HEALTH

Renal failure, causes and symptoms

When one suffers from kidney failure, the kidneys are no longer able to perform their function, i.e. to regulate the water and salt balance, to eliminate acids and waste within the body and to produce hormones.

Kidney failure can be chronic (when it develops slowly over months or years) or acute, when it occurs within a few hours or days, in which case it can also be life-threatening.

Let's find out what the causes and symptoms of this disease can be.

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What is renal failure
When one suffers from kidney failure, the kidneys are no longer able to perform their function, i.e. to regulate the water and salt balance, to eliminate acids and waste within the body and to produce hormones. Kidney failure can be chronic (when it develops slowly over months or years) or acute, when it occurs within a few hours or days, in which case it can also be life-threatening. Let's find out what the causes and symptoms of this disease can be.
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Some possible causes of acute renal failure
Acute renal failure can be caused by many different causes. As in all other cases, seeking medical attention is indispensable in order to obtain a diagnosis, possible treatment and limit serious damage. The many causes include heart failure, liver failure, dehydration, burns, thrombosis of the veins or renal arteries, infections, multiple myeloma, tumours of the urinary tract, kidney stones, and damage to the nerves controlling the bladder.
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Some possible causes of chronic renal failure
Causes of chronic renal failure include high blood pressure, multiple myeloma, prolonged urinary tract obstruction, cholesterol deposits in the renal vessels, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and vesicoureteral reflux.
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Some of the symptoms of acute renal failure
Symptoms of acute renal failure, i.e. that which develops within hours or days, include water retention, swelling of the legs, drowsiness, shortness of breath, fatigue, mental confusion, reduced urine volume, convulsions or coma in severe cases.
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Some of the symptoms of chronic renal failure
In the case of chronic renal failure, the symptoms a person may experience may develop over time and may also be confused with those of other diseases. The most common include loss of appetite, difficulty falling asleep, mental confusion, swollen feet and ankles, constant itching, hypertension, nausea and vomiting, reduced urine output, and involuntary muscle contractions.
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