Lifelong diligence is important in keeping blood sugar and blood pressure within normal limits. People who are at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease must have regular kidney function checks. Early detection can significantly help prevent severe kidney damage. The kidneys are 2 bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. Healthy kidneys clean waste products from the blood by making urine.
If your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work they normally do. The treatment options are dialysis or a kidney transplant. kidney transplant expert witness No matter which treatment you choose, you’ll need to make some changes in your life, including how you eat and plan your activities.
Some conditions, such as diabetes, increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. Controlling diabetes can significantly reduce the chances of developing kidney failure. Individuals should follow their doctor’s instructions, advice, and recommendations.
Call 911 if anyone has overdosed on a drug or ingested a toxic substance, as these can lead to serious kidney damage. Once permanent kidney damage has occurred due to kidney disease or other conditions, such as uncontrolled hypertension, it cannot be reversed or cured. Seek prompt and regular medical care if you have risk factors for kidney disease, such as hypertension or diabetes. Following an effective treatment plan may slow or stop progression of kidney damage and minimize complications.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top two causes of chronic kidney disease. If you have a health diagnosis such as high blood pressure or diabetes, it’s important that you take control of your health and begin monitoring these conditions more closely. Many times when these other conditions progress or are not treated properly, your kidneys have to work harder and risk more damage over time. Regular check-ups that include blood and urine tests are critical to monitoring your kidney health. Take the time to learn from your doctor about how to best care for your health, manage your medications, and eat well.
“There are a number of physical signs of kidney disease, but sometimes people attribute them to other conditions. Also, those with kidney disease tend not to experience symptoms until the very late stages, when the kidneys are failing or when there are large amounts of protein in the urine. This is one of the reasons why only 10% of people with chronic kidney disease know that they have it,” says Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, Chief Medical Officer at the National Kidney Foundation. People with chronic kidney disease have an increased risk of developing CVDs, such as heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. People with CKD are actually twenty times more likely to die from cardiovascular-related problems than from kidney failure. This is why reducing any other cardiovascular risk factors is so important.
However, rapid diagnosis and treatment of underlying causes of acute kidney failure may reverse the condition. Diuretics may also relieve symptoms of heart failure, even when kidney function is poor, but dialysis may be needed to remove the excess body water in severe chronic kidney disease. However, even with dialysis, people with end-stage kidney failure die sooner than people their age who do not have end-stage kidney disease. Most die from heart or blood vessel disorders or infections.
These can cause various symptoms, such as tiredness due to anaemia, and bone thinning or fractures due to calcium and phosphate imbalance. End-stage kidney failure is eventually fatal unless treated. Acute kidney injury occurs when the function of the kidneys is rapidly affected – over hours or days. For example, the kidneys may go into acute kidney injury if you have a serious blood infection which can affect the kidneys. This is in contrast to chronic kidney disease where the decline in function of the kidneys is very gradual – over months or years.See the separate leaflet called Acute Kidney Injury. A healthy dog’s kidneys work to regulate hydration, release hormones required to produce red blood cells, remove toxins and maintain a normal balance of electrolytes.
Ask your doctor whether these tests are necessary for you. End-stage kidney disease leads to death if you do not have dialysis or a kidney transplant. Stages 1-3 chronic kidney disease (mild-to-moderate) are common, with most cases occurring in older people. However, the rate of progression varies from case to case, and often depends on the severity of any underlying condition. For example, some kidney conditions may cause your kidney function to become worse relatively quickly.