BIOL 304 Week 6 Discussion

The kidneys are responsible for converting waste to urine and cleansing the blood of toxins (The kidneys – a basic guide – NHS). Kidney failure is the result of the kidneys losing around 85-90% of their function. Once they reach that point, they don’t work sufficiently enough to keep the body alive. Symptoms of kidney failure include poor appetite, weakness/fatigue, itching, weight loss, muscle cramps, anemia, and the two that Ms. Simpson was experiencing sluggishness and swelling of the feet or ankles (Kidney failure 2022). What the doctors probably determined, was that there were high levels of urea in the blood. There are really only two treatments for kidney failure, and those are dialysis and receiving a kidney transplant. Dialysis is a procedure that removes waste and extra fluids from the body’s bloodstream.

—Frank

REFRENCES

Kidney failure. National Kidney Foundation. (2022, September 23). Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/KidneyFailure

The kidneys – a basic guide – NHS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Kidneyhealth/Documents/kidney%20guide.pdf

The kidneys are essential to many functions including filtering waste products, synthesizing vitamin D, releasing EPO for RBC production, maintaining proper blood pressure, pH, and osmolarity, and regulating sodium, calcium, and potassium (OpenStax College, 2013). Kidney disease is a progressive disease. Causes include autoimmune complications, exposure to toxins, kidney injuries, kidney stones, medications, congenital issues, and issues with vasculature feeding the kidneys (Latif, 2021). Ms. Simpson has the two most common causes of kidney failure: diabetes and hypertension (HTN) (Latif, 2021; Arora, 2021). Chronic kidney disease or chronic kidney failure has 5 stages that are marked by changes in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The GFR is a measure of how well the kidneys filter the blood and reflects how much fluid is filtered per minute. In the first two stages, the body may be able to compensate for mild kidney damage so there may not be many symptoms and GFR may be normal or borderline. As kidney damage progresses, patients may notice headaches, fatigue, nausea, weakness, muscle cramps, confusion, difficulty focusing, itchy skin, and, in the case of Ms. Simpson, edema and sluggishness (What is kidney failure?, 2022). These symptoms reflect some of the underlying imbalances caused by kidney failure.

Someone in kidney failure should be monitored closely for anemia as the kidneys may not effectively secrete EPO. This may make one feel weak and tired or short of breath (What is kidney failure?, 2022). People in kidney failure will have protein that spills into their urine. This causes an increase in urine output. It also causes edema from the osmotic change (OpenStax College, 2013). Edema causes the sodium in the body to be diluted. Hyponatremia may develop accompanied by hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia can cause heart arrhythmia and weakness. In kidney failure, improper function hampers excretion of excess phosphorous. This can cause low circulating calcium levels. Free calcium will bind with phosphate in the body. Receptors incorrectly believe the body is low in calcium so they promote osteoclast activity. This can cause issues with bone weakness and osteoporosis. The kidneys also help maintain acid-base balance. People with kidney failure struggle to excrete waste products which are acidic.

Treatments should include dietary changes, control of underlying disease processes, phosphorus binder therapy, diuretics, physical activity, and to include hemodialysis or kidney transplant as the disease progresses (What is kidney failure?, 2022). Dietary changes would reflect reduced sodium, phosphorus, and potassium intake, liquid restriction, and limited alcohol intake. Some patients will need reduced protein intake to reduce waste products from protein metabolism.

Resources

Arora, P. (2022, June 10). Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Etiology (V. Batuman, Ed.). Retrieved September 26, 2022, from

Latif, W. (2021, July 21). Chronic kidney disease. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from

OpenStax College. (2013). Anatomy and Physiology. Retrieved from Connections website.

What is Kidney Failure? (2022, August 29). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from