Kidney problems must be monitored, treated

Diabetics, and those with other chronic diseases, are usually acutely aware of their kidney health.

But kidney damage can also occur from heart attack, high blood pressure, urinary tract problems, and even accident.

If your doctor suspects kidney damage, it is critical to work with a doctor to monitor and treat the condition, according to the American Kidney Fund.

An injury or chronic disease can compromise kidney function. Diabetes is the most common culprit, followed by high blood pressure. Other issues include as lupus, genetic diseases, urinary tract problems, and nephrotic syndrome.

Acute failure, an event that happens within two days, can be caused by drug use, heart attacks, and lack of blood flow, but might be reversed by treating the underlying cause.

Living with chronic kidney disease or failure can mean dealing with itching, muscle cramps, nausea, swelling, trouble sleeping, and irregular urine production as the kidney’s become less and less able to filter excess toxins and potassium from the blood in the body.

Once diagnosed, it is critical to work with a doctor to determine the overall health of the kidney. The most common treatments treat and purify the blood in the body. Hemodialysis runs blood through a machine-powered filter. Peritoneal dialysis uses a cleaning solution called dialysate through the lining of the abdomen to clear the blood.

Alongside active treatments, doctors will often recommend a special diet avoiding potassium, added salt, phosphorus, and extra protein that are processed in the kidneys that can help improve kidney function by making them work less.

Added salt is often found in processed meats, cheeses, fast foods and even canned versions of otherwise healthy vegetables.

While current treatment options and changes to diet can help extend life dramatically, they do not represent a permanent solution.

New treatments on the horizon for chronic kidney disease revolve around curing or preventing the conditions that lead to kidney failure, and kidney transplants remain the best long-term option for dealing with kidney failure.