Kidney disease is a chronic disease spreading at an alarming rate. Statistics show that it is increasing every year at a rate of six to eight percent. Chronic kidney disease is a chronic and progressive disease. The most challenging part of this disease is to have it diagnosed in time to seek a professional advice.
It may take years for the damage to become noticeable. It also known as a silent killer. Chronic kidney disease goes through several stages, with the final stage being end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), also referred as end-stage renal failure (ESRD).
The main cause of this disease is type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Having both can cause a serious damage to the kidneys. The damage to the nephrons is slow and in the early stages does not cause any symptoms.
In some cases, it could be sudden, occurring due to an infection, injury or toxin ingestion.
When the nephrons are damaged, they lose their effectiveness as blood filters and the body is no longer able to get rid of waste products, toxins and water on its own. This starts to build up in the blood.
The buildup of water and waste products called uremia and it causes swelling in hands and feet and fatigue. Untreated uremia could cause loss of mental function, seizure or even coma or death.
Improper kidney function can also cause several other problems. For instance, not regulate blood pressure or essential metabolites and nutrients in the body.
One of the most common consequences of kidney damage is cardiovascular disease. In fact, eventually, most people with kidney damage die because of heart disease. Kidney damage causes fluid to build up in the lining around the heart causing pericardial disease, which is also a common consequence of diabetes.
Because kidney disease does not have symptoms in the early stages, it is important to get annual checkups. A urine test is often the first method that spots the signs of kidney damage, by detecting excess protein in the urine.
If caught early, kidney disease is very treatable. Treatment can help to stop the disease from progressing and causing further damage to your kidneys.
The use of natural remedies in cases of kidney damage can be very effective. Herbs and nutrients have shown to both treat the cause of kidney damage and even reverse kidney damage. When combined with the correct diet and lifestyle changes, the use of natural remedies means that kidney damage does not have to be progressive.