Chronic Kidney Disease – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Imagine living with a disease that silently destroys your body, gradually diminishing your quality of life while remaining undetectable until it reaches a critical stage. This is the harsh reality for millions of people worldwide battling chronic kidney disease (CKD). As one of our time’s most prevalent and significant health issues, CKD demands our attention and understanding.

In this blog, we are going to discuss the complexities of this disease, explore its causes, identify chronic kidney disease symptoms, and know the available treatments that can make a world of difference for those affected.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

When kidneys almost fail, it is called ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease), which, simply put, is the last stage of chronic kidney disease. It means the kidneys have stopped functioning as they should, and the patient needs dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. Kidneys do not work correctly when they get damaged, and the condition worsens gradually, which causes ESRD.

Kidney failure can happen for several reasons, and before we start discussing whether dialysis or kidney transplant is a better choice, let’s first understand the various causes of kidney failure.

Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease

Diabetes is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney failure, apart from high blood pressure, which happens to be the second most common cause. Many other reasons, such as genetic diseases, autoimmune diseases, urinary tract problems, and nephritic syndrome, could cause kidney failure.

There are times when kidneys fail in a very short span of time, which could be as quick as just two days. This sort of kidney failure is referred to as acute kidney injury or acute renal failure. Acute kidney injury can happen due to drug abuse, illegal drug use, and heart attack or urinary tract problems.

Here, it is of utmost significance to understand that this type of kidney failure isn’t always permanent, and your kidneys may go back to normal or close to normal, provided you do not have other serious health problems.

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

So, how do you know if your kidneys have started to fail? Basically, kidney damage symptoms (CKD) can be subtle and often go unnoticed in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced and can significantly impact a person’s daily life.

The symptoms of acute kidney failure are as follows:

• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Rashes
• Vomiting
• Back pain
• Abdominal pain
• Nose bleeds

You must note that any of the symptoms above indicate a severe health concern, and you must immediately get in touch with the best kidney specialist in Delhi.

Treatment Options for Chronic Kidney Disease

Dialysis and kidney transplant are two kidney disease treatment options for you, and the best doctor for kidney transplant in Delhi will help you determine which option to go for.

When is Dialysis Needed, and What Does It Do?

You would need dialysis when you develop end-stage failure. This is usually when you lose about 85% to 90% of your kidney, and the GFR score is less than 15.

Dialysis is a medical procedure that helps in keeping your body in balance by the removal of waste and preventing salt and extra water from building up in the body. It also helps maintain a safe level of various chemicals such as sodium, bicarbonate, and potassium.

Dialysis also controls blood pressure and keeps them at optimum levels. Dialysis can be done in the hospital or at home; however, you must consult your doctor to determine what is right for you.

What Are The Different Dialysis Types?

Dialysis has two types: hemodialysis and peritoneal.

Hemodialysis

In hemodialysis, an artificial kidney called a hemodialyzer is leveraged for the removal of waste and extra fluid from your body. In order to get blood into the hemodialyzer, the doctor will need to access your blood vessels. A minor arm or leg surgery will be needed for this purpose.

Sometimes, this entrance is made by joining an artery to a vein under your skin. This is to make a bigger blood vessel, which is known as a fistula.

In case your blood vessels are found inadequate for a fistula, the best kidney specialist in Delhi will use a soft tube made of plastic to join an artery and a vein under your skin. This is called a graft.

If you are wondering about the duration you need dialysis, frankly speaking, it depends on several factors, including how well your kidneys are working, the amount of waste in your body, your weight & age, and the fluid weight you tend to gain between the treatments.

More often than not, hemodialysis lasts about 4 hours and is required 3 times weekly.

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis cleans the blood inside your body, and the doctor will use your peritoneal membrane as a filter for this purpose. Peritoneal dialysis is of two types, which are as follows:

• Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)
• Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD)

When to Start Dialysis, and What’s the Proper Dialysis Option?

Deciding when to start dialysis may appear quite confusing at first; however, timely consultation with the best doctor for a kidney transplant in Delhi is required. Choosing the dialysis treatment type depends on a number of factors, including:

• Your health condition and medical suitability
• Personal preferences
• Family responsibilities, travelling frequency, work responsibilities, etc.

Kidney Transplant Explained and When to Consider it as an Option.

A kidney transplant is a medical procedure or treatment for kidney failure. It helps you get rid of dialysis and offers a more active life. Although it offers freedom from restrictions on dietary intake, it needs a lifetime of proper management and care. The survival rate for a kidney transplant is pretty high. A kidney transplant procedure involves placing a healthy kidney donated by a living or deceased donor.

Deceased donors willingly donate their organs to be used after their death. Living donors can be family members, friends, or relatives. There are times when donors are unknown to the recipient.

A kidney transplant from a deceased donor is deemed appropriate for patients who have been stabilised on dialysis. If the transplant is to be received from an unknown donor, the surgery will be done when the kidneys are about to fail but before the dialysis starts. This is known as a pre-emptive transplant.

Factors affecting the suitability of a transplant are as follows:

• Patient’s willingness to take anti-rejection medication for the entire lifetime.
• General good physical health, besides kidney failure.
• Patient’s acceptance of the probable risks involved.
• Patient’s consent for tests and surgery.

Conclusion

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a stealthy adversary that silently affects millions of lives worldwide. From its modest beginnings to its potentially devastating consequences, understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options is vital for individuals and healthcare professionals. By recognizing the symptoms associated with CKD, we can empower ourselves to seek early intervention and slow down the progression of the disease.

So if you want to get the knowledge and suitable treatment for chronic kidney disease, PSRI Hospital is the best kidney transplant centre in Delhi. Contact the expert team now to know more: 84 84 84 84 17

FAQs

How do you reverse chronic kidney disease stage 5?

Ans: Reversing stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) is typically not possible. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving life quality through dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Can chronic kidney disease be cured?

Ans: CKD is usually a long-term condition without a cure. Early detection and proper management can slow its progression and preserve kidney function.

How does chronic kidney disease affect the urinary system?

Ans: CKD impairs the kidneys’ filtering ability, leading to changes in urine frequency, volume, and colour.

How does diabetes cause chronic kidney disease?

Ans: Long-term high blood sugar levels in diabetes can damage kidney blood vessels, leading to CKD.