The lower region of your back contains your kidneys. Your spine has one kidney on each side. Your kidneys rid your body of toxins and cleanse your blood. When your kidneys are unable to sufficiently filter the waste from your blood, renal failure happens.

So much toxins build up in your body if your kidneys cannot function properly. If left untreated, this might result in renal failure, which poses a risk to one's life.

Kidney failure could be acute or chronic. When your kidneys abruptly cease functioning normally, you develop acute renal failure. Over time, chronic renal failure develops.

Symptoms

The symptoms of kidney failure include:

• A lesser urine output

• Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs as a result of fluid retention brought on by the kidneys' inability to flush out water waste

• Inexplicable breathlessness

• Extreme weariness or sleepiness

• Continual nausea

• Confusion

• Chest pressure or discomfort

• Seizures

• Coma

Causes

There are various illnesses or factors that might lead to kidney failure. Hypertension and diabetes are two most popular factors.

The following characteristics are frequently present in those who are most at risk:

Renal blood flow being cut off:

Kidney failure may result from an abrupt reduction in blood supply to the kidneys. The following are a few conditions that can reduce blood flow to the kidneys:

• Hepatic failure

• Heart attack

• Dehydration

• A disease of the heart

• Allergy symptoms

• A serious infection, such sepsis.

Issues with urine elimination:

Toxins accumulate and overburden the kidneys when the body is unable to discharge urine. Some malignancies, including bladder, prostate, cervical, and colon tumors, can obstruct the urinary tract.
Other conditions, such as the following, might hinder urination and potentially result in kidney failure:

• Kidney stones

• Expanding prostate

• Blood clots form in the urinary system

• Harm to the bladder-controlling nerves

Other elements that could cause kidney failure include:

• An embolism near or in your kidneys

• Infection.

• Toxic metal exposure

• Alcohol and drug use

• Vasculitis: a blood vessel inflammation

• Lupus, an autoimmune condition that can inflame numerous body organs.

• Glomerulonephritis: the inflammation of the kidneys' tiny blood capillaries.

Diagnosis

The following are some of the most typical tests used to identify renal failure:

Urinalysis:
In order to check for anything unexpected, such as an unusual sugar or protein which has leaked into your urine, your doctor may request a sample of your urine. In order to check for white blood cells, red blood cells, high levels of germs, and large concentrations of tube-shaped particles known as cellular casts, your doctor may also examine the urine sediment.

Measuring the volume of urine:
A simple test to help identify renal failure is measuring urine output. For instance, decreased urine production may indicate kidney disease is brought on by a urinary obstruction, which can be brought on by a number of diseases or traumas.

Blood specimens:
Blood tests to measure substances that are usually filtered by the kidneys such blood urea, creatinine and nitrogen may be prescribed by your doctor. These values may suggest acute renal failure if they rise quickly.

Imaging:
Images of the urinary system and kidneys are provided through exams including CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds, allowing doctors to look for blockages or other issues.

A sample of kidney tissue: The presence of infectious organisms, odd deposits, scarring is checked in tissue samples. The tissue sample will be obtained by your doctor during a kidney biopsy.

Treatment

Dialysis:
Using a machine, dialysis cleans and filters blood. The kidneys' function is carried out by the machine.

You might also need to adhere to a low-potassium, low-salt diet in addition to dialysis.
If you attend your planned appointments for dialysis, even though renal failure cannot be cured, your life may be prolonged.

Kidney transplant: A kidney transplant is an additional option for treatment. You no longer require dialysis because a kidney that is transplanted can function normally.

Following surgery, it is necessary to take immunosuppressant medications to stop your body from rejecting the replacement kidney. These medications each have detrimental side effects.

Making some dietary adjustments and reducing your alcohol intake can help prevent renal failure from worsening and becoming a more serious condition.