Renal insufficiency: causes, types and symptoms

Your kidneys are a pair of organs located towards the lower back. A kidney is on each side of your spine. They filter your blood and eliminate toxins from your body. The kidneys send toxins to your bladder, which your body eliminates later during urination.

Kidney failure occurs when your kidneys lose the ability to filter enough waste from your blood. Many factors can affect your health and kidney function, such as:

• toxic exposure to environmental pollutants or certain drugs
• some acute and chronic diseases
• severe dehydration
• renal trauma

Your body becomes overloaded with toxins if your kidneys can not do their usual job. This can lead to kidney failure, which can be life threatening if it is not treated.

Usually, a person with kidney failure will present some symptoms of the disease. Sometimes, no symptoms are present. Possible symptoms include:

• a reduced amount of urine
• swelling of the legs, ankles and feet due to fluid retention caused by the inability of the kidneys to eliminate water wastage
• unexplained shortness of breath
• excessive sleepiness or fatigue
• persistent nausea
• confusion
• pain or pressure in the chest
• seizures
• coma

First signs of kidney failure

Symptoms of early-stage kidney disease can be difficult to pin down. They are often subtle and difficult to identify. If you have early signs of kidney failure, they may include:

Kidney failure can be the result of several conditions or causes. The cause usually also determines the type of kidney failure.

Those most at risk usually have one or more of the following causes:

Loss of blood circulation in the kidneys

Sudden loss of blood flow in the kidneys can cause kidney failure. Some conditions that cause a loss of blood flow in the kidneys include:

High blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medications can also limit blood flow.

Problems with the elimination of urine

When your body can not eliminate urine, toxins accumulate and overload the kidneys. Some cancers can block the urinary passages, such as:

Other conditions may interfere with urination and possibly lead to kidney failure, including:

Other causes

Other factors that can lead to kidney failure include:

• a blood clot in or around your kidneys
• infection
• overload of heavy metal toxins
• drugs and alcohol
• Vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels
• Lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation in many organs
• glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the small blood vessels of the kidneys
• hemolytic uremic syndrome, which involves the breakdown of red blood cells as a result of a bacterial infection, usually intestines
• multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells
• Scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that affects your skin
• thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a disease that causes blood clots in small vessels
• chemotherapy drugs that treat cancer and certain autoimmune diseases
• dyes used in some imaging tests
• some antibiotics
• uncontrolled diabetes

5 types of kidney failure

There are five types of kidney failure:

Pre-renal acute renal failure

Insufficient blood flow in the kidneys can cause acute pre-renal renal failure. The kidneys can not filter toxins from the blood without sufficient blood flow. This type of kidney failure can usually be cured once your doctor has determined the cause of the decreased blood flow.

Acute intrinsic renal failure

Acute intrinsic renal failure can result from direct trauma to the kidneys, such as a physical impact or accident. The causes also include toxin overload and ischemia, which is a lack of oxygen to the kidneys.

The following may cause ischemia:

Chronic pre-renal insufficiency

When there is not enough blood in the kidneys for a prolonged period, the kidneys begin to contract and lose their ability to function.

Chronic intrinsic renal failure

This occurs when the kidneys are damaged in the long term by intrinsic kidney disease. Intrinsic renal failure results from direct trauma to the kidneys, such as severe bleeding or lack of oxygen.

Chronic renal failure post-renal

Long-term blockage of the urinary tract prevents urination. This causes pressure and possibly kidney damage.

Your doctor may use several tests to diagnose kidney failure.

Urine analysis

Your doctor may take a urine sample to look for any abnormalities, including abnormal proteins or sugar that spills into the urine.

They can also perform a urine sediment test. This test measures the amount of red and white blood cells, looks for high levels of bacteria and looks for a high number of tube-shaped particles called cell jets.

Urine volume measurements

Measuring urine output is one of the simplest tests to diagnose kidney failure. For example, a low urine output may suggest that kidney disease is due to urinary blockage, which can be caused by several diseases or injuries.

Blood samples

Your doctor may prescribe blood tests to measure substances filtered through the kidneys, such as BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine (Cr). A rapid increase in these levels may indicate acute renal failure.

imagery

Tests such as ultrasound, MRIs and CT scans provide images of the kidneys themselves as well as the urinary tract. This allows your doctor to search for blockages or abnormalities in your kidneys.

Sample of renal tissue

Tissue samples are examined for abnormal deposits, scars, or infectious organisms. Your doctor will use a kidney biopsy to take the tissue sample. A biopsy is a simple procedure that is usually done when you are awake.

Your doctor will give you a local anesthetic so that you do not feel any pain. They will then insert a biopsy needle through your skin and into your kidneys to take the sample. An X-ray or ultrasound machine will locate the kidneys and help your doctor guide the needle.

These tests can help determine if your kidneys are working as they should. Other tests of kidney function may also help your doctor determine the cause of the symptoms.

Kidney failure is classified into five stages. These range from very mild (stage 1) to complete renal failure (stage 5). Symptoms and complications increase with the steps.

Step 1

This step is very sweet. You may not feel any symptoms and have no visible complications. Some damage is present.

It is still possible to manage and slow progress by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and not using tobacco products. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important.

If you have diabetes, it is important to manage your blood sugar.

2nd step

Stage 2 renal disease is still considered a benign form, but detectable problems such as the presence of protein in the urine or physical lesions of the kidneys may be more obvious.

The lifestyle approaches identical to those in step 1 are always used in step 2. Also discuss with your doctor about other risk factors that could speed up the progression of the disease. These include heart disease, inflammation and blood disorders.

Step 3

At this stage, kidney disease is considered moderate. Your kidneys are not working as well as they should.

Stage 3 renal failure is sometimes divided into 3A and 3B. A blood test that measures the amount of waste in your body differentiates the two.

The symptoms may become more apparent at this stage. Swelling of the hands and feet, back pain and changes in urination are often likely.

Lifestyle approaches can help. Your doctor may also consider medications to treat the underlying conditions that may speed up the failure.

Step 4

Stage 4 renal impairment is considered moderate to severe. The kidneys do not work well, but kidney failure is not yet complete. Symptoms can include complications such as anemia, high blood pressure and bone diseases.

A healthy lifestyle is always vital. Your doctor will probably prescribe treatments designed to slow the damage.

Step 5

At Stage 5, your kidneys are about to fall or are out of order. The symptoms of loss of kidney function will be obvious. These include vomiting and nausea, difficulty breathing, itching of the skin, etc.

At this point, you will need regular dialysis or a kidney transplant.

There are several treatments for kidney failure. The type of treatment you will need will depend on the reason for your kidney failure.

Dialysis

Dialysis filters and purifies the blood with the help of a machine. The machine performs the function of the kidneys. Depending on the type of dialysis, you can be connected to a large machine or a portable catheter bag.

You may need to eat a diet low in potassium and salt on dialysis.

Dialysis does not cure kidney failure, but it can prolong your life if you follow regular treatments.

Kidney transplant

Another treatment option is a kidney transplant. A grafted kidney can function normally and dialysis is no longer necessary.

It usually takes a long time to receive a donor kidney compatible with your body. If you have a living donor, the process can accelerate.

You must take immunosuppressive medications after surgery to prevent your body from rejecting the new kidney. These medications have their own side effects, some of which are serious.

The transplant may not be the right treatment option for everyone. It is also possible that the surgery fails.

Talk to your doctor to find out if you are a good candidate for a kidney transplant.

There is no specific diet for people with kidney failure. The recommendations for what you eat often depend on the stage of your kidney disease and your health. Some recommendations could include:

• Limit sodium and potassium. Keep track of how much of these two nutrients you are absorbing. Try to eat less than 2,000 milligrams a day for both.
• Limit phosphorus. Like sodium and potassium, it's good to limit the amount of phosphorus you consume per day. Try to stay below 1000 milligrams.
• Follow the guidelines for proteins. In case of early or moderate kidney failure, you may want to reduce your protein intake. In case of end-stage renal failure, however, you can consume more protein, as recommended by your doctor.

Beyond these general guidelines, you may also be asked to avoid certain foods if you are suffering from kidney disease.

The color of your urine is a small window on the health of your body. It does not tell you much about the condition of your kidney function until your kidney damage has progressed.

Nevertheless, changes in the color of the urine can alert you to certain problems.

• Clear or pale yellow. This color indicates that you are well hydrated. This is the ideal color in most cases.
• Dark yellow or amber. You can be dehydrated. Try to drink more water and reduce sodas, black tea and coffee.
• Orange. This could be a sign of dehydration or bile in your bloodstream. Kidney disease does not usually cause this.
• Pink or red The urine with a pink hue or a little red might contain blood. It could also be caused by certain foods, such as beets or strawberries. A quick urine test can make the difference.
• Sparkling. The urine with an excess of bubbles is a sign that it probably contains a lot of protein. The proteins in the urine are a sign of kidney disease.

The color of urine can trigger potential problems. Find out the common causes of color and the causes most likely to affect the color of your pee.

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can damage the kidneys. Damage can worsen over time.

Diabetic nephropathy, or kidney damage caused by type 1 or type 2 diabetes, can not be reversed. Managing blood sugar and blood pressure can help reduce the damage. Taking medications prescribed by your doctor is also important.

If you have diabetes, your doctor will probably do regular screenings to monitor kidney failure.

The more you live with this disease, the more your risk of diabetic nephropathy increases. Find out what other factors can increase your risk of getting this type of kidney disease.

It is not possible to know exactly how long a person with kidney failure will live. Every person with kidney failure is different.

In general, a person on dialysis can expect to live on average 5 to 10 years if she or he is undergoing treatment.

Some factors that play a role in life expectancy are:

• age
• stage of kidney disease
• other coexisting conditions

A young person with mid-term renal failure and no complicated risk factors or other conditions will probably live longer than an older person with stage 4 or 5 kidney failure, diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Once end-stage renal disease is reached, you will need dialysis to live. The absence of a treatment can reduce your life expectancy.

A kidney transplant will probably last about 5 to 10 years. It is possible to obtain a second transplant after the failure of the first.

If you suffer from kidney failure and you drink alcohol, your kidneys will be forced to work harder than they already are.

Alcohol does not metabolize outside your system, so you will feel the effects until you receive dialysis to filter it out of your blood.

Beer and wine contain large amounts of phosphorus. This can cause serious heart problems and even death if your kidneys can not filter. However, most strong alcohols do not carry the same risk.

If you are suffering from kidney failure or advanced renal failure, your doctor may recommend that you limit alcohol consumption. For some people, completely eliminating alcohol from the diet may be preferable.

Drinking alcohol with kidney failure can interfere with the normal functioning of other organs. In the long run, excessive consumption of alcohol in the long run can lead to liver disease.

Alcohol consumption can cause additional symptoms, such as pain. Discover how alcohol causes back and flank pain.

The prognosis, or prospects, of people with kidney failure depend on several factors. These include the underlying cause, the quality of treatment for this cause, and complicating factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Appropriate treatment and healthy lifestyle changes can perhaps improve your outlook. Eating a healthy diet, reducing harmful foods for the kidneys and treating any underlying problem can help prolong your health and life.

You can take certain steps to reduce your risk of kidney failure.

Follow the instructions when taking over-the-counter medications. Taking too high doses (even with common medications such as aspirin) can create high levels of toxins in a short time. This can overload your kidneys.

Many conditions of the kidneys or urinary tract cause kidney failure when they are not properly managed. You can help reduce your risk of kidney failure by:

• maintain a healthy lifestyle
• follow the advice of your doctor
• take prescribed medications as directed
• treat common causes of kidney failure, such as high blood pressure and diabetes

If you have concerns about your kidneys, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.