What is the life expectancy of a person with stage 3 chronic kidney disease?

Ayurvedic treatment for chronic kidney disease

What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a condition that involves a gradual loss of kidney function. It is also known as chronic kidney failure. Human kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from the blood, which are then removed from the urine.

One may have a few signs or symptoms in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. The treatment procedure for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of kidney damage. This is usually done by controlling the cause. But sometimes controlling the cause may not prevent the kidney damage from progressing.

Chronic kidney disease can lead to final-stage kidney failure. In such a situation, dialysis or a kidney transplant becomes the only alternatives for treatment.

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease

The signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease may develop with time as the condition of the kidneys continues to deteriorate. Depending on its severity, loss of kidney function can cause-

• Nausea and vomiting
• loss of appetite
• Fatigue and weakness
• Muscle cramps
• Dry or itchy skin
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Chest pain
• Swelling around feet and ankles
• Irregularities in urine
• Problems in sleeping

Causes of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease usually occurs when a disease or condition affects kidney function by damaging them over a course of time.

Diseases and conditions that can cause chronic kidney disease are-

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Glomerulonephritis
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Kidney infection

Risk factors in chronic kidney disease

Factors that may increase the risk of getting chronic kidney disease are-

1. Diabetes
2. Obesity
3. High blood pressure
4. Smoking
5. Abnormal kidney structure
6. Family history of kidney disease
7. Older age
8. Heart disease

Complications of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease can affect almost every part of the human body. It can cause complications such as -

• ● Fluid retention, that can lead to swelling in the arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in the lungs.
• ● Anemia
• ● Heart disease
• ● A sudden rise in the potassium levels in the blood, that can be life-threatening as it could impair one’s heart function.
• ● Decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction
• ● Weak bones
• ● Pregnancy complications that can carry risks for the mother and the developing fetus.

Diagnosis of chronic kidney disease

The doctor may ask the patient about their personal and family history before diagnosing chronic kidney disease. Apart from this, the doctor may also ask if they have previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure or a change in their urinary habits.

The following tests and procedures can help determine the condition of the kidneys -

• Blood tests: these tests help determine the presence of waste products in blood, such as creatinine.
• Urine tests: The urine sample can help reveal abnormalities in the urine that may indicate the risk of chronic kidney disease.
• Imaging tests: Doctors may use ultrasound to determine the structure and size of the kidneys.
• Testing a sample of kidney tissue: Doctors may recommend a kidney biopsy, which involves removing a sample of kidney tissue. This procedure involves using a long, thin needle that is inserted through the skin of the patient and into their kidneys. To determine the cause of the kidney problem, the biopsy sample is sent to a lab for further testing.

Treatment for chronic kidney disease

In most cases, chronic kidney disease is not curable. However, some types of kidney disease can be cured depending on their cause.

The objectives of the treatment are to help control signs and symptoms, reduce complications and slow the progression of the disease. In cases where the kidneys become severely damaged, there may be a need for final-stage kidney disease treatment.

Kidney disease complications can make a person uncomfortable. Treatments include-

• High blood pressure medications: People with kidney disease can have high blood pressure that gets worse over time. Doctors may recommend medications to control blood pressure and preserve kidney function.
• Medications to relieve swelling: People who suffer from chronic kidney disease often retain fluids. This fluid retention can cause swelling in the legs and high blood pressure. Doctors may recommend medications that help maintain the balance of fluids in the body.
• Medications to treat anemia: Supplements of the hormone erythropoietin with added iron help produce more red blood cells. This can help relieve fatigue and weakness related to anemia.
• Medications to lower cholesterol levels: Doctors may recommend medications like statins to lower the patients’ cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease.
• Medications to protect bones: People with chronic kidney disease often have weak bones and an increased risk of fracture. Calcium and vitamin D supplements can help prevent these conditions.
• A low-protein diet: The human body processes protein from foods that we eat, and it creates waste products that the kidneys must filter from our blood. Doctors may recommend consuming less amount of proteins to people with chronic kidney disease. This can help in reducing the workload of the kidneys. A dietician can help the patient by suggesting ways to reduce their protein intake while still eating a healthy diet.

The doctor may also recommend regular testing to know the condition of the affected kidneys.

Treatment for last-stage kidney disease

When a person falls into the category of last-stage kidney disease, it indicates that their kidneys can no longer keep up with the waste and fluid clearance on their own. At this stage, the only remaining alternatives are dialysis or a kidney transplant.

• Dialysis: Dialysis is a procedure that artificially removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood since kidneys can no longer perform this function on their own.
• Kidney transplant: A kidney transplant is a surgical process that involves replacing the damaged kidney from the patient’s body with a healthy kidney from a donor.

What is the life expectancy of a person with stage 3 chronic kidney disease?

Stage 3 chronic kidney disease is diagnosed based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR). It is a blood test that measures the creatinine levels of a person. A higher GFR indicates better kidney function.

If diagnosed and managed early, stage 3 chronic kidney disease generally has a longer life expectancy than other advanced stages of kidney disease. The estimates can however vary based on the age and lifestyle of the person.

The average life expectancy of a person with stage 3 chronic kidney disease is 24 years in men who are 40 years.

The average life expectancy of a person with stage 3 chronic kidney disease is 28 years in women who are 40 years.

Ayurvedic treatment for chronic kidney disease

Ayurvedic treatment can help prevent chronic kidney disease. Ayurveda treatment is completely safe and consists of herbs that are natural and have no side effects on the body.

Last-stage chronic kidney disease needs immediate attention or otherwise, it can cause the kidney to fail. In such situations, dialysis or a kidney transplant becomes the only alternatives. Since both these alternatives are not affordable to everyone and can have adverse effects on health, therefore Ayurvedic treatment is the best process for chronic kidney disease.

Ayurveda recommends adopting the following steps in order to achieve the desired results-

• Lifestyle modifications
• Healthy and balanced diet
• Ensure enough rest