Overview of the disease

Kidney failure is the reason for thousands of deaths every year. Kidney is a critical organ for the human organism, acting as a filter for all of the fluids in our organism. This organ processes around 200 liters of blood each day and produces about 2 liters of urine. The waste may the leave the body without causing any harm. The waste products are generated from the regular metabolic processes, such as ingested food, breakdown of active tissues and a number of other substances. Generally, the main functions of the kidneys can be presented this way:

1. Getting rid of excess water and waste products
2. Control blood pressure
3. Control the hormones that make new red blood cells
4. Adjust fluids and chemicals needed by the body
5. Maintain blood in normal, non-acid state
6. Keep calcium and potassium in balance in order for the bones to stay healthy

When the kidneys fail to perform the functions stated above, the state is called kidney failure. There are two types of renal malfunctions: acute and chronic ones. Acute kidney failure may be caused by poisoning or trauma and is generally treatable. Chronic malfunction is much more serious, as it is developing over months and years, being in a passive form, when it is hard to identify the problem. Chronic Kidney Failure (CKF) is also often called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and is progressive loss of the renal function over long periods of time.

It is rather hard to detect CKD on its early stages, as the symptoms are unspecific and may relate to a number of other, less serious diseases. Usually this illness is identified via blood test, which shows higher level of creatinine. However, on the very early stages creatinine tests are useless and urine tests might be demonstrative, showing protein and red blood cells in the urine, which are the signs of the kidneys failing to work normally.

Scientists distinguish 5 stages of the disease, which are determined by GFR – Glomerular Filtration rate. This rate demonstrates how many milliliters of liquid a minute the kidneys are capable of processing. A figure of around 100 milliliters is normal for a regular person. Everything below can be a sign of kidney malfunctions. The stages of CKD are listed in a table below: (eMedicinehealth.com)

Causes for Chronic Kidney Disease

There is a number of reasons that may lead to CKD. Sometimes it is the kidney illness itself, but as practice shows, this is not the number one cause for the renal failure. The list of most popular reasons is presented below (eMedicinehealth.com):

1. Diabetes (type 1 and 2)
2. High blood pressure can damage kidneys after some time
3. Use of analgesics, for example Tylenol and ibuprofen
4. Clogging of the arteries
5. Kidney stones may obstruct the flow of urine and damage kidneys
6. HIV
7. Amyloidosis
8. Heroin abuse
9. Some types of cancers

Diabetes and high pressure, however, account for over 60% of all the recorded CKD cases. In some regions, where HIV more widespread, this infection is also responsible for a significant share of the kidney failures (Flieger, K. 1990). A significant number of Americans are in the risk group, without even being aware of it. For a regular adult, blood pressure over 140/90 is considered unhealthy, for a person over 65 160/90 is the margin, and for kids any pressure over 130/80 is a sign of problems. Few people are aware of it and constantly monitor their state. About 58 million Americans are periodically taking drugs that increase the blood pressure as a side effect (USA Today, 1994).
CKD symptoms.

Symptoms of CKD tend to develop relatively slowly. People on the early stages may not experience any inconveniences at all. As disease progresses only mild signs might appear, such as need to urinate several times a night. This happens because kidneys are not able of absorbing the water inside the organism and most of it is generated overnight.

Later on, a person sick with CKD might feel general weakness and become less alert mentally. Shortness of breath and frequent loss of appetite can be observed. Metabolic waste inside the organism keeps building up, that can cause vomiting and unpleasant taste in the mouth, which may eventually lead to serious undernutrition and consequently wright loss. Immune system starts suffering and the body deals with infections slower than regularly.

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