Symptoms and treatment of kidney failure in Stage 4 patients using Ayurveda

Introduction

A fun fact about chronic kidney disease is that ninety percent of people don’t even know they have contracted it before it gets to the later stages. Being one of the most prevalent diseases in the world today, about one in every two people doesn’t know that they are suffering from chronic kidney disease. A condition that worsens over time, chronic kidney disease is highly associated with increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in individuals over time. Defined as a gradual decline in kidney functions, the two main determinants of this disease are creatinine level and Glomerular filtration rate. Unfortunately, both of these get disrupted due to various complications that chronic kidney disease brings.

The key role of kidneys

The kidney is mainly responsible for treating and flushing out the extra waste material that is generated by the body throughout the day. This also includes removing the excess amount of fluids and producing urine. These bean-shaped organs also ensure that essential vitamins and minerals are maintained at all times to avoid health complications. With weighing just over 150 gm, they are the hardest working organs in the body and produce over 2 liters of urine in a healthy human being.

Symptoms of stage 4 CKD

An individual suffering from stage 4 chronic kidney disease will experience most of the complications that come with this disease. The kidneys usually have about fifteen to thirty percent functioning left, which is just at the borderline for end-stage renal disease. This decrease in functioning does not happen overnight but can take years to finally come to light. The first 3 stages usually range from little to moderate damage that the kidneys sustain with time. There are no visible symptoms that can indicate directly towards kidney damage in the initial stages. However, one can look for common indicators like high blood pressure and urinary tract infections, which are known causes of chronic kidney disease.

However, once the kidneys have reached the fourth stage, a few major symptoms are commonly seen:-

1. Vomiting & Nausea
2. Chest pain & shortness of breath
3. Loss of appetite & Weight loss
4. Disrupted sleep & Fatigue
5. Muscle cramps & Headaches
6. Severe fluid retention& Edema
7. Change in urination frequency &color
8. Nerve problems
9. Anemia
10. High blood pressure
11. Mineral and bone problems

When should you see a doctor for stage 4 chronic kidney disease?

Anybody can develop CKD. It can impact youngsters as well as people of all ages. Some people are born with it, while others develop it as they age. It can run in families and is more prevalent in persons of Asian or African descent.
Even if you don’t have any symptoms of CKD, kidney deterioration can still impact your health. CKD increases your chances of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.

Therefore it is essential to be in touch with your nephrologist once you cross stage 3 of chronic kidney disease. This is because once an individual crosses this stage, it becomes next to impossible to reverse the damage and get the kidney back to normal functioning. Thus, safeguarding the remaining functioning of the kidneys becomes critical, and that is what your doctor will focus on.

Usually, once the third stage is crossed, an individual will start experiencing major chronic kidney disease symptoms such as fluid retention and fatigue, which can worsen as the disease progresses. At this stage, patients should also be in touch with a dietician to check their food consumption to promote a faster recovery. Signs that a patient should get in touch with a doctor:-

1. Proteinuria
   Protein is present in the blood; healthy kidneys should only filter minimal quantities into the urine since most protein molecules are too big for the filters (glomeruli). But in a kidney disease patient, this protein leaks via urine which is a sign of kidney damage.
2. Hematuria
   Commonly, this symptom is passing blood while urinating. While it is said that the underlying condition of ckd is the main cause, hematuria is also known to help progress chronic kidney disease. Having blood in your urine might also point towards other underlying issues such as polycystic kidney disease or cancer. Still, it is one of the most prominent symptoms of Hematuria.
3. Swelling of feet ( Pedal Edema)
   In the medical field, Edema is another word used for swelling. With chronic kidney disease, water retention can be widely seen owing to the inability of the kidneys to filter out extra water. Pedal Edema refers to swelling that is only seen in the feet and legs.
4. Pain while passing urine
   The process occurs when a patient is also affected by a urinary tract infection with chronic kidney disease. In severe cases, individuals can also experience fever and pain in the back or sides owing to chronic kidney disease.
5. High blood pressure & sugar
   With the decreasing functions of the kidney, it becomes difficult to manage high blood pressure and sugar. But a lot of patients develop these problems after they get diagnosed with chronic kidney disease as well, which aggravates the disease altogether.
6. Anemia
   A very common complication that is often associated with chronic kidney disease, it is a condition in which an individual’s hemoglobin reduces below the normal level. This is dangerous as red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body.
7. Cholesterol
   Inflammation occurs during chronic kidney disease due to swelling in arteries and high blood pressure. This gradually leads to arteries getting damaged and bad cholesterol sticking around, increasing its levels.

Ayurvedic methods of treating stage 4 chronic kidney disease

With being one stage prior to end-stage renal disease, stage four chronic kidney disease comes with severe consequences such as bloody stool and chest pain which can cause extreme discomfort. At this stage, the kidneys are very close to completely shutting off eventually leaving the patient with no option other than dialysis or a transplant. This thought is what SRIAAS aims to change as ayurveda has answers to all medical ailments in way of natural treatment. Although it is said that the damage caused to the kidneys is irreversible, still with the help of ayurvedic ways, a patient’s kidneys can be healed to a level where the need to go for a transplant or dialysis gets eliminated. These natural healing methods are full of medications, and lifestyle changes as well as following a specific diet and being active so that the body doesn’t stay in a lethargic state for a long time.

Despite the fact that Ayurveda practitioners have traditionally employed herbs such as Varuna and Gokshura to treat renal failure, these techniques have only lately been scientifically confirmed. Ayurveda can aid in healing damaged kidney tissues and minimizing the frequency of dialysis. As a result, Ayurveda drugs have the ability to manage renal failure at all stages of the ailment. Ayurvedic treatment focuses on healing the underlying cause of the ailment rather than masking the symptoms.