An abnormality in the functioning of the kidney most commonly occurs due to high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, and hypertension. A gradual increase in dysfunction causes a condition called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)  that may even result in permanent failure of the kidney. Kidney is a homeostatic organ, involved in the formation and excretion of urine.  It is the major function of the kidney to filter out wastes in the body fluids and prevent these wastes and unnecessary fluids from getting absorbed into the blood. These unwanted wastes are then removed from the body in the form of urine. The proper functioning of the kidneys ensures normal blood pressure and electrolyte balance in the blood. The malfunction in the kidneys leads to serious health hazards. If the kidney fails to perform its proper functioning, the wastes get absorbed in blood cells and accumulate in the body leading to other severe risks to overall body health. 

The 3 Warning Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease

A person cannot realize when the disease is in its initial stages until it reaches its severity . Chronic kidney disorder is frequently termed “a silent killer” because its major symptoms are not obvious until significant damage to one of the kidneys. Chronic kidney disease major symptoms include tiredness and weakness, insomnia, difficulty in breathing, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, high blood pressure, (sometimes considered to be one of the main causes of kidney disorder), muscle cramps and twitches, itchy skin, difficulty to memorize things, numbness, skin darkness and inflammation which are commonly found in kidney patients, but these signs are not necessarily linked to kidney damage. Facing one of these issues, one must immediately go through a proper medical examination. Besides these various symptoms, there are 3 major warning signs of kidney disease one should never neglect. Early identification of the disorder may help prevent its worse stages by taking precautions and starting early treatment through a proper medical check-up. A detailed explanation of the major kidney disease symptoms is given in the next section.

1.   Changes in Urination Patterns

One of the earliest indicators of kidney disease is changes in urination habits and patterns. Any disruption in the performance of the kidney directly impacts the formation and excretion of urine. An excessive formation of dilute urine from the body occurs due to improper filtration and absorption of body fluids. Other specific urination patterns related to CKD are:

Foamy or Bubbly Urine

The abnormal absorption of body fluids leads to the retention of protein (proteinuria) in urine causing excessive foams or bubbles in urine. This is the one of early stages of CKD and should never be neglected.

 Blood in the Urine (Hematuria)

It occurs in very rare cases, but it indicates CKD, severe kidney damage, or inflammation. It causes urine to turn red, pink, or brown like a cola. It can also be an indicator of kidney stones, infections, or other complicated problems related to the kidney.

2.   Edema (Swelling)

The malfunction of the kidney causes the accumulation of unnecessary and improperly filtered fluid and retention of sodium in the body, leading to electrolyte imbalance. This overall situation is called fluid retention causing inflammation in various parts of the body, especially in lower parts like feet, ankles, and legs. Sometimes, fluid accumulates in the hands and around the eyes and patients feel puffiness, particularly in the morning. In the later stages of Chronic kidney disorder, the fluid may reach the abdominal area leading to a feeling of bloating or a sensation of fullness. In the most rare cases of Chronic kidney disease, the unwanted fluid gathers around the lining of the heart causing chest pain.

3.   Fatigue and Weakness

It is not the common tiredness that someone feels after heavy work or doing something harder, rather it is a condition where an individual is unable to do anything. There is a feeling of deliberate tiredness and weakness that keeps a person from performing normal activities of life. Its causes are anemia, electrolyte imbalance, and accumulation of surplus fluid around other body organs. The kidney is responsible for the secretion of erythropoietin, a hormone that gives rise to new blood cells. Any damage to the kidney hinders the production of the hormone resulting in anemia, and other issues like tiredness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and muscle cramps

How to treat Chronic Kidney Disease?

There is no permanent treatment for Chronic kidneydisease, but to avoid complications leading to kidney failure, the following methods are usually recommended by the doctors.

1.    Medication

A proper medication for chronic kidney disease involves controlling the symptoms of the disorder by treating anemia, controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol, maintenance of fluid, and phosphate absorption in the body. Drugs containing the following substances are considered highly effective in slowing down the process of kidney damage, preventing the end-stage of renal failure.

 Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)

Diuretics, or "water pills

 Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs)

 Phosphate Binders

 Statins

2.    Dialysis

Dialysis is the artificial filtration of blood outside the body through a dialysis apparatus. This is not the permanent treatment of Chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant becomes mandatory after dialysis in some cases. Dialysis can be done in two ways:

Hemodialysis (purification of blood outside the body)

Peritoneal dialysis (purification of blood inside the body)

3.    Kidney transplant

The permanent treatment for end-stage renal failure (ESRD) is a Kidney transplant. It is the surgical implantation of a healthy kidney from a healthy or deceased donor to restore the normal functioning of the kidney in the body. It ensures a better survival rate and health improvement for end-stage kidney patients.

How to prevent Chronic Kidney Disease

A kidney transplant is not the guaranteed option of survival for every kidney patient, the best way to avoid disease is to take preventive measures. The proven strategy for the prevention of chronic kidney disease is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle consists of the following steps.

  A proper, healthy and balanced diet.

 A proper medical checkup after regular intervals.

    Avoiding smoking and alcohol intake.

    Regular exercise and a morning or evening walk.

    Taking prescribed medication to ensure normal blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels in the body.

    Taking moderate-calorie food.

    Limiting sodium, potassium, and phosphorous intake.

    Staying physically healthy and managing stressful situations.

Prognosis

Even with kidney illness, one can still lead a fulfilling life at home, at work, and spend quality time with their loved ones. One must take an active role in their treatment team if one wants the best results possible. Kidney failure can be prevented by decreasing the course of the disease by early detection and adequate treatment. Improving lifestyles, adopting prescribed medical directions, and taking a health-conscious diet are the major steps to control the symptoms of kidney failure.