Kidney Disease
The Kidney:
The kidneys are two bean shaped organs located at the back of your upper abdomen. Their main function is to excrete excess fluid and waste material from your body.
Chronic Kidney Disease:
When your kidneys lose their ability to work properly over time this is termed chronic kidney disease. There are stages (Stage 1-5) of kidney disease based on how much kidney damage you might have, with Stage 5 requiring dialysis or transplant.
Kidney Failure: (also called End Stage Renal Disease or ESRD)
Kidney failure is when your kidney loses the ability to eliminate fluid and waste and these build up in your body. Kidney disease usually develops slowly over time. Many people do not realize they have kidney problems until less than 25% of their normal kidney is working.
Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Disease: (not everyone has these)
- High blood pressure
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anemia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Headaches that seem unrelated to any other cause
- Decreased urine output
- Decreased mental sharpness
- Muscle twitches and cramps
- Bleeding in the intestinal tract
- Yellowish-brown color to the skin
- Persistent itching
- Sleep disorders
- High potassium
- Increased creatinine (a blood test that measures kidney function)
Most common causes/risk factors for developing kidney failure:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Obstruction: large prostate, kidney stones, tumors
- Glomerulonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Long term use of medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Aleve)
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney disease. Therefore, it is important that your diabetes and blood pressure are well controlled.
Screening for Kidney Disease:
If your doctor suspects that you may have kidney failure you may need one of the following:
- Blood tests looking for abnormalities such as increases in creatinine and urea
- Urine tests looking for protein or blood in your urine
- Imaging studies such as ultrasounds, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Renal Biopsy when a small sample of kidney tissue is sent to the lab for evaluation
Effects of Kidney Disease:
Chronic kidney disease can effect other parts of your body, including:
- Increased fluid - this may lead to swelling in your legs.
- A sudden rise in potassium levels in your blood. This could impair your heart's ability to function and may be life-threatening
- Weak bones that fracture easily
- Anemia
- Stomach ulcers
- Changes in skin color
- Damage to your central nervous system
- Insomnia
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