Kidney failure is a disease very dangerous for the life and he alth of every human being. If you are urinating less often, swelling of the legs, arms and the whole body has appeared, it is worth checking whether the kidneys are coping with their basic function - cleansing the body. Find out what are the causes and symptoms of kidney failure and how it is being treated.
Kidney failurecan develop asymptomatically for a long time, which makes it doubly dangerous. There are two types of failure: acute and chronic.Acute kidney failuretends to be more severe but reversible.
Chronic Kidney Failureis an irreversible and progressive process leading to the inevitable loss of kidney function. Proper kidney function ensures optimal conditions for the work of all organs and tissues in the body. The main indicator of kidney function is their efficiency.
In the case of renal failure, insufficient blood purification and water removal occur, which leads to an increase in the concentration of metabolic products, toxins and fluid overload. The kidneys also cease to fulfill all other regulatory functions. Kidney failure affects not only this organ, because "contaminated" blood reaches every organ and tissue, disrupting their functions.
Contents:
- Kidney failure symptoms
- Renal failure - causes
- Kidney failure - diagnosis
- Renal failure - treatment
Kidney failure symptoms
Many kidney diseases are easily confused at first with ailments caused by degeneration of the spine in the lumbar spine or the so-called root pains. In acute renal failure, the following are possible:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- gastrointestinal haemorrhage
When the disease develops, we urinate less and less often, swelling of the legs, arms and sometimes the whole body appear. As a result of water retention in the body, body weight increases quite quickly. Acute conditions are also associated with respiratory distress caused by pulmonary edema. The muscles of the legs and arms often tremble noticeably, and the digestive tract is tormented by nausea and vomiting.
In chronic renal failure, the first symptom may be fluctuating blood pressurearterial and the so-called urine concentrate. Over time, you experience increased thirst and frequent urination. Usually, high blood pressure also develops.
The more permanent the disease, the more symptoms. Often there is itching of the skin, swelling of the limbs, painful cramps and the so-called restless leg syndrome. The circulatory system is also failing. There is shortness of breath after exercise, headaches, visual disturbances caused by arterial hypertension.
At night, patients suffer from attacks of breathlessness, and the frequent pain behind the sternum may suggest a heart attack. Hiccups and vomiting are permanent symptoms. In acute glomerulonephritis, pain in the lumbar region, dark red urine, swelling under the eyes and increased blood pressure appear.
ImportantFatigue can be a sign of kidney failure
If the kidneys do not cleanse the blood sufficiently from metabolic substances, toxins accumulate in the body and interfere with the work of many organs. This affects how you feel:
- fatigue and weakness appear,
- heaviness,
- irritability,
- trouble concentrating,
- lack of appetite,
- lose weight,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- swelling and numbness of the hands
Swelling of the face and feet also persists. In addition, the head often hurts and the skin peels and itches.
Renal failure - causes
Acute kidney failure is most often caused by:
- diarrhea or vomiting
- obstruction of the urinary tract, caused by kidney stones or cancer
- acute interstitial or glomerulonephritis
- hemorrhage
- toxin poisoning
- hemolysis
- traumatic shock
- septic shock
Chronic renal failure is most often caused by:
- glomerular diseases (primary and secondary)
- diabetes
- vascular disease (stenosis,nephrosclerosis )
- tubulointerstitial diseases
- diseases with accompanying kidney cysts (e.g. polycystic kidney disease)
- enlarged prostate
- inappropriate diet - e.g. eating red meat
Kidney failure - diagnosis
When going to the doctor, you need to take the current results of basic research with you. The most common requirements are:
- morphology
- urine general examination
- urea
- creatinine
- ionogram
- glucose level
- ultrasound of the urinary system with the assessment of the size of the kidneys
If chronic is suspectedkidney disease, an additional calcium test should be performed. The nephrologist will also want to see the blood pressure control chart.
In recurrent urinary tract infections, the patient should have the results of urine culture and glucose level with him, and in the case of proteinuria, additionally the result of daily protein loss, cholesterol and calcium tests. However, in the case of arterial hypertension, it is necessary to examine the fundus.
Impaired renal function is also indicated by reduced glomerular filtration, i.e. GFR.
In order to make a diagnosis, the nephrologist will refer you to another specialist examination that will show the details of the structure and functioning of the kidneys. They will reveal structural deformities, deposits, stones, cysts and tumors. These tests are:
- urography (X-ray of the urinary system after contrast administration),
- ultrasound (sound wave examination),
- scintigraphy (the test uses a gamma camera connected to a computer, which tracks the isotope tracer administered intravenously).
Renal failure - treatment
Kidney failure is treated pharmacologically, but diet also plays an important role in the treatment. Protein restriction is the general rule of the diet with this disease. However, you do not have to completely exclude protein foods from the menu, but eat products that contain only wholesome protein, e.g. eggs and milk.
The diet should be consulted with a doctor, who will determine the menu based on the detailed test results, and will also determine the amount of fluids - especially in situations where you need to keep an accurate water balance.
Most of the energy supplied with food must come from vegetable fats and carbohydrates, the main source of which is vegetables and fruits. Better to eliminate animal fats. In cases of swelling and hypertension, you need to limit the amount of sodium, so avoid s alt, canned food, pickles, smoked products and spices with its addition.
When there is too much potassium in the body (as shown by research), you must give up products such as tomatoes (and their preserves), bananas, nuts, cocoa, chocolate, legume seeds, dried fruit, muesli, groats , mushrooms, meat and vegetable decoctions. Meat and vegetables (especially potatoes) are also rich in potassium. They should be pre-boiled, drained of water and boiled again in a new one.
With advanced uremia, the phosphate metabolism is disturbed. Then you have to give up such foods as fish, offal, veal, goose meat, cereals, groats, muesli, legumes, wholemeal bread, instant meals and drinkscarbonated.
It is important to drink the fluid intake strictly determined by the doctor. The method of preparing the dishes should be the same as in the case of an easily digestible diet. Avoid frying, baking and browning. It is best to cook or bake in foil.