Share

Are you at risk for kidney failure?

accreditation


Kidney disease affects about 15 percent of the SA population and 20 000 new patients require diagnosis and treatment every year. 

How kidneys work in the body
These bean-shaped organs are filters which support the various functions of all the organs other than the brain. Every day, the kidneys filter about 150 litres of fluid of which about 148 litres of useful substances like protein is cleansed and reabsorbed, while the waste is excreted in about two litres of urine each day. 

The kidneys:

  • Produce essential chemicals which control your blood pressure. 
  • Create substances that produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.
  • Break down and destroy unnecessary or dangerous chemicals and hormones like insulin.
  • Retain and provide the necessary nutrients to nourish the bones and joints, allowing for a solid and healthy skeleton.
  • Control the amount of acidity and alkalinity (pH) in your body, i.e. keep your blood clean and chemically balanced. This balance is crucial to your overall health.
  • Eliminate toxic waste from the body. 

Who is at risk of kidney failure? 
In South Africa, kidney failure is mainly due to inherited high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure places stress on the blood vessels throughout the body, including the kidneys. 

Hypertension is particularly prevalent among the black population – hence the incidence of kidney failure is four times higher than in other groups.

Another contributor is Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is characterised by high blood glucose or blood sugar levels and over time, this may result in the kidney filters essentially being blocked. More than 50 percent of people with diabetes will develop kidney problems. A family history of kidney disease can also put you at risk for kidney failure. Other risks include inflammation of the kidneys, blockages (like kidney stones), and trauma to the kidneys (kidney injury).

What happens when the kidneys shut down?
If your kidneys fail completely, waste products that are normally eliminated by the kidneys build up in your body. This condition is called uraemia. Symptoms of uraemia include:

  • Swelling of the hands, ankles and feet.
  • Fatigue or weakness.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Poor appetite.
  • Nausea and vomitting.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Confusion.
  • Weight loss.
  • Headaches.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Muscle cramps.
  • Decrease in the amount of urine produced.

Treatment

Dialysis filters and purifies your blood via a machine. It helps keep your body in balance when the kidneys can’t function properly. There are two types of dialysis, namely haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

  • Haemodialysis requires a minor operation to allow access to your bloodstream, usually through the wrist or chest. Blood is then removed from the body and cleansed by an artificial kidney attached to a dialysis machine. As your blood is filtered, it's returned to your bloodstream. Each treatment lasts for four to six hours, and is done three times a week.    
  • Peritoneal dialysis is done inside the body, using the body’s own peritoneal membrane – the lining of the abdominal cavity – as a filter to clear waste and cleanse the blood. It also requires a minor operation, but this time a catheter is inserted into the abdomen. The catheter acts as an entrance for the dialysis solution. After a few hours, the used solution is drained and refilled with fresh cleansing solution to begin the process again. This treatment takes place four times a day, seven days a week, and can be performed almost anywhere.

A kidney transplant is an operation that places a healthy, functioning kidney from another person into your body. The kidney may come from a deceased donor or from a living donor, usually a close relative, spouse or friend. It can also come from an organ donor. The average waiting time for a new kidney varies, but can be anything between six to 12 years. 


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE