Is there a cure for kidney failure?

There may not be a cure for kidney failure but there are many ways to help manage the disease. Read on to find out more.

Kidney failure means the kidneys have trouble filtering and cleaning the blood. Instead of being emptied, the waste remains in the body. Kidneys serve very important functions of the body, discharging surplus liquid, secreting the hormones necessary to regulate blood pressure and stimulating the production of red blood cells.

The two main causes of chronic renal failure are type 1 and 2 diabetes, and decreased blood flow due to low blood pressure. These other factors that may also increase the risk of kidney failure:

• Advanced age;
• Obesity;
• Smoking;
• Low levels of good cholesterol (HDL);
• Some autoimmune diseases;
• Excessive use of certain medicines;
• Urinary tract blockage;
• Kidney Infection;
• Cysts.

The function of the kidneys decreases very slowly over time. It can take years before the signs of kidney failure become known. In the early stages of the disease the only symptom is fatigue, which is not enough to sound the alarm. That being said, an advanced stage of the disease will cause some of the following symptoms to appear:

• Either a decrease or increase in urination frequency;
• Painful urination;
• Urine is dark, cloudy or frothy;
• High blood pressure;
• Swelling of the feet, legs and eyelids;
• Nausea;
• Loss of appetite and weight loss;
• Headaches;
• Insomnia;
• Back pain and cramps;
• Itching;
• Shortness of breath;
• Change in skin color (brown or yellow).

The first step is to modify your diet. Some of the changes could bereducing your intake of protein and limiting sodium and fat.

If dietary changes aren't enough to improve your condition, medications or supplements may be prescribed, some of these are:

• Vitamin D, potassium and calcium supplements;
• Medications to maintain good red blood cell levels;
• Medications that control the blood pressure and blood sugar levels;
• Diuretics to remove excess water in the body.

If the above treatments aren't effective, the next step is hemodialysis. This treatment happens at the hospital about three times a week for approximately four hours per session.

Another option is peritoneal dialysis, which can be done at home, using a catheter inserted into the abdomen.

When nothing else has worked, the last option is a kidney transplant. A compatible donor can give you one of their kidneys. An individual can function quite normally with just one healthy kidney.

Monitoring your hypertension can help to prevent kidney failure. This is something that should be checked regularly. Furthermore, people suffering from diabetes or lupus must take steps to ensure that their conditions are managed and under control.