Healthy kidneys filter the blood, removing waste and excess salt and water. They also help the body to produce red blood cells, control blood pressure, and maintain strong bones.
Renal failure means kidneys are damaged and unable to perform their usual functions what has happened is:
- Kidney function has dropped below 15 percent of normal
- Kidneys do not function well enough on their own for survival
There may be no early symptoms of renal failure because the condition can progress slowly in the beginning.
As renal failure progresses, symptoms may include:
- Swelling in the legs, feet, or ankles
- Tiredness during the day
- Itching
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Loss of sense of taste
- Little or no urine production
- Muscle cramps, weakness, or numbness
- Pain, stiffness, or fluid in the joints
- Confusion, trouble focusing, or memory problems
What Causes Renal Failure?
Renal failure is a result of damage to the kidneys, which may be caused by:
- Certain diseases
- Physical injury
How Is Renal Failure Diagnosed?
Early renal disease often has no symptoms, so patients with certain health conditions should be checked regularly for kidney problems, including those who have:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- A family history of kidney failure
Kidney disease and renal failure are diagnosed with:
- A blood test called glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that checks how well the kidneys filter the blood
- A urine test to check for albumin, a protein that may pass into urine when kidneys are damaged
What Is the Treatment for Kidney Failure?
There is no cure for renal failure, but treatments can help slow the progression of the disease and may help patients feel better.
The three main options to treat kidney failure include:
- Dialysis
- Hemodialysis
- A machine to moves the blood through a filter outside the body to remove waste
- Peritoneal dialysis
- The lining of the abdomen is used to filter blood inside the body to remove waste
- Hemodialysis
- Kidney transplant
- Conservative management to treat kidney failure without dialysis or a transplant (also called comprehensive conservative care, supportive care, nondialytic care, comfort care, or palliative care)
- The goal is to provide quality of life while patients avoid hospital stays and other medical procedures
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https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/what-is-kidney-failure
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/KidneyFailure
https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/stages-of-chronic-kidney-disease/