Kidney Disease
Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs present in the left and right sides of the body in the spine. Its primary function is to eliminate urine from the body while regulating other wastes in the blood. At Apollo Dialysis, we provide treatment to patients with acute and chronic kidney failure. Acute kidney injury is an abrupt loss of kidney function that develops within 7 days. Chronic kidney disease or failure is a progressive loss of kidney function that sometimes occurs over many years.
WHAT IS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD)?
Chronic kidney disease is characterized by the inability of the kidney to function properly. The function of the kidney is to filter excess wastes & fluids in your body and eliminate them in urine. When the kidneys fail to function, these toxic wastes accumulate in the body. In the advanced stages, the need for dialysis and transplant arises, failing which, can cause the fatality.
- Swelling of Feet: One of the most common symptoms of kidney failure is the swelling of feet. It is also followed by pain and swelling in joints.
- Weakness & Fatigue: Kidney disease is characterized by weakness and fatigue. Patients with kidney disease tend to exhaust themselves very quickly.
- Hypertension: Patients with kidney disease have high blood pressure. Usually, their blood pressure remains high despite the medications.
- Itchiness: The skin becomes dry which result in itchiness and scratchy skin.
- Change in Urination: You will notice changes in the frequency and amounts of urine, the colour, and smell. Sometimes pain while urinating or spotting blood can also be an indication of kidney damage.
Sustained low efficiency dialysis or SLED, is a recent hybrid dialysis methodology, which is increasingly used for patients with renal failure in the intensive unit.
Some other symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Sleep disturbances
- Cramps and muscle pain
- Shortness of breath
RISK FACTORS OF DEVELOPING KIDNEY DISEASE:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Genetic
- Obesity
- Unusually shaped kidneys
- Smoking
COMPLICATIONS OF KIDNEY DISEASE:
Some of the complications of chronic kidney disease include:
- Low immunity; patients with kidney disease have a very low immunity which makes them prone to infections.
- The retention of fluid in the body leads to the swelling in the arms and legs.
- Kidney disease can also cause pulmonary edema; the accumulation of fluid in lungs.
- Kidney disease potentially increases the risks of cardiovascular diseases.
- Low levels of calcium and hemoglobin in the body can result in weak bones and anaemia respectively.
- There is a sharp decline in the patient’s sex drive.
- High levels of potassium leading to hyperkalemia.