Acute Kidney Failure: Symptoms, Causes, And Measures That May Help Prevent It

[LoShiNi]

What is acute kidney failure?

Acute kidney failure (also called acute kidney injury or acute renal failure) is a sudden loss of kidney function that can have many different causes and vary in severity. It is usually a result of another serious health problem, but can also develop in seemingly healthy individuals. Timely treatment increases the chances of complete or nearly complete recovery. And if you want to prevent any problems with kidneys, it’s better to avoid the following 5 things:


What are the symptoms of acute kidney failure?

In some cases, the condition shows no symptoms and can be detected accidentally when you get lab tests for a different reason. But in most cases, symptoms are present and include:

- decreased urination


- swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet (due to fluid retention);

- drowsiness and/or extreme tiredness;

- shortness of breath;

- confusion;

- nausea and vomiting;

- pain in the abdomen and back;

- chest pain or pressure;

- in severe cases, seizures or coma.

You should visit your doctor if you have symptoms described above.


What causes acute kidney failure?

Decreased or blocked blood flow to the kidneys can lead to kidney failure. It can be caused by:

- liver failure;

- heart failure;

- infection;

- use of certain NSAIDs and blood pressure medications;

- blood or fluid loss;

- severe burns;

- severe dehydration.

Urine blockage can also cause acute kidney failure. Conditions that cause urine blockage include:

- certain types of cancer, such as bladder, colon, cervical, and prostate cancer;

- blood clots in the urinary tract;

- enlarged prostate;

- kidney stones;

- nerve damage in the bladder.


Many different conditions can damage the kidneys and cause acute kidney failure to develop. These conditions include:

- blood clots;

- cholesterol plaques;

- glomerulonephritis (inflamed kidney filters), which can be caused by diseases, such as lupus, and medications, e.g. antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs;

- vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels;

- toxins, e.g. alcohol, heavy metals, and cocaine.



What are the factors that increase the risk of acute kidney failure?

Conditions described above increase the risk of acute kidney failure. Other factors that raise the risk include:

- prolonged hospital stay, especially in intensive care;

- old age;

- diabetes;

- high blood pressure;

- heart failure;

- chronic kidney or liver disease;

- blockages in blood vessels in your limbs (due to peripheral artery disease).



How can I prevent or at least reduce the risk of acute kidney failure?

To decrease the risk of acute kidney failure, you can take the following steps:

- take over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, strictly as described in the instruction or advised by your doctor;

- if you have a condition that puts you at a higher risk of acute kidney failure, follow you doctor’s recommendations to manage it properly and ask him or her about extra measures you can take to protect your kidneys;

- make healthy lifestyle changes: stay physically active, eat a balanced diet, and limit your consumption of alcohol.