Kidney Disease Symptoms, Risk Factors & Treatment | Diseases List A-Z

What is Kidney Disease? Kidney disease is one of the medical conditions that are prone to occur so you should be aware of it.

The kidneys are two organs shaped like red beans that are located on either side of the upper back of the body, right under the human ribs.

The function of the kidneys includes producing renin, an enzyme that regulates blood pressure.

In addition, the kidneys also produce erythropoietin compounds that function to stimulate red blood cell production.

This organ also functions to filter the body’s metabolic waste.

Even healthy kidneys can keep the salt and mineral levels balanced in the body.

No less important, the kidneys are able to produce active compounds from vitamin D so that bone health is maintained.

When the kidneys are damaged, the body’s metabolic waste will cause swelling in the ankles, vomiting, shortness of breath and lack of sleep.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease In fact, the symptoms of kidney disease that appear in each sufferer will be different.

This is because of the different types of kidney disease that individuals experience.

In fact, some of them do not show any symptoms at the beginning of this condition.

Therefore, it is better to know more about the health symptoms associated with kidney disease.

Here are the early signs and symptoms that everyone should be aware of: You will experience fatigue, lack of energy, and even difficulty concentrating.

Having trouble sleeping.

Changes in skin health that become drier and itchier.

Experiencing increased frequency of urination.

There is blood in the urine.

Urine that is foamy and has a pungent odor.

Not only that, urine also has a very dark color.

Experiencing persistent swelling in the eye area.

Swollen ankles and feet.

Experiencing decreased appetite.

More frequent muscle pain or cramps.

In addition to the above symptoms, there are also some Often Ignored Symptoms of Kidney Disease.

It is important to immediately recognize and ask a doctor if there are any suspicious complaints or signs.

Kidney Disease Risk Factors People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing kidney disease.

In fact, diabetes is the main cause of this condition.

However, the risk of kidney disease also increases in individuals with the following conditions: Have high blood pressure.

Have high cholesterol levels.

Smoking habit.

Have other family members with a history of kidney disease.

Elderly, over 65 years old.

Research shows that this condition is more common in people of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian descent.

In addition, this condition is also often associated with other medical conditions, such as: Blockage of blood vessels in the arms or legs.

Suffering from diabetes or sugar disease.

High blood pressure or hypertension.

Suffering from heart failure.

Currently undergoing intensive care in hospital due to a serious illness.

Suffering from liver disease.

Types of Kidney Disease This condition consists of several different types.

Here are the types of kidney disease that often occur: 1.

Chronic kidney disease or chronic kidney failure Experts also often refer to this disease as chronic kidney failure.

This disease occurs when kidney function is gradually lost.

When this condition occurs, the body will slowly accumulate waste or substances that the body does not need.

Over time it can cause health problems in other organs.

2.

Acute kidney disease This type of kidney disease is a sudden decline in kidney function.

There are a number of causes that can trigger acute kidney disease.

Starting from lack of fluid and blood, injury to the kidneys, or blockages that cause fluid to return to the kidneys.

3.

Kidney stones This condition is indicated by the formation of solid objects or gravel in one or both kidneys.

Usually, this condition occurs due to high levels of certain minerals in the urine.

4.

Kidney infection Doctors also call this condition pyelonephritis.

This condition can occur due to an untreated urinary tract infection.

As a result, bacteria move towards the kidneys and cause infection.

5.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder that causes cysts to appear in the kidneys.

6.

Glomerulonephritis Disorders of the glomerulus or glomerulonephritis are conditions when the kidneys become inflamed.

The glomerulus is a part of the kidney organ that plays a role in filtering waste materials, as well as removing excess fluids and electrolytes from the body.

Glomerulonephritis can occur in a short time (acute) or long-term (chronic).

For the cause, glomerulonephritis can occur due to many factors.

For example, such as infection, autoimmune disease, or as an impact of inflammation that attacks blood vessels.

Causes of Kidney Disease The causes of this condition will vary depending on the type.

For example, the causes are: The kidneys do not have enough blood flow.

There is direct damage to the kidneys.

Kidney tissue damage due to drugs or severe infection (sepsis).

Have a history of chronic kidney disease.

Obstruction of urine from the kidneys.

Meanwhile, chronic or long-term kidney disease occurs when a disease or condition damages kidney function.

This condition eventually causes kidney damage to worsen over months or years.

Meanwhile, diseases or conditions that cause chronic kidney disease can include type 1 and 2 diabetes, as well as high blood pressure.

Kidney Disease Diagnosis Immediately visit the nearest hospital when you experience some health problems related to kidney disease.

There are several examinations that you can do to find out the condition of your kidneys, such as: Blood tests , usually these tests are to filter waste from the blood by estimating the glomerular filtration rate or eGFR.

A doctor can also perform a urine test to determine the health condition of your kidneys.

Kidney biopsy is a procedure where a specialist doctor takes a tissue sample from the kidney to then examine in detail in the laboratory.

USG, to get an idea of ​​the current condition of the kidneys and detect other disorders, such as tumors or cysts.

Kidney Disease Treatment Treatment for this condition will also depend on the type and cause of the disease.

However, treatment generally aims to relieve symptoms and reduce the condition from getting worse.

There are several treatments that doctors can recommend for sufferers, such as: Use of medications.

For example, the use of ACE inhibitors to help control blood pressure and protein in the urine.

In addition, the use of antibiotics can also be prescribed by doctors to inhibit bacterial growth.

Kidney stone crushing to treat large kidney stones.

Dialysis that lasts for 3-5 hours with a frequency of about 3 times per week.

Surgical procedures to remove kidney stones or polycystic kidneys and kidney transplantation.

In addition to these treatment options, doctors will also recommend that sufferers of this condition live a healthy lifestyle to ease kidney function.

Efforts to implement a healthy lifestyle are: Limit your intake of foods high in salt, sugar, and cholesterol.

Routinely check for diseases you have.

For example, diabetes, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases.

Increase your consumption of water.

Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages.

If you smoke, people with kidney disease need to stop this habit immediately.

Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Exercise regularly.

Kidney Disease Cure Rate The cure of this condition will actually depend on the type.

For example, in chronic kidney failure, this disease cannot be completely cured.

However, treatment, medical care, and the implementation of the right lifestyle can help people with this disease to carry out normal activities and extend their life expectancy.

Meanwhile, for cases of acute kidney failure which usually occurs temporarily, appropriate medical treatment and care can restore or improve kidney function.

Kidney Disease Prevention Immediately check the condition of the kidney stones by visiting a doctor to do some tests.

Do a urine test first to check for infections and stones in the urine.

And do a blood test to make sure the kidneys are functioning properly.

There are also preventive measures to reduce the risk of getting this disease, such as: Follow the directions for use.

When using over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, follow the directions on the package.

Taking too much or too often can cause kidney damage.

Maintain ideal body weight.

Make sure to exercise regularly and adopt a healthy diet.

Read more about recommended exercise times at: Note, This is a Good Exercise Time for Health .

Don’t smoke.

Smoking can damage your kidneys and worsen existing kidney damage.

Manage your medical conditions well.

If you have a disease or condition that increases your risk of kidney disease, work with your doctor to manage it.

Complications of Kidney Disease Long-term kidney disease can negatively impact almost every part of the body.

Possible complications include: Fluid retention, which can cause swelling in the arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema).

A sudden increase in the level of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia), which can interfere with heart function.

Anemia.

Heart disease such as coronary heart disease.

Weak bones and increased risk of fractures.

Decreased sex drive, impotence or decreased fertility.

Damage to the central nervous system, which can cause difficulty concentrating, personality changes, or seizures.

Decreased immune response, which makes sufferers more susceptible to infection.

Pericarditis, is inflammation of the sac-like membrane that surrounds your heart (pericardium).

A pregnancy complication that carries risks to both the mother and the developing fetus.

Permanent damage to the kidneys (end-stage renal disease), which ultimately requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

When to See a Doctor? If you experience symptoms of kidney disease that do not improve, immediately check your health condition with an internal medicine specialist .

Remember that proper treatment from the start can reduce the risk of dangerous complications.

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