Kidney failure and proper nutrition
The kidneys are twin organs that are responsible for filtering the blood to remove all waste products. The kidneys also release hormones that regulate blood pressure and the number of red blood cells. Blood enters the kidneys, with waste materials diverted and sent through the ureter to the bladder to be eliminated from the body in the act of urinating. The blood that has been filtered returns to the body. The kidneys process more than 18 gallons of blood per hour for a total of 432 gallons of filtered blood per day. The kidneys also filter more than half of all the fluids the body takes in, releasing at least two quarts of urine every day.
The kidneys can be subject to a number of different disorders, including kidney infections, kidney stones, and a serious condition called chronic kidney disease (CKD). Any of these can worsen and lead to kidney failure.
Renal failure can be acute or chronic in nature and is usually detected with an increase in serum creatinine and a decrease in glomerular filtration rate. Kidney failure can have a number of symptoms, including:
– Increased levels of urea in the blood
– Vomiting or diarrhea which may be severe enough to cause dehydration
– Nausea
– Weightloss
– Night urination
– Foamy or bubbly urine
– Increased frequency or increased amount of very pale urine
– Blood in the urine
– Pressure or difficulty urinating
Kidney failure can also cause blood phosphates, itching, bone damage, and muscle cramps caused by low calcium levels. Potassium will build up in the bloodstream, a condition called hyperkalemia that can cause abnormal heart rhythms and eventual muscle paralysis (Source: Surgeryideas.com/renalfailure)
Some of the risk factors for kidney disease include high blood pressure, especially when untreated, gout, diabetes, prolonged shock, and the use of certain medications.
Chronic kidney disease affects 26 million Americans with millions more at high risk of developing the disease. Early detection is the key to preventing CKD from progressing to kidney failure. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for those with CKD. Hypertension is a major risk factor for CKD, but CKD is also a major risk factor for developing hypertension. The two can be called interchangeable because they are so closely linked to each other. Virtually everyone with CKD will have high blood pressure, and most people with high blood pressure are at much higher risk of developing CKD.
In addition to high blood pressure, CKD risk factors include: diabetes, a family history of kidney disease, and certain ethnic groups. People of African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, or Native American descent are at higher risk for this and other kidney diseases.
Causes of kidney failure:
– Hypovolemia (low blood volume) can result from extreme blood loss
– Dehydration
– The use of diuretics.
– Obstruction of renal arteries or veins.
– Sepsis (an overwhelming infection)
– Rhabodmyolysis (significant muscle breakdown in the body)
– Trauma or crushing accidents
Diseases that affect the kidneys can be temporary or life-threatening. Treatment can be as simple as medication, or it can be as complicated as needing a new kidney. While you can live with just one kidney if something happens to one of them, it’s never a good idea to do so because it puts a lot of stress on the remaining organ. There are three common tests to check for kidney failure, including: blood pressure, urine albumin, and serum creatinine. High blood pressure can be a symptom of kidney disease because the kidneys secrete hormones to regulate blood pressure.
dietary suggestions
Anyone with a chronic condition of any kind should seek their doctor’s advice regarding nutrition and the need for vitamins and minerals. Certain micronutrients can be dangerous for an already overloaded system. In addition, there are also some macronutrients that can be harmful for people with CKD or other kidney problems.
People with CKD should limit their protein intake within reason, but only under the direction and guidance of a nutritionist (Source: National Clearinghouse for Urologic and Kidney Diseases). Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, but there are some restrictions for people with kidney disease. It may be important to limit the amount of protein so that the protein you get is high quality and low in fat.
Too much protein in the diet shifts the metabolic process into a state of ketosis. Ketosis occurs when the body stops burning carbohydrates for energy and starts burning fat again. Fat is broken down into carbon molecules called ketones. These ketones are released into the bloodstream. Ketosis can be problematic because it suppresses your appetite while increasing urine output. The combination of the two can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and osteoporosis (Source: Osterweil)
The American Heart Association suggests that the amount of protein in the diet not exceed 35% of daily calories; however, this may be too much for those who have kidney disease that is beginning or worsening. It is important to make sure that doctors and nutritionists are working to find the right amount of the three macronutrients, protein, fat, and carbohydrate, that will work with kidney disease. Proteins eaten should be of the healthy, low-fat variety, including plant proteins.
kidney stones
In addition to the serious kidney conditions listed above, there are also kidney stones. One of the most painful urological disorders is suffering from kidney stones. It is also one of the most common. While most kidney stones that a person may develop will go away without medical intervention, some may need some treatment.
The most common type of stones are calcium oxalate or phosphate oxalate stones with a few other less common types that can also develop. Kidney stones are most common in Caucasian men between the ages of 40 and 70. The threat of kidney stones in women peaks at the age of 50. Your chances of kidney stones increase: with a family history, frequent urinary infections, if you have cystic kidney disease and certain metabolic disorders. Cystinuria and hyperoxaluria are rare inherited metabolic disorders that can often cause kidney stones. Hypercalciuria (high calcium in the blood) is also inherited and can be the cause of half of the kidney stones. Other causes: gout, excess vitamin D, urinary tract obstruction, and use of diuretics. (Source: Surgeryideas.com/kidneystones)
Symptoms of kidney stones: There are a number of symptoms: extreme pain, sharp back cramps, nausea and vomiting, pink urine, frequent urination, burning urination, fever, chills. Most kidney stones are found by X-ray, CT scan, or intravenous pyelography in the course of ruling out other conditions.
References
The American Heart Association
Neil Osterweil The Benefits of WebMd Protein
The National Clearinghouse for Urologic and Kidney Disorders
Surgeryideas.com/kidneystones
Surgeryideas.com/renalfailure
