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Chronic Kidney Disease

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Kelly Rise
Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease is a kidney damage or reduction in its function for three months or more regardless of diagnosis. Despite a variety of etiological factors, it has a common progression mechanism. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment can significantly diminish adverse consequences associated with a delayed visit to a doctor. The current exploratory writing seeks to examine the clinical presentation of chronic kidney disease, diagnosis, the role of patient history, physical exams, and diagnostics, implications of potential treatment options, including prescribed drugs, and the impact of patient factors on diagnosis and treatment.

Early clinical and laboratory signs of renal disease often have a vague representation and do not cause medical vigilance, particularly, in old patients. Despite the prevalence of the illness in the elderly population, young people may also suffer from deteriorated kidney function. A patient with chronic renal failure may complain of appetite loss, dryness, and unpleasant taste in the mouth, nausea, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, sleep inversion, itching, muscle cramps, and epigastric pain. Moreover, physicians deeply examine pathologic processes caused by the primary disease entity, including diabetes and hypertension, as well as seek to identify effects of progressive renal failure. An irreversible decline in kidney nephrons mass violates homeostasis and causes chronic renal failure. It occurs in all progressive kidney diseases accompanied by the disturbances of water-electrolyte and acid-base balances. At the early stage, the most fundamental function of kidneys, the ability to allocate water adequately, violates because of the inability to concentrate urine and the approximation of urine osmolality to the blood plasma one. The metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, changes in the blood system, defeat of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, lungs, failure of the digestive system, and immunity are other clinical manifestations of chronic renal failure.

Diagnostic methods are the core principles of treating the chronic disease. Clinicians encourage individuals of different ages to undergo regular medical examinations, testing, and early treatment. In order to diagnose kidney disease accurately, a doctor asks about patient’s medical history and the one of his/her family, possible issues with high-blood pressure, and taken medications that may affect kidney function. Family’s health problems and changes in urinary habits are also taken into account. Moreover, physicians also encourage passing specific tests and procedures, including imaging, urine, and blood ones. High-tech methods and intensive replacement therapy allow saving the life, but do not always maintain its quality, work capacity, and social activity.

Effective treatment slows the progression of kidney dysfunction to end-stage renal disease. As the symptoms develop slowly, the therapy focuses more on asymptomatic conditions revealed through laboratory tests. Despite the fact that chronic kidney disease cannot be cured, timely and effective treatment can relieve the symptoms and prevent adverse effects. Prescribed drugs depend on the stage of the disease. In addition to medications, clinicians focus on lifestyle changes, dialysis, and kidney transplantation.

In order to control renal failure complications, clinicians prescribe high-blood pressure medications, as well as drugs to treat anemia, regulate cholesterol levels, relieve swelling, and protect bones. A lower protein diet significantly diminishes waste products in the blood. Only a few patients possess important information on chronic disease and risks that it causes. Unfortunately, many individuals are not aware of their status, and therefore, seek professional medical help. Patients recognizing all possible risks may need testing, increasing clinicians’ awareness of their concerns, causes of disease, treatment options, and risk factors. Such factors as genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, and behavior affect the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease. Initially, clinicians pay attention to a genetic predisposition to the disease by examining patients’ history. Other aspects are also crucial as individuals of various ages and ethnicities may perceive treatment and clinicians approaches differently. Some medicines can help young people, but may not be sufficient for adult patients. The behavior of a person may also force the physician to reconsider his/her views on prescribed drugs.

To conclude, chronic renal failure is a chronic non-communicable disease associated with a sharp deterioration in the quality of life and high mortality. The performance of physical or neurological exams considering signs or issues of heart or blood vessels may be also helpful for setting a correct diagnosis. Appropriate treatment cannot be obtained without testing, communication, and providers’ care. Therefore, timely diagnosis and adequate medical assistance are required.

 

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