Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease (also known as Chronic Renal Failure) describes the gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.
It is the progressive loss of kidney function occurring over a span of several months to several years and is characterised by the replacement of kidney architecture with nonfunctional fibrotic shrunken tissue. Chronic kidney disease is classified into five stages depending on Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and proteinuria (loss of protein in urine) with stage 1 being the mildest wibth no distinct symptoms and 5 being end stage renal failure.
Causes and Risk Factors of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia (excess fat proteins in the blood)
- Hypertension
- Family history of inheritable renal diseases
- Older age
- smoking
- Autoimmune diseases
- Past episodes of acute renal failure
- Kidney Stones
- Excessive self-medication especially pain killers
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and weakness
- Sleep problems
- Changes in how much you urinate
- Decreased mental sharpness
- Muscle twitches and cramps
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Persistent itching
- Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart
- Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs
- High blood pressure (hypertension) that's difficult to control
Diet that you must maintain in Chronic Kidney Disease-
It is essential to make dietary as well as lifestyle changes once you are diagnosed with CKD. The main purpose of this diet is to maintain the levels of carbohydrates, fluids and minerals. This is done to prevent the buildup of waste products in the body as the kidneys are unable to fulfil its function properly.