Kidney or renal failure is when one or both of your kidneys completely stop their function – the ability to filter blood. It is a state in which the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) becomes 0, which means there is no remaining kidney function.
Renal failure, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of renal failure is crucial for timely medical intervention. Let’s talk about the types of renal failure,some ways to recognize renal failure so that you can get renal failure treatment promptly, and where you can go for effective renal failure treatment in Brockton & Taunton, MA.
Types of Renal Failure
Renal failure can be acute and chronic. Acute renal failure is when one or both of your kidneys lose their function within just a few hours or days. Acute renal failure is not always permanent; this means your kidneys can restore their normal function once the cause of the acute renal failure is addressed.
There can be three reasons for your kidneys to fail all of a sudden:
- There is a loss of blood flow to your kidneys because of infection, liver disease, dehydration, or heart disease.
- You have a condition like kidney stones, bladder, cervical, or prostate cancer, or blood clots in your urinary tract that are blocking urine from leaving your kidneys.
- Cholesterol deposits, certain medications, blood clots, autoimmune disease, and glomerulonephritis directly damage your kidneys.
Chronic kidney failure results from chronic kidney disease, a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time.
Ways to Recognize Signs of Kidney Failure
The following are some easy ways to recognize the signs of kidney failureearly.
#1 Learn Signs of Kidney Failure
Generally, acute kidney failure exhibits no symptoms, so most doctors discover it while doing lab tests for another reason. However, some people do experience the symptoms of acute kidney failure. These symptoms usually depend on the reason for your kidney failure and how bad and quickly your kidney is losing its function.
On the other hand, the symptoms of chronic renal failure develop gradually over time. Common signs of kidney failure that you should watch out for are:
- Changes in urination – Renal failure can lead to noticeable changes in urination patterns, such as decreased urine output, increased urination frequency, dark-colored urine, presence of blood in the urine, or foamyurine.
- Swelling in lower extremities – Fluid retention resulting from renal failure can lead to swelling in lower extremities such as legs, ankles, and feet.
- Shortness of breath–Since failed kidneys cannot eliminate excess fluid and waste from the body, the fluid builds up in the lungs and causes pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema can lead to shortness of breath even on minimal physical exertion.
- Fatigue– The kidney greatly removes harmful toxins from the body and maintains electrolyte balance. When kidneys fail, you constantly feel tired, weak, or lack energy due to toxin buildup in the body.
- Muscle cramps – The inability of kidneys to function properly can cause electrolyte imbalance,leading to muscle twitching and cramps, commonly in the legs.
- Joint pain and swelling – In certain cases, renal failure causes joint pain and swelling, known as renal arthritis. Gouty arthritis can also occur in kidney failure as loss of function of the kidneys causes uric acid to accumulate in the bloodstream. A high level of uric acid leads to the formation of urate crystals in the joints, resulting in intense pain and inflammation.
- Confusion or decreased mental shortness – The electrolyte imbalance resulting from kidney failure can impair cognitive functions, leading to difficulty concentrating, a general feeling of mental fogginess, and memory problems.
- Loss of appetite – The buildup of waste and toxins in the blood resulting from kidney failures can also lead to nausea, vomiting, and reduced appetite.
- Itching and rash -End-stage kidney disease or renal failure can also result in uremic pruritus, which is characterized by itchy skin and rash.
- High blood pressure – Our kidneys play a crucial role in regulating our blood pressure by balancing fluid and salt levels in the body. When they fail, the blood pressure rises, leading to hypertension.
- Seizures or commas – Excessive toxin and waste buildup in adrenal failure canresult in seizures or common.
If you have the aforementioned signs and symptoms of kidney failure, visit an experienced nephrologist immediately for renal failure treatment.
#2 Get Your Kidneys Tested
If you have diabetes, any health condition that increases the risk for kidney failure, or chronic kidney disease, it’s wise to get your kidneys tested regularly. One good way to check the function of your kidneys isregularly getting blood tests like glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and serum creatinine.
Having a GFR number less than 15 means that your kidneys are failing, and eGFR number 0 means that your kidneys have failed. Additionally, you should also regularly test your kidneys if you have any condition that may increase your risk for acute kidney failure.
Renal Failure Treatment in Brockton & Taunton, MA
Whether you are suffering from chronic kidney disease or have a condition that may increase your risk for acute renal failure, visit us here at Associates in Nephrology for a comprehensive evaluation and renal failure treatment.
Our team has a board-certified nephrologist with the specialized training and experience needed to diagnose and treat a full range of kidney diseases and related disorders. Our kidney specialist also offers dialysis or renal transplants for renal failure treatment.
To schedule a consultation, call us today at a location convenient to you or use our online appointment request form.
