FAQ on Kidney Disease

1) What are the symptoms of kidney disease?

Ans: The warning sign of kidney disease are not always obvious, specially in the early stages but usually patient have symptoms like.

• Less urine
• Swelling of face and legs
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Tiredness and weakness

2) What causes kidney disease?

 Ans: Diabetics and hypertension are two most common causes of kidney disease. They constitute 2/3rd of kidney failure patients. Others are related to stones in urinary tracts, glomerular disease and immunological disease.

3) How will I know that I have kidney disease?

Ans: Blood and urine screening tests along with sonography of kidneys can evaluate how well your kidneys are working. A simple urine test can give a lot of information regarding kidney function along with that creatinine and urea in the blood can give the idea of kidney function. Other than this Nephrologist uses several sophisticated tests.

4) When should we visit a nephrologist?

 Ans: Someone should visit a nephrologist if you are suffering from any of the above-mentioned symptoms and even if there is no symptom and you are having diabetics or hypertension you should visit Nephrologist for the wellbeing of kidneys at least once in a year.

5) What can I do to protect my kidneys?

 Ans: There are a number of ways you can protect your kidney and slow the progression of Chronic Kidney Disease. Good blood pressure control, better control of blood sugar if you are diabetics, smoking cessation, daily physical workout, at least 8-10 glass of water ( if your kidney is well functioning ) and keep informed your doctor regarding your kidney tests.

6) How does diet affect kidney function?

 Ans: Changing diet is an important way to salvage the kidney function proper nutrition can reduce the workload of kidney and your Nephrologist and renal dietician can help you to make good choices of food for your kidney.

 7) What happens when kidneys fail?

Ans : When kidney function is less than 15 % of the normal it can –not sustain the normal metabolic activity of the body. More than a hundred toxins start accumulating in the body which deteriorates nearly every system of the body. In this condition, only two methods can salvage the life, either transplantation or dialysis.

8) What is Dialysis?

Ans: Dialysis is processes that clean and filters your blood. There are two types of kidney disease that is an acute renal failure and chronic renal failure. Acute renal failure is reversible and the patient becomes dialysis free while the chronic renal failure or permanent renal failure requires regular dialysis.

 9) How much dialysis is required for permanent renal failure?

 Ans: With long term experience, science recommends 12 hrs. Dialysis per week means three sessions of 4 hrs. Dialysis every week, if there is some residual renal function patient can also be managed on two dialyses per week.

10) What is the procedure of kidney transplant and by whom I can get a new kidney?

 Ans: For kidney, transplant kidney should be taken from a healthy person who is having same blood group or blood group O can donate the kidney to any patient. According to transplantation act donor should be near relatives like mother, father, son, daughter, grandparents, brother, sister and spouse.

11) What are the chances of passing healthy life after kidney transplantation?

Ans: Kidney transplantation is the most of successful amongst all organ transplantation. Its success rate is more than 98 % and patients remain healthy on some medications.

Answered by

Dr.Ashutosh Soni ,MD ,DM (Nephrology)

Consultant Nephrologist

Neotia Getwel Healthcare Centre