Kidney Disease – Its Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

There are two kidneys that lie at the rib cage bottom. Being of fist-sized, each side of the spine contains one kidney.  And each one of them is valuable for you to have a healthy body. They filter excess water, waste products, and other impurities of your blood. After filtration, there is storage of toxins in the bladder. And these toxins come out of your body during urination. To have a healthy body, you should know whether your kidneys are functioning well or not. And for this, you can visit a pathology lab in Greater Noida or your city to go through a respective test. 

Any type of disruptions or failure in their function can lead you to have kidney diseases. Like cancers, kidney diseases are of several different types. Some common types are here for your reference:

• Chronic kidney disease – Commonly caused by high blood pressure, it is a long-term health issue and it doesn’t have any significant improvement. 
• Kidney stones – It occurs to a human being when crystallisation of minerals and other substances takes place in the blood. 
• Glomerulonephritis – It is an inflammation of the glomeruli, which is responsible for blood filtration. 
• Polycystic kidney diseases – It is a genetic disorder and causes numerous cysts that affect kidney function. 
• Urinary tract infection – As bacterial infection, it can happen to any part of the urinary function 

Symptoms of Kidney Diseases 

As per their types, kidney disease symptoms can differ from one person to another. You are unaware of kidney diseases when the associated symptoms get severe and more visible. Usually, people with kidney diseases have signs like:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Trouble Sleeping
• Poor Appetite
• Muscle Cramping
• Swollen Feet/Ankles
• Puffiness Around The Eyes In The Morning
• Dry, Scaly Skin
• Frequent Urination, Especially Late At Night
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss Of Appetite
• Changes In Urine Output
• Fluid Retention
• Anaemia (A Decrease In Red Blood Cells)
• Decreased Sex Drive
• Sudden Rise In Potassium Levels (Hyperkalemia)
• Inflammation Of The Pericardium     

Causes 

You have a higher risk of having kidney diseases if you are suffering from diabetes. Diabetes is one of the primary causes and approximately 44% responsible for kidney problems. Here are what can cause you to have this health issue:

• Age
• High blood pressure 
• Have a family history of chronic kidney diseases 
• You belong to Asian, African, American Indian, or Hispanic community 

What are kidney disease treatment options available? 

You should immediately act when you notice any abnormalcy in your urinary tract or system. Apart from your regular full body health checkup, you should consult your doctor. During the consultation, you can state your problem, family history, and an estimated full body checkup cost. After assessing your test results, the expert can advise you on the most suitable treatment. The available treatment options are as follows:

• Medications – As per your signs and kidney health, your doctor may prescribe you angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Further, you might take blood pressure medications, cholesterol drugs, and medicines for anaemia & swelling. 

• Special diet – With the help of a professional dietician, the expert can ask you to take food items that could help you enhance your kidney function. 

• Lifestyle changes – You may need to cut your intake of salt, foods containing cholesterol, and alcohol. You should quit smoking, increase physical activity, and control diabetes.  

• Dialysis – Your doctor will keep you on dialysis if your kidneys stop working. While being on it, the expert will carry out a filtration job artificially. You need to have it until you get a kidney donor. 

• Kidney transplant – It is the last and effective kidney disease treatment. Your doctor will ask you to go for it when you get a kidney donor or keeping you on dialysis for a longer period is not possible.   

Conclusion 

Kidney diseases can be a life-threatening problem if they are untreated for a longer period. Knowing the types, symptoms, causes, and treatment options of kidney diseases is beneficial for you. And you can easily start looking for the best treatment from your doctor after noticing abnormality in your urinary system. Your doctor will know your kidney health through test results and prescribe right medicines and treatments. With your doctor’s support, you can make your kidney function well and have a healthy life. On your side, you can be aware of your health through a full body health check up regularly.