Causes of Kidney Failure and Prevention

There are various things that can be the cause of kidney failure. Damage to these organs is a high risk for people who have certain diseases or unhealthy habits. Recognize what causes kidney failure and the steps you can take to prevent it. Kidney failure is a kidney disease that is quite feared. This condition occurs when the kidneys are damaged and cannot function properly. Kidney failure is usually the final stage of kidney disease, where damage to the kidneys is sufficiently severe or prolonged, resulting in permanent dysfunction. Before it's too late, find out what causes kidney failure and risk factors, and take preventive measures to reduce your risk of this disease.

Risk Factors for 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 urine cannot be removed 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. The following is the explanation:

Causes of acute kidney failure

Acute kidney failure is severe kidney damage that has only occurred for several hours or several 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 kidney injury.
• 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 underwent major surgery.

In addition to some of the above, acute kidney failure can also be caused by drug interactions, drug overdoses, to the side effects of certain drugs, such as chemotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), antibiotics, lithium, drugs or herbal supplements, and contrast agents which is used in radiological examinations, such as CT scans and MRI.

Causes of chronic kidney failure

Chronic kidney failure occurs when the kidneys suffer damage in the long term, so that over time the kidneys suffer severe and permanent damage. A person is said to have chronic kidney failure if the damage to the kidney 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 autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
• Suffering from kidney disease, such as polycystic kidney disease, nephritis syndrome, glomerulonephritis, kidney stones, or recurrent kidney infections.
• Having prostate disorders.
• Have a family history of kidney disease.
• Being obese.
• Have a smoking habit.

Be aware of Kidney Failure Symptoms

When experiencing acute and chronic kidney failure, a person can experience the following complaints:

• Swelling on the face and body.
• The frequency of voiding becomes less frequent.
• Hard to breathe.
• Tired and underpowered.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Decreased appetite.
• Difficult to concentrate.
• Often sleepy.
• Pale skin.
• Convulsions.
• Decreased consciousness or coma.

If you find a number of complaints above, especially if you have comorbidities or factors that can cause kidney failure, then you need to immediately see a doctor. The faster the examination is done, it is hoped that kidney damage can be treated as soon as possible. This is important to prevent further damage so it does not develop into end-stage renal failure. In this phase, the kidneys are completely unable to function and sufferers of this condition will need regular dialysis or kidney transplant operations to restore kidney function.

What are the Preventative Steps?

Because of the high chance of permanent damage, kidney health needs to be maintained so that it is not easily damaged and affected by diseases that can lead to kidney failure. To prevent kidney failure, you can do the following:

• Implement a healthy lifestyle, for example drinking lots of water, not smoking and avoiding cigarette smoke, not drinking alcoholic beverages, and exercising diligently.
• Eat healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats, and stay away from foods that cause kidney failure.
• Conduct regular health checks every year to monitor kidney conditions, especially for sufferers of certain diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.
• Avoid excessive consumption of drugs, health supplements, or herbal medicines and without a doctor's recommendation.
• For people with diabetes, hypertension, and other types of kidney disease, make sure you undergo treatment according to doctor's instructions.

By knowing the factors that cause kidney failure, you are expected to be more alert and aware to implement 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 some symptoms that indicate the possibility of kidney failure. The sooner the disease is detected, the faster treatment can be done so that your kidney function is maintained.