Nephrotic syndrome: drugs, symptoms, causes of disease etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is nephrotic syndrome?

Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder that occurs when the kidneys excrete too much protein in the urine from the body. Each kidney in the human body contains 1 million filters to clean blood containing metabolic wastes.

Healthy kidneys will store important substances called proteins in the blood. The body needs protein to grow and repair itself.

With this syndrome, the kidneys remove protein along with metabolic wastes when urinating. Nephrotic syndrome causes swelling (edema), especially in the feet and ankles and increases the risk of other health problems.

How common is nephrotic syndrome?

This disease can appear in everyone, regardless of age. The reason is, every age people need protein to live. However, children are most commonly affected by this disease.

There are many types of protein and the human body basically uses protein for specific functions. One of the functions of protein, among others, is to build bones, muscles, other tissues, and fight infections in the body.

Then, when your kidneys are not functioning properly, they let a protein called albumin pass through the filter into your urine.

When you don't have enough albumin protein in your blood, fluid can build up and cause swelling in your feet, feet, and ankles.

Apart from protein, you also need cholesterol in the body. Actually, your body makes it able to produce the cholesterol it needs, but you can also meet your cholesterol needs through the food you eat.

When too much cholesterol is in your blood, it can stick together and build up in your blood vessels and arteries. This makes it more difficult for your heart to pump blood, and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

You can limit your chances of getting sick by reducing your risk factors. Consult your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome?

Nephrotic syndrome does not usually trigger symptoms such as aches and pains all over your body, but the volume of water in your body causes stress and discomfort. Additionally, you may have higher cholesterol levels due to kidney damage.

You may not know you have nephrotic syndrome until you have routine blood and urine tests at the hospital. Your test results may also show that you have too much protein in the urine or even not enough protein in your blood. in the examination test the doctor will also show that your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are too high. Symptoms of nephrotic syndrome can include:

• Swelling in the feet, feet, ankles, and sometimes up to the face and hands
• Significant weight gain
• The body feels very tired
• The urine comes out foamy or foamy
• Don't feel hungry

If you have any of these symptoms, or if you have a blood test that shows your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are too high, talk to your doctor (doctor, nurse, or doctor's assistant) about checking the health of your kidneys. There may be other symptoms not listed above. If you have any questions about this sign, consult your doctor.

Cause

What causes nephrotic syndrome?

Nephrotic syndrome is usually due to damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys (glomerulus). The glomerulus filters the blood as it flows through the kidneys.

Healthy glomerulus stores blood protein (especially albumin - a substance that is useful for maintaining the amount of fluid in the body) and filters metabolic waste in the urine that leaves the body. If damaged, the glomerulus cannot hold filtered blood proteins out of the body, resulting in nephrotic syndrome.

These kidney problems may result in nephrotic syndrome, the most common of which is inflammation of the kidneys called glomerulonephritis. In addition, diabetes is one of the causes of nephrotic syndrome.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for nephrotic syndrome?

• Experiencing diseases such as diabetes, lupus, powder degenerative, glomeruli lesions, and other kidney diseases.
• Several types of drugs can cause nephrotic syndrome, for example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.
• Several infections increase the risk of nephrotic syndrome including: streptococcal throat infections, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and malaria.

Complications of nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome can cause complications of other diseases in your body. Apart from making your body lose protein through your urine, protein can also be reduced in your blood.

As a result, your body can start having other problems, such as blood clots and infections. Other complications that can be caused by nephrotic syndrome include:

Anemia disease

Anemia is a condition in which your red blood cell count is lower than normal. Anemia can also occur if the red blood cells don't contain enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. This protein helps red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body.

Heart disease

Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a condition where there is narrowing or blockage of the arteries that can cause a heart attack, chest pain (angina), or stroke.

High blood pressure or hypertension

High blood pressure is a condition in which blood pressure higher than 140/90 millimeter of mercury (mmHG). The number 140 mmHG refers to a systolic reading, when the heart pumps blood around the body. Meanwhile, the number 90 mmHG refers to a diastolic reading, when the heart is relaxed while refilling its chambers with blood.

Renal failure / ESRD

Kidney disease is a disorder that occurs in the kidneys. The kidneys are two organs located in your abdominal cavity on either side of the spine in the middle of your back, just above your waist.

When the kidneys become damaged, waste products and fluids can build up in the body, causing swelling in your ankles, vomiting, weakness, sleep deprivation, and shortness of breath.

Kidney disease can be triggered by various other health problems, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes. This means that people who have both diseases are at high risk of developing kidney disease.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for nephrotic syndrome?

The treatment that doctors will do generally depends on the cause of the nephrotic syndrome you are experiencing. Some of the drugs that you can take to treat this condition include:

• Blood pressure drugs, also known as ACE inhibitors and ARBs, are used to hold the pressure in your glomeruli and reduce the amount of protein in your urine.
• Diuretic drugs or water pills, to reduce swelling in enlarged areas of the body
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Blood thinners, or anticoagulants, to make blood clotting less likely
• Medicines that numb your immune system, such as corticosteroids
• You may need to reduce salt to reduce swelling. Your doctor may also recommend that you eat a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

If your nephrotic syndrome does not improve with the above drug treatments, you may need other tests and tests. Symptoms usually begin to improve within 2-3 weeks of starting treatment with diet and medication. Some people may need different medicines such as immunosuppressive drugs, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide to help treat this condition.

Since people with nephrotic syndrome tend to have blood clots inside the legs, patients should receive extra care. Doctors can help administer anticoagulant drugs to prevent blood clots.

Other drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme blockers can be useful for reducing protein and blood pressure. Cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins are also often used to reduce cholesterol levels in nephrotic syndrome.

What are the most common tests for nephrotic syndrome?

The doctor will diagnose the disease based on symptoms such as swollen ankles, feet or even facial swelling. The doctor will look for high protein levels in a urine test. Blood tests will be done to assess kidney function. In some cases, a kidney biopsy may be done to determine the cause of the nephrotic syndrome. In a biopsy, a small piece of tissue is removed from the kidney and studied in a laboratory.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat nephrotic syndrome?

The lifestyle and home remedies below may help treat nephrotic syndrome:

Eat foods low in fat and salt.
Ask your doctor about the amount of protein you should eat and water you should drink each day.
Don't lie down too often and work actively to remove water and prevent clots.
Take medication according to doctor's instructions, do not stop according to your own wishes.

Prevention

Guidelines to prevent the risk of disease or disorders of the kidneys:

The only way to prevent nephrotic syndrome is to control the conditions that can cause kidney problems to appear.

If you have a disease related to the kidneys or not, talk to your doctor immediately to find out how to prevent and control your disease. So that later kidney damage can be avoided.

You can also ask your doctor to take tests about kidney health. Do not forget to always take the medicine according to the prescription, dosage and the conditions set by the doctor. Here are some precautions you can take to avoid the conditions of nephrotic syndrome:

• Eat a healthy diet. Expand to consume fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating foods that contain lots of fat and purines, such as offal. Foods that are high in purines can increase uric acid levels which in turn can interfere with kidney function.
• You can apply the DASH diet which aims to prevent or lower blood pressure if you have hypertension. The DASH diet emphasizes reducing the consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol, to be replaced with more sources of protein, fiber, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• If you want to consume milk, cheese or similar products, choose low fat.
• Limit intake salt does not exceed 1 teaspoon, maximum of 4 tablespoons of sugar, and maximum 5 tablespoons of fat.

Guide to healthy lifestyle changes to prevent kidney disease

Kidney disease can occur in people who have healthy kidneys or in someone who has had kidney problems before. Children can also get kidney disease. Even in children, kidney disease is more caused by congenital kidney defects or damage to the urinary tract at birth.

So in addition to starting a daily diet that is healthier and more nutritious, the following simple lifestyle changes can also help you and your family prevent kidney disease.

• Avoid factors that can trigger the emergence of diseases that can make you prone to kidney disease, such as diabetes and hypertension.
• Get enough body fluids by consuming enough fluids. Consume at least 2 liters of water per day. Remember, you can get not only fluids from drinks, but also foods such as soups and fresh vegetables and fruits that contain lots of water.
• If you are active in sports, you need more fluids.
• Get regular exercise. Exercise can keep your weight stable and lower your blood pressure.
• Be careful with medications and supplements. Some supplements are high in amino acids that can interfere with the kidneys. If you want to take supplements, take them according to the rules of use listed on the packaging. Also make sure the medicines you take are safe. Especially if you are taking herbal medicines, especially in the form of concoctions, make sure the drug is registered with the BPOM.
• Avoid smoking as it can cause damage to blood vessels and increase your blood pressure. Increased blood pressure can cause disruption of kidney function.
• Avoid stress by doing things that make you happy, such as exercising, doing yoga, listening to music or even chatting with friends.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.