Kidney problems arise when the body is going through some health conditions that decrease the kidneys’ ability to filter out the waste from the blood. If the kidneys are unable to filter out this waste, it may result in many health complications, such as anemia, nerve damage, high blood pressure, and even kidney damage in some severe cases. Let’s look at the major causes of chronic kidney diseases and understand their symptoms and treatment options.

Causes
Two of the main causes for chronic kidney disease involve diabetes and high blood pressure. Due to the high sugar levels in the blood, as is the case in diabetes, the unmanaged blood sugar levels can gradually affect the kidneys along with other organs. High blood pressure is both a cause and an effect of chronic kidney disease, so it is important to keep an eye on this condition.

Some other health conditions that may cause kidney problems include autoimmune diseases like lupus nephritis, inherited diseases like polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, and kidney and urinary tract abnormalities before birth.

Signs and symptoms
Here are some signs of chronic kidney problems one must keep an eye out for:

• Trouble concentrating
• Need to urinate more frequently, especially at night
• Muscle cramps at night
• A poor appetite
• Trouble sleeping
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Puffiness around the eyes, especially in the morning
• Dry, itchy skin
• Excessive fatigue

If one has been noticing these symptoms for a few weeks, then it is important to see a doctor and get a detailed diagnosis of the situation. They may recommend an albumin to creatinine ratio urine test, blood test for creatinine, and also glomerular filtration rate test. These tests will help determine the kidney health and necessary treatment options can be considered after a comprehensive diagnosis.

Treatment and management options
The treatment depends on the cause of the condition, and in some cases, treating the cause can cure the kidney disease. However, in certain cases, finding the exact cure is not possible and only management options can be administered.

• Treating the cause/complication
  The treatment plan is recommended depending on the cause, such as high blood pressure, inflammation, anemia, high cholesterol, high protein levels, and so on. It can include different types of therapies and supplements to help with the condition.

If one’s condition gets severe and treatment is required for end-stage kidney disease, then here are two recommended treatment options.

• Dialysis
  In the process called hemodialysis, there is an artificial machine that helps in removing the waste from the blood along with the extra fluids. In another process called peritoneal dialysis, a thin tube is inserted in the abdomen. This tube fills the abdominal cavity with the dialysis solution, which absorbs the waste and excess fluid, and is then drained from the body.
• Kidney transplant
  This treatment involves surgically replacing the affected kidney with a healthy one with the help of a donor. The transplanted kidneys can come from a living donor or a deceased one; however, the waitlist for kidney transplant can be long. Moreover, after the transplant, some regular treatments are necessary to prevent the new organ from being rejected by the body, so it is important to stay on top of those.