What Is Kidney Disease?
We’re born with two kidneys. They’re on either side of our spine, just above our waist.
Healthy kidneys play following powerful functions daily
remove waste products from the body
remove drugs from the body
balance the body’s fluids
Make renin which your body uses to help manage your blood pressure
produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
Make a chemical called erythropoietin, which prompts your body to make red blood cells
When your kidneys are damaged, it can affect your body’s ability to clean your blood, filter extra water out of your blood, and help control your blood pressure. That can cause swelling in your ankles, vomiting, weakness, poor sleep, and shortness of breath. Without treatment, the damage can get worse, and your kidneys may eventually stop working. That’s serious, and it can be life-threatening.
Chronic Kidney Disease
If your kidneys don’t work well for longer than 3 months, doctors call it chronic kidney disease. You may not have any symptoms in the early stages, when it’s simpler to treat
Diabetes (types 1 and 2) and high blood pressure are the most common causes. In diabetes, blood sugar levels that are too high over time can harm your kidneys. And if you have high blood pressure, your kidneys may not work well because the high blood pressure creates wear and tear on your blood vessels, including those that go to your kidneys.
Other causes include:
Immune system diseases, such as lupus. If you have kidney disease due to lupus, your doctor will call it lupus nephritis.)
Long-lasting viral illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Pyelonephritis, a urinary tract infections within the kidneys. This can lead to scarring as the infection heals. If it happens several times, it can lead to kidney damage.
Inflammation in the tiny filters (glomeruli) within your kidneys. This can happen after a strep infection.
Polycystic kidney disease, in which fluid-filled cysts form in your kidneys. It’s genetic.
Defects present at birth that block the urinary tract or affect the kidneys. One of the most common ones involves a kind of valve between the bladder and urethra. A urologist can often do surgery to repair these problems, which may be found while the baby is still in the womb.
Drugs and toxins. Lead poisoning, long-term use of some medications such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and naproxen, and IV “street” drugs can permanently damage your kidneys. So can being around some types of chemicals over time.
Acute Kidney Problems
If your kidneys suddenly stop working, doctors call it acute kidney injury or acute renal failure. The main causes are:
Not enough blood flow to the kidneys
Direct damage to the kidneys themselves
Urine backed up in the kidneys
Those things can happen when you:
Have a traumatic injury with blood loss, such as in a car wreck
Are dehydrated and your muscle tissue breaks down, sending too much protein into your bloodstream
Go into shock because you have a severe infection called sepsis
Have an enlarged prostate that blocks your urine flow
Take certain drugs or are around certain toxins
Have complications during a pregnancy, such as eclampsia and pre-eclampsia
Autoimmune diseases, in which your immune system attacks your body, can also cause an acute kidney injury.