Kidney Disease Health Feed

Kidney Cancer, more commonly known as renal cancer, first presents itself in the lining of the kidney. It then grows malignant and forms a tumor. The good news is that renal cancer rarely spreads to other organs. The bad news is that the tumors grow quite large before they can be detected.

Causes -
Kidney cancer has been found to occur most often in people who are older than 40 years of age. Though the cause of cancer is not definitively known, there are a few factors that might increase the risk of developing kidney cancer. These include-

1. Obesity - Obesity can cause hormonal changes which in turn can increase the risk of cancer.

2. Smoking - As with any other kind of cancer, nicotine consumption, in the form of smoking cigarettes, increases the risk of developing the disease. In the case of renal cancer, it can, in fact, double the chances.

3. Pain Medications - A prolonged use of pain relievers over a period of time can increase the risk of renal cancer. Certain components of the medication can lead to kidney damage.

4. Genetic history - A medical history of family members, especially siblings, with the disease can significantly increase the risk of kidney cancer.

Symptoms -
In its early stages, kidney cancer remains asymptomatic, but as the tumor grows in size, symptoms begin to present themselves. These symptoms might include the following -

1. Blood in the urine.

2. A gradual loss of appetite leading to weight loss.

3. Persistent pain in your abdomen in conjunction with a lump.

4. A fever that is neither a result of an infection nor a cold, and one that lasts for weeks.

5. Swelling of the legs and ankles.

Treatment -
Treatment for kidney cancer will depend on the size and location of the tumor and whether it has spread to other organs or parts of the body. Therefore, to determine the stage of cancer, diagnostic tests such as biopsy, are performed along with urine and blood tests. After determination of your cancer stage, the doctor will perform either a radical or a partial nephrectomy, where the cancerous tumor is removed along with additional tissues. Often, kidney surgery is followed by a kidney transplant if both the kidneys need to be removed in nephrectomy. However, if nephrectomy does not cure your kidney cancer, then your oncologist may recommend cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation or arterial embolization.

Kidney cancer in its advanced stage is often treated with either biological therapy where your body’s immune system is utilized to fight cancer cells or targeted therapy where drugs are used stop the multiplication of cancer cells by blocking their signals. Due to such advancement in cancer treatment, the rate of success has gone up in recent years but you also need to follow a healthy lifestyle to make sure that the treatment can bring out the desired positive outcomes.

When people suffer from an accident through a high fall or an impact with a blunt object, a blunt abdominal trauma occurs and kidneys are the third most common organs that are impacted by the trauma. Kidney rupture is not much different from a ruptured spleen and it is nothing that cannot be treated.

As you all know, the kidneys are well protected by the ribs and abdominal muscles, but the lower portion of the kidneys are inferior and they are prone to the blunt trauma. Now, if you are not sure whether you have a kidney rupture or not, you should check out for the following symptoms:

1. Hematuria: Hematuria is the most common and easily understood symptom of kidney rupture. Hematuria is a condition, wherein, a person has some blood in the urine. Your urine may appear light pink in colour. However, if the injury is severe, the urine may appear red in colour.
2. Abdominal Pain: An abdominal pain is quite obvious if you have experienced a kidney trauma recently. When you visit a physician for a diagnosis, he will palpate your flank, you may experience some pain and tenderness in the region. The magnitude of the pain depends on how deep is the impact of the injury.
3. Lower Back Pain: Lower back pain is a common complaint in kidney rupture cases. The kidneys are present around the lower back of your body, so when they rupture, a patient experiences lower back pain.
4. Bruising: Few people may experience bruising while others may not. This totally depends on the level of injury. If you have a serious injury then bruising in areas like your abdomen or your lower back is very common and usual. Along with the bruising, a swollen area would be seen as well coupled with pain.
5. Internal Bleeding: In serious cases, people may experience internal bleeding. The worst part is that this cannot be seen until other severe symptoms start to show up. Nausea and vomiting are some of the common symptoms to start with. These may be followed by dizziness and blurred vision. Some people may also experience low blood pressure.
6. Inability to Urinate: Another common symptom is the inability to urinate. This is because when the kidney are hurt, the excretory system stops functioning properly.
7. Fever: Fever is another common symptom experienced by a person who has suffered a kidney rupture. It is the body way of telling you that something is not right.

A CT Scan will reveal whether you have a kidney rupture or not. A kidney rupture can be treated either medicinally or through surgery depending on how serious the injury is. So, in case you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is best to visit a specialist without any delay.

Many of us take the role our kidneys play in keeping us healthy and sturdy for granted. Having your kidneys work well can go a long way keeping you in good shape. You can delay the progression of kidney disease and potentially prevent permanent damage to your kidneys. Here are some things that should be kept in mind in order to protect your kidneys:

1. Keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in target range: High blood sugar and high blood pressure levels harm the nephrons in your kidneys and prevent them from functioning well. So, get tested periodically to monitor your levels. Improving them and keeping them under the target range will help to prevent further complications.
2. Get moving: Being active will get your blood pumping and thereby, boost blood flow to your kidneys. It helps your heart to be fit too. So for your body, exercise is a win-win. It can help to slow the rate of chronic kidney disease. Keep a goal to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
3. Eat less protein: It is good to avoid protein-rich foods as they can stress the kidneys and lead to unnecessary problems. It is important to consume the right amount of protein in your diet and stay away from a meat rich in proteins.
4. Don’t drink soda: Studies have found a positive link between excessive soda drinking and kidney damage. Two or more diet sodas a day can lead to damage and make it progress quicker.
5. Balance your blood pH levels: When the kidneys don’t function right, they fail to keep the acid balance in your body. A low acid diet with natural veggies will help the kidneys to last longer and re stronger. Also, sodium bicarbonate can help protect your kidneys by neutralizing the acid content of your blood. You can mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water and consume it regularly. Consult with your doctor about it.
6. Skip canned foods and processed foods: Stick with natural foods and avoid the artificial foods of fast-food joints, ready-made foods and more as they can contain high levels of sodium and other chemicals that deter the kidney function.
7. Avoid painkillers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause kidney damage. Since kidneys need strong blood flow to function well, certain painkillers reduce blood flow and make things worse if you have kidney disease.
8. Antioxidants to flush out toxins: Consider taking antioxidant foods that can help kidney function and protect your cells.

Follow the above tips and prevent your kidneys from damage to lead a happier and healthier life.

As important as your kidneys are to your overall well-being, symptoms of their malfunction can be less noticeable. Yet, early detection is vital to prevent future complications and permanent kidney damage. Here are eight warning signs to let you know that your detoxifying organ is not working right:

1. High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is the most common sign of kidney disease, all patients suffering from high blood pressure should know there kidney function status. There is a high chance that they might be suffering from kidney disease.
2. Swelling: Fluid retention is a warning sign that something is up with your kidney function. One of the prime function of the kidney is to keep your body balanced and deliver nutrients through proper regulation of water. If the kidney is not working right, fluid can accumulate in your tissues and you will notice swelling in ankles, feet, face, legs or hands.
3. Urine: Afterall, producing urine is one of the main functions of the kidney, so it makes sense to pay attention to your urinary output. If you see the following changes in your urine, then it might signal a kidney problem
   1. Difficulty in urinating
   2. Blood in your urine
   3. Less frequent urination and darker output
   4. Increased urination and light-coloured output
   5. Foamy or bubbly urine
   6. Waking up during the night with an urgent need to go, at times more than once
4. Nausea: Without a proper outlet to disperse the toxins out of your body, your system may feel the need to expel them through other forms. You may feel nauseated or even vomit due to excessive toxin build-up in your system.
5. Fatigue: Everyone has a day when they feel tired, but long-term fatigue is definitely not right. Tiredness or fatigue is produced by a lack of hormone called EPO or erythropoietin that stimulates the production of red blood cells. Stressed kidneys do not produce enough erythropoietin, thereby making you feel very tired.
6. Itchy Rashes: When the garbage piles up in the system, it can result in itchy patches in your skin. Unlike normal rashes, these are deep and topical treatment will not help that much. At times they can also manifest as small red bumps.
7. Anaemia: If kidneys do not produce enough red blood stimulating EPO, it can lead to anemia. Anemia can make you feel dizzy or winded out.
8. Poor Appetite and Bad Taste in Mouth: The excessive build-up of toxins can cause a metallic taste in your mouth, producing bad breath. Your sense of taste can also fall because of this, leading to a dull appetite.

It is always a good idea to heed early warning signs and prevent damage. So, pay attention to these signs and keep your renal system up.