Description

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Renal failure, or kidney failure, is a medical disorder in which the kidneys are unable to perform their normal functions. The kidneys remove waste products and excess fluids from the blood, maintain electrolyte balance, and produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and red blood cell development, all of which are essential for sustaining overall health. When the kidneys are unable to filter waste and excess fluid from the body, it can cause a wide variety of dangerous health issues.
The two most common causes of renal failure are:
- Loss of kidney function that develops rapidly, usually within a few days to a few weeks, and is often reversible is called acute renal failure. Severe infections, dehydration, certain drugs, renal injury, and other medical disorders can all lead to acute kidney failure. Sometimes renal function can be restored in cases of acute kidney failure thanks to prompt medical intervention.
- In the long-term, progressive illness known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), the kidneys' ability to filter blood and carry out their other normal tasks steadily deteriorates. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a gradual decline in kidney function over the course of months or even years, and is frequently linked to diabetes, hypertension, or glomerulonephritis. In the later stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney function might degrade to the point where dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary to sustain life.
Tiredness, swelling (edema), altered urine output, elevated blood pressure, nausea, and confusion are all possible side effects of renal failure. The etiology of kidney failure and whether it is acute or chronic affect how it is treated and managed. However, chronic kidney disease generally necessitates long-term medical treatment, adjustments in lifestyle, and, in extreme cases, renal replacement therapy like dialysis or kidney transplantation. Kidney failure and its related problems can be slowed or avoided entirely with prompt diagnosis and treatment.