What Is Kidney Failure?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStagesSymptomsCausesTreatmentPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Stages

Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

Prevention

Kidney failure is a progressive condition that can lead to a number of serious complications over time.

Most people lose some kidney function throughout their lives, but if this happens too fast or too soon, it can have a serious impact on every other system in your body. In time, kidney failure can be fatal. Find out how kidney failure happens and what to expect if you have this condition.

Kidney Disease Symptoms to Look For

Stages of Kidney Disease

Virtually every tissue in the body loses some of its function over time, just from use. Your kidneys are no exception.

If you experience frequent AKIs or your kidneys are continually being damaged from things like heart disease ordiabetes, these injuries can become more permanent. Chronic kidney disease isn’t usually diagnosed until your kidney function drops below a certain level of function. In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may not have any symptoms at all.

Chronic Kidney Disease

In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may not experience any symptoms at all. By the time you reach Stage 5, however, yoursymptomshave usually become severe and may even be debilitating.

By this point, your kidneys are barely functioning, or are not working at all. They are unable to filter fluid and wastes from your body, and these can build up to toxic levels in your bloodstream. Certain electrolytes, like potassium and sodium, that are normally found in your body can get out of balance, causing heart and neurological symptoms. As fluid builds, your tissues become swollen and your blood pressure can increase to dangerous levels.

Commonsymptoms people experiencein kidney failure can include:

Symptoms of Acute Renal Failure

The three main options for treatment of end-stage (severe) chronic kidney disease are:

Which treatment option you choose will depend a lot on your overall health, what caused your kidney disease, what other complications you are experiencing, and what treatment you are able to tolerate. People with kidney disease usually work closely with a team of doctors that includesnephrologists,cardiologists, and more.

The Role of Dialysis in Kidney Treatment

Some tips for supporting good kidney health and preventing kidney disease include:

If you have chronic kidney disease, getting regular care and sticking to the treatment regimen developed with your doctor is critical. Good compliance with your medications and treatment plan can help improve your quality of life and may slow further loss of kidney function.

What is a Nephrologist? When to See One and What to Expect

Summary

Chronic kidney disease can cause gradual loss of kidney function, leading to complete kidney failure. Once you have entered the advanced stages of kidney failure, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to avoid fatal complications. Be sure to work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that you can maintain and that prevents complications.

Coffee’s Effect on the Kidneys

A Word From Verywell

Living with kidney diseaseis difficult, and managing end-stage kidney disease can impact every aspect of your life. Dialysis treatments can be difficult to maintain, but a kidney transplant is not an option for everyone. Talk to your doctor about your lifestyle and the overall goals for your treatment. Having a strong support system is important when it comes to coping with kidney failure.

Can I Decide When It’s Time to Stop Dialysis?

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.What is kidney failure.National Kidney Foundation.Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).MedlinePlus.End-stage kidney disease.National Institutes of Health. Causes of chronic kidney disease.National Kidney Foundation.Hemodialysis.National Kidney Foundation.Peritoneal dialysis: What you need to know.National Kidney Foundation.Kidney transplant.Nagasawa H, et al.The effect of quality of life on medical compliance among dialysis patients.Front. Pharmacol. June 5, 2018. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00488

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.What is kidney failure.National Kidney Foundation.Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).MedlinePlus.End-stage kidney disease.National Institutes of Health. Causes of chronic kidney disease.National Kidney Foundation.Hemodialysis.National Kidney Foundation.Peritoneal dialysis: What you need to know.National Kidney Foundation.Kidney transplant.Nagasawa H, et al.The effect of quality of life on medical compliance among dialysis patients.Front. Pharmacol. June 5, 2018. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00488

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institutes of Health.What is kidney failure.National Kidney Foundation.Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).MedlinePlus.End-stage kidney disease.National Institutes of Health. Causes of chronic kidney disease.National Kidney Foundation.Hemodialysis.National Kidney Foundation.Peritoneal dialysis: What you need to know.National Kidney Foundation.Kidney transplant.Nagasawa H, et al.The effect of quality of life on medical compliance among dialysis patients.Front. Pharmacol. June 5, 2018. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00488

National Institutes of Health.What is kidney failure.

National Kidney Foundation.Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

MedlinePlus.End-stage kidney disease.

National Institutes of Health. Causes of chronic kidney disease.

National Kidney Foundation.Hemodialysis.

National Kidney Foundation.Peritoneal dialysis: What you need to know.

National Kidney Foundation.Kidney transplant.

Nagasawa H, et al.The effect of quality of life on medical compliance among dialysis patients.Front. Pharmacol. June 5, 2018. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00488

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