Hello All,

Millions of Nigerians have chronic kidney disease, and most don’t even know it. Millions more are at increased risk.

Chronic kidney disease usually leads to kidney failure, a stage where your kidneys fail to do their basic function which is to eliminate waste products via urine.

The most common causes leading to kidney failure are less expensive to treat than the end result of chronic kidney failure which requires renal replacement therapies of Dialysis and Kidney transplant.

In subsequent postings I will be giving you further information on kidney failure.

I will also answer any questions you might have.

Thank you.

Nathan Kidney Foundation

[center]KIDNEY KNOWLEDGE SERIES
By Nathan Kidney Foundation[/center]

THE KIDNEYS

Q: What are kidneys?

A: The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs the size of a human fist. They are located on either side of the backbone, just below the ribcage and they work around the clock to keep the body healthy. The kidneys are a sophisticated filtering system. They pump up to 200 litres (20 buckets) of blood through around a million functioning units known as “nephrons”.

Q: What are the roles of the kidneys?

A: By filtering the blood this way the kidneys perform a range of vital functions including:
1. Filtering waste from the blood
2. Balancing the body’s fluid levels
3. Helping to control blood pressure
4. Helping to produce red blood cells
5. Maintaining strong, healthy bones.

Q: How do the kidneys filter waste from the blood?

A:
• The kidneys remove waste and excess fluids collected by the blood as they flow through the body.
• Approximately 200 litres (20 buckets) of blood enter the kidneys each day via the renal arteries.  Here, its filters separate waste and excess fluid from the blood.
• The majority of this waste enters the body in food and drink. The kidneys remove salt and other minerals leaving only what the body needs.
• Once cleansed, the blood returns to the heart to be re-circulated through the body while the waste is stored in the bladder as urine.
• When the bladder is full, the urine exits the body via the urethra. An adult passes an average of 2L of urine each day.

Q: How do the kidneys balance the body’s fluid levels?

A:
• By removing just the right amount of excess fluid, healthy kidneys maintain the body’s fluid balance.
• Fluid content accounts for approximately 55 per cent of a woman’s total weight and 60 per cent of a man’s.
• The kidneys maintain these proportions by balancing the amount of fluid that leaves the body as urine with the amount of fluid that enters (via liquid drinks and foods with a high fluid content).

Q: How do the kidneys help to control blood pressure?

A: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is common among those living with kidney failure. Healthy kidneys release hormones to help control blood pressure.
• An important way is by regulating how much sodium (salt) and fluid the body keeps. If there is too much water in the body (fluid overload), a person’s blood pressure will rise. However if the body is lacking water (dehydration), a person’s blood pressure will drop. By monitoring and adjusting salt and water levels in the blood, the kidneys can correct imbalances and increase or decrease blood pressure when necessary.

Q: How do the kidneys help to produce red blood cells?

A:
• Healthy kidneys also produce the hormone “erythropoietin” (EPO), which is carried in the blood to the bone marrow where it stimulates the production of red blood cells.
• Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. A depletion of these cells puts one at risk of developing anaemia, a condition that makes you feel weak, cold, tired and short of breath.

Q: How do the kidneys maintain strong, healthy bones?

A:
• The kidneys help keep bones strong by producing “calcitriol” (vitamin D), which stimulates calcium and phosphate absorption in the blood and bones. The kidneys also monitor and adjust these levels when necessary.
• Kidney failure may cause a drop in the production of calcitriol, leading to abnormal levels of phosphate and calcium, resulting in renal bone disease.

can u pls state out d symptoms

[center]KIDNEY KNOWLEDGE SERIES
By Nathan Kidney Foundation
[/center]

Dear Ngozi,


The symptoms of kidney failure tend to appear gradually over a long period of time. They are therefore often easily overlooked or considered a response to the stress of daily life. This may delay diagnosis and treatment, increasing damage to the kidneys.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, discuss them promptly with your doctor:
• Nocturia (getting up at night to pass urine)
• Tiredness / lethargy
• Loss of appetite & nausea
• Increased or decreased urine volume
• Discomfort over the bladder / lower abdomen area
• High blood pressure.
• Swelling in your hands, feet or face, particularly around your eyes
• A metallic or foreign taste in your mouth
• Shortness of breath
• Restlessness
• Leg cramps


Nathan Kidney Foundation

[center]KIDNEY KNOWLEDGE SERIES
by Nathan Kidney Foundation
[/center]

[center]KIDNEY KNOWLEDGE SERIES
by Nathan Kidney Foundation[/center]

Hello All,

Dear All,

NKF, i've reported your missing posts to the admin. next time your post disappears like that, don't re-submit it, it will only make the spam robots block your id. just notify me on this thread and i'll take appropriate action.

Dominique, thank you. NKF

good thing your posts are now visible. has your id been unbanned?

Yes, Dominique.

NKF

Dear All,

Life is about choices and we are not saying anything negative about a product.

What we do know is that herbal preparations are one of the common causes of kidney failure and this is because dosage cannot be regulated.

What NAFDAC numbers says about a product is that it will not kill you not that it cannot harm you if taking wrongly.

Even Vitamins in high doses can be harmful.

A proper diet, checking your blood pressure and blood glucose regularly and doing a urinalysis to check for protein will keep your kidneys working for a long time.

Once someone's kidneys fail, you will need Dialysis and/or a Kidney Transplant.

Dialysis costs about N75,000 a week for the rest of ones's life if a kidney transplant cannot be performed.

A Kidney transplant cost about N4 million for the procedure and you must bring a relative as a donor, thereafter it costs about N150, 000 a month for the rest of one's life to purchase drugs called immunosuppressants that will stop the body from rejecting the new kidney.

Please, keep your kidneys healthy.

Nathan Kidney Foundation

Hello All,

My apologies for not being able to update my posts with further information on kidney failure of which there is a lot.

The spam bot seems not to like my posts (probably too gloomy! )

It really is not. Prevention they always say is better than cure and its better to spend little now which could guarantee that we don't have to spend millions later on with a poor quality of life.

The causes of kidney failure are very common amongst us and statistically, 1 in 5 people could end up having it.

Hopefully, the admin would be able to resolve issues relating to this thread and my posts so that I can keep informing you all!

Have a lovely weekend.

Regards,

Nathan Kidney Foundation

Q: What are the kidneys?
A: Each person is normally born with two kidneys, located in the lower back. The kidneys are shaped like beans and are the size of the fist. Each kidney contains normally about one million little filters called nephrons.

Q: What do the kidneys do?
A: The kidneys have many functions. Their basic job is to clean the blood through the little filters in them by removing waste products and to regulate the body fluid. They perform this by producing urine where what is not needed in the body is eliminated. They also assist in the production of vitamin D and erythropoietin, a protein necessary to produce hemoglobin for red blood cells.

Q: What is Kidney Failure?
A: Kidney failure occurs when both kidneys are so damaged that they no longer can clean waste products from the blood. When only one kidney is lost, the other one is usually strong enough to do the job.

Q: What are the types of Kidney Failure?
A: There are 2 types of kidney failure:
1. Acute Kidney Failure and
2. Chronic Kidney Failure.

Q: What is Acute Kidney Failure?
A: Acute Kidney (Renal) Failure is a sudden decrease in kidney function. It can happen for example with severe infections, severe vomiting and diarrhea with dehydration, intoxications or allergic reactions. With treatment in the hospital, usually dialysis, there is almost always return to normal kidney function.

Q: What is Chronic Kidney Failure?
A: Chronic Kidney (Renal) Failure is the gradual loss of kidney function because of kidney damage. Often people are unaware that their kidneys are not functioning properly, as they are highly adaptable organs. Even when most of a kidney is not functioning, the remaining portion will increase its activity to compensate for the loss.

Dear All,

Please find us on Facebook.

Search for Nathan Kidney Foundation and leave your comments!

Many thanks!


Nathan Kidney Foundation

What are the causes of kidney failure?

Nneomaj:

What are the causes of kidney failure?

you need to go through the thread properly.

Q: What are the causes of kidney failure?
A: The leading causes of kidney failure in Nigeria are:
1. Hypertension (High blood pressure)
2. Chronic Glomerulonephritis
3. Diabetes Mellitus

Others include:
1. Chronic pyelonephritis
2. Sickle cell disease
3. Analgesic abuse
4. Obstructive uropathy
5. Polycystic kidney disease
6. Congenital anomalies (In children )
7. HIV nephropathy
8. SLE (Systemic lupus erythematosus)
9. Kidney stone disease
10. Herbal medication use and abuse
11. Bleaching creams containing mercury
12. For some people, the cause is unknown

Q: How do I know I have kidney failure?
A: The symptoms of kidney failure tend to appear gradually over a long period of time. They are therefore often easily overlooked or considered a response to the stress of daily life. This may delay diagnosis and treatment, increasing damage to the kidneys.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, discuss them promptly with your doctor:
• Nocturia (getting up at night to pass urine)
• Tiredness / lethargy
• Loss of appetite & nausea
• Increased or decreased urine volume
• Discomfort over the bladder / lower abdomen area
• High blood pressure.
• Swelling in your hands, feet or face, particularly around your eyes
• A metallic or foreign taste in your mouth
• Shortness of breath
• Restlessness
• Leg cramps

Q: How do I know there is something wrong with my kidneys?
A: There are very few symptoms of kidney disease until the kidneys are severely affected. Usually kidney disease is picked up early, by urine tests (to detect protein) or screening blood (serum creatinine particularly).

Q: What happens when the kidneys fail?
A: Harmful waste products and excess fluid accumulate in the body. The individual will have a poor appetite, will get tired more easily, will look pale because of anemia (low number of red blood cells), and performance may be affected.

Hello All,

We would be having 2 free kidney screenings this month!

One is at Ajegunle, Ikorodu on the 24th while the other will be in Eti-Osa, Victoria Island on the 30th.

Please join us if you can! Please call 01-8102805, 08033266688 or send a mail to info@nkidneyfoundation.org for further details.

Are your kidneys OK?


Nathan Kidney Foundation

Dear All,

Our free kidney screening in Ajegunle, Ikorodu was successful!

We were able to do a blood pressure check, glucometer check for glucose and urinalysis for protein and glucose for over 300 people!

Those who were found to have abnormal results will be followed up.

Are your kidneys OK?

Nathan Kidney Foundation

Can I die from kidneys failure?
A: In the long run, if there is no treatment with either dialysis or a transplant, kidney failure is fatal. This is due to the buildup of waste products, accumulation of fluid in the body and affectation of its other functions.

Q: How is kidney failure treated?
A: When the kidney failure becomes severe (usually less than 10 to 15% of the normal kidney functions), it is called end-stage-renal disease (ESRD) and treatments that replace the work of healthy kidneys must be started; this includes Dialysis and Transplantation.

Q: What can I do to reduce damage to my kidney?
A:
• Keep fit with regular exercise to help blood pressure and weight control.
• Eat healthy and maintain a good body weight – which reduces blood pressure stress of being overweight and diabetes mellitus.
• Keep regular control of your blood sugar level
• Monitor your blood pressure
• Moderate alcohol consumption
• Do not smoke
• Do not take over-the-counter-pills on a regular basis
• Do not use bleaching creams and/or soaps
• Avoid herbal preparations
• Drinking adequate quantities ( 2 to 3 Litres ) of water daily
• See your doctor immediately you notice anything unusual

Q: What is end-stage renal disease?
A: Also called end-stage renal failure, it is the point at which the kidneys cannot sustain life any more.

Q: What are the treatments for End-Stage-Renal Disease (ESRD)?
A: When the kidneys fail completely, 2 options are available to sustain life: dialysis or transplantation.

Q: Can kidney failure be cured?
A: Acute renal failure is a serious condition but it may resolve in time and sometimes within days with haemodialysis. Recovery also depends on the underlying cause and the treatment given.

Chronic renal failure cannot be cured. Renal replacement therapies of dialysis can only perform 5% of the kidney’s function, while transplantation has to be sustained by a lifetime of medication.

Q: What are the complications associated with kidney failure?
A: When kidney function drops below 20 per cent of normal function, toxic waste and excess fluid begin to accumulate in the blood. Kidney failure may be responsible for various complications including:
• Fluid retention in the body’s tissue causing swelling known as oedema
• Fluid in the lungs known as “pulmonary oedema”
• Anaemia i.e. a lowered count of red blood cells
• Calcium shortage leading to the bones becoming weak
• End-stage renal failure (ESRF) also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD)

Early detection and appropriate treatment may slow or stop the progression of kidney failure and its complications.

Q: What are the risk factors of kidney failure?
A: Those most at risk of chronic kidney failure include people who:
• have diabetes
• have high blood pressure
• are obese
• are over 50 years old
• use traditional medication frequently
• use bleaching creams/soaps
• smoke cigarettes
• have a family history of kidney disease

Q: Does kidney failure run in families?
A: Although it is unusual, some forms of chronic renal failure run in families. Inherited disease like polycystic kidney disease can lead to chronic renal failure.

Q: Will kidney failure affect my sexuality and fertility?
A: Decreased libido can occur and loss of fertility during renal failure and dialysis can be distressful to patients. It is often restored after a kidney transplant and many patients have successful pregnancies

Q: What is dialysis?
A: Dialysis is a method of removing waste products and excess fluids from your body after your kidneys have failed. Kidney dialysis is an artificial process that performs the two main functions of the kidneys:
1. Filtering waste from the blood; and
2. Balancing the body’s fluid levels.

Q: What are the types of dialysis available?
A: There are two types of dialysis:
1. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) and
2. Haemodialysis (HD)

Q: What is Haemodialysis (HD)?
A: Haemodialysis (HD) is a machine-assisted blood filtration method which removes waste and excess fluid from your blood in a dialyser (or artificial kidney) outside your body. It usually requires a doctor to surgically create permanent access to your blood stream, via your arm or thigh, allowing blood to be diverted from your body, through the dialyser and back into your blood stream.

Q: What is peritoneal dialysis (PD)?
A: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) uses the peritoneum, a natural membrane lining the cavity of your abdomen. The membrane has tiny holes that allow waste products and fluid to filter from your blood. The process of waste removal, as in haemodialysis, is called diffusion. The removal of excess water, osmosis, is aided by another substance within the dialysis fluid, usually glucose.

Q: How many types of peritoneal dialysis are there?
A: There are two types of PD:
1. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
2. Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD).

Both types of PD allow you to be relatively independent and manage your own care at home. For now, PD is not widely available in Nigeria.

Q: How does dialysis filter waste from the blood?
A:
• During dialysis, waste and excess water pass from the blood into a liquid called dialysate for removal from the body by a process called diffusion.
• A thin layer of natural tissue (in peritoneal dialysis) or of synthetic plastic (in haemodialysis), known as the dialysis membrane, keeps the blood separate from the dialysis fluid.
• Blood cells are too large to pass through the dialysis membrane, though waste and water can diffuse into the dialysis fluid.
• Wastes are then removed from the body by extracting the dialysis fluid.

Q: How does dialysis balance the body’s fluid levels?
A:
• In both Haemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis, a process called ultrafiltration removes excess fluid.
• In haemodialysis, the fluid is simply drawn from the blood by the dialysis machine. The amount of water to be removed can be varied by changing the dialyser’s settings.
• In peritoneal dialysis a substance (most commonly glucose) is added to the blood to draw water out in a process called osmosis.
• Peritoneal dialysis solution containing a lot of glucose will draw out more fluid than a weaker solution.

Q: Will dialysis cure me?
A:
• Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are treatments that help replace the work your kidneys did.
• These treatments help you feel better and live longer, but they don’t cure kidney failure.

Q: How long can I be on dialysis?
A: You can be on dialysis for as long as it takes to get a kidney transplant or for the rest of your life.

For more information:

   FAQs on Kidney Failure http://www.nkidneyfoundation.org/FAQ.php
   Follow us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nathan-Kidney-Foundation/129948070350781?ref=ts
   Follow our blog http://www.nkidneyfoundation..com/
   Follow us on twitter http://twitter.com/nkfoundation

Regards,

Nathan Kidney Foundation

Q: How does dialysis filter waste from the blood?
A:
• During dialysis, waste and excess water pass from the blood into a liquid called dialysate for removal from the body by a process called diffusion.
• A thin layer of natural tissue (in peritoneal dialysis) or of synthetic plastic (in haemodialysis), known as the dialysis membrane, keeps the blood separate from the dialysis fluid.
• Blood cells are too large to pass through the dialysis membrane, though waste and water can diffuse into the dialysis fluid.
• Wastes are then removed from the body by extracting the dialysis fluid.

Q: How does dialysis balance the body’s fluid levels?
A:
• In both Haemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis, a process called ultrafiltration removes excess fluid.
• In haemodialysis, the fluid is simply drawn from the blood by the dialysis machine. The amount of water to be removed can be varied by changing the dialyser’s settings.
• In peritoneal dialysis a substance (most commonly glucose) is added to the blood to draw water out in a process called osmosis.
• Peritoneal dialysis solution containing a lot of glucose will draw out more fluid than a weaker solution.

Q: Will dialysis cure me?
A:
• Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are treatments that help replace the work your kidneys did.
• These treatments help you feel better and live longer, but they don’t cure kidney failure.

Q: How long can I be on dialysis?
A: You can be on dialysis for as long as it takes to get a kidney transplant or for the rest of your life.

Q: When and why is dialysis given?
A: When end-stage kidney failure occurs, treatment is necessary to replace the function of the kidneys. Dialysis is a life-saving option until a suitable organ donor is found, but it is not a cure for end-stage kidney failure.

Q: Who can I talk to in order to learn more about dialysis treatments?
A: There are a number of people you can talk to but the most important person is your doctor or a nephrologist (a Physician who is a Specialist in kidneys). Others are the renal care team and even other people with renal failure.

Q: Where is the closest dialysis centre?
A: There are a number dialysis centres across Nigeria, especially in the urban areas. Your doctor can advise you of the nearest centre and how to access it.

Q: Can I change to a different form of treatment once I’ve started dialysis?
A: Yes. It is quite common for people to change treatments as their health and lifestyle needs change. You may have several methods of dialysis treatment throughout your life.

Q: Should I change my diet when I start dialysis?
A: Yes. All forms of dialysis restrict diet to some extent.
• Some treatment options like Haemodialysis (HD) have more restrictions than others.
• Peritoneal dialysis (PD) lets you have more protein, fluids and potassium in your diet.
• Your renal care team will advise you on changes to your diet plans and eating habits while on dialysis. You should also discuss these changes with a dietician if you have access to one.

Q: What is the diet for patients on Haemodialysis?
A: Hemodialysis and a proper diet help reduce the wastes that build up in your blood. A dietitian is usually available at dialysis centers to help you plan meals according to your doctor’s orders.

Q: What is the diet for patients on peritoneal dialysis?
A: A peritoneal dialysis diet is slightly different from that of a haemodialysis diet but this form of dialysis is not readily available in Nigeria presently.

Q: Will I be able to continue my normal activities once I start dialysis?
A: Working, driving and normal housework activities are typically not restricted on dialysis. Your level of freedom and flexibility will depend on the treatment you chose, whether it is a fixed schedule of HD, or PD.