HOW DO YOU CONFIRM?
Kidneys filter blood and discharge urine, so abnormalities (presence of substances) in blood and urine tests, is a strong indicator of something amiss. The two most common kidney function tests are Creatinine (blood) and Albumin (urine).
- Creatinine: Muscle movement creates the waste product creatinine, which damaged kidneys fail to filter, leaving traces of this substance in your blood.
- Albumin (type of protein): Healthy kidney filters are so supremely fine that protein cannot pass through. Finding traces of protein in urine (bubbly or foamy) indicates kidney problems.
MANIFESTATIONS OF KIDNEY DAMAGE:
Short term or long term kidney degeneration can manifest in various anomalies like:
- Pyelonephritis -infection of kidney pelvis,
- Glomerulonephritis– Blood and protein discharge in urine,
- Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis),
- Nephrotic syndrome– protein discharge in urine,
- Polycystic kidney disease– formation of large cysts,
- Acute renal failure– due to sudden loss of blood or dehydration,
- Chronic renal failure– due to long term chronic diseases,
- End stage renal disease (ESRD)-complete loss of kidney function,
- Papillary necrosis-broken kidney tissue clogging the kidneys,
- Kidney cancer-Renal cell carcinoma,
- Interstitial nephritis– Inflammation of the connective tissue, to name a few.
