The primary function of the kidneys
is to remove the useless material from the body. Both the kidneys process about
200 liters of blood every day and thereby produces about 2 liter of urine.
Kidneys also produce several hormones which are vital for the body.
The kidneys have a million nefrons
which help in the formation of urine.
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| Gross pathology of polycystic kidneys by Dr. Edwin P. Ewing, Jr. Wikimedia Commons |
The useless materials and toxins
increase in the blood when the kidneys fail to function normally and it causes
several diseases. Several complications will arise like high blood pressure,
anemia, weak bones, deficiency of nutrients in body and the damaged nerves.
Chronic
Kidney Disease or CKD
It is called Established Renal Failure
or Advanced Kidney Disease. Here the working or the capabilities of the kidneys
decrease slowly and as a result the kidneys fail to perform. The people
suffering from CKD reach the hospital at a time when the functioning of the
kidneys gets reduced to half. The disease could be controlled by medicines, if the
disease is detected in the first or the second stage.
Glomerulonephritis
It is group of diseases in which the
swelling occurs in the filtering units of the kidneys and they get damaged.
This disorder is the third largest type of kidney disease.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
In this genetic and hereditary
disease big cysts get formed in the kidneys. As a result the tissues of the
kidneys surrounding these cysts get damaged.
Kidney
Infection
The repeatedly occurring infection
in the kidneys is called pyelonephritis. This infection could be due to the presence of the kidney stones in which the flow of urine out of the kidneys
gets interrupted and the urine flows back to the kidneys. This development increases
the dangers of kidney infection.
Kidney
Failure
The kidney disease becomes serious
with the passage of time and leads to kidney failure. The kidney failure occurs
when the kidneys perform less than 5% out of its total potential.
Symptoms
The general symptoms of the kidney
diseases could be as follows.
Severe tiredness and loss of energy, loss of concentration, reduced appetite, sleeplessness, stretched muscles and
cramps, swelling in ankles, dry itching skin, repeated urination at night, chest
pain, panting, uncontrollable high blood pressure etc.
Reasons
The kidney disease could occur in
any age. However this problem is more prevalent in some people than others. The risks
of kidney problem increases in family history, old age, chronic kidney
infections, excessive use of analgesics or pain killers, stones or tumor in
kidneys, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, obesity, high
cholesterol levels, age above 65 years etc.
For
the Patients of Diabetes
The risks of kidney problems
increase with diabetes. According to statistics the diabetes is the chief cause
of kidney failure. Therefore the patients of diabetes should have the knowledge
of early symptoms. The chances of kidney failure increase if the close family
member had earlier faced such problem.
Diagnosis
Consult the physician, if any
medical condition puts you under the risk of kidney disease. The physician will
check the blood pressure, the working of the kidneys and conduct the urine and
blood tests. In addition to these the imaging test like ultrasound, biopsy, Glomerular Filtration Rate or GRF are the best tests to measure the working of the
kidneys and know about the stage of the disease.
Safety
Measures
1. Keep physically fit and remain
active.
2. Take healthy balanced and
nutritious diet.
3. Reduce the intake of salt.
4. Control the body weight.
5. Give up smoking.
6. Exercise daily and go for regular
walk.
The
Statistics of Kidney patients in India
1. One out of every 10 persons in
India is suffering from any of the types of kidney diseases.
2. One out of seven and one out of
five persons in India is suffering from diabetes and hypertension respectively.
3. More than 50% of kidney diseases
are caused by diabetes and hypertension.
4. Half a million of Indians are
having the problem of complete kidney failure.
5. About one tenth of a million of
new patients are joining the kidney failure group every year.
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