Chronic Kidney Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments — NU Hospitals

According to a study, non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease) have replaced communicable diseases (such as influence, malaria, or AIDs) as the most common causes of premature death worldwide. An estimated 80% of this burden occurs in low- or middle-income countries, and 25% is in people younger than 60 years.

The term ‘chronic kidney disease’ defines the everlasting damage which may worsen over time, leading to complete failure. This is called kidney failure or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). You will need a kidney transplant or dialysis in order to survive. We, at NU Hospitals provide chronic kidney disease treatment in Bangalore.

What causes Chronic Kidney Disease?

Though kidney failure can occur in anyone, some people are at a higher risk than others. The risk factors are below:

· Uncontrolled diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) over the years is the major cause for kidney failure.

· People who suffer from hypertension are at a higher risk for chronic kidney disease.

· A blocked renal artery can cause the kidney to fail, due to no blood circulation.

· If you have a family member who suffers from a kidney disease, it increases your chances for kidney damage.

· Infections in the kidney may worsen if not taken care of

· People aged over 60, are more prone to problems in kidney function.

How to know if you have Chronic Kidney Disease?

The signs and symptoms usually take a while to show, and the condition gets worse gradually. You may get to notice the effects of the later stages of CKD, as you are nearing kidney failure.

Some of the symptoms will include the following:

• Dry skin and itching
• Suppressed appetite
• Sleeplessness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swollen ankles and feet
• Dehydration
• Frequent urination
• Fever
• Abdominal and back pain
• Breathlessness

Noticing one or many of these signs could be a sign of serious kidney issues. Hence, it is advised to consult your doctor right away.

How does CKD affect your system?

Kidneys are a major part of keeping your body healthy. Thus, when you are diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease you might have problems with how the rest of your body functions. Some of the common complications include heart disease, excess potassium and calcium, bone disease, anemia and fluid buildup. NU Hospitals specializes in providing the best kidney failure treatment in India.

How to treat CKD?

The existing damage to your kidney cannot be fixed. But, taking small steps and making some changes will slowly and steadily make your kidney as healthy as possible. These steps may help you from stopping the damage from getting worse;

· It is essential to control your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.

· Follow a low-salt healthy diet.

· Avoid cigarettes and tobacco

· Limit your alcohol intake

· Maintain a healthy weight

· Keep a healthy blood pressure

For More Info: www.nuhospitals.com

Top 10 Healthy Foods for Kidney Patients - NU Hospitals

Responsible for filtering excess water, waste products and impurities out of the blood make kidneys essential for having a healthy body. But when kidneys get damaged and lose their functionality, they give rise to various kidney diseases. These diseases may lead to a number of health problems such as nerve damage, malnutrition, swollen feet and hands, and heart diseases. NU Hospitals is the best kidney hospital in India offering treatments to patients worldwide.

A study published in The Times Of India, states that “17% of urban Indians have kidney disease,” due to rising hypertension and diabetes problems. The doctors even found out that a majority of individuals diagnosed with different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) had not undergone any kidney function test before. NU Hospitals, our kidney care hospital in Bangalore will help you diagnose and treat any kind of kidney disease.

Eating the right foods will help the kidney and the rest of the organs function better and more optimally. Food s rich in natural antioxidants and Vitamin C boost kidney health. Let us take a look at 10 of these top healthy foods you can incorporate in your diet regime:

1. Cabbage: It is packed with phytochemicals that break up free radicals before allowing any damage. Also, it is a great source of Vitamin B6, C and K and fiber. Being low in potassium makes it the best addition to the kidney diet.

2. Egg whites: Having low phosphorous content and high quality protein, is the reason egg whites are the perfect partner for your kidney’s health. You can consume them in form omelettes, sandwiches or consume hard-boiled eggs without the yolk.

3. Red bell peppers: These vegetables are an excellent source of Vitamin C and A, folic acid and fiber. You can eat red bell peppers raw with a dip, as a snack or include them in a salad.

4. Garlic: The antioxidant properties of garlic can effectively reduce the chances of both kidney and heart disease. Eating one or two raw garlic cloves daily on an empty stomach may reduce inflammation in the body.

5. Fish: Omega-3 fats present in the fish have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help fight major diseases of the heart and cancer and reduce bad cholesterol in the body.

6. Olive Oil: Olive oil is rich in oleic acid which is effective in preventing inflammation and oxidation.

7. Berries: All kinds of berries including strawberries, cranberries, raspberries and blueberries are good for your kidneys. They have a high content of manganese, vitamin C, fiber and folate which makes them an ideal component in your diet. You can choose to eat them in fresh, frozen or dried form.

8. Onions: The powerful antioxidants present in onions help in detoxifying and cleansing the kidneys, ultimately preventing many types of kidney-related problems. Eating raw onions can help treat kidney stones naturally.

9. Cauliflower: It contains surplus amounts of Vitamin C, folate and fiber and compounds like indoles, glucosinolates and thiocyanates which relieve the liver of toxic substances. You can eat it raw, with salads or dips.

10. Apples:  Helping in reducing cholesterol, preventing constipation, apples are good for detoxifying and cleansing the kidneys. High in fiber and anti-inflammatory compounds, an apple a day may indeed keep the doctor away.

For More Info: www.nuhospitals.com

Get Treated With the Best Nephrologists in Bangalore – NU Hospitals

Nephrology is a specialty of medicine concerned with the anatomy of kidneys; i.e. study of kidney functions, accessing kidney problems and preserving kidney health through diet and treatments. General nephrology at NU Hospitals India deals with the treatment and management of nephritic syndrome, acute nephritic syndrome, acute renal failure and chronic renal failure. Although, Diabetic Nephropathy is the most commonly encountered chronic kidney disease at our nephrology hospital in Karnataka, we address all other kinds of acute renal failure as well. For children being diagnosed with kidney diseases we have a team of highly experienced paediatric nephrologists in Bangalore who carry out both general and surgical procedures to treat these issues. Early detection of kidney diseases is vital in order to prevent the complications from getting worse.

Know the conditions treated below:

• Nephrotic Syndrome: it is a condition where the patient develops swelling in the legs and face, while having excess protein excretion with the urine. A kidney biopsy helps to find out the root cause of this condition.
• Acute Nephritic Syndrome: It is commonly found in children. It initiates with a sore throat or a skin infection, eventually developing red urine (due to the presence of blood in the urine), along with face and leg swelling and high blood pressure. It takes a short while to clear up by itself, usually a few days or weeks.
• Acute Renal Failure: It is a reversible complication of kidney failure, wherein the kidneys suddenly can’t filter waste from the blood. Mostly caused by dehydration, due to recurrent lose motions, vomiting, bacterial/viral infections, side effects of certain drugs or blockage in the urine passage.
• Chronic Renal Failure:
  As the name suggests, this refers to irreversible kindey failure, when the kidneys lose their functional abilities completely. While the most common cause is diabetes mellitus, it can also be caused by hypertension, genetic disorders, recurrent urinary tract infections and prolonged usage of painkillers.

The broad service of general nephrology at NU Hospitals includes hospital services for patients with acute or chronic kidney diseases in addition to other ailments they may have. It is pivotal to know the cause of the kidney disease for preventing any further damage. Thus, our nephrologists mainly focus on investigating the disease, to avoid any further escalation in the condition.