7 IMPORTANT KIDNEY DISORDER YOU MUST KNOW
Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs which filters extra water and wastes from the blood and throw them out of the body. Any damage to kidney’s would lead to non-proper functioning of your urinary system.
SOME FACTS ABOUT KIDNEY DISEASE
- In India, every year more than 1 Lac new people are diagnosed with end stage kidney disease who are on dialysis or need transplantation.
- Approximately 220,000 patients are diagnosed with Kidney Failure every year, which leads to the demand of 34 lacs dialysis sessions in India.
- One out of every 10 people is suffering from kidney stone. Half of them land to kidney failure, if the problem remains untreated.
- Each year in India, about 1 in 1,000 adults are hospitalized for urinary tract stones. They are most common among middle-aged adults.
- Each year, kidney disease kills more people than breast or prostate cancer.
WHAT IS A ROLE OF KIDNEY?
- Eliminate waste from the body
- Regulate blood volume and blood pressure
- Control levels of electrolytes and metabolites
- Regulate blood pH.
- Helps in making vitamin D, needed for bone health
Some kidney problems may be temporary while some of them can even lead to kidney failures.
Below are some important kidney disorders that you should be aware of
1. KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones occur when certain wastes such as salts and minerals stick to the inner lining of the kidneys. These wastes accumulate and form hard deposits like stones
If the stone is smaller than 5 mm (1/5 inch), there is a 90% chance it will pass through urine and will not need any medical intervention. If the stone is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the odds are 50%, and some cases may require surgery. And if the stone is above 10mm, there are many treatment options available.
Common Symptoms to identify kidney stones are –
- Foul urine smell
- Blood in Urine
- Pain in the belly
- Lower Abdominal pain
- Frequent urination
2. BLADDER STONES
These are solid masses that form inside the urinary bladder. They occur if the bladder is not completely emptied after urination. The leftover urine becomes concentrated and minerals within the liquid turn into crystals.
Bladder stones are also more common in men over the age of 50 compared to females. Sometimes they get pass if the stones are small in size. But sometime they may get stuck to the wall of the ureter, and if this happens, these small stones gather more minerals and thus become large stones.
Large stones need immediate medical intervention.
Common Symptomswhich can help you to understand Bladder stones are -
- Severe pain in the lower abdomen
- Blood in urine
- Difficulty while urinating
- Dark-coloured urine
- Hematuria (Red or cocoa colour urine)
- Condition with the presence of red blood cells in urine.
3. URETER STONES
Ureteral stones are kidney stones that have become stuck in one or both ureters, which can block the flow of urine from the kidney to the bladder.
Stones smaller than 4 millimetres (mm) pass on their own almost 80 percent of the time. Stones that are 4–6 mm are more likely to require some sort of treatment, but around 60 percent pass naturally. Stones larger than 6 mm usually need medical treatment to be removed.
Symptoms to identify ureter stones are -
- Severe and intermittent pain in the back, under the lower ribs that can radiate to lower abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
4. KIDNEY FAILURE
Kidney failure is of two types acute or chronic
Acute renal failure or (ARF) is when the kidneys stop working for a short period of time.
Symptoms for acute kidney failure include -
- Swelling in legs, ankle and feet
- Not having enough urine
- Nausea
While, Chronic renal failure or (CRF) is When the kidneys gradually, over a period of time, lose their function.
Common Symptoms includes -
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Shortness of breath
Kidney failure needs medical intervention and there are many treatment options available depending upon the severity of the patient.
5. URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
A urinary tract infection commonly known as UTI is an infection that can affect any part of your urinary system (kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra). UTI is more common to women compared to men. Most of the UTI infections are caused by bacteria.
UTI usually gets treated through medicine.
Common Symptoms to identify if you are suffering from UTI are -
- A strong, persistent urge to urinate
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
- Urine that appears cloudy
- Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-coloured — a sign of blood in the urine
- Strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the centre of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone
6. ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Impotency is another word known for erectile dysfunction (ED), which is defined as the inability of a man achieving an erection during sexual activity.
Symptoms-
- Reduction in sexual desire of an individual
- Trouble in getting an erection
- Trouble in keeping an erection for a longer duration.
Both medical and surgical treatments are available depending upon your condition.
7. KIDNEY CANCER
In Past, kidney Cancer was a dreadful disease as it used to get detected only at the later stage. But in today’s time most of kidney cancer are detected during ultrasound or other imaging studies done for unrelated problems.
Symptoms-
- Pain in the flanks
- Blood in urine
- A palpable mass.
It is always advisable to be vigilant and informed when it comes to your health.
If you have any queries or issues related to kidney disorder, visit Felix hospital and meet the nephrologist/urologist specialist.
To book an appointment visit www.felixhospital.com or you can call 7835999444