The main job of kidneys is to eliminate toxins, excess water, and waste products from the body and, consequently, keep us healthy. They also regulate blood pressure and minerals (like sodium and potassium) in the blood and produce red blood cells. Any discrepancy in their functioning adversely affects the body. There are several types of kidney conditions, including:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)Nephrotic syndromeRenal stonesUrinary tract infectionCongenital/hereditary diseases like polycystic kidney disease
CKD
CKD, which causes irreversible damage to the kidneys, has become one of the leading kidney problems affecting people worldwide. The kidney function of those suffering from CKD declines over months or years. If CKD is left untreated, it leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which is kidney failure requiring treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant. The leading causes of this kidney problem are diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).
CKD is the most common kidney condition in India. As of 2014,
one in every 10 adults in India had CKD. However, the accurate prevalence of CKD in India is unknown because there's no national registry, no universal access to Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT), and only a few dedicated centres to treat such patients.
Symptoms
Symptoms of CKD depend on its stage:
Stage 1There are typically no symptoms as kidneys function at 90% or higher capacity.
Stage 2In this stage, kidneys function at 60%-89% capacity. You may show nonspecific symptoms, such as itching, weakness, loss of appetite, fatigue, and sleep problems.
Stage 3This stage is divided into stage 3A (kidneys function at 45%-59% capacity) and stage 3B (kidneys function at 30%-44% capacity). Stage 3 symptoms include:-
Swelling in the hands and feet
Back pain
Urinating less or more than usual
Sleep problems
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Persistent itching
Complications may include high blood pressure, anaemia, and bone disease.
Stage 4In stage 4, kidneys have moderate-to-severe damage and are functioning between 15% and 29%. Stage 4 symptoms include the same as those in stage 3 and:
Reduced mental sharpness
Muscle cramps or twitches
Shortness of breath
Nausea and vomiting
Chest pain
Complications can be the same as those in stage 3, along with stroke and heart disease.
Stage 5In stage 5, your kidneys work at less than 15% capacity or you suffer from kidney failure (ESRD). Symptoms of ESRD are an intense form of the ones mentioned above.
Treatment
If your CKD progresses to ESRD, you have two treatment options—dialysis (removing waste products and excess fluids from the blood) or kidney transplant (replacing your failing/failed kidneys with healthy ones). Having
health insurance can be a life saviour if you require any of these—kidney treatment costs in India are high.
Dialysis treatment costs range between Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 20,000 per month, and getting a kidney transplant at private hospitals without health insurance coverage
can cost you anywhere between Rs. 5 lakhs and Rs. 9 lakhs.
Health insurance benefits include financial security if you must undergo any such treatments. Get critical illness insurance to avoid financial concerns if you're diagnosed with CKD/ESRD.
Prevention
Measures that can help keep CKD/ESRD at bay include:
Maintaining a healthy diet, including avoiding excessive salt (sodium) intakeExercising regularly to lower blood pressure and improve muscle functioningControlling glucose and lipids to prevent diabetes/keep diabetes in checkMaintaining a healthy body weight to prevent your kidneys from having to work harder at filtering out toxinsQuitting smoking as smoke slows down the flow of blood to organs like kidneys
Following these tips can lead you to a long and healthy life.
