Kidney failure happens when one or both of your kidneys are no longer able to function normally on their own. This means that they are unable to filter out toxins, blood and waste products out of your body. Kidney failure can be of two types:
- Acute Kidney Failure
This is temporary, develops quickly, and occurs when kidneys suddenly stop filtering waste products from your blood.
- Chronic Kidney Disease
This is a long-term condition that progresses slowly, and results in permanent loss of kidney function.
Out of all the kidney diseases, kidney failure is the most severe. If you experience any symptoms of kidney failure, visit the Best Nephrologist in Lahore at your earliest to receive the best possible treatment. Immediate medical intervention is extremely crucial in case of kidney failures as without it, patients can only survive for a few days or weeks at max.
Treatment for Acute Kidney Failure
In order to treat acute kidney failure, it is important for doctors to identify the illness that damaged the kidneys in the first place. Once the cause is determined, treatment begins. There is an array of treatment options for kidney failure, some of them are:
- Dialysis
Dialysis is a procedure that removes toxins, excess fluid and waste products from your blood. The process takes place through a machine that pumps blood out of the body, cleans it, and pumps it back in. Dialysis also helps remove excess potassium from the blood, and goes on till your kidneys recover.
- IV Fluids
If your kidney disease is caused by a lack of fluids in your body, then your physician will recommend IV fluids to balance the amount of fluids. On the other hand, if you have edema, your doctor will recommend medications to expel excess fluid from your body.
- Medications to Control Blood Potassium
If your kidneys are unable to filter potassium from your blood, your doctor will prescribe medications containing glucose, sodium polystyrene sulfonate and calcium to prevent potassium’s accumulation. An excess of potassium in the blood can be extremely harmful as it can cause muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat.
- Medications for Blood Calcium Levels
Acute kidney failure can cause the calcium level in the blood to drop staggeringly low, which is why doctors may prescribe calcium infusion or oral supplements to regulate its area levels.
Aside from these treatments, you can also make adjustments to your diet. Some ways to do that would be by avoiding foods with too much potassium, added salt and phosphorus.
Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney diseases often have no cure, and treatments are centered around slowing the progression of the disease, reducing further complications and controlling the symptoms of the disease. One way of doing so is by controlling the cause of the disease. Treatments include:
- Medications to Treat Anemia
These supplements boost the production of red blood cells in the body, which can help you stay more active and stronger.
- Medications to Strengthen Bones
Chronic kidney failure can cause weak bones that are prone to breaking easily. Calcium and vitamin D supplements help prevent them and lower the risk of fracture.
- Medications for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a common cause for this disease. Medications to lower blood pressure can help preserve kidney function.
Aside from these, your physician can also recommend medications to lower your cholesterol levels in order to reduce the risk of heart disease. Prescriptions that help reduce swelling are also recommended often. Additionally, a diet with lower protein helps by reducing the work of your kidneys.
If your kidneys are severely damaged, Dr. Aijaz Ahmed may recommend end stage treatments. These include:
- Dialysis
As mentioned above, dialysis removes waste products from the blood artificially. There are two types of dialysis:
- Hemodialysis
A machine filters toxins and excess fluid from the blood.
- Peritoneal dialysis
A thin tube containing a dialysis solution is inserted into the abdomen. The solution then absorbs waste products, and after some time, is drained from your body.
- Kidney Transplant
This requires a surgery where your kidney is removed and replaced with a healthy one, sourced from a donor. Living donors are mostly family members. Once you have a kidney transplant, dialysis is no longer needed.
