Kidney Disease - Causes of End-Stage and Stage 4 Kidney Failure

​Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys suddenly stop working sufficiently to filter out waste products in the bloodstream. It occurs more frequently in people older than 75. Acute kidney failure most commonly occurs in those who are already critically ill, especially in those who require intensive medical care, such as those who have dialysis.

Certain conditions, including chronic high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, kidney disease, and dehydration, may help to make the progression of kidney disease slower. Researchers now know that about 25 percent of people with high blood pressure do not show any symptoms of kidney disease even though they have kidney failure. Kidney disease is caused by a buildup of toxins in the body, especially in the kidneys. High blood pressure can contribute to this buildup, although researchers do not yet know what causes hypertension.

Kidney problems also often lead to kidney transplantation. If the kidneys do not function well or fail to filter toxins and waste products, then they will be in danger of being transplanted. Most kidney transplants result in successful treatment of kidney failure. There are risks involved in undergoing a kidney transplant, including an increased risk of infection and a shorter survival time after the procedure. People who undergo kidney transplantation should receive ongoing dialysis treatment even after they have been treated for their infection.

Kidney problems also cause people to miss time from work and school. Kidney disease causes so many health problems that patients may miss work for a month or longer or fail to complete school for three months or more. Because schools or work schedules are often affected, it's important for people with kidney failure to work with a health care team that will work with them to develop a plan to care for themselves. Health professionals such as nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers should work closely with patients on a daily basis, ensuring that all of their health problems are addressed.

Kidney infections are the number one reason why people require dialysis treatment. Dialysis is the process of using a machine to assist the kidneys in filtering waste products from the blood and allowing nutrients to get through to the rest of the body. If a person has a kidney disease, then he or she will need to use dialysis for the rest of his or her life in order to be able to live a healthy lifestyle.

As kidney failure progresses, the body produces even more waste than usual. The kidneys can't filter out this excess waste any more, causing the patient to feel bloated and fatigued. Some of the symptoms of kidney failure include weight loss, nausea, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some of these symptoms can also appear if a person has chronic kidney disease. If you suspect that you have end-stage kidney disease, then it's extremely important to contact your healthcare team immediately, as it's vital to your health that you do so.

In addition to kidney failure, another common cause of kidney failure includes congestive heart failure, or COPD. Two main risk factors for COPD are poor kidney function and high blood pressure. Other common causes of COPD include smoking, being older than 65, living in low-income housing, living in areas with poor air quality, and being obese. COPD can lead to a number of life-threatening medical conditions, including congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. If you've been diagnosed with end-stage or advanced kidney failure, it's very important that you get yourself treated right away. Don't let your condition gets any worse.

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