Kidney disease poses a widespread problem for millions, with cases of some form of this illness rising at an alarming rate. According to estimates, over 35 million people in the United States deal with kidney disease, and nearly a million struggle with kidney failure (also called renal failure), with over half a million on dialysis. Over 100,000 people were diagnosed with it in 2022 alone.
With kidney failure, both of these organs cease to function correctly on their own, and in later stages, medical intervention is necessary to prevent fatal complications. However, with vigilance and proper care, this illness is manageable.
Whether you’re struggling with renal failure or other medical issues, Dr. Melanchton Mangoba and his experienced staff are here for your needs.
The term sounds fatal, but renal failure just refers to kidney dysfunction overall. It isn’t always a long-term problem (acute renal failure), but it can be hazardous if it develops into a chronic illness. Your kidneys perform the task of filtering waste out of your bloodstream in the form of urine, and when they’re not working, that waste builds up in your body and causes problems.
Determining the severity of your issues involves using an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) gathered from blood samples. This helps us understand how well your kidneys are filtering blood during the five stages of renal failure:
Normal kidney function is at GFR 90 or above.
Problems that affect blood flow potentially increase the risk of kidney failure, with diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) being common causes. You can experience issues with acute cases of this problem from events like heart attacks, allergic reactions, and dehydration, and chronic issues also develop from heart disease, liver failure, or scarring of the liver.
Other blood diseases or conditions also lead to kidney failure, including heavy metal poisoning, alcohol or drug abuse, lupus, vasculitis, and multiple myeloma. Several symptoms indicate renal failure, such as producing less urine, fluid retention, sleeping problems, persistent nausea, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, fatigue, and confusion.
Treating this illness means addressing the underlying issues as well as the harmful symptoms that can come with it. If diabetes is causing your kidney issues, for example, once we get that problem under control, your kidneys can improve their function.
Dialysis provides a solution that performs the kidneys' job of purifying the blood by removing waste. This gets accomplished with either a large machine you’re hooked up to or a portable catheter bag. A low potassium and low salt diet is also necessary with this treatment.
A kidney transplant gives you new organs, provided they’re compatible with you. If you’re at the stage where you need a new kidney, you become a candidate for a transplant.
Kidney failure can seem daunting because of the possible complications, but we can help you get through it. Schedule an appointment online or by phone with Dr. Mangoba at his Riverside, California, office to find out what treatments will help you preserve renal function.
