Saturday, 29 December 2012

What is Kidney Failure(Renal Failure)?

Kidney failure is also called renal failure. For patients with kidney failure, their kidneys cannot discharge the body’s extra fluid and waste.
Generally, kidneys have the following functions:
• Get rid of excess water and waste products
• Adjust the fluid and chemicals needed by the body
• Control blood pressure
• Control the hormones in the body that make new red blood cells
The kidneys take excess water and waste products from the blood and turn it into urine. Urine is then passed out of the body. A person can live a healthy life even only with one kidney, which means patients can live normally if 50% of their kidney function can be protected.
There are 2 kinds of kidney failure called acute and chronic.
Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is a sudden loss of kidney function that happens within hours or days.
The kidneys can often get better when the cause of the problem is found and removed. Dialysis may be needed to help remove waste from the body until the kidneys are working.
Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney failure occurs when the kidneys slowly lose their function. Causes of chronic kidney failure may include:
• Diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease
• Kidney stones
• Blockage or problems in the urinary tract
• Lupus, an autoimmune disease
• Scleroderma, a skin and connective tissue disorder
• Chronic infections
• Some medicines taken over time for other conditions, and alcohol or drug abuse

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