Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to function properly, leading to the buildup of waste and excess fluid in the body. The main causes of kidney failure include:
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels damage the kidneys' filtering units over time, leading to diabetic kidney disease. This is the most common cause of kidney failure
- High blood pressure (Hypertension): Elevated blood pressure forces blood through kidney vessels with extra force, damaging kidney tissue and impairing function
- Other diseases and conditions: These include autoimmune diseases like lupus and IgA nephropathy, genetic disorders such as polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis (inflammation of kidney filters), and infections
- Acute kidney injury: Sudden loss of kidney function can result from dehydration, trauma, infections, toxins, certain medications, urinary tract obstructions (like kidney stones or enlarged prostate), or severe illness such as sepsis
- Additional contributing factors: Heart disease, obesity, smoking, some cancers, and long-term use of nephrotoxic drugs can also increase the risk of kidney failure
Kidney failure can develop gradually (chronic kidney disease) or suddenly (acute kidney injury), and managing underlying causes is crucial to slowing progression and maintaining kidney function
