Kidney Diseases

Healthy kidneys are essential for a healthy life as the organ is responsible for filtering the blood of waste products. You have two kidneys, both of the size of a fist. These are situated on either side of the spine right beneath the rib cage. Each kidney is made of a million tiny structures called nephrons, which are responsible for filtering the blood. The filtered blood goes back to the bloodstream. From the kidneys, the excess water passes through tube-like structures called ureters, before reaching the bladder, where they are stored for urination. Your bladder has nerves that tell the brain that it is full. You pass out urine through a pipe-like structure called the urethra.

In most kidney diseases, the nephrons are damaged, which renders the kidneys useless in filtering the blood. Several factors can put you at risk of getting kidney disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and if someone in your family suffers from kidney-related ailment(s). There are several diseases and conditions the kidneys can get affected from:

• Infection
• Stone
• Cyst
• Chronic kidney disease
• Cancer 

In case your kidney fails, you either need dialysis, in which your blood gets purified by a machine, or you need a kidney transplant.

Kidney Diseases

As we saw there are a number of kidney diseases. Let us look at them one by one.

Infection

As we saw that the urinary system is made up of two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. When there is a bacterial infection in any part of this system, it is called urinary tract infection (UTI). If you are a diabetic, have a spinal cord injury, or empty your bladder through a tube, then you are at a greater risk of getting UTI. Although it affects both genders, women are four times more likely than men to suffer from it. 

Stones

Yet another common kidney problem is kidney stones. As you know that kidneys filter blood, but sometimes minerals and other substances in the blood crystalises to form kidney stones, whose size varies from a grain of sand to a pearl. In most cases, they are small enough that they get passed out through urine. But in the case of a large kidney stone, it can get stuck anywhere in the urinary tract, hence need surgery for removal.

Cysts

Cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs, can grow on kidneys, and these are generally harmless. However, there are certain diseases that can lead to the formation of cysts, which can pose complications. One such disease is polycystic kidney disease (PKD). A genetic disorder, PKD causes numerous cysts to form on the kidneys, which interferes with the normal functioning of the organ, and can even lead to kidney failure. It can also affect other organs, such as the liver. 

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is a long-term kidney ailment that doesn’t improve with time. In this case, kidneys fail, and they can no longer filter the blood, because of which waste builds up in the body. High blood pressure and diabetes are the main reasons behind it.

Cancer

Kidney cancer results from tumour forming in the lining of small tubes inside the kidneys. Factors that can increase your risk of developing kidney cancer are smoking, if someone in your family has kidney disease, or you have been misusing pain medication for a long.

Symptoms For Kidney Diseases

Although every kidney disease displays different signs, here are some common symptoms that indicate a kidney ailment:

• Frequent urination
• Blood in the urine
• Foamy urine
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Lack of concentration
• Trouble sleeping
• Dry and itchy skin
• Swollen ankles and feet
• Muscle cramps

Now let us look at the symptoms of individual diseases one by one.

Urinary Tract Infection:

• Frequent urination
• Pain or a burning sensation while urinating
• Urine that looks cloudy
• Pain in the back, and or in the sides
• Fever
• Fatigue

Kidney Stones:

• Pain in the back or sides that just won’t go away
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Urine appears cloudy
• Fever
• Chills
• Vomitting

Cysts

• Pain in the back or sides that just won’t go away
• Blood in the urine

Chronic Kidney Disease:

• Infrequent urination
• Swollen ankles and feet
• Muscle cramps
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Sleeping problems
• Dry and itchy skin

Kidney Cancer:

• Pain in the back or sides that just won’t go away
• Blood in the urine
• Lump in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Risk Factors

There are some factors that can increase your risk of getting a kidney disease:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Age
• If your family member suffers from kidney disease

Treatment

The treatment for a kidney disease depends on the cause. For example, if high blood pressure is the reason for the disease, then the doctor might prescribe you a treatment to control that. Here are the treatment options:

• Medication: To control the underlying cause, your doctor might prescribe you some drugs.
• Lifestyle: A proper lifestyle is as important as taking medicines. So, have a balanced diet, work out, quit smoking, and limit your alcohol intake.
• In case of kidney failure, there are two treatment options: dialysis and kidney transplant.

Foods For Kidneys

As you saw that if you are suffering from kidney disease, having a balanced diet is crucial for you. There are some foods that are good for the kidneys that you can incorporate into your diet:

• Garlic
• Onion
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Radish
• Grapes
• Pineapple
• Egg whites
• Buckwheat
• Olive oil

How To Prevent Kidney Diseases?

Kidneys are vital for our survival. They are the body’s drainage system that flushes out wastes and excess water. Without their normal functioning, toxins build up in the body. Hence, preventing kidney diseases, and keeping the organ healthy is very important. Here are some tips that might help:

• Have a balanced diet
• Exercise
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Limit salt intake
• Control diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol
• Quit smoking
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Do not misuse pain medication
• Stay hydrated
• Manage stress
• Get enough sleep

Making these lifestyle changes will protect you from developing kidney diseases. They’ll also keep your kidneys healthy.

https://medlineplus.gov/kidneydiseases.html

https://medlineplus.gov/chronickidneydisease.html

https://www.kidney.org/news/ekidney/august14/10_Signs_You_May_Have_Kidney_Disease

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease