What is kidney disease?
The kidneys are a pair of organs located at the bottom of the rib cage on either side of the spine. The kidneys are essential to having a healthy body function. The kidneys are essentially responsible for filtering the waste product, excess water, and toxins out of the blood. Such toxins are stored in the bladder and removed with the help of the urine. They produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and aid in the production of red blood cells. The kidneys help activate vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium properly.
Kidney Disease Ayurvedic Treatment
What are the different types of kidney disease and its symptoms?
Kidney diseases are of six types, namely -
- Chronic kidney disease
- Acute kidney injury
- Glomerulonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Proteinuria
Chronic kidney disease
It is the gradual loss of kidney function resulting in end-stage renal disease over time. Chronic kidney disease leads to loss of kidney function due to chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The function declines to the point where the kidneys are no longer functional to perform their job. In this case, a person would require dialysis to excrete extra fluid and waste out of the blood. Dialysis can help kidney disease, but it can cure it, so you need to monitor CKD early and get better with immediate treatment response.
The signs that may appear at this time include:
- fatigue
- poor concentration
- trouble sleeping
- loss of appetite
- muscle cramps
- swollen feet/ankles or puffiness around the eyes
- dry or itchy skin
- frequent urination, especially late at night
Acute kidney injury
Acute kidney injury is the sudden loss of kidney function, say in a matter of hours or days. Acute kidney injury requires complete monitoring by the doctors as it can be fatal. It requires immediate treatment response. However, acute kidney failure can be reversible. If you were healthy otherwise, you may recover normally and lead a healthy life once again.
When your kidneys lose their filtration capacity at this time, dangerous levels of wastes may buildup, and the blood’s chemical makeup may get out of balance.
Signs you may notice at this time are as follow:
- decreased or abnormal urine output
- fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles, and face
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- confusion or poor concentration
- nausea
- weakness
- irregular heartbeat
- seizures or coma in severe cases
- chest pain or pressure
Glomerulonephritis
It is an inflammation of the parts of the glomeruli. Glomeruli are extremely small structures inside the kidneys, like small blood vessels that filter the blood. Glomerulonephritis can be caused by infections, or congenital abnormalities, or drug abuse. Such conditions often get better with time if you stick to the treatment approach.
- puffiness in your face
- urinating less often
- blood in your urine, which turns your urine a dark rust color
- extra fluid in your lungs, causing coughing
- high blood pressure
- swelling in your ankles and face
- frequent nighttime urination
- bubbly urine due to excessive protein
- abdominal pain
- frequent nosebleeds
Polycystic kidney disease
It is a genetic disorder that causes numerous cysts to buildup in the kidneys. These cysts can interfere with the functioning of the kidneys and cause kidney failure if not treated. It is to be noted that kidney cysts are caused due to genetic flaws in one or both the parents. Polycystic kidney disease is a more serious condition in which cysts grow by 0.5 inches or larger before a person can notice signs. Initial symptoms associated with PKD may include:
- pain or tenderness in the abdomen
- blood in the urine
- frequent urination
- pain in the sides
- recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI)
- kidney stones
- pain or heaviness in the back
- skin that bruises easily
- pale skin color
- fatigue
- joint pain
- nail abnormalities
Nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that indicate protein loss from the blood. During nephrotic syndrome, excess protein skips along with the urine and result in a condition called Hypoalbuminemia. Albumin is a type of protein that your body needs for various specific reasons, such as maintaining fluid balance. In the event, when you are losing too much albumin, the body becomes swell and puffy as the cells start to retain more fluid.
Symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include:
- Severe swelling (edema), particularly around your eyes and in your ankles and feet
- Foamy urine, a result of excess protein in your urine
- Weight gain due to fluid retention
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
Proteinuria
Proteinuria means there is an abnormal amount of protein in the urine. Proteinuria is an indication of low kidney function due to which the filters may allow even large molecules of proteins to skip through them. Losing protein through the urine reveals that blood vessels cannot absorb protein properly, and there is an associated kidney disease behind this. However, you may have protein in the urine for several other reasons, such as pregnancy, kidney stones, eating a diet high in protein, doing many exercises, etc.
The symptoms associated with proteinuria are somewhat similar to nephrotic syndrome and may include:
- Tiredness
- Lack of appetite
- Muscle cramping at night
- Puffiness around the eyes, especially in the morning
- Swelling in the body
- Foamy or bubbly urine
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