Types Of Kidney Disease - Which Do You Have?

The term "kidney disease" can refer to any type of condition that greatly reduces the functioning of the kidneys. Some forms of kidney disease are acute, which means that the damage is sudden and symptoms reveal themselves very quickly. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that the decline in the kidney function is slow and progressive. Many people live with CKD for years without being aware that the kidneys are the source of their health problems, as there are few or no symptoms in the initial stages of CKD.

Both types of kidney disease, chronic and acute, can be due to auto-immune disorders, ingested toxins that the kidney has been forced to try to filter out, pharmaceutical medications, or infections. Certain other diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, put extra stress on the kidneys and can cause them to function below par, eventually contributing to CKD.

One of the kidneys functions is to separate wastes, which we eliminate in our urine, from the important materials that need to be put back onto our bloodstream. Proteinuria, a result of many types of kidney disease, occurs when protein, mostly albumin, leaks out into the urine causing our protein levels in our blood to become too low. We need protein in our blood to keep fluid inside the blood vessels, and without it the fluid leaks into the tissues and blood is excreted through the urine. This is known as "nephritic syndrome".

Chronic pyelonephritis is another common kidney ailment. It is a painful condition that happens when infection finds its way into the kidneys and causes chronic inflammation. Hematuria, the presence of blood in the urine, can result from this type of kidney infection.

Kidney stones can occur when a person has a buildup of too much calcium oxalate or uric acid in their urine, and it hardens into a crystal like stones that can be very painful to pass. Infections can occur with kidney stones as well, because the kidneys are not able to flush themselves out properly, causing a toxic environment where bacteria can readily grow.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, and the medications used to treat it, can cause kidney problems. A blockage of one or both arteries leading to the kidneys can develop, and the kidneys respond by releasing way too much of a chemical called vasopressin which causes the blood pressure to rise remarkably.

Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder where cysts begin to form in the kidney. Some of the cysts do not cause any progressive kidney failure, and others, depending on their size and location within the kidney, can greatly get in the way of the kidney performing its proper filtration.

There is one primary kidney disease which is cancerous, and that is renal cell carcinoma. The cancer will probably cause pain or bleeding in the area of the kidneys. The good news is that this type of cancer is usually highly treatable.

Some types of kidney conditions are classified as auto-immune diseases. Berger's disease happens when the patient's immune system has set up antibodies that act on the tissues of the capillaries in the kidney. Berger's disease is also known as IgA Nephropathy. Systemic lupus is another autoimmune disorder, and can cause the body to produce antibodies directed against the kidney membranes. In a normally functioning kidney, the filtering membranes do not permit albumin and other blood proteins to be excreted in the urine. However, with systemic lupus, the filtering membranes are disrupted, resulting in protein in the urine.

As you can see, there are many types of kidney disease. But on a positive note, the large number of varied treatments available gives us a wide range of choices to restore health to our body's filtration system. There are many herbs and nutritional supplements available that have been shown to improve kidney health during both chronic and acute kidney disease. Unlike the pharmaceutical drugs available these do not have any side effects and do not contribute to kidney damage while treating symptoms. Natural therapies can also treat the cause of kidney damage, offering long-term protection for your kidneys.

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Preventing Diabetes Problems - Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

This article takes a look at kidney problems caused by diabetes. It is part of a series in which you can learn the things that you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems.

What do my kidneys do?

When our body produces "nitrogenous" wastes when it metabolizes proteins; and these need to be filtered from the blood. The kidneys function as the filters that remove nitrogenous waste from the blood. As filters, they extract the wastes and return clean filtered fluid to the body. The kidneys are largely made up of micro filters called glomeruli. When kidneys are healthy, the arteries bring blood and wastes from the body into the kidneys, the glomeruli clean the blood, and the wastes and extra fluid go out via the urine. Filtered and cleansed blood leaves the kidneys and returns into the bloodstream through the veins.

How can I prevent diabetes kidney problems?

All of the potential secondary problems that arise with diabetes are due damage caused when blood glucose levels are outside of the normal range. This is why it's important to be vigilant in monitoring your blood glucose levels and keeping them close to normal as you can. If uncertain, ask your doctor what blood glucose levels are healthy for you.

In the article on heart and blood vessels, we noted blood pressure as a key concern for diabetes sufferers. The kidney is basically a bank of micro filters; and like any other filter they are damaged if a fluid medium is squeezed through them under too much pressure. So, the next area to watch, to avoid kidney problems, is your blood pressure. The aim is to keep your blood pressure below 130/80; and this will to help prevent kidney damage. Again, ask your doctor what blood pressure range is best for you. If you are on regular blood pressure pills, take them as your doctor directs - it's important no to miss them. Other body parts or functions that will benefit from keeping your blood pressure under control are your eyes, heart, and blood vessels.

There are two principal kinds of kidney medications that will slow down kidney damage. These are:

• ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor
• ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker)

Do ask your doctor if you should be taking these medications.

Diet can be a factor affecting kidney disease and recovery. Your doctor or dietician will ba bale to help you work out a healthy eating plan. If you have kidney problems, they may suggest you cut back on protein rich foods such as meat.

Regular Check-ups.

Regular testing of these secondary health issues is always part of the management of diabetes. You should have your kidneys checked at least once a year. There is a urine test for the presence of small amounts of protein. This test is called the microalbumin test. There is a blood test for the presence of creatinine. The blood test is used to check your glomerular filtration rate (GFR). It tells you how those micro filters are performing, and is a basic measure of kidney function.

If you suffer from chronic pain, then you should be careful about taking painkillers regularly. Medications like aspirin or acetaminophen can damage the kidneys. You've probably been advised to take a daily dose of aspirin to protect the heart; and that amount should be safe. Taking acetaminophen for *occasional pain* should also be safe. But if you have chronic pain, such as arthritis, you'll need to work with your doctor to find a pain management strategy that doesn't put your kidneys at risk.

Urinary infections that occur from time to time pose a raised risk with diabetes, so do see your doctor right away if you develop any bladder or kidney infections. 

You should suspect an infection if you have these symptoms:

• pain or burning when you urinate 
• a frequent urge to go to the bathroom 
• urine that looks cloudy or reddish 
• fever or a shaky feeling 
• pain in your back or on your side below the ribs

How can I protect my kidneys during special x-ray tests?

X-ray tests that use a contrast agent may pose a risk to your kidneys. If you need to have x ray examinations, your doctor may recommend taking in extra water before and after the x rays to protect your kidneys. Or, if possible, your doctor may order a test that does not use a contrast agent.

How can diabetes hurt my kidneys?

When the kidneys are healthy, the micro filters in your kidneys keep protein inside your body. High blood glucose and high blood pressure damage the kidneys' filters. When this happens, protein leaks out of the kidneys and into the urine. Damaged kidneys aren't able to filter out wastes and extra fluid from the blood. Wastes and fluid build up in your blood instead of leaving the body in urine. Kidney damage doesn't show symptoms early on. An early sign of kidney damage is when your kidneys leak small amounts of a protein called albumin into the urine; and this is why the annual urine test is recommended. As the kidneys become more damaged, they leak more and more protein.

This problem is called proteinuria. With this condition, more and more wastes build up in the blood. As the damage gets worse, the kidneys fail.

Diabetic nephropathy is the medical term for kidney problems caused by diabetes; and nephropathy affects both kidneys at the same time.

What can I do if I have kidneys problems caused by diabetes?

Once you have kidney damage, you cannot undo it; but you can slow it down or stop it from getting worse. This is achieved by controlling your blood pressure, taking your ACE inhibitors or ARBs, and having your kidney function monitored regularly. However, if you are pregnant, you should not take ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

How will I know if my kidneys fail?

Kidney damage from diabetes happens slowly, and you may not feel sickness for many years. You won't feel sick even when your kidneys do only half the job of normal kidneys!. You may not even feel any signs of kidney failure until your kidneys have almost stopped working. This is why it's so important to get your urine and blood checked every year. That way your doctor can tell you how well your kidneys are working. Signs of failure are feeling sick to your stomach and tired all the time. Your hands and feet may swell from extra fluid in your body.

What happens if I get diabetes kidney failure?

One way to treat diabetes kidney failure is with dialysis. Dialysis is a treatment that filters your blood the way your kidneys used to do. 

There's two types of dialysis are available. You and your doctor will decide what type will work best for you.

1. Haemo dialysis.

In haemodialysis, your blood is taken through a tube from your arm to a dialysis machine that filters out the waste products and extra fluid. The clean blood flows back to your arm.

2. Peritoneal dialysis.

In peritoneal dialysis, your abdomen is filled with a special fluid. The fluid absorbs waste products and the extra water from your blood. The dialysis fluid is then drained from your belly and discarded.

Another way to treat diabetes kidney failure is to have a kidney transplant. The kidney can be from a close family member, perhaps from a friend, or even someone you do not know. It's all a matter of finding a good tissue match that your body will accept. Many people are waiting for a new kidney, so you may be on dialysis for

quite a while.

What are the symptoms, if I start to have kidney problems?

The first that know you have kidney problems may be when your doctor checks your blood for creatinine and your urine for protein. This should be done early in your diabetes management, and it's pretty clear that you should not wait for signs of kidney damage to appear.

Summary

A program of diabetes care goes well beyond monitoring blood glucose levels. Kidney disease is a conditions that may occur with diabetes; and kidneys problems don't necessarily show symptoms when kidney failure is beginning. It's important to have blood and urine tests done annually to pick up first signs of kidney disease. There are a couple of medications (ACE & ARB) that will slow down kidney damage and help you to manage a good health plan. There are treatments for more serious kidney failure. Keeping blood glucose levels regular is one of the best ways to protect your kidneys from secondary damage due to diabetes.

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Kidney Failure - How to Prevent Kidney Failure

For those who suffer kidney disease, you will know how critical it is to prevent kidney failure. Kidney disease can be both temporary and permanent. This can be known as acute kidney failure/acute renal failure or chronic kidney failure.

The difference between acute and chronic renal failure

With acute kidney failure, function of the kidneys is rapidly lost, and can occur from many stresses on the body, most of which are related to diet. Others are indirectly related to diet, being brought on by another disease or illness. There are many different classifications of acute kidney disease and is generalised into the following categories:

Common Pre-renal Causes of Kidney Disease 

• dehydration from excess fluid loss (diarrhoea, flu, gastroenteritis, sweating)

• dehydration from lack of fluid intake

• hypovolemia from excess blood loss

• obstruction of kidney arteries and veins causing inconsistent blood flow

• pain killers, other medication and excess sodium/potassium/protein

Common Post-renal Causes of Renal Failure 

• Having any restriction in the bladder can cause back-flow to the kidneys. This can cause a series of events, from infection to completely damaging the kidneys due to the excess pressure.

• Blockages, cysts, tumours in the abdomen can form obstructions around the ureters.

• Other age related obstructions, including cancers and other tumours around the bladder

• Having kidney stones do not directly affect the kidney failure, but do increase the risk, but having a lot of extra strain on the kidneys.

Common Causes of Kidney Damage 

• Toxic Medications are found in certain antibiotics, ibuprofen, some anti inflammatory drugs, iodine and radiology medications.

• Sepsis can occur if the body's immune system is battling infection. This can cause the kidneys to shut down as a result.

• Muscle breakdown can cause muscle fibres which are damaged to clog filtration of the kidneys. This can usually be on set by severe trauma and burns to the body.

• inflammation of the kidney filtering system - the glomeruli

Common Causes of Chronic Kidney Failure 

• Many problems listed above can result in chronic kidney failure

• constant high blood pressure

• people suffering diabetes

• chronic glomerulonephritis.

• kidney stones

• prostate disease or prostate cancer

• reflux nephropathy

• polycystic conditions

Common Symptoms of Kidney Failure

Kidney disease can sometimes be hard to detect, and not always show obvious symptoms. The main way to ask if you are showing the symptoms is to ask yourself if you are at risk. Kidney disease is 99% of the time the result of poor dieting and malnutrition. What you will notice when symptoms start to appear is when you start to see irregularities in waste products clearing the body, onset of weakness, fluid retention, some mild pain or even slight discomfort while urinating.

All of these symptoms of kidney failure should immediately ring alarm bells and need immediate adjustments to diet and lifestyle.

All of these will result in directly related medical symptoms, such as excess potassium levels causing heart rhythm problems, an increase in urea levels in the blood - which can affect a number of organs in the body, anemia - resulting in general weakness, loss of appetite due to build-up of excess waste products - which will result in further issues all contributing to kidney failure, rising blood pressure due to the acid load on the body and trouble breathing.

It is extremely important, that even if you feel the onset of kidney failure as being an option, to drastically change your diet to help lighten the load and strain on your kidneys. This can even reverse kidney failure if it is undertaken as soon as possible.

With western diets contributing to all the common forms of kidney failure, it is the best option to reverse any chances of suffering kidney failure and help restore health to the body.

What if you could reverse kidney disease today?

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Kinds of Cardiovascular or Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death in the United States and in the World. In fact, 40% of deaths in the U.S are caused by heart disease. This is more than all of the different types of cancer combined. The more knowledge of this disease, the dangers, and how to prevent it can help you escape this alarming statistic. 
It all begins by learning the different types of cardiovascular disease.

1. Ischemic Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease covers a broad scope of tissues and organs. Anything having to do with the heart, heart valves, arteries, veins or the smaller capillaries and venules that provide blood to your tissues and organs is considered part of the cardiovascular system. Ischemic cardiovascular disease is the most common type of heart disease. It occurs when there is a blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood to the heart. This type of blockage, partial or full, can result in a lack of oxygen which causes shortness of breath and chest pain. A complete blockage generally results in an attack, aka myocardial infarction.

2. Heart Failure

The heart is a muscle. Over time this muscle can develop scar tissue either from infection or attacks. If your heart is denied oxygen due to a blockage some of the tissue can die as well. These factors can lead to swelling as well as cause it to stop working. This is also called an enlarged heart or Cardiomegaly and can be caused by high blood pressure which requires your heart to work harder to pump sufficient blood to your tissues.

3. Vascular Disease

There are two types of vascular disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. Both are the result of a blockage in your arteries. In Cerebrovascular disease the blockage would be in your brain. Blockages can cause clots and strokes.

Peripheral vascular disease affects the circulation of your extremities and generally occurs in the legs. It's often caused by an increase in a person's clotting factors which can be caused by sitting for a long time, hormones, and a genetic predisposition.

4. Other Less Common Types of Cardiovascular Disease

There are other types of heart disease that are much less common. They include congenital heart disease, which occurs when a person is born with a malfunctioning heart. For example, they may have a heart valve that doesn't close completely. Rheumatic heart disease is caused by a childhood infection in the heart.

The different types of heart disease can cause a whole host of problems including angina, Atrial Fibrillation, strokes, clots, high blood pressure and death. Taking good care of your heart health is the best prevention for the vast majority of related diseases and complications. Always consult a professional health provider before changing treatment methods or stopping any prescribed medication.

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Prevention of Tick Bits and Lyme Disease in Dogs and Humans

Ticks may cause a host of illnesses, including Lyme disease, which affect dogs as well as humans. Lyme disease is named after the town of Old-Lyme in the United States where a number of cases were identified in 1975. Although researchers soon realized that ticks were linked to the transmission of the disease, the actual cause of Lyme disease remained a mystery until 1981, when the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi was identified.

A bite from a B. burgdorferi infected tick can mean tiredness, fever, joint pain, and loss of appetite. In fact, the symptoms in dogs and humans are much alike. Antibiotics generally provide relief from the disease, but reversion can occur. Tick control products that kill or repel ticks form an important tool to prevent Lyme disease.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi spread through the bite of the blacklegged- or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). If an infected tick is not feeding, the bacterium that causes the disease lies dormant inside the tick's gut. It becomes active only after exposure to the warm blood meal entering the tick's digestive system while feeding. Once active, the organism enters the tick's salivary glands. And, as the tick feeds, it must get rid of surplus liquid through the salivary glands. As a result the tick will salivate the bacterium into the wound it has just created, thereby passing the infection to its victim.

Only ticks that are attached to the host and have finished feeding or are near the end of their meal can transmit Lyme disease. At least 36 to 48 hours of feeding is required for a tick to have fed and then transmit the bacterium that causes the disease. After this time the tick will be engorged with blood.

A tick that was not attached, was easy to remove or just walking on the skin, and was still flat and tiny and not full of blood when it was removed could not have transmitted Lyme disease or any other infection since it has not yet taken a blood meal. Of course that does not mean that such a tick was not infected and may be a potential source of infection.

The symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs

Clinical signs of Lyme disease may not appear for several months after a dog is infected with the disease. In fact, many dogs fail to display any obvious clinical signs at all. 

When signs of infection are noted, they may include the following:

• Lethargy (manifested as tiredness or exercise intolerance) 

• Fever 

• Painful joints 

• Loss of appetite

Signs may seem to resolve on their own only to reappear later. Lyme disease has also been linked to long-term complications involving the joints, kidneys, heart, and nervous system.

The symptoms of Lyme disease in humans

Contrary to dogs, the symptoms of early stage Lyme disease in humans develop already 3 to 30 days after someone is bitten by an infected tick.

The most common symptom of early stage disease is a "bull's eye" rash, a flat or slightly raised red spot at the site of the tick bite known as erythema migrans. It can be quite large and expanding in size. The affected area of skin will be red and feel slightly raised to the touch. 

In up to a third of people with Lyme disease, the rash may be the only symptom.

Other symptoms of early stage Lyme disease are flu-like and can include:

• Tiredness (fatigue) 

• Muscle pain 

• Joint pain 

• Headache 

• Fever or chills 

• Neck stiffness

Increasing Risk Factors

Ticks that can transmit Lyme disease (Ixodes scapularis) also known as the blacklegged or deer tick are found in wooded areas, high grasses, marshes, gardens, and beach areas.

Because people are becoming more and more involved in outdoor recreational and sporting activities they are more frequently led into tick habitats. Also dogs that spend plenty of time outdoors, especially in the woods, bush, or areas of tall grass are running an increased risk to become infected with Lyme disease. In addition, infected ticks can be carried into backyards on other wildlife such as squirrels, hedgehogs and birds and via this route dogs and people may become infected in their own yard. Even more so, because an increasing number of residential construction projects are invading into rural surroundings and more and more green areas such as town parks and public gardens are developed inside cities.

Climate change has resulted in milder winters so that ticks have more opportunity to feed and breed. Another result of climate change has been an extended growing season for vegetation which in turn has increased the number of some of the tick's host species, which means more available hosts for the ticks. Indeed, recently published scientific research has predicted tick expansion to new, previously tick-free areas because of expected climate change.

Preventing Lyme disease by tick control

People can reduce their risk of Lyme disease by avoiding tick-infested habitats. If exposure to tick-infested surroundings cannot be avoided, individuals may reduce their risk of infection by using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and regularly checking for and removing attached ticks. If you're travelling with a group it's useful to help your friends or family members by checking for ticks in places they can't see, such as the back of the head and behind their ears.

It's also important to protect your dog against tick bites because it is the first line of defense for keeping your pets safe. There are many different products on the market today that protect your pets from tick-transmitted diseases. The most popular tick bite prevention products are topical sprays and spot-ons. However, usually these products do not work longer than a few weeks to one month and require regular re-application, some more frequent than others. In addition, the active chemicals in sprays and spot-on have to be applied to the dogs' skin which many people find undesirable especially because it has to be repeated over and over again.

A suitable alternative therefore is to protect your dog with a Dog Armor Knockdown coat whenever you are taking him out for a walk. The permethrin impregnated Knockdown coat will kill any tick on contact and will prevent your pet from bringing home ticks that may pose a risk to you or your family members. Back home you just remove the coat.

Understandably dogs encounter many more ticks than people do. And even when using a Dog Armor Knockdown coat a few ticks may have managed to latch on to his fur because the coat does not cover hundred percent of your dogs' skin. Fortunately, because many dogs have thick fur, ticks may take a while to reach the dogs skin before biting. Therefore it is wise to groom your dog after a walk outside through the woods or trails to help protect your pet and family.

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