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Functions
of Kidney: In our body there are two kidneys, each about the size of a fist. Each kidney
contains upto a million nephrons, filtering units of tiny blood vessels called glomeruli attached to a tubule. When blood enters the
glomeruli, it is filtered and the remaining fluid then passes along the tubule. In the tubule, chemicals and water are either added to or removed from this filtered fluid according to the body’s needs, the final product being the urine we excrete.
Chronic Kidney Disease cause:
Chronic kidney disease main cause is diabetes and high blood pressure. Some kidney conditions are inherited, others are congenital.
The following are some of the most common types and causes of kidney
damage:
Glomerulonephritis: It causes inflammation of the glomeruli. Glomerulonephritis may happen suddenly,
Polycystic kidney disease is commonly inherited. It is characterized by the formation of kidney cysts that enlarge over time and may cause serious kidney damage and even kidney failure.
Kidney stones: Kidney stones forms due to the presence of excessive
calcium in the body. It causes
severe pain in the back and side of the body. Medications and diet can help to prevent stone formation. Urinary tract infections:
It occur when germs enter the urinary tract and cause symptoms such as pain
and/or burning during urination and more frequent need to urinate. These infections most often affect the bladder, but they sometimes spread to the kidneys. When a valve-like mechanism between the
bladder and ureter (urine tube) fails to work properly and allows urine to back up (reflux) to the kidneys, it results in infections and possible kidney damage. Using over-the-counter pain relievers for a long time may be harmful to the kidneys.
Chronic Kidney Disease Detection
Early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease is the
only way remove to kidney disease check the kidney failure. Some simple tests can be done to detect early kidney disease.
1. Blood pressure measurement;
2. A test for protein in the urine.
3. A test for blood creatinine.
Creatinine is freely filtered by the glomerular capillaries, inside the nephrons, and a small amount is also secreted in our body. But when these nephrons get damaged either due to high BP or diabetes, then the Glomerular Filtration Rate
(GFR) also decreases. As a result of this, the creatinine level increases in a patient’s body.
Kidney failure
Chronic kidney disease may progress to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. Treating high blood pressure with special medications called
angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors often help to slow the progression of
chronic kidney disease.
Treatment: Kidney failure may be treated with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplantation. Treatment with hemodialysis (the artificial kidney) may be performed at a dialysis unit or at home.
Hemodialysis treatments are usually performed three times a week.
Peritoneal dialysis is generally done daily at home. Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis requires the use of a machine while Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis does not.
Kidney transplant: The kidney may come from either a dead donor or from a living donor who may be a relative, friend or possibly a stranger as per Organ Donation Act, who donates a kidney to anyone in need of a transplant.
Warning signs of kidney disease:
There are six warning signs of kidney disease:
1. High blood pressure.
2. Blood and/or protein in the urine.
3. A creatinine blood test greater than 1.2 for women and 1.4 for men.
4. A glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60. GFR is a measure of how well your kidneys filter wastes from your blood. GFR may be estimated from your creatinine level.
5. More frequent urination, particularly at night, difficult or painful urination.
6. Puffiness around eyes, swelling of hands and feet, especially in children.
If anybody has all these warning signs then a routine ultrasound of the kidneys is a must. With this
you can prevent from kidney problems in the early stages.
Prevention:
Kidney disease in most cases is lifestyle related. High BP and diabetes are very common today. Most of
the chronic kidney disease patients have either of the two, especially in the urban population.
If chronic kidney disease is diagnosed in the early stages, it can be managed well and need for dialysis and a transplant in a patient can be delayed. A creatinine clearance test along with patient's medical history can help a physician diagnose whether he/she is a case of
hronic kidney disease or not.
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