Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney failure, is a condition in which your kidney function deteriorates gradually. Your kidneys are a vital organ that filters your blood and excrete toxins from your body. If they do not work well, toxin buildup occurs, leading to life-threatening symptoms. When your kidneys can not perform their function, it may affect your other organs too.
Chronic kidney failure is a slow process in which your kidney function declines with time. In the initial stages of kidney disease, you may not have bothersome symptoms. But with time, as the disease progresses, it may become severe. It may be hard to detect kidney disease in its earlier stages. Therefore people do not get to know about it in the early stages.
If you are diagnosed with kidney disease, your healthcare providers can not cure the condition. In the initial stages, when kidneys are working, but not that efficiently, they may ask you to live a healthy lifestyle and quit things that are injurious to kidney health. Moreover, by the time, if your kidneys fail to work, you will need to get frequent dialysis done. You can also get a kidney transplant done if your chronic kidney disease turns into end-stage renal disease.
If you have any symptoms of kidney disease, you should visit the doctor. Please do not take your health lightly. Kidney disease needs to be taken seriously. Otherwise, it can become a life-threatening condition. To get an expert opinion, you can consult a Nephrologist in Lahore.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Disease?
In the initial stages, kidney disease may not show any signs and symptoms. Often they appear when enough damage has occurred to the kidneys. However, they depend on the amount of damage occurring to the kidneys. The more the damage, the more toxin build-up occurs, leading to severe symptoms.
The common signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease are:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Urinating more or less than usual
- Brain fog- you might not be able to concentrate well on tasks
- Muscle cramps
- Dry and itchy skin
- Swelling of ankles and feet
- Puffiness under eyes
- Difficulty breathing- is often happening because of fluid build-up in the lungs
- Hypertension or high blood pressure- that is difficult to control
- Chest pain- occurs when fluid buildup occurs in the heart linings.
The signs and symptoms of kidney disease may be confused with other diseases. Your kidneys can make up for the lost function. Therefore you might not get any severe signs and symptoms until enough damage has occurred to your kidneys.
When Should You See The Doctor?
Visiting the doctor is a must if you have any of the above-mentioned signs and symptoms. Moreover, when you get your yearly screening tests done, please ensure to get your kidney functions test done too. Getting tests done earlier can help detect kidney disease in the earlier stages.
When you are diagnosed with kidney disease, your healthcare provider will manage your blood pressure. You will also have to get other blood and urine tests done frequently.
What Are The Risk Factors For Chronic Kidney Disease?
The risk factors for chronic kidney disease can be:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Frequent intake of medications that can damage the kidneys, especially herbal medications whose safety has not been developed.
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Having a family history of kidney disease
- Abnormal kidney structure
- Older age
What Are The Common Complications Of Kidney Disease?
Kidney disease leads to various complications. It can cause:
- High blood pressure
- Fluid build-up in your body
- Hyperkalemia- rise in blood potassium levels
- Anemia
- Heart diseases
- Decreased sex drive
- Weak and brittle bones
- Damage to the central nervous system can cause difficult concentration
- A suppressed immune system that puts you at risk of developing infections
- Pericarditis- Inflammation of the heart layer known as the pericardium.
The Bottom Line
Kidney diseases have to be taken seriously. If you have any of its symptoms, you must visit the healthcare provider as soon as possible. To get an expert opinion, consult the Best Nephrologist in Rawalpindi.