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Kidney failure affects thousands
of people in the United States
each year.
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Your kidneys play an important role in
maintaining your health. The kidneys:
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Filter waste from your blood |
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Remove extra fluid from your blood |
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Produce hormones to keep your bones
strong |
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Help produce Red Blood Cells |
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Causes of Kidney Failure
The kidneys' ability to perform effectively can be disrupted by
high blood pressure, kidney disease, other diseases that affect
the kidneys (such as diabetes and lupus), infection or blockage
of the urinary system, and some medicines. In some cases,
there may be a blockage in arteries leading to the kidneys.
Signs/Symptoms of Kidney Failure
| Urinating less frequently |
| Tiredness |
| Shortness of Breath |
| Loss of appetite |
| Confusion |
| Dry, itchy skin |
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| Nausea |
| Vomiting |
| Irritable |
| Bad taste in mouth |
| Headache |
| Muscle aches |
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Your physician can test your blood and urine to determine how
well
your kidney's are working.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
When your kidneys are no longer functioning
effectively you will
need treatments to replace the work that your kidneys
did. There
are basically three choices of treatment:
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Hemodialysis |
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Peritoneal Dialysis |
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Kidney Transplant |
No matter which treatment you choose,
with a few life style changes, you can lead a full active life.
Risks
Left untreated, chronic renal failure can get worse and lead to
death. If
you suspect this problem, check with your doctor
immediately.
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