What will cause kidney failure

Over time, your kidneys can become so damaged that they no longer do a good job filtering wastes and extra fluid from your blood. Often, the first sign of kidney disease from diabetes is protein in your urine. When the filters are damaged, a protein called albumin , which you need to stay healthy, passes out of your blood and into your urine.

Learn more about the treatment options for kidney failure. Learning that you have kidney failure can come as a shock, even if you have known for a long time that your kidneys were not working well. Having to change your lifestyle to make time for your treatments can make coping with this new reality even harder.

You may have to stop working or find new ways to exercise. You may feel sad or nervous. All is not lost. You can get help to feel better and have a fulfilling life. Learn more about mental health and how to get help. Starting dialysis often means creating a new normal for yourself and your family.

Your kidneys do many jobs to keep you healthy. Cleaning your blood is only one of their jobs. They also control chemicals and fluids in your body, help control your blood pressure and help make red blood cells.

This can lead to kidney failure, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. Usually someone with kidney failure will have a few symptoms of the disease. Sometimes no symptoms are present. Possible symptoms include:.

Symptoms of early stage kidney disease may be difficult to pinpoint. If you experience early signs of kidney disease, they may include:. Kidney failure can be the result of several conditions or causes.

The cause typically also determines the type of kidney failure. A sudden loss of blood flow to your kidneys can prompt kidney failure. Some conditions that cause loss of blood flow to the kidneys include:. High blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medications can also limit blood flow.

Some cancers can block the urine passageways, such as:. Insufficient blood flow to the kidneys can cause acute prerenal kidney failure. This type of kidney failure can usually be cured once your doctor determines the cause of the decreased blood flow. Acute intrinsic kidney failure can result from direct trauma to the kidneys, such as physical impact or an accident. Causes also include toxin overload and ischemia, which is a lack of oxygen to the kidneys.

Intrinsic kidney disease develops from a direct trauma to the kidneys, such as severe bleeding or a lack of oxygen. A long-term blockage of the urinary tract prevents urination. This causes pressure and eventual kidney damage. Your doctor may take a urine sample to test for any abnormalities, including abnormal protein or sugar that spills into the urine.

They may also perform a urinary sediment examination. This test measures the amount of red and white blood cells, looks for high levels of bacteria, and searches for high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.

Measuring urine output is one of the simplest tests to help diagnose kidney failure. For example, low urinary output may suggest that kidney disease is due to a urinary blockage, which multiple illnesses or injuries can cause. Your doctor may order blood tests to measure substances that are filtered by your kidneys, such as blood urea nitrogen BUN and creatinine Cr. A rapid rise in these levels may indicate acute kidney failure. Tests like ultrasounds, MRIs, and CT scans provide images of the kidneys themselves as well as the urinary tract.

This allows your doctor to look for blockages or abnormalities in your kidneys. Tissue samples are examined for abnormal deposits, scarring, or infectious organisms. Your doctor will use a kidney biopsy to collect the tissue sample. X-ray or ultrasound equipment will locate the kidneys and help your doctor in guiding the needle. These tests can help determine whether your kidneys are functioning as they should. Kidney failure is classified into five stages. These range from very mild stage 1 to complete kidney failure stage 5.

Symptoms and complications increase as the stages progress. This stage is very mild. You may experience no symptoms and have no visible complications.

Elsevier; Accessed July 16, Goldman L, et al. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. American Kidney Fund. Accessed May 15, The Merck Manual Professional Edition. Negi S, et al. Acute kidney injury: Epidemiology, outcomes, complications, and therapeutic strategies. Seminars in Dialysis. Kidney-friendly diet for CKD.