The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs on both sides of the spinal cord in the lower back; it has about a million of the filtering units called nephrons which help the kidney in separating unwanted waste matter from the essential nutrients that need to be absorbed to help maintain required levels of essential proteins and minerals.
Tube-like structures called the ureters connect the kidneys to the urinary bladder, and once the bladder is full with the discarded waste, the bladder is emptied. So the kidneys are essential in maintaining the desired levels of oxygen, proteins and minerals and also in regulating blood pressure and hormone levels.
Chronic kidney disease or CKD is the slow loss of kidney function over time. Lets go through some of the symptoms and causes of CKD.
Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease
The symptoms of the Chronic Kidney Disease, can be varied and related to many other problems. So patients might be suffering from CKD for years without becoming aware of their problem. It is essential to be self-aware so that you realize when your body is trying to tell you something though, at extremes you could become a hypochondriac. Generally common symptoms for those with CKD include:
- Frequent urination, more at night time.
- The urine might be bubbly and the output might also be more, with paler urine.
- The urine might be foamy and the output might be lesser than normal with darker color output than normal.
- There might be blood present in the urine.
- There might be some difficulty in passing water and there might also be pressure felt even after urinating.
- A general feeling of tiredness, fatigue due to anaemia, resulting from reduced oxygen levels.
- Some serious itching might be felt by the patients as a result of the build up of waste matter in the blood stream as it is not fully evacuated by the kidney.
- Swelling in the extremities like the hands and feet, around the ankles, etc indicating water retention; puffiness around the eyes, particularly in the mornings.
- Loss of appetite and a foul, metallic taste in the mouth.
- Nausea and vomiting caused by the build up of waste material in the body.
- Shortness of breath experience even after normal everyday functions like climbing a staircase due to reduced oxygen levels.
Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease
Almost two-thirds of all cases diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease are due to hypertension or diabetes. Both diabetes and hypertension are dangerous developments which in turn have an adverse effect on many of the other vital organs.
- Increased levels of blood sugar in those suffering from diabetes affect the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nervous system and the eyes.
- Increased blood pressure can lead to heart attacks or strokes and chronic kidney disease.
- Glomerulonephritis is the third leading cause of chronic kidney disease as the filtering units in the kidney get affected and inflamed, affecting their normal functioning adversely.
- Genetically transmitted disorders and diseases like the polycystic kidney disease which results in the formation of large cyst-like structures in the kidneys, thereby damaging the surrounding healthy tissues.
- Congenital problems like deformed kidneys with narrow tubes and tracts which might affect the flow of waste water into the bladder, resulting in a backup of waste material and thereby causing inflammations or infections.
- Diseases that affect the body’s immune system like Lupus, etc.
- Other impediments like obstructions in the kidney due to tumours or kidney stones, etc.
- Frequent urinary tract infections.
Other factors that might make someone more likely to suffer from chronic kidney disease are a family history of either diabetes or hypertension; other members in the immediate family circle suffering from chronic kidney disease; are above 60 years of age and also belong to the ethnic groups like the Hispanic, Asians, African Americans and American Indians.
The ethnic groups demonstrate a higher propensity for diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure making them more likely to contract or develop chronic kidney disease.
The best way to live a healthy life is to be informed about the various common afflictions, their causes and their symptoms so that even if you cannot help but get sick, you would at least be able to identify the likely problem and consult a doctor immediately. Otherwise you might not even realize that you may be suffering from a serious illness and might leave it till too late to consult your doctor.
