MUST READ: KIDNEY HEALTH

Because of the rise in kidney related deaths, I decided to find out what this silent killing disease is all about. And got some interesting knowledge on this illment. Read my findings I know it will help alot.

WHAT IS CKD?

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), also known as chronic renal disease or chronic renal failure, is a progressive condition marked by the gradual loss of kidney function. The kidneys serve as a filter for the body and once damaged they can no longer remove waste and excess liquid from the blood. The kidneys are crucial for the production of blood and the regulation of blood pressure, too. The most common traditional causes of CKD are diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Professional guidelines classify chronic kidney disease into five stages, with stage one being the mildest and stage five the most severe. Stages one and two are classified as reversible kidney damage, while stage three and higher reflect a state of permanent damage. In developing countries, where access to treatment is limited, stages three and four will likely develop into stage five. Without a transplant or effective dialysis, stage five is terminal.

WHAT IS CKDnT?

Chronic Kidney Disease of non-traditional causes (CKDnT) is a different form of progressive, decreased kidney function. Whereas CKD is associated with diabetes, obesity and hypertension, patients who develop CKDnT generally do not have these conditions. CKDnT is associated with heavy labor in hot temperatures, particularly among industrial agricultural workers such as those working in sugarcane production. Additionally, CKDnT often affects young men, many under the age of 30, while CKD is generally diagnosed in older patients of both genders. The location of damage within the kidneys also differs between CKD and CKDnT, indicating different causes of this disease.

Symptoms of CKDnT

Many people with CKDnT are asymptomatic in the early stages of the disease. If present, the early symptoms are nonspecific and may include fatigue and loss of appetite. In the advanced stages of the disease, however, the symptoms are severe. For this reason people often do not realize they have CKDnT until they are already very sick and have sustained irreversible kidney damage. Symptoms of severe kidney damage may include the yellowing of the eyes and skin (as the kidneys are no longer able to filter waste), nausea and vomiting or severe muscle cramps. In the the advanced stages of the disease, as the body loses its ability to expel fluid, there may be swelling in the hands and feet and excess fluid in the lungs. This can make it difficult to breath. Without proper end-of-life care, death from kidney failure is often extremely painful. The experience is traumatic not only for the workers but also for their families who are frequently unable to provide the medical services needed due to the high cost of treatment.

Treatments for CKDnT

There is no cure for CKDnT. In the final stages of the disease, when the kidneys fail, the only life-sustaining treatment is dialysis or transplantation. Unfortunately, both are difficult and expensive processes and are largely unavailable to the thousands of people with CKDnT. The treatment of CKD addresses proximal causes—diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Since those suffering from CKDnT do not have the same underlying conditions, the same recommendations are not viable options for them.