Why I write this Hub

There are three ailments I have come to be afraid of recently after getting information on their destructive powers.

One of them is stroke because my Dad suffered it. A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood supply) caused by thrombosis or embolism or due to a hemorrhage.

The other is hypertension [high blood pressure] while the last is kidney failure (renal failure) because a close family friend lost a son of over 30 years of age to it in August 2008.

On August 12, 2008, a friend put a call across to me that Dan has been rushed to the teaching hospital. I was shocked to discover when I got to the hospital that Dan had gone into coma.

The mom was crying profusely and the whole house was thrown into mourning when Dan was diagnosed of a kidney problem.

Before that incident, I knew little or nothing about kidney failure. I have always seen it as an abstract ailment which is rare among us but I was mistaken.

Unfortunately, Dan died at the hospital after few weeks. This is the case of several other families as many people lie at the hospitals in pains as a result of kidney problem.

I also noticed that the ailment is becoming more pronounced now than ever.

In my curiosity I decided to approach some doctors in this specialist area at the hospital for an understanding of kidney failure to protect myself from being the next victim.

This is the reason behind writing this hub-to share my discussions and findings with you.

What is kidney or renal failure?

Kidney failure is the sudden loss of the kidney’s ability to perform their main function which is eliminating excess fluid and waste material from the blood.

Types of kidney failure

• Acute kidney failure

This may occur when there is a sudden massive loss of body fluid due to injury, accident or poisoning, use of medications toxic to the kidney

• Chronic kidney failure

This occurs when a disease gradually destroys the kidney over several years usually with no symptoms until kidney function is less than one-tenth of normal.

What factors are responsible for kidney failure?

Prevention they say is better than cure. The doctors mentioned the following factors as the causes of kidney failure:

• Stress

• Chronic infection

• high salt intake

• eating foods high in carbohydrates

• exposure to hydrocarbon compound

• lack of adequate healthcare

• using fake and adulterated drugs

• use of analgesics [An analgesic (also known as a painkiller) is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain (achieve analgesia)]

A Nephrologist, Dr. Ebun said that 2kg of analgesics used over 2 years could induce analgesic neuropathy, a precursor to kidney failure.

• Failure to exercise the body

• Obstruction to urine

• Use of bleaching creams-the medical expert said that kidney failure has been found to be associated with exposure to heavy metals like mercury, which are the active agents used in the manufacture of most bleaching creams.

• In other words, those who use bleaching creams are predisposed to kidney failure than those who do not.

Primary Ailments that Induce kidney Problem

The doctors told me that there are basically 3 primary ailments that induce kidney failure.

• High blood pressure

Dr. Moses once said that having high blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart diseases, stroke or kidney problem.

Blood pressure is the fore imparted by the heart to the arteries due to flowing blood.

• Diabetes

• Chronic infections like hepatitis B, malaria trigger the excessive production of certain antibodies that put the kidney under pressure reducing their functional abilities.

Common symptoms of failing Kidney

• Pains at the loins
• Low urine output
• Blood in the urine
• Impotence
• Low libido
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Swollen legs, ankles, feet, face and/or hands
• Loss of appetite
• Severe itching because of build up of wastes in your blood.
• Bad breath as a result of uremia [A toxic condition resulting from kidney disease in which there is retention in the bloodstream of waste products normally excreted in the urine. Also called azotemia or condition resulting from advanced stages of kidney failure in which urea and other nitrogen-containing wastes are found in the blood.]
• Loss of weight due to loss of appetite
• Difficulty in breathing

Can Kidney Failure be prevented?

This is where I paid the most attention. If kidney failure is so destructive, can it be checkmated? The doctors outlined the following preventive measures

• avoid foods very rich in salt because they take you to hypertension.
• make friend with vegetables
• reduce your consumption of foods high in cholesterol such as fatty and oily foods
• exercise that body regularly to burn excessive fats
• go for regular medical checks especially for hypertension and diabetes
  

It is wise to avoid these health dangers than to suffer the pains of sudden death as a result of kidney failure.

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