Chronic Kidney Disease

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a kidney disorder that disrupts the kidney functions and eventually leads to kidney failure. Once the kidney function is lost, the excess fluids and wastes from the blood are not filtered. The disease hampers one’s ability to stay healthy as it causes accumulation of waste in the body.

Symptoms

Some prominent symptoms of chronic kidney disease seen in the patients are:

Nausea
Vomiting
Disturbed eating habits
Weakness
Disturbed sleeping patters
Quantity of urine excreted changes
Body ache
Irritation on the skin
Swelling of limbs
High blood pressure

Causes

The causes for chronic kidney disease could be any of the following:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Inflammation in the kidneys
Formation of cysts in the kidney.
Presence of kidney stones
Cancer
Vesicoureteral reflux which diverts the flow of urine back into the kidneys
Kidney infection

Risks

Once a person crosses the age of 65, the risk of developing chronic kidney disease increases. Some other risk factors include:

Smoking- People who smoke are more prone to kidney problems
Unhealthy eating habits lead to Obesity which acts as a risk factor
Patients with problems of high Cholesterol and Diabetes are more prone to the disease
Diseases like bladder obstruction, kidney cancer, kidney stones, bladder infection may result in chronic kidney problems

Prevention

Chronic kidney disease can be prevented by maintaining a balanced diet, controlling blood sugar levels and keeping the body weight under check. A balanced diet keeps a person’s cholesterol and blood pressure levels under control.

How is it diagnosed?

The doctor starts the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease by studying the medical history of the patient as the illness may be running in one’s family lines. This is followed by a series of tests...

Blood count test
Electrolyte level test
Blood urea nitrogen test
Creatinine test

How is it treated?

No definite cure for chronic kidney disease has been discovered yet but the doctors carry out several treatments to control the symptoms and complications in order to ease the patients. The following treatments are often opted by the doctors for ..

Medications for high blood pressure medications
The doctor suggests certain medications to control the patient’s rising blood pressure.
Medications for lowering cholesterol levels
The doctor may suggest certain medications to lower the patient’s cholesterol.
Medications treating anemia
The doctor may recommend certain medicines that help in lowering the symptoms of anemia.
Medications to lessen the swelling
Chronic kidney disease may lead swelling due to the accumulation fluids in the body. The medications help in relieving the swelling. In certain extreme cases, the doctors may even opt for kidney dialysis or transplant.

When do I contact the doctor?

One should consult the doctor as soon as they start noticing signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease in the patient. Any signs of unusual kidney activity should be thoroughly discussed with the doctor.

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How does Medanta Provide care?

Medanta ensures expert care for its patients who are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at the Institute of Kidney and Urology. The institute acts as a unique resource for patients who are suffering from any disorder associated with the urinary..