There are various things that can cause kidney failure. Damage to this organ is at high risk for people who have certain diseases or unhealthy habits. Get to know what are the causes of kidney failure and steps that can be taken to prevent it.
Kidney failure is one of the most feared kidney diseases. This condition occurs when the kidneys are damaged and cannot function properly. Kidney failure is usually the final stage of kidney disease, where the damage to the kidneys is severe enough or lasts a long time, resulting in permanent impairment of function.
Before it's too late, know what causes kidney failure and the risk factors, and take preventive measures to reduce your risk of developing this disease.
Risk Factors Causing Kidney Failure
In general, kidney failure is caused by 3 things, namely direct damage to the kidneys, lack of blood supply to the kidneys, and blockages in the kidneys or urinary tract, so that urine cannot be excreted from the body.
Based on the classification of the disease, kidney failure can be divided into 2 main types, namely acute and chronic kidney failure. Here is the explanation:
Causes of acute kidney failure
Acute kidney failure is severe kidney damage that has only occurred for a few hours or a few days. There are several conditions that can cause acute kidney failure, including:
- Reduced blood flow to the kidneys, for example due to bleeding and severe dehydration or shock.
- Severe injury to the kidneys.
- Severe burns.
- Certain diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, kidney infections, heart disease, heart attacks, liver failure, kidney stones, to kidney cancer.
- Complications of hypertension due to untreated severe hypertension.
- Severe infections, such as sepsis.
- Severe allergies (anaphylaxis).
- Just had major surgery.
In addition to the things above, acute kidney failure can also be caused by drug interactions, drug overdose, to the side effects of certain drugs, such as chemotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, lithium, herbal drugs or supplements, and contrast agents. used in radiological examinations, such as CT scans and MRIs.
Sometimes, the buildup of certain substances in the body, such as oxalic acid, can also cause acute kidney failure.
Causes of chronic kidney failure
Chronic kidney failure occurs when the kidneys are damaged in the long term, so that over time the kidneys experience severe and permanent damage. A person is said to have chronic kidney failure if the damage to the kidneys has been experienced for more than 3 months.
The following are some of the conditions that cause chronic kidney failure:
- Suffering from diabetes or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Have an autoimmune disease, such as lupus.
- Have kidney disease, such as polycystic kidney disease, nephritic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, kidney stones, or recurrent kidney infections.
- Have problems with the prostate.
- Have a family history of kidney disease.
- Experiencing obesity.
- Have a smoking habit.
Beware of Symptoms of Kidney Failure
When experiencing acute or chronic kidney failure, a person may experience the following complaints:
- Swelling on the face and body.
- The frequency of urination becomes less frequent or does not urinate at all.
- Hard to breathe.
- Tired and lacking energy.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Decreased appetite.
- It's hard to concentrate.
- Often sleepy.
- Pale skin.
- seizures.
- Loss of consciousness or coma.
If you find some of the complaints above, especially if you have co-morbidities or factors that can cause kidney failure, then you need to immediately see a doctor.
The sooner the examination is carried out, it is hoped that kidney damage can be treated as soon as possible. This is important to prevent further damage from progressing to end-stage renal failure.
In this phase, the kidneys are completely unable to function and people with this condition will need regular dialysis or kidney transplant surgery to restore kidney function.
What are the Prevention Steps?
Because there is a high chance of experiencing permanent damage, kidney health needs to be maintained so that it is not easily damaged and exposed to diseases that can lead to kidney failure.
To prevent kidney failure, you can take the following steps:
- Implementing a healthy lifestyle, for example drinking lots of water, not smoking and avoiding cigarette smoke, not drinking alcoholic beverages, and diligently exercising.
- Eat healthy foods, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats, and stay away from foods that cause kidney failure.
- Carry out regular health checks every year to monitor kidney conditions, especially for people with certain diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.
- Avoid consuming drugs, health supplements, or herbal medicines in excess and without a doctor's recommendation.
- For people with diabetes, hypertension, and other types of kidney disease, make sure you take treatment according to the doctor's recommendations.
By knowing the factors that cause kidney failure, you are expected to be more alert and aware of implementing a healthy lifestyle to maintain kidney health.
Do not hesitate to consult a doctor if you have one or more risk factors for kidney failure, especially if you have experienced several symptoms that indicate possible kidney failure. The sooner this disease is detected, the sooner treatment can be done so that your kidney function is maintained.