Chronic Kidney Disease

Several different factors can hurt your kidney health. Whether it’s linked to a medication you regularly take, a chronic disease, or environmental pollutants these can eventually lead to another serious condition; kidney failure. This condition is due to your kidney’s inability to continue sufficiently filtering waste from your blood. Typically, kidney failure is one of the results of chronic kidney disease. Seeking treatment for CKD and kidney failure should never be postponed. If you or someone you know is suffering, visit a nephrologist in Great Neck at PRINE for help!

 

What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

Some people who have kidney failure experience very few symptoms. Some people don’t experience any. Some of the possible symptoms are:

• Reduced amount of urination
• Leg, ankle, and feet swelling from retention of fluids
• Shortness of breath
• Exhaustion
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Pain in chest
• Seizures
• Coma

Every patient experiences different symptoms, depending on their stage and the severity of their CKD.

 

Types of kidney failure

There are different ways that the kidney may stop functioning and there are different causes behind it. The different types of kidney failure include:

• Acute prerenal kidney failure– This is caused by insufficient blood flow to the kidneys. This can be cured once your nephrologist in Great Neck determines why there is a decrease in blood flow
• Acute intrinsic kidney failure– This can be caused by direct trauma to the kidneys, lack of oxygen to the kidneys, or from toxins.
• Chronic prerenal kidney failure– If there is a lack of blood flow to the kidneys, they begin to shrink and can no longer function properly
• Chronic intrinsic kidney failure– When there is long-term kidney damage due to intrinsic kidney disease, this can occur.
• Chronic post-renal kidney failure– If there is something blocking the urinary tract, this prevents urination, which increases pressure and causes kidney damage.

 

Dialysis

This is a treatment method in which your blood is filtered and purified through a machine that acts as your kidney. Dialysis removes waste, salt, and extra water so they do not build up in your body. It also allows you to maintain a healthy level of chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate. Dialysis is typically done in a hospital, but it also can be done in your home. Depending on your condition, your nephrologist in Great Neck will decide which treatment method works best for you! There are two different types of dialysis:

• Hemodialysis– In this method, an artificial kidney removes waste and excess chemicals from your blood by your nephrologist in Great Neck to create an entrance to the blood vessels so the blood can get to the artificial kidney. This can be done three times a week for approximately four hours.
• Peritoneal– This method cleans the blood inside your body. A catheter is placed into your abdomen to make an entrance. Your peritoneal cavity also referred to as your abdominal area, is filled with dialysate.

 

Transplant

This is another treatment method used to treat kidney failure. Your nephrologist in Great Neck will be able to tell you if you qualify for this surgery. The wait time for a donor can be long unless you have a living donor. This process involves taking immunosuppressive drugs so your body does not reject the new kidney.

If you want to know which treatment option is best for you, contact a nephrologist in Great Neck at PRINE Health!