General Information About Kidney Failure
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where excess water and waste products in the body start to accumulate in the bloodstream and poison the organs as a result of the kidneys' inability to perform their filtering duty.
Acute Kidney Failure: It is the sudden stopping of the kidney due to toxic substances, severe bleeding, or dehydration; it can return to normal with treatment.
Chronic Kidney Failure: It is a permanent and irreversible tissue damage that develops slowly over years.
Worldwide, the two biggest causes of chronic kidney disease are uncontrolled Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. These diseases destroy the fine capillary vessels of the kidney.
It is generally silent in the early stages. In advanced stages, swelling (edema) in the legs and eyelids, a decrease in the amount of urine, chronic fatigue, itching of the skin, and a metallic taste in the mouth occur.
Urea and Creatinine levels measured with a simple blood test and the GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) calculation clearly show the percentage at which the kidneys are working. Urine is also checked for protein leakage.
In early stages, efforts are made to stop the progression of the disease with dietary changes (reducing salt and protein) and blood pressure medications. When kidney function drops below 15% (End-Stage), blood cleaning with a machine (Dialysis) or a Kidney Transplant becomes mandatory.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
