How to Prevent Kidney Failure
There are many things that can cause kidney failure. A person who has certain diseases or has unhealthy habits has a high risk of kidney damage. Before it's too late, know what causes kidney failure and the risk factors, as well as how to prevent kidney failure.
Kidney failure is a kidney disease that is feared by many people. Kidney failure is a condition when the kidneys are damaged and cannot function properly. Kidney failure is usually the final stage of kidney disease, where the damage to the kidneys is severe or has lasted a long time.
Risk Factors of Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is generally divided into 3, namely direct damage to the kidneys, lack of blood supply to the kidneys, and blockages in the kidneys or urinary tract. While kidney failure based on the classification of the disease can be divided into 2, namely acute and chronic kidney failure.
The following is an explanation of acute and chronic kidney failure:
1. Causes of Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is severe kidney damage that has only occurred for a few days or hours. The conditions that can cause acute kidney failure are as follows:
- Reduced blood flow in the kidneys, for example due to severe dehydration, shock, and bleeding
- Kidneys are seriously injured
- Severe burns
- Certain diseases, such as kidney infection, glomerulonephritis, kidney stones, kidney cancer, heart disease, heart attack, and liver failure
- Complications of hypertension due to untreated severe hypertension
- Severe allergies or anaphylaxis
- Severe infections, such as sepsis
- Just had major surgery
Apart from being caused by some of these things, acute kidney failure can also be caused by medicine overdose, medicine interactions, side effects of certain medicines, such as chemotherapy, antibiotic medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines, lithium, herbal supplements and contrast agents used during radiological examinations, such as CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Accumulation of certain substances in the body, such as oxalic acid can sometimes also cause acute kidney failure.
Also read articles about: How to Treat Acute Kidney Failure
2. Causes of Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney failure is a condition when the kidneys are damaged in the long term, so that over time the kidneys will experience severe and permanent damage. A person can be declared to have chronic kidney failure if the damage to the kidneys he has suffered has been more than 3 months.
Some of the conditions that can cause chronic kidney failure include the following:
- Have kidney disease, such as polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, nephritic syndrome, recurrent kidney infections, and kidney stones
- Have a family history of kidney disease
- Have uncontrolled hypertension or have diabetes
- Having problems with the prostate
- Have an autoimmune disease, such as lupus
- Experiencing obesity
- Have a smoking habit
Also read articles about: How to Treat Chronic Kidney Failure
Kidney Failure Symptoms
As for some of the symptoms experienced by a person if experiencing acute or chronic kidney failure are as follows:
- Swelling occurs on the face and body
- Infrequent urination or no urination at all
- Hard to breathe
- Nausea and vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Tired and lack of energy
- Pale skin
- Often sleepy
- Difficult to concentrate
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness or coma
If you experience some of the symptoms above, especially if you have co-morbidities or factors that can cause kidney failure, then immediately check with your doctor.
It is hoped that with the examination carried out immediately, kidney damage can be treated as soon as possible. This is important to prevent more severe kidney damage, so as not to develop into end-stage renal failure.
In this phase, the kidneys are no longer functioning at all and to restore kidney function, the patient will require routine dialysis or kidney transplant surgery.
How to Prevent Kidney Failure Symptoms
Because kidney failure has a high chance of causing permanent kidney damage, kidney health needs to be maintained so that it is not damaged and is not exposed to various diseases that can cause kidney failure.
As for some of the efforts that can be done to prevent kidney failure are as follows:
- Implementing a healthy lifestyle, for example drinking enough water, exercising diligently, not smoking and avoiding cigarette smoke, and not drinking alcoholic beverages
- Eat foods that are healthy for the kidneys, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, healthy fats, and avoid foods that can cause kidney failure
- Avoid consuming medicines, health supplements, or herbal medicines in excess or without a doctor's recommendation
- Undergo regular health checks every year to monitor kidney conditions, especially for people with certain diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes
- For people with hypertension, diabetes, and other types of kidney disease, make sure to undergo treatment according to the doctor's recommendations
By knowing the factors that cause kidney failure, you are expected to be more alert and aware to practice how to prevent kidney failure by living a healthy lifestyle. If you have one or more risk factors for kidney failure, then immediately consult a doctor. Especially if you experience several symptoms that indicate that you may have kidney failure.
