Kidney Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

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Kidney Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Definition

Kidneys are organs that function to clean the bloodstream by working as filters to remove water and waste products from the body. Kidney disease is a condition when the filter doesn’t work properly.

Kidney disease generally affects both kidneys and can also affect other organs of the body, such as the heart. When the number of damaged filters increases, the body will store excess water content and waste products of the body’s metabolism.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms that arise in kidney disease depend on the type of kidney disease that occurs and the degree of severity. Some of the signs and symptoms that can be observed are:

  • High blood pressure
  • Changes in the amount of urine and frequency of urination
  • Changes in the appearance of urine, such as foamy urine
  • There is blood in the urine
  • Swelling in the feet, ankles, or around the eyes
  • Pain in the lower back
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Decreased appetite
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Headache
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Hard to breathe
  • Nausea and vomiting

Reason

In general,  kidney disease is divided into two broad categories, namely acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease.

Acute kidney disease is a condition where there is sudden damage to the kidneys. In some people, this condition can occur temporarily. In others, this condition can persist and turn into long-term kidney disease.

The main causes of acute kidney disease are:

  • Damage to kidney tissue due to medication, severe infection, or radioactive dyes.
  • Obstruction or blockage that prevents the flow of urine out of the body. For example due to kidney stones or an enlarged prostate.

What is more common is kidney damage that gets worse over time, which is known as chronic kidney disease. Occasionally, this condition can develop into end-stage kidney disease. In this condition, the body requires hemodialysis (dialysis) or a kidney transplant to maintain survival.

There are several causes of chronic kidney disease, the most common are:

  • Damage to the blood vessels of the kidneys due to high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • Damage to kidney tissue due to disease or the immune system.
  • There is a cyst on the kidney.
  • Tissue damage due to backflow of urine to the kidneys.
  • Congenital abnormalities of the kidneys or urinary tract.

The risk of developing kidney disease increases in individuals who:

Diagnosis

Kidney disease is generally diagnosed based on collecting detailed medical information from the patient, direct physical examination, and certain investigations.

Several types of supporting examinations that can be carried out are:

  • Glomerular filtration rate / glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This examination is one of the common blood tests performed to check for chronic kidney disease. This examination is performed to assess the filtering function of the kidneys.
  • Creatinine levels in blood and urine. Creatinine is a waste product from the blood that is excreted through the kidneys.
  • Urine albumin test. Albumin is a protein that comes out through the urine when there is kidney damage.
  • Imaging examination. Imaging tests such as ultrasonography (USG) can provide an overview of the condition of the kidneys. This examination can show the size and shape of the kidneys, and see any abnormalities.
  • Kidney biopsy. This procedure involves removing small tissue from the kidney for further evaluation under a microscope. This examination can help determine the cause of chronic kidney disease and the degree of severity.

Treatment

Treatment of kidney disease depends on the degree of severity and the cause of the kidney disease that occurs.

In the early stages of kidney disease, treatment is aimed at slowing the progression of kidney disease and reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Doctors can also prescribe some medications to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body.

In the middle stages of kidney disease, complications such as bone disease and anemia can be observed. Treatment at this stage is also aimed at slowing the severity of kidney disease, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, and preventing and treating complications of chronic kidney disease. Treatment at this stage is similar to that at the initial stage.

In the advanced stages of kidney disease, kidney function is usually very low, requiring a kidney transplant and hemodialysis or dialysis.

Prevention

To prevent kidney disease, several things you can do are:

  • Keeping blood pressure under control in individuals with hypertension.
  • Keeping blood sugar under control in individuals with diabetes.
  • Avoid dehydration.
  • Avoid taking medications that can damage the kidneys.

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