Chronic Kidney Disease: Symptoms and Causes

The main function of the kidneys is to remove toxins, in the form of urine, from the human body. For this reason, these bean-shaped organs are very important for the survival of an individual. Along with this, the removal of acids from the bloodstream in order to create a balance of water, salts, and minerals cannot be done without these natural filters. Patients who develop a gradual loss in kidney function should get themselves diagnosed for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) by a nephrologist.

Mentioned below are the symptoms and causes of this life-threatening disease:

Symptoms

As observed worldwide, the early stages of CKD or kidney failure might not exhibit any symptoms in the patient’s body. Due to this reason, patients suffering from this condition might reach the end stage that requires dialysis or even transplant. Some of the most common indicators of kidney failure are swelling in the feet or ankles, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and mental confusion. In some patients, changes in urination, chest pain, and hypertension have also been observed by medical practitioners. Also, it is important to note that these signs are non-specific in nature; thus, getting a proper kidney analysis that includes complete blood count test, kidney profile test, urinalysis, etc. is highly recommended to patients with a history of kidney diseases.

Causes

In most patients, kidney failure is caused due to other underlying conditions in the body. This includes several bone marrow conditions, Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney stones. Besides this, recurrent kidney-related infections have also been known to cause long term kidney damage or CKD. Patients suffering from interstitial nephritis, a condition wherein the kidney tubules and surrounding structure have a significant amount of inflammation. Vesicoureteral reflux that causes the urine of a patient to back up in the kidneys has also caused kidney failure among several patients across the world.

Since this condition can be fatal, a patient who is exhibiting any signs should consult a reputed nephrologist at the earliest. Getting a bone marrow test along with a kidney function test is highly advised so as to understand the extent of the damage.