What You Need To Know About Kidney Failure

What You Need To Know About Kidney Failure by jmoore(m): 2:31pm
What Is Kidney Failure?

Kidney failure occurs when your kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from your blood sufficiently. Your body becomes overloaded with toxins if your kidneys can’t do their regular job. This can lead to kidney failure and even be life-threatening if it’s left untreated.


What Causes Kidney Failure?

People who are most at risk for kidney failure usually suffer from one or more of the following causes:
Loss of Blood Flow to the Kidneys

A sudden loss of blood flow to your kidneys can prompt kidney failure. Some diseases and conditions that cause loss of blood flow to the kidneys include:


a heart attack
heart disease
scarring of the liver or liver failure
dehydration
a severe burn
an allergic reaction
a severe infection, such as sepsis

Blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medications can also limit blood flow.

Urine Elimination Problems

When your body can’t eliminate urine, toxins build up and overload the kidneys. Some cancers can block the urine passageways. These include prostate (most common type in men), colon, cervical, and bladder cancers. Other conditions can interfere with urination and possibly lead to kidney failure, including:

kidney stones
an enlarged prostate
blood clots within your urinary tract
damage to the nerves that control your bladder

Other Causes

Some diseases and conditions may lead to kidney failure, including:

a blood clot in or around your kidneys
infection
an overload of toxins from heavy metals
drugs and alcohol
vasculitis, which is an inflammation of blood vessels
lupus, which is an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation of many body organs
glomerulonephritis, which is an inflammation of the small blood vessels of the kidneys
hemolytic uremic syndrome, which involves the breakdown red blood cells following a bacterial infection, usually of the intestines
multiple myeloma, which is a cancer of the plasma cells in your bone marrow
scleroderma, which is an autoimmune disease that affects your skin
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which is a disorder that causes blood clots in small vessels
chemotherapy drugs, which are medications that treat cancer and some autoimmune diseases
dyes used in some imaging tests
certain antibiotics


What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Failure?

Many different symptoms can be signs of kidney failure. No symptoms are present sometimes, but usually someone with kidney failure will see a few signs of the disease. Possible symptoms include:

a reduced amount of urine
swelling of your legs, ankles, and feet from retention of fluids caused by the failure of your kidneys to eliminate water waste
unexplained shortness of breath
excessive drowsiness or fatigue
persistent nausea
confusion
pain or pressure in your chest
seizures
a coma

Source>> http://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-failure