Chronic Renal Failure (also called end-stage kidney disease) refers to the slow (usually years) but progressive decline in the kidney’s ability to perform their functions because of irreversible damage brought about by a chronic disease process.
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs, each about four to five inches long, which lie on each side of the spinal column in the abdomen. Their main function is to maintain the normal composition and volume of body fluids and eliminate metabolic waste products. Additionally, they also produce substances called hormones that help regulate some vital processes in the body. Notable among the hormones produced by the kidneys are renin, which help maintain normal blood pressure; and, erythropoietin and thrombopoietin, which control the production of red blood cells and blood platelets, respectively. The kidneys are vital organs. Unless treated, people with non-functioning kidneys will die within days.
The kidneys have a big amount of reserve capacity. In fact, all the functions of the two kidneys can be performed by one normally-functioning one. Yet, kidney disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the Philippines. This is because chronic kidney disease usually manifests no symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. In fact, most people with the condition are not aware of the potential threat to their health until chronic kidney failure has arisen, and by then the only treatment options left are a kidney transplant or dialysis for life. It is estimated that about 10,000 Filipinos develop chronic kidney failure every year.
There are many possible causes of chronic kidney disease. Most of them are conditions that cause slow but progressive destruction of kidney tissue. The more common ones are recurrent infection, kidney abnormalities (e.g. polycystic kidney), diabetes mellitus, hypertension (persistently high blood pressure), stones or other obstructions in the kidney or along the urinary tract, and autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The common signs and symptoms of chronic kidney failure include fatigue, weakness, pallor, malaise, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth and hiccups. Other manifestations of the condition are insomnia, irritability, restlessness, muscle twitching, decreased libido, menstrual irregularities, itchiness, chest pain and tingling sensation of the skin.
Can chronic kidney failure be prevented? Yes, to a certain extent.
Simple tests are available to detect kidney disease very early. These tests include blood pressure determination, urinalysis which should include tests for proteins, and certain blood tests. Everybody will benefit from regularly undergoing these tests. They are a must for those who are at risk of developing chronic kidney disease — people who have diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and those with a family history of chronic kidney disease.
If chronic kidney disease is detected in its early stage, lifestyle changes (e.g., dietary modification and exercise) and appropriate medications can delay or prevent the progression of the disease and stop its complications from developing.
