Try to think of the kidneys as the filters of the body. Together with the nephrons (the smallest functional units of the kidney) they perform a number of very important tasks, including purifying the blood and retaining minerals, such as electrolytes. An imbalance in the filtration process can promote the presence of proteins, metabolic waste products or an excessive amount of minerals in the urine. In these cases, various problems could arise, such as stones, kidney infections or chronic kidney disease. Sometimes, in the early stages of kidney disease, the patient may be completely asymptomatic.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Identifying Kidney Stones
Step 1. Learn about kidney stones (nephrolithiasis)
They are small fragments of calcified salts and minerals that form in the kidneys. Some stones remain in these organs, while others break off and are excreted in the urine. Passing can cause pain, but usually does not result in permanent damage.
Sometimes, the body expels smaller stones without you realizing it, other times it has a harder time hunting out the larger ones
Step 2. Look out for kidney stone symptoms
You may experience severe pain along the sides and back, under the ribs, near the groin and in the lower abdomen. Since the stones move, the pain can be intermittent and vary in intensity. You may also experience some of the following symptoms:
- Pain when urinating
- Pink, red, or brown colored urine that is cloudy and foul-smelling
- Nausea and vomit;
- Constant urge to urinate and frequent urination (albeit in small quantities)
- Fever and chills (if you also have an infection)
- Difficulty finding a comfortable position (for example, sitting down, getting up, and lying down).
Step 3. Consider your risk factors
Men are more likely than women to develop kidney stones, and non-Hispanic white males are usually more likely to develop kidney stones within this category. Being overweight, obesity, dehydration, or a diet high in sugar, sodium, and protein can also increase the risk.
The likelihood of developing kidney stones is higher if you have already suffered from it or there are other cases in your family
Step 4. Get a medical diagnosis
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and order blood and urine tests for you. He will check if calcium, uric acid or minerals can lead to stone formation. You may also use imaging techniques (such as x-rays, CT scans, or ultrasounds). This way, your doctor can check for kidney stones.
Your doctor may ask you to collect urine to analyze kidney stone fragments and determine the cause of their formation, especially if you often suffer from kidney stones
Step 5. Follow the treatment recommendations.
If you have any small kidney stones, you should be able to clear them on your own by drinking plenty of water, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, or taking prescription medications to help the urinary tract muscles relax.
- If they are larger or are damaging the urinary tract, the urologist may use a device that generates shock waves to break them up or surgically remove them.
- If over-the-counter medications aren't enough, your doctor may prescribe some other pain reliever.
Part 2 of 3: Identifying a Kidney Infection
Step 1. Learn about kidney infections (pyelonephritis)
Some bacteria can enter and reproduce in the urinary tract, compromising kidney function. In rarer cases, they can travel to the kidneys by traveling in the bloodstream. The infection can affect one or both kidneys.
The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, bladder, ureters (tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder) and urethra
Step 2. Look out for symptoms of a kidney infection
The first indication of a problem may be difficulty urinating. For example, you might run to the bathroom, feel pain when urinating, and feel the urge again even if you've just cleared your bladder. Other symptoms of a kidney infection include:
- Fever;
- Vomiting or nausea
- Chills;
- Back pain, side or groin pain
- Abdominal pain;
- Frequent urination;
- Pus or blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Mental confusion and delirium, or other uncommon symptoms, especially in the elderly.
Step 3. Learn about the risk factors
Because a woman's urethra (the tube from which urine comes out) is shorter than a man's, bacteria can travel more easily, causing an infection. In addition to the female component, other factors increase the risk of infection:
- Weak immune system;
- Damage to the nerves near the bladder
- Having a body that blocks the urinary tract (such as a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate)
- Urine returning to the kidneys.
Step 4. Know when to seek medical attention
If you have symptoms of a kidney infection, you should contact your doctor. Since this condition requires medical attention, it is best to get a diagnosis immediately. Your doctor will order urinalysis and possibly an ultrasound to check for kidney damage.
He may also order blood tests to check for bacteria and urine tests to see if there is any blood
Step 5. Follow the treatment recommendations
Since kidney infection is caused by bacteria, you will likely be prescribed a course of antibiotics. Typically, you need to take them for about a week. In severe cases, you may be hospitalized despite taking antibiotics.
Always complete your antibiotic treatment, even if you start to feel better. If you stop before the recommended time, there is a risk that the bacteria will reappear more resistant to the drug
Part 3 of 3: Identifying Chronic Kidney Disease
Step 1. Learn about chronic kidney disease (CKD)
The kidneys can fall ill suddenly or as a result of damage from another disease. For example, hypertension and diabetes can impair their functionality. If the changes are severe enough, chronic kidney failure can develop. This usually occurs over several months or years.
You could develop severe kidney failure if the nephrons lose their ability to filter blood. Other problems (such as stones, infections, or trauma) can also damage the nephrons
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms of chronic kidney disease
Since this condition takes time to develop, symptoms may not be visible until it reaches an advanced stage. Therefore, pay attention to the symptom set of chronic kidney disease:
- Increased or decreased urination;
- Exhaustion;
- Nausea;
- Itching and dryness of the skin spread throughout the body;
- Obvious traces of blood in the urine or dark, foamy urine
- Muscle cramps and spasms
- Edema or swelling around the eyes, feet and / or ankles
- Confusion;
- Difficulty breathing, concentrating or sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness.
Step 3. Consider your risk factors
If you have had hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease in your family, your risk of developing chronic kidney disease may be higher. African-American, Hispanic, and Native American subjects are also more likely. Since the genetic component plays a very important role in some kidney diseases, the incidence of this pathology within the family may indicate a higher risk. Also, you should tell your doctor about the medications you are taking, as some can impair the kidneys, especially with prolonged use.
The risk of kidney disease is highest after age 60
Step 4. Know when to see your doctor
It is easy to assume that other health conditions may be causing the symptoms, so if you are experiencing certain symptoms, you should see your doctor to determine the etiological factors. Annual checks are important to identify the possible onset of kidney disease (even before the onset of symptoms).
It would also be a good idea to report any cases that have occurred in your family and any concerns you may have about the function of your kidneys to your doctor
Step 5. Get diagnosed with chronic kidney disease
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and order blood, urine, and imaging tests. The latter will show him any abnormalities of the kidneys, while blood and urine tests may reveal whether these organs have difficulty filtering waste products of metabolism, proteins or nitrogen present in the blood.
- He may also prescribe you to check the glomerular filtration rate through blood tests to see how the nephrons work.
- Additionally, they may prescribe a kidney biopsy to determine the cause or extent of kidney disease.
Step 6. Follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor
Once the cause of kidney disease has been determined, you will need to follow the therapy indicated by your doctor. For example, if your symptoms are related to a bacterial infection, you will need to take antibiotics. However, if it is chronic kidney disease, the doctor is likely to prefer to treat the complications. In severe cases, such as kidney failure, options include dialysis or kidney transplantation.
- To treat the complications of chronic kidney disease, doctors may prescribe drugs to control high blood pressure, treat anemia, lower cholesterol, relieve swelling, and protect bones.
- It may also ban you from taking certain medications, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or other NSAIDs.
