Aging is a natural and progressive phenomenon imputing gradual loss of cellular function and structural changes in the internal body organs. These anatomic and physiological changes result in a process called senescence. It is a term that portrays the cause of age-related changes in the body, which are more harmful compared to the changes triggered by any disease. In general, age-related changes in the body are often difficult to perceive and hard to rectify. After a certain age, these processes pick up their process and result in more dysfunctionality. Like any other organ systems, the kidneys also go through normal senescence, including anatomical and structural changes.
Diabetes Nephropathy Ayurvedic Treatment
These kidney function changes due to an aging process are different from those with kidney disease in the elderly. Diabetic nephropathy is one such disease that occurs in the elderly, mostly.
Structural Changes of Aging
There is a decline in the number and size of the nephrons, tubulointerstitial changes, glomerular thickening, and increased glomerulosclerosis with age. It is delineated as nephrosclerosis, a combination of two or a related condition, such as interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, etc.
Decreased Tubular Function
As with age, progressive tubular dysfunction decreases sodium absorption, urine concentration capacity, and potassium excretion, contributing to the risk of acute kidney injury. Elderly patients show decreased transtubular potassium and attenuate to promote potassium excretion. Decreased glomerular filtration rate may be related to the glomerular filtration rate, which signifies kidney function.
Vascular Changes
Aging kidney disorders
Types of age-related kidney disease
The elderly are more at risk of kidney and related urinary tract disease because of : Inflammation or swelling of the kidneys: This occurs in glomeruli and results in impaired kidney function.
Diabetes: It is the most common cause of kidney disease worldwide. Too much blood sugar level can damage the blood vessels and result in kidney damage.
Urinary tract infections: If left untreated, urinary tract infections may lead to kidney damage. They are caused by bacteria called E.coli that enters the bladder and spread to the kidneys later on. Urinary tract infections are very common, particularly in women and with increasing age.
Urinary incontinence - It is the uncontrolled excretion of urine from the bladder. It means a person urinates when they do not want to. This can occur because of more severe kidney problems, an enlarged prostate in men, and demands immediate treatment.
Renovascular disease: These diseases are the diseases of the arteries to the kidneys. High blood pressure and kidney failure can result from these diseases. They may result when fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances accumulate in the inner lining of the arteries, causing obstruction in the renal artery.
High blood pressure: This is the second leading cause of impaired kidney function after diabetes. Within 7 to 8 years of diagnosis of diabetes, there is an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and loss of vision, and cause kidney damage.
Polycystic kidney disease: It is a genetic disorder that is a bit common in the elderly.
What are the symptoms of age-related disorders?
Kidney disease is a silent disorder that often comes up with no signs. People may lose around 80% of their kidney function and still not notice any abstracted signs. Often the specific and nonspecific signs may seem like:
- high blood pressure
- changes in the amount of urine
- changes in the appearance of urine
- blood in the urine
- puffy eyes
- swelling in the body
- pain in the kidney area
- tiredness
- difficulty sleeping
- headaches
- lack of concentration
- itching
- shortness of breath
- nausea and vomiting
- bad breath and a metallic taste in the mouth.
If your kidney function is not accurate, you can still take ayurvedic treatment for kidney failure by us. Karma Ayurveda has years of experience in the management of kidney-related problems.
0 Comments