What Happens in End Stage Kidney Disease? gnetruh

End-stage renal disease ( end-stage renal disease or ESRD) or end-stage renal failure is the permanent final stage of chronic kidney disease, in which kidney function has decreased to the point that it is no longer able to function on its own.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease must receive dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive for more than a few weeks. Patients can also opt for conservative treatment to manage symptoms with the goal of the best quality of life for the remaining time.

  1. Causes and risk factors Kidney disease occurs when a disease or condition impairs kidney function, causing the kidney damage to worsen over months or years. For some people, kidney damage can continue even after the underlying condition has resolved, citing the Mayo Clinic .

Diseases and conditions that can cause kidney disease include:

Type 1 or type 2 diabetes . High blood pressure or hypertension . Glomerulonephritis . Interstitial nephritis. Polycystic kidney disease or other congenital kidney disease. Prolonged blockage of the urinary tract, from conditions such as an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and some cancers. Reflux vesicoureter . Recurrent kidney infection ( pyelonephritis ).

A number of factors can increase the risk of chronic kidney disease progressing more quickly to end-stage kidney disease. This includes:

Diabetes with poor blood sugar control. Kidney disease that affects the glomeruli, the structures in the kidneys that filter waste from the blood. Polycystic kidney disease. High blood pressure. Tobacco use. Black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, or American Indian. Family history of kidney failure. Older age. Frequent use of drugs that can damage the kidneys.

  1. Symptoms common symptoms of end-stage kidney disease can include:

Feeling generally unwell and tired. Itchy (pruritus) and dry skin. Headache. Unwanted weight loss. Loss of appetite. Nauseous.

Other symptoms that can occur include:

Abnormally dark or light skin. Changes in nails. Bone pain. Drowsiness or confusion. Difficulty thinking or concentrating. Numbness in the hands, feet or other areas of the body. Muscle twitching or cramps. Bad breath. Easy bruising, nosebleeds, or blood in the stool. Excessive thirst. Frequent hiccups. Problems with sexual function. Stopping of menstruation (amenorrhea). Sleep problems. Swelling in the hands and feet (oedema). Vomiting, often in the morning.

  1. Diagnosis Doctors can diagnose end-stage kidney disease with a physical exam and some tests to check kidney function.

These kidney function tests can include:

Urinalysis : Checking for protein and blood in the urine. These substances indicate that the kidneys are not processing waste properly. Serum creatinine test: Checks if creatinine is formed in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product that the kidneys must filter from the body. Blood urea nitrogen test: Checks how much nitrogen is in the blood. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR): This test allows doctors to estimate how well the kidneys are filtering waste.

  1. Treatment End-stage kidney disease may need to be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant. You may need to go on a special diet or take medication to help your body work properly, as reported by MedlinePlus .

Dialysis

Dialysis replaces the work of the kidneys when they stop working properly. Dialysis can:

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Daily News World Entertainment

Daily News World Entertainment

Daily News World Entertainment

Daily News World Entertainment

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Removes salt, water and extra waste products so they don't build up in the body. Maintain a safe level of minerals and vitamins in the body. Helps control blood pressure. Helps the body make red blood cells.

Dialysis options will be discussed with your doctor before you need them. Dialysis removes waste from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do their job.

Usually, you'll be on dialysis when your kidney function is only 10–15 percent remaining. People who are awaiting a kidney transplant may also need dialysis until the transplant is performed.

Two different methods are used to perform dialysis:

During hemodialysis, blood is passed through a tube into an artificial kidney, or filter. This method can be done at home or in a dialysis center. During peritoneal dialysis, a special solution is passed into the abdomen through a catheter tube. The solution remains in the stomach for a certain period of time and is then excreted. This method can be done at home, in a clinic or hospital, or while traveling.