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Thursday, December 18, 2003
Understanding kidney disease
By HEALTH 101
Henrylito D. Tacio
COLUMBUS, Ohio--His kidney disease caused his body chemistry to go so haywire that he was in danger of having a heart attack if he continued to play basketball.
"I am very disappointed because I still feel there's an emptiness in my career that just wasn't filled," said a patient with kidney disease. "It's unfortunate, but trust me things could be a whole lot worse. I want to live 50 more years. I'm 33 years old and I want to live to at least be 80 and see my children grow up and see my grandchildren. That's important to me."
In the Philippines, kidney disease is now one of the top 10 causes of death. Every year, almost 10,000 Filipinos go into kidney failure, requiring either dialysis for life or a kidney transplant for survival.
Here's more bad news. The number of Filipinos with the most advanced form
of kidney disease has risen to 31 percent in 2003 from 26 percent in 2001.
"Unless we succeed in mobilizing more people to help prevent it, our resources will be sorely depleted in combating the disease," warned Dr. Augusto Litonjua, president of Diabetes Center of the Philippines.
About 50-55 percent of Filipinos with diabetes develop kidney disease. The Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN) said diabetes is the single most common cause of kidney failure, with 31 percent of the 4,409 patients who underwent chemodialysis having diabetes mellitus nephropathy, a primary renal disease.
"It is very important to detect chronic kidney disease in its early stages when lifestyle changes and medication can be prescribed to delay or prevent the progression of kidney disease and its complications, including the development of heart disease," urges Dr. Dinna Cruz, a kidney specialist trained at Yale University School of Medicine.
Kidney problems, however, are not only confined among adults but children as well. A study conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) and National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) showed that a big number of renal problems, mostly urinary tract infection cases, were seen among schoolchildren. The study found that 1.1 million out of 4.7 million schoolchildren have abnormal urine samples.
The kidneys, two fist-sized organs located on either side of the spine just above the waist, perform a life-sustaining role. They cleanse the blood by removing waste and excess fluids, maintain a healthful balance of various body chemicals, and help regulate blood pressure.
When the kidneys become diseased or damaged, they can suddenly or gradually lose their ability to perform these vital functions. Waste products and excess fluid then build up inside the body, causing a variety of symptoms, particularly swelling of the hands and feet, shortness of breath, and a frequent urge to urinate.
Other symptoms of kidney disease include frequent thirst, the passing of very small amounts of urine, unpleasant taste in the mouth and urine-like odor to the breath, pale skin, and excessively dry, persistently itchy skin. Symptoms of kidney disease among children include increased fatigue and sleepiness, decrease in appetite, and eventually poor growth.
"If left untreated, diseased kidneys may eventually stop functioning," points out The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments. Loss of kidney function is a very serious and potentially fatal condition."
Kidney disease is classified as either acute (when loss of function occurs suddenly) or chronic (when deterioration takes place gradually, perhaps over a period of years). The chronic form can be particularly insidious: It may not show any symptoms until considerable, often irreparable damage has been done.
The causes of chronic kidney disease are often difficult to pinpoint. Most is the result of another disease or condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, all of which impede the flow of blood inside the kidneys. Lupus and other diseases of the immune system that affect blood vessels may also trigger kidney disease by causing the kidneys to become inflamed.
Some chronic kidney diseases, most notably polycystic kidney disease (in which cysts form on the kidneys), are inherited. Others are congenital the result of some sort of urinary tract obstruction or malformation that the person was born with and that predisposes the victim to kidney infections and diseases.
Chronic kidney disease may also result from long-term exposure to toxic chemicals or to drugs, including certain illegal drugs, such as heroin.
Researchers also suspect that excessive amounts of vitamin D and protein, particularly in the diets of the elderly or the very ill, may harm the kidneys. But in many chronic cases, the precise cause remains unknown.
On the other hand, acute kidney disease can occur within a matter of days following the onset of any medical condition that suddenly and dramatically reduces the flow of blood to the kidneys. Examples are a heart attack, a traumatic injury such as one sustained in an automobile accident, a serious infection, or a toxic reaction to drug.
Inhaling or swallowing certain toxins, including methyl, or wood, alcohol; carbon tetrachloride; antifreeze; and poisonous mushrooms, can also cause the kidneys to suddenly malfunction. Marathon runners and other endurance athletes who do not drink enough liquids while competing in long-distance athletic events may suffer acute kidney failure due to sudden breakdown of muscle tissue, which releases a chemical called myoglobin that can damage the kidneys.
(December 18, 2003 issue)
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