Acute Renal Failure (ARF)or acute kidney failure is the term that has recently been replaced with the term Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). ARF with an abrupt decrease in kidney functions (within hours or a few days), can be due to structural damage or any impairment or loss of kidney functions. This should also be considered that the loss can range from minor kidney function loss to complete kidney failure.
This type of kidney damage is usually found in older people who are also suffering from some other conditions responsible for affecting their kidney functions. Whatever the reason, the state should be detected as early as possible and should be treated promptly.
How Does Ayurveda Deal With The Problem?
When we go without adequate treatment, abnormal levels of chemicals build up in the body and thus affect the ability of other organs to work properly. If the kidney’s function decreases abruptly, it may require temporary support from the dialysis machine or can lead to death.
ARF leads to the accumulation of waste products in your blood, and it is difficult for the kidneys to keep the right fluid balance in your body. It can also affect other organs like the brain, heart, and lungs.
Acute kidney failure treatment in ayurveda helps you get rid of this kidney disorder and stimulates the kidneys’ overall health. Acute kidney failure treatment is a treatment that provides the least side effects.
Symptoms Of Acute Kidney Injury
ARF is different from chronic kidney disease. In CKD, the kidneys gradually lose their functioning. It has also been seen that ARF also causes no symptoms and can only be diagnosed through sudden symptoms or other tests.
Symptoms of ARF include:
- chest pain or pressure
- confusion
- dehydration
- diarrhoea
- drowsiness
- fatigue or tiredness
- nausea
- seizures or coma in severe cases
- shortness of breath
- edema of legs and ankle region
- urine outflow-less than usual
Who’s At Risk Of Acute Kidney Injury?
You are more likely to get ARF if you are:
- ageing 65+yrs
- having a kidney problem.
- having diabetes and chronic heart or liver disease.
- severely dehydrated
- having blockage in the urinary tract.
- having a severe infection or sepsis
- on certain medicines like NSAIDS
Causes Of Acute Kidney Failure
Most cases of ARF are caused due to reduced blood flow or direct damage to the kidneys, or blockages in the urinary tract. It is usually seen in someone who is already not well with another health condition. ARF can also be caused by glomerulonephritis.
Decreased blood flow
Some conditions slow down the kidneys blood flow and cause ARF.
These diseases and conditions include:
- blood or fluid loss (such as bleeding, vomiting, or severe diarrhoea)
- certain allergic reactions
- chronic heart diseases or other conditions leading to decreased heart function
- injury
- low blood pressure (Hypotension) or shock
- major surgery
- organ failure (heart or liver)
- overuse of pain medicines known as “NSAIDs
Direct Damage to the Kidneys
There have been found diseases and conditions that can damage your kidneys and lead to ARF. Some examples include:
- sepsis, a life-threatening infection
- cancer, known as “multiple myeloma.”
- a rare condition called “vasculitis,” where the inflammation and scarring to the blood vessels make them stiff, weak, and narrow.
- interstitial nephritis
- scleroderma, affecting the connective tissue
Blockage of the urinary tract
Conditions or diseases that block the passage of urine outflow can lead to ARF. Blockages can be due to the following:
- cervical cancer
- blood clots in the urinary tract
- enlarged prostate
- kidney stones
- problems in the nervous system that is affecting the bladder and urination process
What Tests Are Done To Find Acute Kidney Failure?
ARF must be assessed as soon as possible. Depending on the cause of the acute kidney failure, your physician will suggest different tests.
The following tests are done for assessment:
- measuring urine output
- urine tests
- blood tests for Creatinine, Urea, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium levels
- GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate)
- imaging tests: like USGs (Ultrasounds), MRIs, etc.
- kidney biopsy
Complications Associated With Acute Kidney Failure
The most serious complications associated with acute kidney injury are:
- high potassium levels in the blood can lead to muscle weakness, paralysis, and heart problems
- pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
- metabolic acidosis, causing nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and breathlessness
Most Efficient Acute Kidney Failure Treatment
The modern medicine system recommends dialysis or transplant for patients with acute kidney failure. Dialysis is an artificial procedure of blood filtration. While in the later stages, the condition worsens, and you mostly reach the state of a kidney transplant. In short, we can say that in Allopathy, we do not have permanent treatment for acute kidney failure.
Here, Ayurvedic acute kidney failure treatment can play a vital role by helping you get rid of it. Ayurveda is an ancient science. It works with the concept of knowledge of the human body as a whole, not just as organ systems. It treats the human body as one entity. It always suggests ways to keep the human body disease-free and healthy. Ayurveda works to root out the factors responsible for diseases. It cures with the use of natural herbs and a well-balanced diet, and suggests including yoga to cure a disorder. Ayurvedic medicines for kidney diseases include Punarnava, Varun, Kasni, Palaash, and many more, in combination are used for kidney problems. These herbs have protective and curative properties; it helps in the restoration of damaged kidney cells. These herbs also enhance the functioning of the ayurvedic kidney treatment.