 
• Legs 

In serious situations, swelling can occur in your lungs, leading to shortness of breath. Shortness of breath causes cells and blood vessels to break down leading to death.

3. Fatigue

One of the secondary functions of the kidneys is to aid in the making of red blood cells that transport oxygen around the body. If the kidneys fail, your body experiences a decrease in red blood cells (anemia). A decrease in red blood cells production causes:

• Decreased stamina 
• Dizziness or cognitive impairment 
• Tiredness 

If you experience a lot of fatigue even when you don’t work, the fatigue can be caused by excessive build-up of metabolic waste in the blood.

4. Back pain

Kidneys are found in your back on either side of the spine and this explains the back pain. If your kidneys are not working well, you can feel pain in your back or sides. You can consult your doctor if you experience persistent back pain.

5. Loss of appetite

If your kidney disease has reached advanced levels, you may experience a loss of appetite. Loss of appetite makes you eat less, leading to weight loss and undernutrition. If you experience this problem frequently, you should talk to your doctor about the foods with nutrients and healthy for you.

6. Skin itch

When waste products build up in the body, they become useless. If your kidneys are not working well, the body will find it hard to remove the waste products. As the body tries to get rid of the waste products, you experience severe itching and rashes on your skin.

Early Signs of Kidney Failure

The signs of kidney disease in it’s early stages are hard to pinpoint. These signs are subtle and hard to notice. Some of the early signs of kidney failure include:

• Shortness of breath
• Decrease in urine production
• Fluid retention, leading to swelling.

Causes of Kidney Failure

Kidney failure can be caused by an injury or chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension). However, diabetes and high blood pressure are the main causes of kidney failure. Kidney failure takes time and it is hard to notice it’s signs.

Most people don’t notice this problem until they realize they have lost one or two of the kidneys. For instance, early kidney failure signs are hard to know and they show up later in the progression. Check out some of the causes of kidney diseases.

1. High blood pressure

High blood pressure is a condition that happens when the blood pressure travels in the vessels with increased force. People with higher blood pressure levels develop serious health conditions such as heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure.

Keep in mind that uncontrolled high blood pressure levels can damage your kidney tissues, leading to complete breakdown.

Related: How to Control High Blood Pressure 

2. Diabetes

Diabetes is another fatal health condition that occurs when there is too high blood glucose in the body. excess sugar levels lead to damage of vital organs, such as the heart, eyes, kidneys, brain, and blood vessels. When glucose levels are high, some of it goes to the kidneys.

This will give the kidneys a lot of work trying to get rid of the waste products and sugar, and this can make one or both of them collapse.

Related: All you Need to Know About Diabetes

3. Loss of blood flow to the kidneys

A sudden loss or insufficient blood flow to the lungs causes kidney failure. Loss of blood flow to the kidneys occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood or when the vessels break due to high blood pressure. Some other causes of blood flow to the kidneys include:

• Allergic reactions 
• Heart attack 
• Heart disease 
• Dehydration 
• Severe infections, such as sepsis 
• Anti-inflammatory medication. 

4. Poor urine elimination

When the body is not able to eliminate urine, the urine toxins will build up and overload the kidneys. This will lead to struggle or collapse of the kidneys. Some conditions that interfere with urine elimination and lead to kidney failure include:

• Blood clotting within the urinary tract 
• Kidney stones 
• Damage to the nerves that regulate the bladder 
• Having an enlarged prostate. 

Other Causes of Kidney Failure

• Drugs and alcohol abuse 
• Certain antibiotics 
• Chemotherapy drugs that treat cancer 
• Autoimmune conditions on your skin 
• Inflammation of small blood vessels in the kidneys 
• Blood clotting in the kidneys 
• Overload of toxins from heavy metals. 

Diagnosis of Kidney Failure

Doctors do a variety of tests to know whether your kidney is functioning. If your healthcare provider realizes there might be a risk of kidney failure, they recommend:

1. Urine tests

Doctors take a sample of your urine to test if there are any abnormalities, such as sugar that spills in the urine or abnormal protein. Still, they can do a urinary sediment test that measures the amount of white and red blood cells.

In this test, they will look for a high number of cellular casts and high levels of bacteria.

2. Blood tests

Blood tests show how the kidneys are removing waste from the blood. Some of the wastes removed from the blood include creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. If there is a rise in levels of these substances, this can be a sign of acute kidney failure.

3. Imaging

Some tests, such as MRIs, ultrasounds, and CT scans offer images of the kidneys and the urinary tract. With the images, your doctor can look for any blockages or abnormal things in the kidneys.

4. Measuring the urine volume

Measuring the urine output volume is one of the easiest tests for diagnosing kidney failure. For instance, if your urine output is low, this suggests that kidney disease is caused by a urinary blockage.

The urinary blockage leads to different illnesses or injuries.

Kidney Failure Treatment

There are multiple treatments for kidney failure. However, the type of treatment your kidneys need depends on the reason for your kidney disease. Check out the available kidney failure treatment options.

1. Dialysis

Dialysis is a kidney failure treatment option that purifies waste from the kidneys. The good thing about dialysis is that it functions like normal healthy kidneys, but it is expensive. Depending on your dialysis type, you can be connected to a large machine or a catheter bag.

During the dialysis treatment period, a low-salt and low-potassium diet is highly recommended. However, you should know that dialysis does not cure kidney failure, but it increases your lifespan provided you go for all the scheduled treatments.

2. Transplant

A kidney transplant is a common treatment option for kidney failure and it is effective. A transplanted kidney works normally and you won’t need dialysis. For the transplanted kidney to work, the kidney must be compatible with your body.

After the transplant, you must take immunosuppressive drugs. These drugs are important because they prevent the body from rejecting the new kidney. However, you should be ready for side effects, of which some are serious.

Kidney transplants sometimes don’t become successful because of health conditions or the body refusing the new kidney.

Before you make your decision, talk with your doctor so that you can know whether you qualify for a transplant. This will prevent wastage and help you get the right treatment.

Kidney Failure Prevention

There are many steps you can take to prevent the risk of kidney failure. One of the main steps is following directions when taking medications. Taking high drug doses creates higher levels of waste and toxins within a short period of time. The higher the levels of toxins in your body, the more load you are putting on your kidneys.

One of the best ways you can reduce kidney failure include:

• Follow your doctor’s advice when taking medications 
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle 
• Control high blood pressure and diabetes 
• Take all prescribed medicines as directed. 

Kidney health is important for your overall health. It is always a good thing to go for checkups so that you can stay on the safer side. If you experience any of the symptoms above or problems with your kidney, reach out to your doctor.

All You Need to Know About Acute Kidney Failure