Your kidneys are a pair of organs located in the region of your lower back. Each kidney is on each side of the spine. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and removing toxins from your body. These toxins go to the bladder and are eliminated when people urinate. Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to sufficiently filter waste from the blood.
There are different factors which can interfere with kidney health and function. Some of them are mentioned below.
- certain acute and chronic diseases
- toxic exposure to environmental pollutants or certain medications
- severe dehydration
- insufficient blood flow to the kidneys
- kidney trauma
If your kidneys aren’t able to function properly, your body becomes overloaded with toxins. It can lead to kidney failure, which can be life threatening if left untreated.
What are the major signs and symptoms associated with kidney failure?
The early stage kidney failure often doesn’t cause any noticeable signs and symptoms. According to the studies, as many as 90 percent of people with chronic kidney disease don’t know they have it. As kidney disease progresses, possible symptoms may involve the following:
- a reduced amount of urine
- swelling of your legs, ankles, and feet from retention of fluids caused by the failure of the kidneys to eliminate water waste
- unexplained shortness of breath
- excessive drowsiness or fatigue
- persistent nausea
- confusion
- pain or pressure in your chest
- seizures
- coma
Some early signs of kidney failure
The signs and symptoms of early-stage kidney disease may be difficult to pinpoint. They are often subtle and hard to identify. If you experience early signs of kidney disease, they may include:
- decreased urine output
- swelling in limbs caused by fluid retention
- shortness of breath
What are the causes of kidney failure?
Kidney failure can be the result of several conditions or causes. People who are most at risk usually have one or more causes. Mentioned below are the primary causes associated with kidney failure.
Loss of blood flow to the kidneys
A sudden loss of blood flow to your kidneys can prompt kidney failure. Some conditions that cause loss of blood flow to the kidneys include:
- heart attack
- heart disease
- scarring of the liver or liver failure
- dehydration
- severe burns
- allergic reactions
- severe infection, such as sepsis
High blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medications can also limit blood flow.
Urine elimination problems
When your body can’t eliminate urine, toxins build up and overload the kidneys. Some cancers can block the urine passageways, such as:
- prostate, which is the most common type in men
- colon
- cervical
- bladder
Other conditions can interfere with urination and possibly lead to kidney failure, including:
- kidney stones
- enlarged prostate
- blood clots within your urinary tract
- damage to the nerves that control your bladder
Other causes
Some other factors that may lead to kidney failure involve:
- a blood clot in or around your kidneys
- infection
- heavy metal poisoning
- drugs and alcohol
- vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels
- lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation of many body organs
- glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the small blood vessels of the kidneys
- hemolytic uremic syndrome, which involves the breakdown of red blood cells following a bacterial infection, usually of the intestines
- multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in your bone marrow
- scleroderma, an autoimmune condition that affects your skin
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a disorder that causes blood clots in small vessels
- chemotherapy drugs that treat cancer and some autoimmune diseases
- dyes used in some imaging tests
- certain antibiotics
- diabetes that’s not being managed
The bottom line
Kidney failure can develop suddenly or due to long-term damage. There are many possible causes of kidney failure, including diabetes, high blood pressure, exposure to high levels of medication, extreme dehydration, kidney trauma, or other factors.
Kidney disease is classified into five stages. These range from very mild to complete kidney failure. Symptoms and complications increase as the stages progress. If you have kidney failure, you can consult the doctors at the best hospital for kidney transplant in Delhi and determine the best treatment options for your condition. Explore the website to know more.
