Kidney Failure
By: Allyn Francis
Definition
The inability of the kidneys to excrete wastes and to help maintain the electrolyte balance.
Symptoms
- Little or no urine when you urinate.
- Swelling, especially in your legs and feet.
- Not feeling like eating.
- Pain in the back just below the rib cage. This is called flank pain.
Causes
- Damage from some medicines, poisons, or infections.
- A sudden, serious drop in blood flow to the kidneys.
- A sudden blockage that stops urine from flowing out of the kidneys.
Great Risk
- Older Adults
- You have kidney problem linked in your family history
- People with diabetes
Diagnosis
- Tests done for other problems may find your kidney failure
- If you're not in the hospital but have symptoms of kidney failure, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, what medicines you take, and what tests you have had
- You may also have an ultrasound
Treatment
Damage done by kidney disease is usually permanent. If it is caught in early stage though it can be treated very effectively and can be cured.
Statistics
- Diabetes causes 38.4% of all cases of kidney failure
- High blood pressure causes 25% of all cases of kidney failure
- Medicare spent $29 billion (6.7% of its total budget) on kidney failure
- African Americans with diabetes are 2.5 to 5.5 times more likely than whites to develop kidney disease
Prevention
- Know your family history
- Don't use illegal drugs and try to avoid overuse of perception drugs
- Keep control of your blood pressure
Citing
- "Kidney Failure (Acute Renal Failure) Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment." WebMD. WebMD, 03 Jan. 0000. Web. 26 Apr. 2013.
- "Kidney Disease: Early Detection and Treatment." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013.
- "Preventing Kidney Disease." Preventing Kidney Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013.