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Your kidneys do these important jobs to keep your body healthy:
Most people do not have severe symptoms until the disease gets worse. However, you may:
Your doctor or clinic should check to see if you have any risk factors for CKD. These include :
Having chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases your chance of early death. This is because people with CKD are more likely to get heart and blood vessel disease.
Chronic kidney disease is defined as kidney damage or a decreased kidney glomerular filtration rate of less than 60, for 3 months or more, irrespective of the cause. This results in a progressive decline in kidney function, resulting in accumulation of toxic waste products, excess water, and salts, increased blood pressure, anemia and many other complex symptoms.
Chronic renal failure is divided into Stages I – V, out of which the first three stages are asymptomatic, and usually discovered incidentally, while doing routine blood tests. The management of chronic renal failure consists of treatment of the underlying cause if possible, aggressive treatment of high blood pressure and other symptoms, liquid and diet control, cessation of smoking, and finally, with end-stage disease, resorting to dialysis or a kidney transplant.
The Ayurvedic treatment of chronic renal failure is based on three principles:
The advantage of using Ayurvedic medicines in chronic renal failure is that in most patients, the kidney damage can be either partly or fully reversed, the frequency of dialysis can be reduced, and the increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases can be significantly reduced. Thus, Ayurvedic medicines have the potential for an important therapeutic contribution in all the stages of this condition. For patients with chronic renal failure intending to take Ayurvedic treatment (or for that matter, any alternative treatment), the following points should be kept in mind: All patients should be under the regular supervision and treatment of a qualified and experienced Urologist. Ayurvedic medicines should be taken in the form of additional treatment, and should not replace other, regular treatment or dialysis. The attending Urologist should be informed of the decision to start Ayurvedic treatment.
Nephrotic Syndrome is a disease seen more in children aged 18 months to 8 years and also in adults, and is characterized by high levels of protein in the urine, low levels of protein in the blood, and high cholesterol. This results from damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys, usually due to disease, infection, some cancers, medicines, or unknown causes. Treatment outcome is usually more favorable in younger children.
Nephritic Syndrome, also known as Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis, is seen more in adults. This is characterized by reduced urine output, presence of blood and protein in the urine, and swelling in the body. This disease also results from damage to the filtering mechanism in the kidneys. Mostly the cause is unknown, but it is also believed to result from a malfunction of the immune system of the body, resulting from viral infection or autoimmune disease. The treatment outcome in this disease may not be so favorable.
It is important to note that symptoms for both the above syndromes may overlap with each other and with other diseases of the kidneys.
The commonest physical manifestation of kidney-related disease is swelling in the body, more so below the eyes and in the feet and ankles. This swelling is known as “Kaphaj Shoth” in Ayurveda. Diseases caused by disturbed kapha dosha present gradually, and the response to treatment is also slow. Hence, such disorders, including kidney-related diseases, need long-term treatment.
A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi. Less intake of fluid,history of dehydration,diuretic or vitamin D therapy and certain disease like gout and bowel disease lead to stone formations. In Ayurveda, Renal Calculi is compared to “Mutrashmari”, which is a stone like structure anywhere in the Mutravaha Srotas (Urinary System). Ashma=Stone, Ari=Enemy. The formation of a stone, which causes great pain and suffering to the body like an enemy is called “Ashmari”. The Line of Treatment for Ashmari is: Nidana Parivarjanam (Avoiding the Root Cause); Specific Ahara & Vihara (Food Habits & Life Styles) are to be followed. Samshodhana Chikitsa (Panchakarma Procedures) like: Snehanam (Oleation), Swedanam (Suddation), Virecana Karma (Purgation), Vasthi Karma (Enemas) and Uttara Vasthi are recommended in the Management of Ashmari or the Renal Calculi. Samshamana Chikitsa mainly includes Researched Medicines to blow out the Calculi are prescribed according to the Patient’s Requirement, Severity of the Disease, Age etc.