Kidney Disease Symptoms

Kidney Disease Symptoms
Some people may not think that they have kidney diseases until they have undergone medical checkups. They don't have the slightest reasons to think that they have it, as the relevant symptoms are not as severe to restrict their day-today activities. Within this backdrop, it is highly important to understand symptoms of the disease to get appropriate treatment before the disease converts to a life-threatening condition such as kidney failure.

The nephrons of the kidneys may get damaged due to various reasons and most of these reasons are still unknown. From the known causes, high blood pressure and diabetics are prominent. The persons who have these diseases should control their blood pressure and sugar level to avoid kidney diseases.

Neglect of symptoms may lead to kidney failure. It is spontaneous but gradual worsening of the situation may cause it. Gaining knowledge of kidney diseases alerts people to undergo medical checkups and it supports to overcome fatal consequences of kidney diseases.

Though some people with kidney diseases may not get symptoms, many may get various symptoms including blood in urine, frequent urination, difficulty in urinating, and urine foam. These changes of the urine are initial symptoms to the diagnosis of a probable kidney disease. The main function of the kidneys is to remove excess water from blood. When this is not happening, body tissues swell. Excess water in the blood causes swelling, which may occur in the arms, legs, face, hands and ankles. Sometimes other areas may also swell.

The kidneys produce the hormone erythorpoietin while filtering the blood. The erythorpoietin is the hormone that alerts the body to have enough red blood cells that transport oxygen. When kidney malfunction occurs, this hormone is not produced resulting in few red blood cells. Insufficient red blood cells, restricts oxygen circulation throughout the body and ailing patients are severely fatigued. This condition is known as anemia.

Kidney diseases also cause itchiness and skin rashes. This happens, as kidneys are unable to cleanse the body wastes. The accumulated waste in the blood causes the skin itchiness. When patients scratch regularly due to itchiness, rashes on the skin are imminent.

Malfunctions of kidneys result in accumulation of toxins in the blood. When excessive toxins are in the body, people feel a foul taste in their mouths. They lack appetite and some people become vegetarians, as they feel an aversion to meat. Lack of food eventually causes weight loss.

In addition, people with kidney disease may suffer nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, difficulty in concentration and leg pains as well. All these should be taken seriously and take the necessary medical checkups to avoid complications. Kidney diseases can develop to fatal conditions. When that happens, it is too late for any treatment.

Causes Of Kidney Disease

Causes Of Kidney Disease
Kidneys are organs the size of fists located on either side of the spine just above the waist, and have very crucial roles to play. First off they cleanse the blood by getting rid of excess fluids and waste, they help in regulating the blood pressure and finally they maintain a healthy balance of minerals and salts in the body. Kidney diseases are caused by a number of different conditions even though in many cases, no one cause can be clearly determined. It's therefore advisable to get the earliest possible diagnosis so that one can learn to manage the condition or better still prevent or delay the onset of kidney disease.

Some of the leading causes of kidney disease include:-

- High blood pressure (hypertension) if is left untreated may apply extra force and damage the glomeruli which is known to filter waste from the blood

- Diabetes mellitus is known to damage tiny blood vessels in the body making it hard for the kidneys to function well

- Glomerulonephritis - this is a kind of inflammatory kidney disease that makes the kidneys leak red blood cells and/or protein in the urine

- Renovascular disease - the disease deposits fats in the arteries hence reducing blood flow towards the kidneys

- Chronic pyelonephritis - this is a chronic kidney infection always as a result of recurrence episodes of urinary tract infections

- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - this is an immune reaction whereby the body wrongly attacks the kidney tissue

- Polycystic kidney condition, the most common type of inherited kidney disease can also cause kidney disease where cysts filled with fluids form in the kidneys over time resulting in damaged or even failed kidneys

- Obstructive nephropathy - this is a condition whereby urine is blocked and goes back to the kidneys eventually damaging the kidneys

- Inhaling or worst still swallowing certain toxins is also known to make the kidneys slow their functioning or even stop functioning completely. Such toxins include methyl alcohol, poisonous mushrooms, ethylene glycol in antifreeze, and carbon tetrachloride.

- An infection with streptococcal bacteria may also lead to kidney disease

- Some medications or treatments can cause unpredictable effects on the kidneys leading to a sudden decrease in their functioning

- Congenital defects, always present at birth, occurring as a result of urinary tract malformation or obstruction also cause kidney disease.

- Excessive amounts of protein and vitamin D, particularly among the elderly or very ill people may also cause kidney disease.