Your kidneys filter wastes from your blood and regulate other functions of your body. When they are not working properly, your body cannot clean your blood and remove excess fluids, minerals and wastes. This, in turn, can also affect hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. When kidneys lose their filtering ability, harmful wastes build up, blood pressure rises and the body retains excess fluid, resulting in a condition known as kidney (renal) failure. Sometimes this happens suddenly (acute kidney failure), most likely after a complicated surgery or severe injury, when the blood vessels leading to the kidneys become blocked.
Chronic kidney failure, however, usually develops slowly with few signs or symptoms in the early stages. Many with this problem don’t even realize they have it until their kidney function has decreased to less than 25 percent of normal. High blood pressure and diabetes, a disorder that causes high blood sugar levels, are the most common causes. In fact, high blood pressure can damage kidneys and is the second leading cause of kidney failure. What’s more, your kidneys play a role in keeping your blood pressure at the right level.
If you experience chronic kidney failure, you will need to make some decisions regarding your treatment choices, including hemodialyis, peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation. Each choice has its pros and cons, but all require some changes in the way you live. Whatever you decide, your medical condition, lifestyle and preferences should be discussed with our specialists to determine the best treatment for you. With the help of our healthcare specialists, family and friends, you can continue to experience a full and active life.
Contact us if you would like to know more about kidney failure and how we can help with prevention and/or treatment.