Kidney Failure
Kidney Failure, also known as Kidney disease, is a condition in which a person loses control of their kidney function over a period of time. When healthy the kidneys act as the body’s filtering system, removing waste and extraneous fluid from the blood stream, which is subsequently expelled through urination. In kidney disease the kidneys become progressively inhibited from filtering, leading to a potentially fatal buildup of waste and fluids in the body.
Symptoms are not readily apparent from the outset, but become progressively severe as the condition worsens. Common symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, problems sleeping, fatigue and lethargy, loss of mental acuity, bladder control issues, increased hypertension, consistent muscle twitching and cramping, and swelling of the feet and ankles.
Kidney failure can be brought on by a variety of diseases including diabetes (type one and two), high blood pressure, Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys’ filtering units), pyelonephritis (recurrent infection of the kidneys), and chronic urinary tract blockages, which can be caused by kidney stones, prostate problems, and even cancer. Risk factors range from genetic (for example African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease), lifestyle choices (smoking and overeating) to preexisting conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity).
If not diagnosed and treated immediately many serious complications can arise, among them fluid retention (leading to abnormal swelling in the extremities as well as the lungs), anemia, nervous system damage, weakened functioning of the immune system (increasing risk of infection), and even death if the depleted kidneys are not treated via dialysis or a kidney transplant.
If You Have Been Diagnosed with Kidney Failure
While, unfortunately, chronic kidney disease more often than not is incurable, treatment can alleviate many complications, reduce the pain of symptoms, and halt the progression of the diseases. Your doctor can implement a variety of treatments, including medication regimens to lower hypertension, cholesterol, anemia, fluid swelling, as well as adopting a low protein diet, which minimizes the waste products rendered when your kidneys break down protein rich food.
For people with end stage kidney failure – where the kidneys have lost all ability to function – the two treatment options available are dialysis (artificial removal of waste from the kidneys either through a machine filter or via a catheter) and kidney transplant surgery.
A Whole Health Perspective
Looking at Kidney Failure through a Whole Health model, we explore the individual’s unique presentation from the 5 Aspects of Whole Health™ perspective.