Kidney Failure
What is kidney failure?
Kidney failure or renal failure is a condition that your kidneys fail to work partially or completely. It has two main forms, namely acute kidney injury and chronic kidney failure. Acute kidney injury progresses quickly, but it is reversible, whereas chronic one is due to long-term kidney disease, which is irreversible.
What causes kidney failure?
-Acute kidney injury is usually caused by a sudden, serious drop in blood flow to the kidneys, damage from some medicines, poisons, or infections, or a sudden blockage that stops urine from flowing out of the kidneys.
-Chronic kidney failure can result from a variety of causes, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, PKD, glomerulonephritis, lupus, purpura, overuse of common drugs such as ibuprofen, some infectious disease agents, etc.
Symptoms of kidney failure
When kidneys are unable to work normally, a lot of waste products and fluid will build up in the blood, leading to blood pollution. Wherever the polluted blood flows to, wherever will be affected. Therefore, a series of symptoms and complication will occur. But different patients have different physical conditions, so their symptoms vary from person to person.
-Cardiovascular disease. It is the most common cause of death for kidney failure patients.
-Symptoms associated with respiratory system, such as metallic taste, shortness of breath, deep breath, plumonary edema, pleural effusion, fibrinous pleuritis, calcification pulmonum, etc.
-Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as poor appetite, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, alimentary tract hemorrhage, peptic ulcer, etc.
-Blood system symptoms, such as renal anemia, small hemorrhagic spot on superficial mucosa, ecchymosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebral hemorrhage, etc.
-Neuromuscular system symptoms, such as insomnia, inattention, forgetfulness, reaction of indifference, convulsion, hallucinations, delirium, coma, mental abnormalities, tinging or numb or burning or painful feeling in limbs, muscle cramps, restless leg syndrome, etc.
-Bone disease, such as osteoporosis, osteitis fibrosa cystica, adynamic bone disease, osteomalacia, bone pain, fracture, etc.
How to treat kidney failure well?
1. If you still urinate normally, you can try Toxin-Removing Treatment.
This is a combination of many Chinese medicine therapies such as Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy, Medicated Bath, Foot Bath, Enema Therapy, Steam Therapy, Navel Therapy, etc. It can remove waste products from body via urine, stool and sweat to make a clean internal environment for kidney self-healing. It can also remove stasis that block the normal flow of blood so as to enhance blood circulation so that enough essential elements can be transported into damaged kidneys to speed up kidney recovery. As the treatment is ongoing, your kidney function will improve gradually, and then you can lead a normal life.
2. If your urine is less than 100ml and your kidney size is less than 6cm, dialysis or kidney transplant will be the only choice.
-Dialysis. It takes over partial kidney function to filter and purify the blood. It can maintain your life, but it usually has a lot of side effects, such as skin itching, muscle cramp, headache, fatigue, etc.
-Kidney Transplant. It is to put a healthy kidney into body to replace the damaged one to work. But it is difficult to get a suitable kidney. After transplant, you may have to take immunosuppressants for long-term, which has side effects as well. Besides, the transplanted kidney can only survive for several years. Years later, you may have to start dialysis or wait for transplant again.
Diet and other lifestyle changes for kidney failure
The impaired kidneys can not filter the blood adequately, thereby it is necessary for you to follow a renal-friendly diet to reduce the workload of kidneys and protect them from being damaged further.
-To limit protein intake.
-To restrict salt intake and food high in sodium, such as pickles, canned foods and soda biscuit.
-To reduce foods high in potassium, such as bananas, apricots, cantaloupe, sweat potatoes, avocados, etc.
-To eat less food rich in phosphorus, such as cheese, nuts, canned iced teas, etc.
-To consume more fresh vegetables and fruits high in vitamins.
-To give up smoking and drinking alcohol
-To do some gentle exercises, such as walking, tai chi, yoga, jogging, etc.
What is the life expectancy of kidney failure patients?
Kidney failure itself can not threaten your life, but its complication such as cardiovascular disease can deprive your life now and then. Therefore, to lead a full life, it is necessary for you to control those symptoms and complications well.
