Kidney disease can easily be missed because the signs are not very specific. However, it may be irreversible.
Located on either side of the spine, in the lumbar region, the kidneys are vital organs which are part of theUrinary System. This also includes the bladder, the ureters which connect the kidneys to the bladder, and the urethra which connects the bladder to the outside. The kidneys are bean-shaped and measure respectively 12 centimeters high, 6 centimeters wide and 3 centimeters thick. They weigh 100 to 150 grams each. They perform two main functions: urine production and the blood filtration. Like any organ, they can malfunction. “When we talk about kidney dysfunction, we are really talking about chronic kidney disease or d‘renal failure depending on the stage” defines Dr. Vincent Hupertan, urological surgeon. Chronic kidney disease is characterized by a slow, progressive decrease and irreversible of renal function. Kidneys are no longer able to properly filter the blood of the organism. When this phenomenon worsens, it is a question of chronic kidney failure. In the absence of treatment, this can go as far as death. complete loss of kidney function. “The two main causes that can lead to chronic kidney failure are diabetes and thehigh blood pressure. The importance of screening in these patients is essential to delay the progression of the disease.”
Persistent fatigue, paleness…
Chronic kidney disease remains silent for a long time because the signs it causes are not specific. “It is often discovered by chance, during a blood test carried out for another reason, in particular the fatigueor the chronic disease monitoring such as diabetes or hypertension” indicates the urological surgeon. It is diagnosed by a blood and urine analysis. More precisely, by measuring albuminuria in the urine and serum creatinine in the blood. Elevated creatine and the presence of protein in the urine help confirm the diagnosis. THE signs of a malfunction may include:
- Great fatigue
- A pallor
- Anemia
- Cramps
- Digestive disorders
- Itching lesions on the skin
- Sleep problems
“The frequency of urine is not suggestive of kidney dysfunction”
“Moreover, note that the frequency of urine is not suggestive of kidney dysfunction. thirst is also not a symptom of kidney failure. We can’t say “I have signs of kidney failure so I’m going to see the doctor” because there are no specific signs that can guide us.”, would like to clarify Dr. Vincent Hupertan. The treatment of kidney dysfunction consists primarily of treat the disease that causes it. Most often, a medical treatment is administered for control blood sugar in case of diabetes and antihypertensives are prescribed against high blood pressure. L’self-monitoring of blood pressure is also recommended. Progression of kidney disease results in a form of end-stage renal failure which involves dialysis even a kidney transplant. “In addition, hygienic and dietary measures must be respected. This involves in particular the fact of limit salt and protein consumptionas well as by the fact of drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day to facilitate the work of the kidneys. Finally, the regular practice of physical activity plays a vital role in preventing the progression of the disease.underlines the specialist.
Thanks to Dr Vincent Hupertan, urological surgeon in Paris, author of the podcasts Prostate minute and 1001 vasectomies