Causes of Chronic Kidney Diseases
Chronic kidney diseases are often caused by permanent dysfunction of the kidney. This comes about over a certain span of time, normally months to a couple of years. Chronic kidney diseases are categorized in five stages of severity with stage five being the most critical stage. Stage five chronic kidney diseases mean total loss of kidney function that requires patients to undergo dialysis or kidney transplant to stay alive.
The difference between kidney failure and chronic kidney diseases is that kidney failure only happens when partial or complete functions of the kidney are not being carried out. This is very dangerous because the kidney’s function is to remove water, waste and toxic substances from the body. If the kidney is not functioning properly, toxic substances will build up inside the system and eventually poison the body. Chronic kidney diseases cause other sicknesses like high blood pressure (hypertension), anemia and bone diseases by weakening the production of hormones done by the kidney.
Not like chronic kidney diseases, acute kidney failure happens rapidly. It develops usually within days or weeks. Acute kidney failure generally develops as a reaction to any kidney related disorder that heavily affects its blood supply or the flow of urine. Acute kidney failure does not really cause permanent damages to the kidney. With immediate and proper treatment, the condition can be reversed with a total recovery. However, in some cases acute kidney failure lead to various chronic kidney diseases.
Chronic kidney diseases should be taken seriously due to its complications. A chronic kidney disease can be caused by a main problem in the kidney or from a disease in other parts of the body that is preventing the kidney from functioning properly. Statistics show that one out of nine adults is suffering from kidney failure and approximately 67,000 people die with the disease every year. Also, about 400,000 people in the United States are in the end-stages of chronic kidney disease.
The following are causes of chronic kidney diseases:
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
If hypertension is not treated immediately and properly, it may damage the kidneys rapidly.
• Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
These can lead to diabetic nephropathy that is considered the leading cause of kidney diseases in the United States.
• Improper use of analgesics and other medicines
Over use of analgesics like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can cause analgesic nephropathy, also a cause of different kidney diseases. Other medicines can damage the kidney that may eventually lead to kidney failure.
Chronic kidney diseases and kidney failure can be prevented if you have proper knowledge about it. If in case you have any of the following conditions above, you should have your kidneys regularly monitored by a specialist. It is best that you consult your doctor immediately.
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