What causes Kidney Failure?

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• Learning about the root causes of kidney disease can help you get the right treatment and potentially preserve the remaining kidney function.

1. Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney disease, responsible for approximately 44 percent of all kidney failure cases.
2. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is the second leading cause, accountable for about 28%.
3. Glomerulonephritis, a general term for many types of kidney inflammation, as well as
4. Genetic diseases such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD),
5. Autoimmune diseases, birth defects and other problems can also cause kidney disease.

Will my kidneys fail if I have diabetes?

1. Diabetes is a risk factor for renal disease, but it does not mean your kidneys will fail if you have diabetes.
2. You can care for your kidneys by controlling your blood sugar and getting regular urine  microalbumin test to track the early leak of  urine protein.
3. If you develop diabetic kidney disease, you can consult your kidney doctor to keep your kidneys working for as long as possible.
4. Can I catch kidney disease from someone who has it?No. Kidney disease is not contagious.
5. More often than not, kidney disease is caused by diabetes or high blood pressure, conditions that can run in families and Diabetic Kidney Disease too can run in families.
6. If you are a family member of someone who has diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease, it is a good idea to ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, blood sugar and kidney function at your next checkup.
7. I have a family member with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Should I be tested?According to the PKD Foundation®, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) does not skip generations like other genetic diseases.
8. If you have a family member with PKD, ask your doctor about getting tested.
9. The first test used for PKD is an ultrasound to look at the kidneys and see if there are cysts.
10. Learning more about PKD may help you to take better care of your kidney health.
11. Symptoms Kidney failure symptoms from buildup of wastes in the body,
    A metallic taste in the mouth or
    ammonia breath
    Nausea and vomiting
    Difficulty concentrating
    Loss of appetite
    Itchiness (pruritis)
12. Kidney failure symptoms from buildup of fluid in the body
    Swelling of  the face, feet or hands/body
    Shortness of breath (from fluid in the lungs)
    Kidney failure symptoms from damage to the kidneys
    Making more or less urine than usual
    Blood in the urine (typically only seen through a microscope)
    Urine that is foamy or bubbly (may be seen when protein is present in the urine)
13. Kidney failure symptoms from
    Anemia
    Fatigue
    Shortness of breath,
    Weakness
    Mental confusion
14. To determine if the symptoms you have are because of kidney failure, your doctor will perform specific tests:
15. Urinalysis – An examination of a sample of your urine to check for protein, blood and white blood cells in the urine
16. Blood tests – Particularly a test for creatinine and BUN, waste products that healthy kidneys remove from the bloodstream.
17. Take action when you have kidney failure symptoms, Often early kidney problems don't have many symptoms—but if you are experiencing any of the ones mentioned above, you will want to your doctor to determine if your signs are caused by kidney failure.
18. Write down any of the renal failure symptoms you may have and bring that information with you to your next doctor’s appointment.

Ruling out a disease is more often eases you mind, knowing about it sooner allows you to take steps to delay/slow the progress of kidney disease.