Kidney failure

Kidney failure (also called renal failure) means one or both kidneys can no longer function well on their own. Sometimes,
kidney failure is temporary and comes on quickly. Other times, it is a chronic condition that can get worse slowly over a long
time.
Kidney failure may sound serious, and it is. But treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant help many people with limited
kidney function continue to live fulfilling lives.
What Do the Kidneys Do?
Kidneys have many jobs, from filtering blood and making pee to keeping bones healthy and making a hormone that controls
the production of red blood cells
The kidneys also help regulate blood pressure, the level of salts in the blood, and the acid-base balance (the pH) of the blood.
All these jobs make the kidneys essential to keeping the body working as it should
 Causes
The most common causes of kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure. Sometimes, though, kidney failure happens quickly due
to an unforeseen cause.

When the kidneys lose function suddenly (within hours or days), it’s called acute kidney failure (or acute kidney injury). This
type of kidney failure is often temporary. Common causes of acute kidney failure can include:

Autoimmune kidney diseases

Certain medications

Severe dehydration

A urinary tract obstruction

Uncontrolled systemic disease like heart or liver disease

Kidney failure usually doesn’t happen overnight. Chronic kidney disease refers to a
group of health conditions that affect how well your kidneys function over time. If left
untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure.
The biggest causes of kidney failure from chronic kidney disease are:
Diabetes: Unmanaged diabetes can lead to uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
Consistently high blood sugar can damage the body’s organs, including the kidneys.
High blood pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension) means blood travels
through your body’s blood vessels with increased force. Over time, untreated high
blood pressure levels can damage the kidneys’ tissue.
Other causes of chronic kidney disease include:
Polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition where cysts (fluid-filled sacs) grow inside your

kidneys.
Glomerular diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, which affect how well the kidneys
can filter waste.
Lupus and other autoimmune diseases that can affect multiple body systems.
 Symptoms
In early stages of kidney disease, many people experience few or no
symptoms. It’s important to note that chronic kidney disease can still
cause damage even though you feel fine.
Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure can cause different
symptoms for different people. If your kidneys aren’t working
properly, you may notice one or more of the following signs:
Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
An upset stomach or vomiting
Confusion or trouble concentrating
Swelling, especially around your hands or ankles
More frequent bathroom trips
Muscle spasms (muscle cramps)
Dry or itchy skin
Poor appetite or metallic taste of food
 How is kidney failure diagnosed?
Doctors use a variety of tests to measure kidney function and diagnose kidney failure. If your doctors suspect you may be at
risk for kidney failure, they may recommend:
Blood tests, which can show how well the kidneys are removing waste from the blood.
Advanced imaging, which can show kidney abnormalities or obstructions (blockages).
Urine tests, which measure the amount of urine or specific substances in the urine, such as protein or blood.
 Treatment
Because the kidneys serve such an important purpose, people in kidney
failure need treatment to keep them alive. The main treatments for kidney
failure are:
Dialysis: This treatment helps the body filter the blood (doing the job
that the kidneys can no longer perform).
In hemodialysis, a machine regularly cleans your blood for you.
People often receive this kidney failure treatment at a hospital or
dialysis clinic, 3 or 4 days each week.
Peritoneal dialysis cleans the blood in a slightly different way using
a dialysis solution and a catheter. Sometimes, people can do their
treatment at home.
Kidney transplant: In kidney transplant surgery, doctors place a
healthy kidney in your body to take over the job of your damaged
organs. This healthy kidney, called a donor organ, may come from a
deceased donor or a living donor, who may be a friend or family
member. People can live well with one healthy kidney.
 Can kidney failure be prevented?
While kidney failure from chronic kidney disease can’t be reversed, you can do many things to help preserve the kidney
function you have today. Healthy habits and routines may slow down how quickly kidneys lose their functional abilities.
If you have chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, you’ll want to:
Monitor your kidney function, with your doctor’s help.
Keep your blood sugar levels under control, if you have diabetes.
Keep your blood pressure levels in a normal range.
Avoid smoking.
Make healthy diet choices, such as limiting foods high in protein and sodium.