Kidney Failure

• Kidney failure is when the kidney stops working and are not able to remove waste and extra water from the blood.
• One or both kidneys can no longer work on their own when you have kidney failure.
• Symptoms of kidney failure include:

  Nausea and vomiting

  Muscle Cramps

  Loss of appetite

  Swelling via feet and ankles

  Itchy Skin

  Shortness of breath

  Trouble Sleeping

  Urinating either too much or too little
• Prevention of kidney failure include:

  Stay Active and Fit

  Control Your Blood Sugar

  Monitor Blood Pressure

  Maintain a Healthy Weight

  Stay Hydrated

  Don’t Smoke

  Be Careful with Medications

  Get Regular Kidney Function Tests
• The causes of kidney failure can be due to diseases, infections, toxins, dehydration, physical damage to the kidney, blocked ureters or the kidney drainage tubes, or by some medicines.
• Dialysis and kidney transplant are treatments for kidney failure.
• Dialysis artificially removes waste from your blood.
• Kidney transplant is getting surgery to place a healthy kidney from a living or a deceased donor.
• There are 5 stages of kidney failure.
• Level 1 - kidneys work well as normal

  Level 2 - kidneys kind of work well

  Level 3 - kidneys don't work as well

  Level 4 - kidneys are close to not working at all

  Level 5 - kidneys are very close to not working or do not work at all