Chronic kidney failure: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition

What is chronic kidney failure?

Chronic kidney failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition when kidney function decreases gradually, aka it lasts for a long time. This means that the kidneys are unable to filter out waste, are unable to properly control water levels in the body, and levels of salt and calcium in the blood properly.

One of these kidney failure diseases causes a buildup of metabolic waste substances in the body and can be fatal. Chronic kidney failure has been going on for a long time. In fact, this disease does not immediately show symptoms until the kidney condition gets worse.

How common is this disease?

Chronic kidney failure is a common disease associated with the aging process. The older a person is, the higher the risk. Reporting from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, the results of Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) 2013 showed that the population aged more than 15 years diagnosed with this disease was 0.2 percent.

In addition, research also shows an increase in risk with age. The risk increases sharply in the 35-44 year age group compared to those aged 25-34 years. It is estimated that this risk is 0.3% higher in men than in women (0.2%).

You can lower your chances of getting this disease by reducing your risk factors. Please consult your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of chronic kidney failure?

Initially, chronic renal failure (CRF) has no symptoms and will develop slowly. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, some of the signs and symptoms of the final stages of chronic kidney failure, namely:

• chest pain,
• dry and itchy skin,
• often feel tired,
• changes in the frequency of urination,
• headache,
• no appetite,
• muscle cramp,
• nausea and vomiting,
• swelling of the arms and legs,
• hard to breathe,
• numbness in the hands and feet,
• sleep disorders,
• difficulty concentrating, and
• weight loss.

Chronic kidney failure patients are also at risk for anemia, bone disease, and malnutrition. Apart from that, you may develop signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have any concerns regarding symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience symptoms of chronic kidney failure which include nausea, diarrhea, and seizures, please consult a doctor. The sooner your kidney failure is treated, the more damage you may be able to avoid.

In addition, health conditions differ from person to person. Therefore, don't forget to tell your doctor about the best diagnosis and treatment for you.

Cause

What causes chronic kidney failure?

The cause of chronic renal failure is usually identified after a patient undergoes a series of tests. The reason is, what causes a person to experience chronic kidney failure will affect the type of treatment received.

Here are some of the problems and health conditions that cause chronic kidney failure in a person.

• Type 1 or 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
• Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus nephritis
• Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidneys
• Disorders when the immune system attacks its own cells and organs
• Heavy metal poisoning body
• Urinary tract problems, such as urinary tract obstruction
• Vesicoureteric reflux, urine returns to the kidneys
• Recurrent kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
• Long-term use of certain drugs, such as ibuprofen

Risk factors

What increases the risk of developing this condition?

Chronic kidney failure can happen to anyone. However, there are certain factors that can increase a person's risk of developing this disease, namely:

• Age. The older a person is, the risk of disease also increases.
• Race and ethnicity, African, American and Native American people are at higher risk.
• Family medical history of chronic kidney failure.
• Gender, that is, men are more at risk than women.
• Low birth weight.
• Obesity and unhealthy diet.
• Smoking habit.
• Diabetics and hypertension.
• Use of certain types of drugs that damage the kidneys, such as NSAID antibiotics.

Complications

What complications might this condition cause?

If you have chronic kidney failure, it can affect almost any part of the body. In fact, there are some complications that may occur if this disease is not treated immediately.

High uric acid (gout)

In most cases, if not treated properly, chronic kidney failure can increase uric acid, causing gout. This can happen because uric acid is filtered by the kidneys and when kidney function is damaged, uric acid also increases.

Anemia

Apart from gout, another complication of chronic kidney failure is anemia. Anemia in this disease is caused by a lack of EPO (erythropoietin) which makes the bone marrow produce fewer red blood cells.

If you lack red blood cells, your body doesn't get enough oxygen. Anemia in patients with kidney failure can also occur because they lose blood during hemodialysis and do not get enough nutrition.

Metabolic acidosis

Acidosis is a condition when the body contains too much acidic pH and can be life threatening if not treated promptly. This condition can occur in patients with chronic kidney failure because the kidneys are not able to filter blood properly.

Mineral and bone disorders

Patients with chronic renal failure may often experience mineral and bone disorders. The reason is, the role of the kidneys which are unable to balance phosphate levels in the body can be dangerous for the bones.

When the body has excess phosphorus and lacks vitamin D, the body tries to correct the problem by releasing parathyroid hormone.

The release of this hormone will pull calcium from the bones and balance the substances in the blood. However, this loss of calcium does have an impact on bone health.

Heart disease

Heart disease can lead to kidney disease and the reverse is also true. In fact, heart disease is the most common cause of death in people on dialysis.

The kidney that does not function makes the hormonal system work hard to keep the blood supply to the kidneys adequate. This condition also makes the heart have to pump harder, causing heart disease.

Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a condition when the body has too much potassium in the blood. This condition can occur in patients with chronic kidney failure because these organs cannot filter extra potassium in the blood.

Build-up of fluid

Fluid buildup, aka retention, is a frequent complication of chronic kidney disease. If the kidneys are not functioning, this bean-shaped organ cannot excrete excess fluid and allow it to accumulate in the body.

If this is allowed, the lungs can be filled with fluid, the risk of heart attack increases, so that blood pressure increases dramatically. Therefore, patients with kidney failure need to control their fluid requirements so as not to experience this complication.

Medicine and medication

What are the treatment options for chronic kidney failure?

So far there is no cure for chronic kidney disease. However, the medications and treatments recommended by doctors are intended to help relieve symptoms experienced by patients. In addition, therapy is also carried out to reduce the risk of complications and slow down the severity of the disease.

Various therapies and treatments, such as dialysis and kidney transplants are also performed so that the patient can survive. In fact, the doctor will also recommend that you undergo a special diet for kidney failure, take certain drugs, to control exercise to reduce the level of kidney damage.

Here are some treatment options for chronic kidney failure.

• Dialysis, either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (dialysis).
• Kidney transplant, which is replacing a damaged kidney with a healthy kidney donor.
• Take iron supplements to treat anemia caused by chronic kidneys.
• Take blood pressure control drugs, such as ACE inhibitors.
• The use of drugs is a diuretic to prevent fluid buildup.
• Take an antihistamine medication to relieve itching on the skin.
• Take calcium and vitamin D supplements to strengthen bones.
• Follow a low protein diet to reduce waste in the blood.

What are the usual tests for this condition?

The first step when a doctor wants to diagnose kidney disease in someone is to ask about personal and family history of illness. Do you have a history of hypertension or have ever taken drugs that affect kidney function.

In addition, the doctor will also discuss symptoms of chronic kidney failure, such as changes in urination frequency. Then, a physical exam will be carried out, including any signs of problems with your heart or blood vessels to your neurological condition.

There are several types of tests to check for kidney function and abnormalities that doctors usually do, namely:

• Blood tests to see the amount of wastes, such as creatinine and urea, in the blood
• Urine test by analyzing a urine sample and helping identify the cause
• Imaging tests in the form of ultrasound or CT scan to see the structure and size of the kidneys
• Kidney biopsy to take a sample of kidney tissue that will be examined in the laboratory

Home remedies

What lifestyle changes or home remedies can I make?

Prevention of complications due to chronic kidney failure can be done by adopting a healthier lifestyle. That way, you can slow down the rate of kidney damage while undergoing treatment from a doctor.

• Eat foods that are low in sodium and healthy for the heart.
• Quit smoking.
• Exercise regularly, but avoid strenuous activities and as recommended by your doctor.
• Get enough sleep.
• Use medication according to doctor's directions.
• Record daily body weight, amount of fluids drunk, and urine excreted.
• Low protein and low fat diet.
• Be careful taking over-the-counter drugs at the pharmacy.
• Perform routine kidney examinations.

Tips for managing stress and depression for chronic kidney failure patients

When you receive a diagnosis that you have chronic kidney disease, it can certainly make your mind more anxious and worried. Whether you can survive or not. In fact, this can lead to uncontrollable stress and depression.

Therefore, managing feelings of stress and depression is also important because it can affect the condition of the kidneys. Here are some things that might help you deal with these feelings of anxiety.

• Join a group of kidney disease patients for support.
• Maintain a normal routine and do activities that you like.
• Actively exercising every week and doing physical activity on the advice of a doctor.
• Talk to people you trust, such as friends or family members.
• Ask for recommendations from a psychologist who can help with your problem.