When does Acute Kidney Failure Become Chronic?

When does Acute Kidney Failure Become Chronic?
When does Acute Kidney Failure Become Chronic?

Acute kidney failure; Introduction

Acute kidney failure is the situation where your kidneys suddenly stop carrying out their natural functions. Sometimes, it is also called acute renal failure. It may occur within a few hours or days. It is seen that acute kidney failure isn’t permanent in most cases as it can be reversed with the right and prompt treatment. If you don’t have any other serious medical conditions, your kidneys functioning can be revived.

Symptoms of acute kidney failure

People with acute kidney failure may not notice any symptoms in most cases. However, some patients may develop a few symptoms of acute kidney disease. The symptoms of acute kidney disease depend on the extent of kidney damage and how severe your kidney condition is. The symptoms of acute kidney disease may include;

  1. Swelling in some body parts, i.e. hands, feet, or around the face
  2. Feeling exhausted or tired
  3. Breath shortness
  4. Poor appetite
  5. Condition of confusion
  6. Chest pain or pressure
  7. Stomach or back pain
  8. Nosebleed
  9. Muscle cramping
  10. Fever

Acute kidney failure Causes

Acute kidney failure has three main causative factors, which include

  1. Liver failure
  2. Blood pressure medications
  3. Medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, etc.
  4. Heart failure
  5. Severe burning
  6. Dehydration
  7. Blood or fluid loss
  1. Blood clots in the urinary tract
  2. Enlarged prostate
  3. Kidney stones
  4. Nerve damage in bladder
  1. Cholesterol deposits
  2. Glomerulonephritis, i.e. multiple myeloma, scleroderma, and chemotherapy drugs, etc.
  3. Medications including NSAIDs, chemotherapy, antibiotics, etc.

Risk factors for acute kidney failure

In most cases, acute kidney failure occurs with any other medical condition or event. Any person can develop acute kidney failure; however, some people have comparatively a higher chance of getting this kidney failure, especially those who have these conditions;

  1. Diabetes
  2. Over-age
  3. High blood pressure or heart failure
  4. Coronary artery disease
  5. Chronic problem of kidney or liver

Acute kidney failure diagnosis

Some physical exams help detect acute kidney failure. Your physician or nephrologist may order tests of your blood, urine samples, and kidneys to find out any problem related to kidneys.

  1. Urinalysis- The samples of the urine are examined to determine blood and protein in the urine. The tests also look for the amount of urine your kidneys are producing in a period of 24-hours.
  2. Kidney biopsy- It’s a test where a small piece of kidney tissue is taken and examined using a microscope to determine any damage or problem in your kidneys.
  3. Imaging tests- Tests like Ultrasonography or CT scans can show changes in your kidney size or blockage in your urine flow. It may also show blockage in arteries or veins connected to your kidneys.

Acute kidney failure treatment and home remedies

If you don’t have any serious problems, your kidneys may heal naturally with the support of some medications.

  • Medications- A patient is given medications that can regulate the amount of phosphorus and potassium in your blood. When your kidneys fail, they become incapable of removing these wastes from your blood. Medications may help manage complications of the problem.
  • Dialysis- It is a procedure that is conducted to clean your blood until your kidneys heal themselves. Dialysis does not help heal your kidneys but handles the filtration work of kidneys. This process may last longer if your kidneys are not back to their normal condition.

Complications of acute kidney

Acute kidney failure can cause some complications, which mainly include;

  • Chest pain- If the lining covering your heart gets inflamed, you may notice pain in your chest.
  • Muscle weakness- If your body’s electrolytes level gets disturbed, you may get muscle weakness. It can cause the problem in heart rhythm problems and paralysis.
  • Acidic blood- If your blood contains too much acid in acute kidney failure, you may notice nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, breathlessness, etc.
  • Chronic kidney disease- Acute kidney failure may turn into chronic kidney disease where your kidneys become severely damage and thus stop completely working. Achieving normal kidney health back can challenging at this health stage.
  • Death- AKF may lead to complete loss of kidney function, which can cause death.

Preventive measures for Acute kidney failure

You may reduce your risk for acute kidney failure by cultivating and following some healthy habits, which mainly include;

  • Practice healthy living- Avoiding poor habits like drinking and smoking and adding healthy practices in your day-to-day life can keep several serious health problems at bay or at least can lower the chance of their occurrence.
  • Follow your physician’s advice- If you are at risk of developing acute kidney failure because of any underlying medical condition, follow your doctor’s advice to manage your problem and delay acute kidney failure.

FAQ

1. Is Acute Kidney Disease becoming Chronic Kidney Disease?

Ans. Yes, acute kidney disease lasts for longer, it may progress to chronic kidney failure or kidney failure, which is life-threatening.

2. What are the complications of acute kidney disease?

Ans. Here are some acute kidney disease complications:

  • Chest pain
  • Muscle weakness
  • Acidic blood
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Death

3. Is Ayurveda treatment beneficial for acute kidney failure patients?

Ans. Yes, ayurvedic treatment is the best cure for kidney disease patients. When the ayurvedic treatment has started you could follow all the instructions according to your Ayurveda doctor. Because Ayurveda is the unique treatment that treats the cause of root.

4. What are the symptoms of acute kidney failure?

Ans. Here are some basic symptoms of acute kidney failure:

  1. Swelling in some body parts, i.e. hands, feet, or around the face
  2. Feeling exhausted or tired
  3. Breath shortness
  4. Poor appetite
  5. Condition of confusion
  6. Chest pain or pressure

5. What are the main causes of acute kidney disease?

Ans. Main causes of acute kidney disease:

  • Cholesterol deposits
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Liver failure
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Blood clots in the urinary tract
  • Enlarged prostate