Cause & effect
Apart from its own complications, Kidney diseases can trigger a host of other health problems. Read on to be aware of those problems and how to tackle them.
Fluid Build up
When the kidneys are affected, they fail to filter excess water from the blood causing fluid build up in the body. This can lead to heart and lung problems in time. If you feel such an issue, contact your doctor immediately.
Gout
This is the most common health problem related to kidney disease. However it can affect the kidneys the other way round too. Gout is caused by the presence of excessive uric acid in your blood due to the diminished capacity of the kidneys to filter them out. With proper care, this problem can be managed. However, over the counter pain medication is not the answer for this.
Anemia
As someone with kidney disease, do you ever feel tired, cold or weak? Although dialysis can cause some fatigue and feelings of weakness, these symptoms may also be due to anemia. When the kidneys fail, they fail to help the body generate enough red blood cells too causing Anemia.
Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Healthy kidneys change inactive vitamin D to active vitamin D. Your body uses active vitamin D to absorb calcium from the foods you eat to keep balance between calcium and phosphorus.
As the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to change inactive vitamin D to active vitamin D. This creates low levels of vitamin D in your body. When this happens, your body absorbs less calcium, and the level of calcium in your blood becomes low. This signals your parathyroid glands to make more PTH and grow larger, which causes SHPT. Your doctor may also call this "renal secondary hyperparathyroidism".
Metabolic Acidosis
One of the important functions of Kidney is to keep the acid balance in your body at par. When the Kidneys are affected, they fail to keep up its good work and acid builds up in the body causing Metabolic Acidosis.
Hyperphosphatemia & bone disease
When you have kidney disease, the kidneys cannot keep the right amount of phosphorus in your body. Phosphorus is a mineral that works with calcium and vitamin D to keep the bones healthy and strong. Due to underlying kidney disease, Phosphorus can build up to high levels in the blood and cause bone disease, which means you have weak bones that may break easily.
Hyperkalemia
(High Potassium)
Potassium is a mineral found in many foods that helps your muscles work. When you have kidney disease, the kidneys may not be able to filter extra potassium from the blood. Potassium can build up in the blood and cause health problems.
Heart disease
Just like a bad marriage, Kidney and heart can both cause problem for each other. When you have kidney disease, your heart has to pump harder to get blood to the kidneys, which can cause heart disease in return. Heart disease is the most common cause of death in people who are on dialysis.