Kidney disease can often go undetected in its early stages and lead to much more severe outcomes later on. However, with the right knowledge and treatment plan, the risks can be reduced significantly. Discover the treatment options provided by our expert urologists for kidney disease at American Hospital Dubai.
Our kidneys are the organs that regulate blood pressure and fluid balance. Kidneys are made of filters that work continuously to keep our homeostasis within the normal range in a very elegant way. Kidneys diseases affect all our organs and usually manifest with hypertension, fluid retention, urine abnormalities, and electrolytes imbalance.
• Chronic kidney disease (weak kidneys )
• Diabetic kidney disease
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Kidney stones
• Cystic kidney disease
• Edema (fluid retention)
• Blood in the urine
• Protein in the urine
• Autoimmune diseases of the kidney including lupus kidney disease
There can be a number of reasons for kidney disease and usually, health experts begin treatment by controlling the problem that’s causing it. However, this still does not prevent kidney damage from progressing but may slow it down. If left untreated, chronic kidney disease can often lead to kidney failure which is only preventable through dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Kidney damage can progress slowly so patients may not notice the early symptoms or mistake them for something else. Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the disease and can be as follows:
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Urinating more or less
• Decreased mental sharpness
• Muscle cramps
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Dry, itchy skin
• Hypertension that's difficult to control
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
Since symptoms of kidney disease can be nonspecific, other illnesses might be the reason behind it. Since kidneys can make up for function that is lost, symptoms might not develop until there is irreversible damage.
Early detection of kidney disease can prevent it to progress into kidney failure which is why it is important to see a doctor as soon as you notice any concerning symptoms. In case you have a preexisting medical condition that could cause kidney disease, your doctor may monitor your kidney function and blood pressure through urine and blood samples. The diseases that can cause kidney dysfunction can include:
• Diabetes
• High Blood pressure
• Glomerulonephritis), inflammation of the kidney's filtering units
• Interstitial nephritis
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract
• Vesicoureteral reflux
• Recurrent kidney infection
In order to deduce the correct diagnosis, your doctor will likely discuss your medical history. A physical exam may be performed to check for any signs of problems with the heart or blood as well. A neurological exam may also be taken. Your doctor may recommend a series of tests and procedures in order to determine the severity of your kidney disease. The diagnostic tests can include:
• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Imagine tests
• Kidney tissue sample
Depending on what is causing the condition, certain types of kidney diseases can be treated, however, they often it is incurable. This is why treatment options usually include controlling the symptoms, slowing down the progression of the disease and reducing complications. In case your kidneys have become severely damaged, you may need treatment for end-stage kidney disease.
Treatment options for patients can vary depending on the cause of the kidney disease, however, kidney disease can continue to progress and worsen even if underlying conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, have been controlled. Doctors may prescribe medications to control certain symptoms such as high blood pressure, relieve swelling, anemia, and high cholesterol levels.
For end-stage kidney disease, the two options that doctors recommend are dialysis and kidney transplant. Dialysis can artificially remove the excess waste and fluid in your body when your kidneys are unable to properly perform the function. Dialysis can be of two types, hemodialysis, which uses a machine to filter out waste from your blood, and peritoneal dialysis.
For patients that may not want to opt for dialysis and kidney transplant, another option for them is to use conservative measures such as symptom management and palliative care to help manage their condition.
If you would like to book an appointment with one of our expert nephrologists regarding kidney disease or other related illnesses, you can easily book an appointment through the online secure form given on our website.
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