Kidney Renal Failure - Symptoms, Treatment and Diet

Your kidneys are very important, as they help remove waste from the body, regulate fluid levels, regulate electrolyte balance, and keep your blood pressure under control. The good thing about having two kidneys is if renal failure occurs, you have another one.

Kidney failure can happen in a variety of ways -- from reducing its function to stopping it from functioning at all. You may have reduced function (renal insufficiency) if your kidney lobe flattens, lowering the number of nephrons that filter your blood. There are a variety of causes for renal failure including constriction of blood vessels, hypertension, or necrosis, which is when kidney cells die. Another cause may be autoimmune disease which can impair your kidney function.

There are a variety of symptoms of renal failure. About 70% of people with renal failure have oliguria, or decreased urine output. There may also have swelling in the legs or feet, as well as exhaustion and loss of appetite. Other symptoms include bruising easily and bleeding more than normal. Seizures and comas are severe symptoms.

To diagnose renal failure, a doctor will first do a physical exam where he will make sure the heart and lungs are functioning properly. A urinalysis and blood tests follow. Urine will be checked for blood, creatinine levels, and potassium levels. A blood urea nitrogen test (BUN) test, an ultrasound, and an MRI will also be done.

While renal failure is nothing to take lightly, there are treatments. You will have to do start monitoring your fluid intake. You may need diuretics to get rid of excess fluid. You also have to monitor your electrolytes and potassium levels, as well as your blood pressure.

For more severe renal failure, you may need calcium treatments to control your potassium levels. If diabetes is the cause of your renal failure, you will have to monitor your glucose and insulin levels carefully.

The most severe form of renal failure is chronic renal failure or end-stage kidney disease,s which can be fatal. Usually, a kidney problem happens because of an injury, surgery, or an infection. The treatment for kidney failure an include different types of dialysis, a kidney transplant, or an artificial kidney.

If you treat your kidney failure right away and monitor your health, you may be all right. Your prognosis will depend on what caused your kidney failure. In some cases, you can start to feel better shortly after starting treatment, as soon as a few weeks into treatment. You may have your kidneys back functioning in a few months.