About this topic
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs in the back of your belly, just above your waist. They filter your blood and get rid of waste products and extra fluid from your body. The waste is turned into urine. Sometimes, your kidneys do not work well. Kidney failure is an illness where your kidney stops cleaning waste from the blood. ‚
Kidney failure may be acute or chronic. ‚
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What are the causes?
- Acute ¢ ˆ ’ Happens all of a sudden. It may be caused by infection, drugs, chemicals, or trauma.
- Chronic ¢ ˆ ’ Happens slowly over time. It may be caused by illnesses like high blood pressure or diabetes. It may cause weight loss, headaches, muscle cramps, changes in skin color, unusual itching, and sleeping troubles.
What are the main signs?
- Passing less urine or no urine at all
- Blood in the urine
- Feeling short of breath
- Swelling, often in legs or feet
- Throwing up or not hungry
- Feeling weak or sluggish
- Feeling confused
- Seizures
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
The doctor will take your history and do an exam. The doctor may order tests like: ‚
- Lab tests
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- X-ray
- Biopsy
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Doctors need to treat this illness to make your kidneys work again. If your kidneys are badly damaged, your doctor will need to use a machine or treatment called dialysis to remove the waste products from your blood. Sometimes, a new healthy kidney from someone else is used to replace your kidneys. This is a kidney transplant. ‚
Are there other health problems to treat?
There may be other problems to treat based on what is causing your kidney failure. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
Your doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent or fight an infection
- Remove body fluids
- Control blood pressure
- Raise your bodys red blood cells
- Balance your body's minerals
What changes to diet are needed?
- You need to limit your food and fluid intake. Your doctor will tell you what you can and cannot eat. This will help lessen the work of your recovering kidneys.
- Eat high-carb, low-protein meals. Some foods high in good carbs are:
- Fresh fruit like oranges, apples, pears, peaches, and watermelon
- Veggies like broccoli, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and cabbage
- Limit your salt by not using table salt, sauces, canned foods, salted snacks, and foods that are cured.
- Cut back on the number of calories you eat if you are on peritoneal dialysis. The sugar in the fluid used for dialysis can make you gain weight.
What problems could happen?
- Heart, brain, liver, lung problems
- High blood pressure
- Low red blood cells
- Infection
- Bleeding
- New kidney is rejected
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Avoid taking drugs that are not prescribed by your doctor. Some drugs are very harmful for your kidneys.
- If you have an illness like diabetes or heart problems, visit your doctor often. This may help prevent problems that can harm your kidneys.
- Talk with your doctor about how much water you need each day to keep your kidneys working well. If your body gets less water than it needs, fluid loss can happen. This problem makes your kidneys work harder and can cause harm. Carry a water bottle with you so you can drink during the day to keep your fluids at a normal level.
- If you have an infection and you see changes in your urine, see your doctor right away.
Helpful tips
- Stay away from dirty water. Do not swim in pools or lakes that seem dirty.
- Wear loose clothing that will not rub on your dialysis tube or wound site.
- If you have a family member or relative with kidney disease, visit your doctor for an exam.
- Try to wait 2 years after having a kidney transplant before planning a pregnancy.
- Use a water bottle with markings to keep track of how much you drink.
- Stay away from crowded places and from people who may have an infection.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/bladder/kidney_conditions.html ‚
National Kidney Disease Education Program ‚
http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/patients/healthy_kidneys.htm ‚
National Kidney Foundation ‚
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/choosing_treat.pdf ‚
The Kidney & Urology Foundation of America ‚
http://www.kidneyurology.org/Library/Kidney_Health/Kidney_Failure.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚