Renal Failure
Kidney failure is a condition in which one or both of the kidneys can no longer work on their own. This condition is also called renal failure. Treatments for kidney failure include dialysis and kidney transplant.
The most common causes of kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure. Sometimes, though, kidney failure happens quickly due to an unforeseen cause.
When the kidneys lose function suddenly (within hours or days), it’s called acute kidney failure (or acute kidney injury). This type of kidney failure is often temporary. Common causes of acute kidney failure can include:
- Autoimmune kidney diseases
- Certain medications
- Severe dehydration
- A urinary tract obstruction
- Uncontrolled systemic disease like heart or liver disease
ThKidney failure usually doesn’t happen overnight. Chronic kidney disease refers to a group of health conditions that affect how well your kidneys function over time. If left untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure.
The biggest causes of kidney failure from chronic kidney disease are:
- Diabetes: Unmanaged diabetes can lead to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Consistently high blood sugar can damage the body’s organs, including the kidneys.
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension) means blood travels through your body’s blood vessels with increased force. Over time, untreated high blood pressure levels can damage the kidneys’ tissue.
- Polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition where cysts (fluid-filled sacs) grow inside your kidneys.
- Glomerular diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, which affect how well the kidneys can filter waste.
- Lupus and other autoimmune diseases that can affect multiple body systems.
