Chronic Kidney Diseases
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 97, Word Count: 535,
Chronic kidney diseases are medically known as chronic renal diseases. It is a basically slow loss of renal function over a time. The symptoms of chronic kidney diseases are unspecific, and sometimes include feeling of unwell with reduced hunger.
Chronic Kidney Diseases
This disease is specifically found in patients with high blood pressure, and diabetes. This may also be identified when it becomes complicated such as cardiovascular disease, pericarditis or anemia. This disease is indentified by taking a blood test for creatinine. Higher amount of creatinine indicates reducing glomerular filtration rate i.e. decreased capability of excreting waste by kidneys.
It is observed that creatinine levels may appears normal in the early stages of these diseases and can be identified by urinalysis. Urinalysis tells that there is loss of protein or blood in urine.
Recent studies classify the severity of this chronic kidney disease in five different stages: stage 1 is mildest which causes very few symptoms whereas stage 5 has severe illness which is life threatening. Stage 5 is known to be an established chronic kidney disease with specific signs and symptoms. Last stage of this disease is chronic kidney failure or chronic renal failure.
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Diseases
When CKD is in its first stage, it is without specific symptoms but there is and can increase in serum creatinine and protein in the urine. Other symptoms include:
· Rise in blood pressure due to fluid overload as well as production of vasoactive hormones formed by the kidney.
· There is also a risk of developing hypertension or distress of congestive heart failure.
· Accumulation of urea results in azotemia or uremia in which urea is excreted by sweating followed by crystallization on the skin.
· Accumulation of potassium in the blood is also important symptom of these diseases.
· Decreased rate of erythropoietin synthesis is detected as a symptom which leads to anemia causing fatigue.
· Fluid volume overload
· Hyperphosphatemia due to reduced phosphate excretion
· Metabolic acidosis is also known to be an important symptom of chronic kidney diseases.
· People with chronic kidney disease sometimes suffer from atherosclerosis followed by developing cardiovascular disease.
Causes of Chronic Kidney Diseases
- The well known cause of CKD is known to be diabetes mellitus, glomerulonephritis, and hypertension.
- Diseases such as bilateral renal artery stenosis and ischemic nephropathy or hemolytic-uremic syndrome can also cause CKD
- Obstructive such as kidney stones and diseases of the prostate can also lead to CKD
- Pin worms infection is known to be a very rare cause of CKD
Treatment of Chronic Kidney Diseases
· The principle of this treatment is to slow down or in some cases halt the progress of CKD towards stage 5.
· Maintaining the blood pressure and treatment of original disease can avoid the development of CKD.
· In some cases, use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are used
· Replacement technique of erythropoietin and calcitriol is also used as a treatment of CKD
· If one reaches the stage 5 of CKD, renal replacement therapy is used as a treatment
In this way, we can conclude that it is very important to control chronic kidney diseases, so as to avoid its life threatening effects.
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
Advice Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote