Many people don’t know what kidney failure is or what causes it. It can come as a surprise to many to learn that they could have prevented damage to their kidneys. The following information will help you understand what kidney failure is and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you.

What is kidney injury/failure?

Kidney failure or what is also known as kidney injury means that your kidneys have stopped working. That’s a serious injury for the body and immediate medical attention is required. It’s a serious condition because it’s your kidneys job to dispose of waste products in your body and not only that but it also helps balance salt, water and minerals such as electrolytes in your blood stream. Without your kidneys doing this hard work for you these wastes and fluids will build up in your body causing all sorts of problems. These problems can cause more than illness but death as well.

Causes Of Kidney Failure

There are usually three main causes of kidney failure:

• A drop of blood flow to the kidneys; this is something that happens suddenly. This can happen if you have an injury or heavy blood loss. An infection called sepsis can also cause the sudden drop in blood flow to your kidneys. Dehydration can also cause harm to your kidneys.
• Medicines, infections and poison. It’s not a common thing to develop issues with your kidneys due to medicines. However if you are someone that has dealt with long term health issues or health issues of a serious nature then you are someone that can be more susceptible to kidney problems that develop from taking medicines. There are many medicines that can harm your kidneys such as: the antibiotic Gentamicin or Streptomycin, pain medication ibuprofen or naproxen, blood pressure medicine (ACE inhibitors) or even the dyes that are used in X-ray tests.
• It’s important that there are no issues with urine passing out of our kidneys. If you develop any kind of blockage that prevents urine from flowing out of your kidneys this can cause kidney failure. Blockages can occur in many ways such as: tumors, enlarged prostrate gland or kidney stones.

Some people have a greater chance of having kidney failure than others. You could have a greater chance of kidney failure if:

• You’re an adult above 45
• You suffer from long term health issues such as liver disease or an already existing kidney condition, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure or even obesity.
• If you have a current illness and are currently in a hospital or intensive care unit (ICU). Kidney problems can also be more likely to develop if you have had recent heart or belly surgery or a bone marrow transplant.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Back pain below the rib cage, also known as flank pain.
• The feeling of needing to pee but little to no urine coming out when you try.