Chronic renal failure is a slow and progressive decline in kidney function that happens over months or years. This is often caused by a medical condition such as diabetes (types 1 and 2), high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease.
It typically begins with a small amount of kidney damage. This is called “stage one.” Then, over time, the kidneys start to decline more and more, until they can’t keep up with waste and fluid elimination – this is known as end-stage kidney disease or ESRD. At this point, dialysis or a kidney transplant are needed to remove waste and excess fluid from your body.
Your kidneys have many jobs: filtering your blood, balancing the amount of salt and water in your body, making hormones that control blood pressure, stimulating red blood cell production and keeping your bones strong. When your kidneys don’t work properly, toxins build up in your blood and you become sick.
Some of the symptoms of chronic kidney failure are fatigue, weakness, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, low potassium levels and itchy skin. Some of these symptoms can be mild and easy to overlook, so it’s important to pay attention to them if you notice them.
Kidneys also have a role in producing erythropoietin, which prompts the body to make red blood cells when needed. Anemia, a common symptom in people with chronic renal failure, can be treated with medications to help the body produce more red blood cells.
Vitamin D supplements can protect your bone health if you have chronic kidney failure and lower vitamin D levels. You may also need phosphate binders, medicines to control your phosphate levels, which can reduce your body’s ability to absorb calcium.
Other dietary changes can be useful, such as eating foods that reduce blood cholesterol and limiting sodium (salt) and potassium intake. A dietitian can help you develop a diet that suits your needs and goals.
It’s also important to exercise regularly and to eat foods that are healthy for your heart and kidneys, including fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and dairy products. You can also get plenty of water to stay hydrated, and try to avoid drinking soda or alcoholic beverages.
You’ll need to have regular blood and urine tests to check the amount of urea in your body. These tests can help diagnose chronic kidney failure early and identify the cause of the symptoms.
Anemia and rhabdomyolysis can occur when your kidneys don’t produce enough erythropoietin, or when you lose too much protein in your urine (proteinuria). If these conditions are found, your doctor may prescribe medicine to help the body make more red blood cells or to decrease proteinuria.
Medications can also be used to treat other symptoms of chronic kidney failure. For example, your doctor might prescribe a diuretic to help the body get rid of extra water and an ACE inhibitor or ARB to lower blood pressure. You might also be prescribed an antihistamine to relieve itchy skin or a phosphate binder to control your phosphate level.
