You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist, located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney, there are about a million tiny structures called nephrons that filter your blood, removing wastes and extra water to form urine. These also play a crucial role in maintaining electrolyte balance, regulating blood pressure, and producing hormones that stimulate red blood cell production.
Most kidney diseases affect the nephrons, which can impair the kidneys’ ability to remove wastes. When the nephrons are not functioning properly, waste and fluids build up in the body, leading to symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath. Kidney disease can occur due to genetic issues, injuries, or certain medications. Having diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease increases your risk. Chronic kidney disease gradually damages the nephrons over time. Other common kidney problems include cancer, cysts, stones, and infections.
If the damaged kidneys are left untreated, it can progress to kidney failure, a life-threatening condition requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. Detecting the early signs and symptoms of kidney damage is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Disease?
There are a few potential signs indicating that your kidneys are not working appropriately. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of kidney issues, or age over 60, or you observe any of these symptoms, you should get tested:
- Feeling more tired
- having less energy and having trouble concentrating due to a buildup of toxins in the blood.
- Difficulty sleeping can occur when the kidneys aren’t filtering properly.
- Dry and itchy skin may indicate mineral and bone disease associated with advanced kidney disease.
- Increased urination may signal kidney issues or a urinary infection, especially at night.
- Blood in the urine may indicate kidney damage, tumours, or kidney stones.
- Foamy urine suggests protein leakage, often seen with kidney problems.
- Puffiness around the eyes can result from protein leakage.
- Swelling in ankles and feet may indicate sodium retention.
- Poor appetite and muscle cramping can also be signs of kidney disease due to toxin buildup and electrolyte imbalances.
What Are the Types of Kidney Diseases?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common type of kidney disease. It involves a gradual loss of kidney function over time. CKD can be caused by various factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions affecting the kidneys. If left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation for survival. Early detection and management of CKD are crucial in preventing further kidney damage and complications. The other types of kidney problems include:
- Kidney Stones: These are the hard deposits of minerals and salts that form within the kidneys and may cause severe pain when passed through the urinary tract.
- Glomerulonephritis or Glomerular Diseases: It is the condition affecting the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidneys responsible for removing waste and excess fluid from the blood.
- Polycystic Kidney Disease: It is a genetic disorder causing fluid-filled cysts to develop in the kidneys, leading to kidney enlargement and eventual loss of function.
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): It is the bacterial infection affecting the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.
- Alport Syndrome: It is a Rrare genetic disorder affecting the glomeruli and leading to kidney failure, hearing loss, and vision problems.
- Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease: It is a condition where abnormal protein buildup damages the kidneys and impairs their function.
- Anti-GBM (Goodpasture’s) Disease: It is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies attack the glomeruli, causing inflammation and kidney damage.
- IgA Nephropathy: It is a kidney disease characterized by the buildup of IgA antibodies in the glomeruli, leading to inflammation and scarring.
- Interstitial Nephritis: It is the inflammation of the kidney’s tubules and surrounding tissues, often due to allergic reactions or medications.
- Lupus Nephritis: It is the kidney inflammation caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease.
- Nephrotic Syndrome: It is the condition characterized by high levels of protein in the urine, low levels of protein in the blood, swelling, and high cholesterol.
- Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults: It is the syndrome occurring in adults, often caused by conditions like diabetes, lupus, or certain medications.
- Renal Tubular Acidosis: It is the kidney disorder causing difficulty in maintaining the body’s acid-base balance.
- Solitary Kidney: It is condition where an individual is born with only one functioning kidney, which may be due to birth defects, surgical removal, or kidney donation.
What Are the Best Medicines for Kidney Disease?
The choice of medicines for kidney disease depends on the specific condition and its underlying causes. Here are some commonly prescribed medications to manage kidney diseases:
- Beta Blockers: These medications help lower blood pressure by blocking the effects of adrenaline, thereby reducing the workload on the kidneys.
- Diuretics: Diuretics help the kidneys remove excess fluid from the body, which can be beneficial for managing conditions like high blood pressure and oedema.
- Finerenone: This medication is used to treat chronic kidney disease and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with certain conditions.
- Insulin: In cases where kidney disease is associated with diabetes, insulin therapy may be prescribed to help control blood sugar levels and prevent further kidney damage.
- Metformin: Metformin is commonly used to manage blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes and kidney disease, although dosages may need to be adjusted based on kidney function.
- Statins: Statin medications are often prescribed to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, which can be beneficial for individuals with kidney disease.
- ACE Inhibitors: ACE inhibitors help relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure, which can help protect the kidneys from further damage.
- GLP-1 Agonists: These medications are used to manage blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes and may have additional benefits for kidney health.
- SGLT2 Inhibitors: SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of medications used to treat diabetes by increasing glucose excretion in the urine, which can help reduce the workload on the kidneys.
- Prednisone: Prednisone, a corticosteroid medication, may be prescribed to reduce inflammation in certain kidney conditions like glomerulonephritis.
- Herbal Supplements: Some herbal supplements, such as turmeric or ginger, may have potential benefits for kidney health, but their efficacy and safety should be discussed with a doctor before use.
These are common medicines that can be procured by ordering through online medicine delivery app. These apps for medicine delivery ensures a hassle-free and timely delivery to your doorstep. If you order from online pharmacy apps like Truemeds that offer generic substitutes, you can save a lot on your kidney medicines expenses. If you have a kidney disease, you must speak to your doctor and share your medical history and list of ongoing medications to avoid potential side effects.