When does Acute Kidney Failure Become Chronic?

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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. 

As most of us know, kidneys main role is to remove wastes and toxins with excess fluid from your blood to ensure that the body can get clean blood for their better functioning. These organs do many other essential functions, from controlling blood pressure, vitalizing red blood cells secretion, and releasing vitamin D to make bones strong and healthy. They don't normally work when they are diseased or damaged. Several factors, especially any underlying medical condition, can be responsible for damaging your kidneys, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. An overload of toxins caused by taking any illegal drug, medications, and few other factors can cause acute kidney disease. If acute kidney disease lasts for longer, it may progress to chronic kidney failure or kidney failure, which is life-threatening. 

Acute kidney failure requires dialysis initially to remove the burden of wastes from the blood to ensure that the body can work well. Additionally, some medicines are also used to combat others complications of the disease.

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. Peeing less than normal

2. Swelling in some body parts, i.e. hands, feet or around the face

3. Feeling exhausted or tired

4. Breath shortness

5. Poor appetite

6. Condition of confusion

7. Chest pain or pressure

8. Stomach or back pain

9. Nosebleed

10. Muscle cramping

11. Fever

Acute kidney failure Causes

Acute kidney failure has three main causative factors, which include 

1. Something obstructing blood supply to kidneys- Several problems or conditions can affect the blood supply to kidneys. Kidneys require an interrupted blood supply to do their filtration function normally, but you may get acute kidney failure whenever this blood supply is stopped. The causes that may stop the blood supply to kidneys are; 

1. An infection

2. Liver failure

3. Blood pressure medications

4. Medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, etc.

5. Heart failure

6. Severe burning

7. Dehydration

8. Blood or fluid loss

1. Condition blocking urine from leaving kidneys- Sometimes, your urine starts flowing toward kidneys which may occur due to:

1. Cancers including cervical, prostate, etc.

2. Blood clots in the urinary tract

3. Enlarged prostate

4. Kidney stones

5. Nerve damage in bladder    

1. Something damaging your kidneys directly- Anything that directly damages your kidneys can cause this kidney problem which may include;

1. Blood clotting

2. Cholesterol deposits

3. Glomerulonephritis, i.e. multiple myeloma, scleroderma, and chemotherapy drugs, etc.

4. 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. Admitted for a long time, especially in intensive care

2. Diabetes

3. Over-age

4. High blood pressure or heart failure         

5. Coronary artery disease

6. 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. Blood tests- The examination of your blood tests help measure substances present in your blood, including creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, potassium, sodium, uric acid, etc.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Imaging tests- Tests like Ultrasonography or CT Scan 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.

The reports of the tests detect if you have any kidney disease. Your physician or nephrologist can help you manage this kidney problem naturally.      

Acute kidney failure treatment and home remedies

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

Acute kidney failure can be cured if it's detected early. In conventional treatment, diet alternations, medications, or dialysis are utilized to cure this kidney disease.

• Diet- In your diet, your nephrologist or kidney doctor may limit the amount of certain stuff like salt and potassium. Though diet changes won't reverse kidney failure, they may help minimize pressure on your kidneys, and the body can focus on its healing. If you are asked to lower potassium in your diet, you need to avoid bananas, spinach, oranges, tomatoes, and potatoes. You are recommended to eat foods like apples, strawberries, and cauliflower, as they are low in potassium.

• 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.

Modern treatment doesn't provide lasting relief as it suppresses disease complications with medications and other treatment methods. It doesn't support the healing of kidneys, and therefore they can't be taken as the best cure for acute kidney failure. However, when a patient chooses Ayurvedic treatment for acute kidney disease, he may get permanent relief from kidney complications naturally.

Ayurvedic treatment is the best cure for kidney diseases. And one should start this treatment once his condition gets stable by dialysis and modern medications. Ayurveda is a unique treatment system that acts upon deep causes of a disease which helps to provide a permanent cure. In acute kidney disease treatment Ayurveda applies its ancient methodology to treat this kidney disease. In this process, herbal formulations, some ancient therapies, a personalized diet, and few day-to-day alterations play an important role in treating patients naturally.

Herbal medicines are a significant part of Ayurvedic treatment for acute kidney failure. These medicines contain several herbs that have therapeutic properties like diuretics, pain-relieving, etc. In short, these medicines work on complications and correct the biological disturbance of the body, which mainly include Doshas vitiation, etc. They help repair overall body problems and help you gain your normal health again.  

Some therapies can help stimulate some body functions, which mainly act as supportive therapies for the body. Simultaneously, a personalized diet, Yoga and other day-to-day life alterations are also applied. These treatment methods are completely personalized as they vary from patient to patient. This holistic treatment heals your kidneys naturally and thus sets you free from all your existing kidney complications and symptoms. As a result, you can say that acute kidney disease failure treatment in Ayurveda  cures this kidney problem completely by Ayurvedic medicines and ancient practices.                              

Complications of acute kidney 

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

• Fluid retention- Fluid buildup may take place in your body in case of acute kidney failure. If the fluid build in the lungs occurs, it can cause breath shortness.

• 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 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.