Kidney Failure Symptoms, Types, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment Methods

Understanding Kidney Failure: Types, Warning Signs and Prevention

Kidneys eliminate waste material and excessive fluids from your blood to maintain healthy body function. If your kidneys fail to perform the filtering function, your body will accumulate fluids and waste, which can cause severe health issues. This condition is termed renal failure or kidney failure.

Several factors, like diabetes, infections, hypertension, etc., lead to kidney failure over time. If not taken care of at the right time, this can lead to severe complications like nerve damage, bone diseases, and more. Thus, it is necessary to know about the kidney failure symptoms to identify this condition and take necessary measures.

Read on to learn the types of kidney failure, their symptoms, causes, and treatment options!

Table of Contents

Types of Kidney Failure

Kidney Failure Symptoms

Causes of Kidney Failure

Diagnosis of Kidney Failure

Kidney Failure Treatment Options

How to Prevent Kidney Failure?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Different Types of Kidney Failure?

Kidney failure can be majorly classified into two types:

1. Acute Kidney Failure

Losing kidney function for a short period of time is often referred to as acute kidney failure. It takes a few hours or days to develop acute kidney failure. Infection, dehydration, drugs, etc., usually cause acute kidney failure in individuals.

This type of kidney failure gets cured within a few days in most cases. However, if not cured, it can lead to chronic kidney failure or permanent kidney damage.

2. Chronic Kidney Failure

When the kidneys are damaged in such a way that they cannot be cured completely, it is called chronic kidney failure. It does not occur in a few days or hours. Instead, chronic kidney failure develops over months and even years.

What are the Kidney Failure Symptoms?

The symptoms of acute and chronic kidney failure are not the same. Moreover, the symptoms may vary from one individual to another. So, contacting your healthcare provider at the right time is necessary.

Acute Kidney Failure Symptoms

Check out the symptoms of acute kidney failure below:

● Rash

● Fatigue

● Fever

● Weaknesses

● Unusual bleeding or hemorrhage

● Bloody or normal diarrhea

● Back pain

● Loss of appetite

● Excessive vomiting

● Muscle cramps

● Stomach pain

● Nose bleeding

● Tissue swelling

● Inflammation in eyes

● Pale skin

● High or no urine output

● Abdominal mass that can be felt on touch, etc.

Chronic Kidney Failure Symptoms

The chronic renal kidney failure symptoms are as follows:

● Insomnia

● Headache

● Poor appetite

● Bone pain

● Dry or itchy skin

● Vomiting

● Frequent infection in the urinary tract

● Excessive or lack of urine output

● Bad breath

● Hearing issues

● Urinary incontinence

● Poor muscle tone

● A metallic taste in your mouth

● Changes in your mental alertness, etc.

What Causes Kidney Failure?

Take a look at the common causes of kidney failure:

Diabetes

Individuals may experience hyperglycemia or high blood sugar levels due to unmanaged diabetes. If the blood sugar level keeps rising consistently, it can damage your kidneys and other organs. It can cause liver and kidney failure symptoms in your body.

High Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, the blood in your body will run at a higher force through the blood vessels. This high force can damage the tissue of your kidney, leading to failure if not managed or treated on time.

Here are some more causes of kidney failure:

● Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune diseases like lupus can damage your kidneys and other organs, causing kidney failure symptoms skin rashes, fever, joint pain, etc.

● Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

One inherits this disease from any of their parents. In this disease, cysts (fluid-filled sacs) develop inside your kidneys and can cause kidney failure if not addressed at the right time.

● Glomerular Diseases

It affects your kidney’s waste filtering capacity, leading to kidney failure in the long run.

How to Diagnose Kidney Failure?

Doctors can diagnose this condition from the kidney failure symptoms in men and women. However, here are some of the diagnostic methods that they may recommend:

● Blood Tests

Doctors recommend blood tests to detect the waste removal capacity of your kidneys. It measures waste levels, such as creatinine and urea, to evaluate how effectively the kidneys filter blood. A small blood sample is drawn using a needle and analyzed in a lab.

● Imaging Tests

It includes tests like Computed Tomography (CT) urogram, kidney ultrasound, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These tests provide a detailed view of your kidneys and surrounding areas so the healthcare provider can detect blockages and abnormalities.

● Urine Tests

These detect abnormalities like protein or blood in the urine. Patients provide a sample in a specialized container, which is then tested for markers like albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR).

How to Treat Kidney Failure?

Kidney failure treatments aim to manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and compensate for lost kidney function. The primary options include dialysis, kidney transplantation, and conservative management.

● Dialysis

It involves filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood. There are two types of dialysis:

Hemodialysis: Blood is passed through a machine that acts as an artificial kidney. This can be done at home or in a clinic, typically three times a week.

Peritoneal Dialysis: In this process, blood is filtered internally, using the lining of the abdomen. A dialysis solution is introduced into the abdominal cavity and later drained, removing toxins. This is usually performed at home.

● Kidney Transplantation

It refers to surgically placing a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into the patient’s body. Transplants often provide better outcomes than dialysis but require lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection. However, donor availability can lead to long waiting periods.

● Conservative Management

It focuses on symptom relief and quality of life without dialysis or transplantation. It includes medications, dietary changes, and supportive care to manage complications like anemia or high blood pressure. This option is suitable for patients who prioritize comfort over aggressive interventions.

Choosing a treatment depends on individual factors such as medical history, lifestyle preferences, and family support. Consulting healthcare professionals ensures informed decisions tailored to specific needs.

How to Prevent Kidney Failure?

Preventing kidney failure or reducing the risk of kidney disease requires maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing medical conditions effectively. Key preventive measures include:

● Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity increases the risk of kidney disease. Proper diet and regular exercise can help achieve and sustain a healthy weight.

● Control High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is a major risk factor for kidney disease. Regularly monitor and manage blood pressure through medications, a low-sodium diet, exercise, and stress-reducing techniques.

● Stay Hydrated

Drink sufficient water daily to support kidney function. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized hydration needs.

● Adopt a Healthy Diet

Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit salt, saturated fats, and processed foods. Monitor phosphorus and potassium intake as the healthcare provider advises if you have kidney issues.

● Exercise Regularly

Engage in physical activities to maintain a healthy weight and improve cardiovascular health, which supports kidney health.

● Manage Medications

Take prescribed medications as directed and discuss potential side effects on the kidneys with your doctor. Avoid overusing over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) unless advised.

● Limit Exposure to Toxins

Reduce contact with harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and environmental toxins that may damage kidneys.

● Kidney Screening

If at risk or with a family history of kidney disease, undergo regular screenings such as blood pressure checks and urine tests to detect early signs of kidney issues.

Following these preventive steps can significantly lower the risk of developing kidney disease or delay its progression if already diagnosed. However, if you notice any of the kidney failure symptoms mentioned above, consider reaching out to your healthcare provider as early as possible. Initiating the treatment at the right time can help relieve sudden kidney failure symptoms and enable proper kidney functioning.

Now, kidney failure can come with high treatment costs. In this regard, having a health plan from reliable providers like Star Health can be really helpful.

Call us today for further details!