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Are you at risk for kidney disease?

How Kidney Function Test can help you to take precautions.

By Yash AroraPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
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Kidney Function Test @Redcliffe Labs

Kidney disease is a long-term condition and indicates that the organ is not working appropriately. It is a common health condition usually related to older people. This health condition can get serious if the right treatment or medication is not taken on time. It can get worse over time and may even stop working completely, however, this is unusual. Most of the time, people can still live with health problems. So, you should get the kidney function test done.

It is important to know that kidney disease is the reflection that this bean-shaped looking organ is damaged and cannot function properly. In science, kidney disease is denoted as Chronic Kidney Diseases or CDK. It is because the problem gets worse with time and leads to the failure of this organ. It is called the final-stage kidney disease and when someone reaches this point, there is the requirement of dialysis or artificial filtering, which is a kidney transplant.

So, if you are unaware of whether your kidneys are working properly or not, then this write-up is for you. Everything will be discussed comprehensively for your understanding.

What are the symptoms of kidney diseases?

Usually, no symptoms can be observed for kidney disease in the early phase. You can only diagnose the problem by getting a certain kidney function test done which includes blood and urine tests. When the problem reaches the advanced stage, here are the symptoms that can be noticed:

You can notice issues like tiredness, swollen ankles, feet, and hands.

Shortness of breath is another noticeable symptom of kidney disease.

You will feel tired and sick every time.

There is always an urge to urinate more often when you have kidney disease.

Blood in the urine or foamy urine is another sign you shouldn’t ignore.

Your skin will always be dry and itchy.

You will also face other problems like trouble sleeping, concentrating, etc.

Numbness, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramping also are noticeable signs of kidney disease.

High blood pressure is one of the vital symptoms to be noticed when you are suffering from kidney disease.

Skin darkening is again the noticeable symptom you must not ignore.

What are the complications of kidney disease?

If you are suffering from kidney disease, there can be certain complications that you must know about, so here are some of them:

Anemia or low red blood cell count is one complication you can face when suffering from kidney disease.

Weak, and fragile bones, including gout, is another risk of kidney disease.

Metabolic acidosis is another problem that is related to the chemical imbalance in your blood caused by CKD.

High blood pressure, heart disease, including enhanced stroke risk, and heart attack are problems you should not ignore when having kidney disease.

High potassium or hyperkalemia, and high phosphorus or hyperphosphatemia are complications related to kidney disease.

Fluid buildup, erectile dysfunctionality, and decreased immune response are also complications to be aware of.

Who is at the risk for kidney disease?

If you are not certain about whether you are at the risk for kidney disease or not, here are some of the risk factors:

Diabetes

Diabetes is one big factor you must know because it enhances the kidney disease risk and is the primary reason for the failure of the kidney. So, it is important to include a healthy diet, timely medications, and exercises in your daily routine to prevent the probability of kidney damage. Don’t think that if you have diabetes, you are completely at risk of kidney failure. If you are following the instructions given by the doctor, you can completely fight against the problem.

High blood pressure

According to the studies, it is found out that high blood pressure is again the primary factor that enhances kidney disease risk and is the second main reason for kidney failure. You must ensure to keep your blood pressure under control as it would assist you with preventing kidney disease.

Family history

It is essential to understand that you can be at risk of kidney disease if your family experienced this health condition in the past. You are more likely to face the problem so make sure to get in touch with professionals who can help you with preventing the disease beforehand.

Age

If you are above the age of 60, then the risk of kidney disease increases. Your kidneys stop working properly as you get older. Most of the old generations have health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure which are the main causes of kidney failure. Hence, it is recommended to ask your doctor so that it becomes easier for you to diagnose the kidney disease signs if there are any beforehand.

Other causes

The most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. But there are other conditions as well which can put you at a high risk of kidney disease and failure. Here are these conditions:

A genetic disease named polycystic kidney disease leads to causing several cysts developing in the kidneys.

Glomerulonephritis is a health problem that involves irritating the small blood vessels present in the kidneys.

Kidney failure also happens because of acute kidney injury due to the reasons such as major injury, blood loss, or some reactions to the medication.

Lupus and IgA nephropathy are autoimmune diseases that cause a problem in the immune system and attack your body including the kidney.

Kidney cancer again is another reason as it develops inside the kidney.

Tips to keep your kidney healthy

Follow these tips as they will assist you to make sure that your kidneys are happy and healthy:

Ensure maintaining your blood pressure below the range of 140/90 mm Hg.

You must ensure staying in the targeted blood sugar range if you have diabetes.

Get yourself indulged in regular activities such as cycling, walking, running, etc. It will help you to maintain the right levels of blood sugar and pressure.

Make sure to get the kidney function test done.

Get in touch with a dietician if you have kidney disease to obtain information on the right and healthy eating plan.

If you are a regular smoker, make sure that you quit this habit as soon as possible. It can lead to damaging your kidney adversely.

You can also consider including the right diagnostic services like Redcliffe Labs as we are offering the best KFT test price in Delhi and kidney doctors to keep a track of your kidney health.

Final say

Knowing and checking your kidney health is very important as it can potentially help protect you from growing irreversible kidney disease. The first step that you can take to protect yourself from the kidney is knowing the risk factors. Once you are aware of the causes, and risks, you should get in touch with the right diagnostic services such as Redcliffe Labs and doctors to get the right treatment and medications.

Redcliffe Labs has been providing diagnostic services for decades and has become one of the renowned and evolving names in the industry. You should reach us to get your kidney function test done. Your tests are performed under the assistance of expert pathologists, lab technicians, and in a state-of-the-art lab. Quality, precision, and timely delivery are maintained under the strict guidelines of NABL and ISO.

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About the Creator

Yash Arora

I’m a part of a leading diagnostic service provider in India. Joined the organization Redcliffe Labs as a Marketing Research Analyst & Content Moderator.

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