A healthy kidney function is pivotal for maintaining good health. Every thirty minutes, they filter the blood and remove excess fluids, poisons, and waste from the body. Kidneys also produce vital hormones and control blood pressure. Every one in seven adults in the country suffers from kidney disease, which impairs kidney function. Consequently, excess waste and fluid accumulate in the body. It might cause several health problems like stroke and heart disease. Read on to know more.

Causes
Acute kidney disease
If the kidney suddenly stops functioning, the doctors refer to it as acute renal failure or kidney injury. Its primary causes are:
Urine backing up in the kidneys
Not enough blood flow to the kidneys
Direct kidney damage

These things may happen when:
A woman experiences pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and eclampsia.
One undergoes a traumatic injury involving blood loss, like a car accident.
A person inhales toxins that cause damage to the kidney.
One has kidney stones or an enlarged prostate that hinders urine flow.
One gets into shock because of sepsis.
Muscle tissue breaks down, or one is severely dehydrated, which sends excessive kidney-toxic protein into the bloodstream.
One has an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body.
One experiences liver or heart failure.

Chronic kidney disease
If the kidneys do not work well for over three months, it is called chronic kidney disease. It might not show any signs in the early stages, but that is also when it is the easiest to cure.

Some prevalent causes include:
High blood pressure
Type 1 and 2 diabetes
Lupus or other immune system diseases
Long-lasting viral illnesses like hepatitis C, hepatitis B, AIDS, and HIV
Polycystic kidney disease or a genetic condition where fluid-filled sacs develop in the kidney.
Inflammation in the kidney filters usually from a strep infection
A urinary tract infection within the kidneys results in scarring when the infection heals.
Congenital disabilities that block the urinary tract
Lead-poisoning
NSAIDs

Risk factors
Anyone can get chronic kidney disease, but people with heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes are more susceptible to it. Also, people over sixty years of age or those with a close family member with kidney disease are at an increased risk of developing it.

Symptoms
Here are some signs associated with kidney disease:
Change in urination: The urine of a person with kidney disease may look bubbly or foamy. One might urinate less or more often. The urine might look paler or darker than usual. One may also find blood in the urine, or a person may experience trouble urinating.

Swelling : If one’s kidneys do not function well, it is hard for the excess fluid to be eliminated from the body. It builds up and results in swelling in the feet, face, ankles, hands, and legs.

Ammonia breath or metallic taste: When the waste builds up in the blood, it is known as uremia. It makes the food taste different and results in bad breath.

Skin itching or rashes: If the kidney cannot eliminate waste from the body, it builds up in the blood, causing itching.

Fatigue: Kidneys release a hormone called erythropoietin, which stimulates the body to produce red blood cells that carry oxygen in the body. In people with damaged kidneys, the body yields less EPO. Consequently, there are fewer RBCs to transport oxygen. It results in anemia and makes one feel tired all the time.

Vomiting and nausea: Uremia can result in vomiting and nausea.

Feeling cold: Anemia makes the body feel cold even in a dark room.

Breathlessness: Extra fluid in the body builds up in the lungs. This build-up, when combined with anemia, results in breathlessness.

Trouble concentrating: In anemia, adequate oxygen does not reach the brain. It might result in memory problems, dizziness, and concentration issues.

Diagnosis
First, the doctor will ask questions about one’s family medical history to diagnose kidney disease. They will also inquire about any ongoing treatment and if there is any change in one’s urine schedule or color. Following this, one will undergo a physical examination.

In addition, one may also undergo the following:
Urine tests to examine signs of kidney failure
Blood tests to check the waste product in the blood
A kidney biopsy, wherein the small tissue from the kidney is sent to a lab for examination to assess the cause of kidney issues.
Imaging tests like ultrasounds

Treatments
Kidney disease can sometimes be treated. These treatments aim to decrease problems, ease symptoms, and prevent the condition from worsening. Treatment may occasionally assist in restoring a portion of the kidney function. However, chronic kidney disease is incurable. Once the kidneys cannot take care of the waste on their own, one will have to take treatment for end-stage kidney disease. This includes:

Dialysis : Waste and extra fluid is taken out of one’s body when the kidneys become dysfunctional.

Kidney transplant: A dysfunctional kidney is surgically replaced with a healthy kidney from a donor.

The doctor adopts measures to improve the underlying concern. In addition, these methods also help manage and prevent complications from kidney diseases:
Anemia
Fluid overload
Brittle bones
Congestive heart failure
Electrolyte imbalance

In addition, keeping diabetes and hypertension in check can also slow the progression of kidney disease. Other treatment options for ESRD and CKD include:
Changes in the nutritional regime
For a person with kidney disease, it is advisable to lower daily protein, potassium, salt, and fat intake. To prevent fluid overload and regulate blood pressure, one might cut back on their salt and fluid intake. To retain optimum health, one must, nevertheless, make sure they get the necessary amount of calories. Diabetes patients must also limit their carbohydrate intake.

Lifestyle changes
Some things one can do to monitor kidney disease and manage symptoms are:
Exercise regularly to stay active and maintain good health.
One can also take supplements like vitamin D and calcium supplements, vitamin and iron supplements for managing anemia, phosphate binders, stool softeners to relieve constipation, antihistamines for itching, and erythropoietin injections for RBC production.