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What are the significant causes of kidney disease? Did you know about 10% of the population suffers from kidney disease? The disease occurs in stages, and when left untreated, it leads to kidney failure.
Kidney disease also puts you at risk of other life-threatening conditions such as stroke and heart attack. Devaraj Munikrishnappa, M.D. at Houston Kidney Specialists Center, specializes in providing ultimate care in diagnosing and treating kidney disease. If you have kidney disease, contact their offices today or book online for your consultation.
What is kidney disease?
Kidney disease is the chronic damage of your kidneys leading to their malfunction. Kidneys sift waste products from your blood and extract them through urine.
Acute kidney disease involves the sudden stop of kidney functioning. Usually, you can use treatment to restore your kidney function.
Chronic kidney disease lasts for three months or longer. Usually, it develops very slowly and might not show any signs or symptoms. Treatment for chronic kidney disease may last for life, usually to reduce your symptoms and complications.
What are the signs and symptoms of kidney disease?
The symptoms of kidney disease take a while before showing up. They start to show as the kidney damage worsens. They may include:
- High blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low appetite
- Sleep changes
- Weakness and fatigue
- Muscle cramps or twitches
- Urination changes
- Foot and ankle swelling
As the kidney damage worsens, the fluid builds up in various body parts, including the heart and lungs, and may cause chest pains and shortness of breath.
What are the causes of kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease develops when an existing illness or health condition compromises your kidney function. The following diseases and conditions cause chronic kidney disease.
- Diabetes
- Recurrent kidney infection
- High blood pressure
- Prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Vesicoureteral reflux
- Inflammation of the kidney’s tubules
- Inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units
The factors that may increase your risk of kidney disease include:
- Smoking
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Family history of kidney disease
- Older age
- Abnormal kidney structure
- Frequent use of medications harmful to your kidneys
- Being black or Native American
What are the available treatments for kidney disease?
Your treatment at Houston Kidney Specialists Center starts with diagnostic tests to determine the severity of your kidney disease. Then they design a personalized treatment plan that may include:
Dietary changes
Low protein diets may reduce the waste amount in your blood, relieving pressure on your kidneys and enhancing their function.
Medication
Your provider may prescribe some medications to control and manage your symptoms. They may include blood pressure, anti-inflammatory, and high cholesterol medications.
Dialysis
It is a long-term treatment for severe kidney disease. It involves a machine performing blood filtration instead of your kidneys.
Kidney transplant surgery
It involves a healthy kidney transplant from a donor to enhance your body’s waste filtration. After a transplant, you are required to take medications for life to prevent your body from rejecting your new kidney.
Contact a kidney specialist today
Call Houston Kidney Specialists Center today or book your appointment online for effective kidney disease treatment and management.