316, Sakar 7 Near Nehrubridge Ashram road Ahmedabad
316, Sakar 7 Near Nehrubridge Ashram road Ahmedabad
The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. As kidneys fail, waste builds up. Symptoms develop slowly and aren't specific to the disease.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney disease. High blood sugar over time damages the small filtering units in the kidneys. This damage happens gradually, often without early symptoms, making regular monitoring very important.
Uncontrolled blood pressure can strain blood vessels in the kidneys. This reduces their ability to filter waste effectively. Over time, it can lead to permanent kidney damage if not managed properly.
These are conditions that directly affect the kidney’s filtering units (glomeruli). They can cause inflammation and reduce kidney function. Some may develop due to immune system problems or infections.
Frequent urinary or kidney infections can damage kidney tissues over time. If not treated properly, they may lead to long-term issues.
Blockages due to stones or other causes can disrupt normal urine flow. This can increase pressure inside the kidneys and cause damage.
Long-term use of certain painkillers or exposure to harmful substances can affect kidney health. Improper or excessive use increases the risk over time.
Some kidney diseases are genetic, meaning they run in families. These conditions can affect kidney structure or function.
Damaged kidneys cannot remove excess fluid effectively, leading to swelling in legs, feet, face, or even lungs. This can cause discomfort and may also lead to breathing difficulties in advanced cases.
Kidneys help maintain the balance of minerals like potassium and sodium. When this balance is disturbed, it can affect muscles and heart function. Severe imbalance can be dangerous and requires medical attention.
Kidney disease increases the risk of heart-related conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease. Both organs are closely connected, so worsening kidney function can affect heart health.
Reduced kidney function can lead to decreased production of red blood cells. This causes fatigue, weakness, and low energy levels. It is a common complication in chronic kidney disease.
Kidneys play a role in maintaining calcium and vitamin balance. When affected, bones may become weak and more prone to fractures.
Waste products can accumulate in the body when kidneys fail to filter properly. This can cause nausea, confusion, and loss of appetite.
Kidney disease can both cause and worsen high blood pressure, creating a cycle that further damages the kidneys.
In severe cases, kidneys may stop functioning completely. This may require dialysis or transplant for survival.
Creatinine is a waste product from the normal breakdown of muscles in your body. Your kidneys remove creatinine from your blood. Providers use the amount of creatinine in your blood to estimate your GFR. As kidney disease gets worse, the level of creatinine goes up.
Albumin is a protein found in your blood. A healthy kidney doesn’t let albumin pass into the urine. A damaged kidney lets some albumin pass into the urine. The less albumin in your urine, the better. Having albumin in the urine is called albuminuria.
A provider uses a urine sample to look for albumin in your urine. You collect the urine sample in a container in a health care provider’s office or lab. For the test, a provider places a strip of chemically treated paper, called a dipstick, into the urine. The dipstick changes color if albumin is present in the urine.
This test measures and compares the amount of albumin with the amount of creatinine in your urine sample. Providers use your UACR to estimate how much albumin would pass into your urine over 24 hours.
Your health care provider will use a blood test to check your kidney function. The results of the test mean the following: 1. a GFR of 60 or more is in the normal range. Ask your health care provider when your GFR should be checked again. 2. a GFR of less than 60 may mean you have kidney disease. Talk with your health care provider about how to keep your kidney health at this level. 3. a GFR of 15 or less is called kidney failure. Most people below this level need dialysis or a kidney transplant. Talk with your health care provider about your treatment options.
Diagnosis starts with understanding symptoms like swelling, fatigue, or changes in urination. Doctors also review medical history such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Ultrasound or scans may be used to check kidney size, structure, or blockages. This helps identify underlying structural problems.
In certain conditions, a small kidney tissue sample may be taken for detailed analysis. This helps identify specific kidney diseases.
Your doctor will work to slow or control the cause of your kidney disease. Treatment options vary depending on the cause. But kidney damage can continue to worsen even when an underlying condition, such as diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure, has been controlled.
If your kidneys can't keep up with waste and fluid clearance on their own and you develop complete or near-complete kidney failure, you have end-stage kidney disease. At that point, you need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Dialysis artificially removes waste products and extra fluid from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do this. In hemodialysis, a machine filters waste and excess fluids from your blood. In peritoneal dialysis, a thin tube inserted into your abdomen fills your abdominal cavity with a dialysis solution that absorbs waste and excess fluids. After a time, the dialysis solution drains from your body, carrying the waste with it.
A kidney transplant involves surgically placing a healthy kidney from a donor into your body. Transplanted kidneys can come from deceased or living donors. After a transplant, you'll need to take medications for the rest of your life to keep your body from rejecting the new organ. You don't need to be on dialysis to have a kidney transplant.
For some who choose not to have dialysis or a kidney transplant, a third option is to treat your kidney failure with conservative measures. Conservative measures likely will include symptom management, advance care planning and care to keep you comfortable (palliative care).
Antibiotics are medications that can kill bacteria or slow their growth. It’s important to take your entire course of antibiotics, even if you begin to feel better before completing it.
OTC medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve) can help reduce symptoms like pain and fever.
Managing fluid intake and electrolyte levels is important to avoid complications like swelling or imbalance. Doctors may guide specific intake based on your condition.
Ongoing follow-up with blood and urine tests helps track kidney function. Treatment may be adjusted based on results.
Drinking plenty of water can help flush bacteria from the body, helping eliminate the infection faster. It can also help clear out the entire urinary system. Drinking plenty of water can also help prevent UTIs that can lead to kidney infections, so it’s a good practice to keep. You should aim to drink at least eight glasses of fluids daily.
Cranberry juice has long been used as a remedy for UTIs and bladder infections. There’s some evidence that drinking cranberry juice may help or prevent UTIs in some people. Many people prefer the sweet flavor of cranberry juice to water. However, cranberry juices full of added sweeteners aren’t great for you. A cranberry supplement or pure cranberry juice is a better alternative to get the benefits of cranberries.
The kidneys’ most important role is to filter out harmful substances and toxins, and both alcohol and caffeine can require extra work from the kidneys. This may hinder the process of healing from an infection. Alcohol and antibiotics also shouldn’t be mixed, so avoid alcohol during your treatment for this reason as well.
Probiotics have two big benefits when it comes to treating kidney infections. The first is that they’ll help keep your body’s healthy bacteria in check, even though the antibiotics may get rid of both “good” and “bad” bacteria. There’s also evidenceTrusted Source that probiotics can aid in decreasing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in patients. You can find probiotics at your local grocery store, online, or through a subscription service, like Uqora.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect tissues in the body from oxidative stress, which can help promote kidney health. There’s also older animal-based research from 2003Trusted Source and 2011Trusted Source that shows that vitamin C can prevent kidney scarring during acute kidney infection and boost the enzymes within the kidneys.
Parsley juice is a nutrient-dense diuretic that can increaseTrusted Source the frequency and amount of urination. This can help flush out the bacteria in the kidneys faster, making antibiotics even more effective.
Apples are also nutrient-dense. Their high acid content may help the kidneys maintain acidity in the urine, possibly inhibiting the additional growth of bacteria. They also have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be beneficial in helping the kidneys heal following the infection.
Both Epsom salts and warm water can ease pain. This can help make the uncomfortable side effects of the kidney infection a little more tolerable while you wait for the antibiotics to take effect. Since abdominal pain is sometimes a symptom of antibiotics, as well as kidney infections, Epsom salts could also help even after symptoms from the kidney infection are resolved.
Nonaspirin pain relievers can help relieve discomfort. Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also help break fevers caused by the infection. However, note that if you have kidney dysfunction or acute kidney injury as a result of a kidney infection, it’s important to avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).
While you wait for the antibiotics to kick in, you can use heat therapy to reduce pain. Apply a heating pad or a hot water bottle to the affected area, and keep it on for about 20 minutes at a time.
Resting up as you recover can help your body fight off the infection.
For people with kidney disease who are not on dialysis, a diet lower in protein is recommended. Many studies suggest that limiting the amount of protein and including more plant-based foods in the diet may help slow the loss of kidney function.