Kidneys are vital to achieving a healthy body. These organs remove waste, excess water, and some contaminants from the blood. Toxins are carried in the urinary bladder and discharged when a person pees. Kidney diseases, locally known as sakit sa bato or sakit sa kidney, are the seventh leading cause of death in the Philippines, particularly End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Every hour, 1 Filipino suffers from chronic renal failure, and it amounts to approximately 120 Filipinos per million population yearly.
Over 5,000 patients receive dialysis treatments, and about 1.1 million people globally undergo renal replacement therapy.
Kidney failure arises when the kidneys become vulnerable and unable to function correctly.
Sakit sa Kidney: Most Common Disorders
Here are the seven most common kidney disorders.
Sakit sa kidney that causes blood in urine
Blood in urine, or hematuria, may indicate a problem with your kidneys or another part of the urinary tract. Some of its risk factors may include aging, kidney inflammation, family history, current medications, state of hydration and strenuous workouts. This may also be due to dehydration after exercise, uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes or a long standing kidney disease.
This condition does not always mean kidney failure. But since kidney complications can lead to chronic kidney disease, consulting a doctor as quickly as possible is vital to addressing the problem.
Sakit sa kidney due to acute injury
Previously known as acute renal failure, acute kidney injury happens when the kidneys suddenly unexpectedly stop functioning well as they should. When the kidneys fail, some electrolytes, waste products, and fluids pile up in the patient’s body.
It is a severe condition that generally occurs in people with an acute illness. If not treated, it may be dangerous. It can also arise due to an accident, sudden-onset illness (diarrhea, etc), or even certain medications.
Hepatitis C and chronic kidney disease
Hepatitis C is a liver-damaging viral infection and has been linked to chronic kidney disease because of the following reasons:
- It may cause glomerulonephritis, a form of kidney disease that is the kidney’s permanent inflammation. When your kidney filters get clogged, it can arise into chronic kidney disease.
- Diabetes, the most prevalent cause of kidney failure, is more likely to happen if you have hepatitis C.
- Patients with kidney disease may also accidentally get hepatitis C from hemodialysis, a treatment for kidney failure if a medical facility does not strictly adhere to infection control guidelines.
Kidney infection
When bacteria from a urinary bladder infection spreads to the kidneys, it leads to a kidney infection. Fever, vomiting, and pain in your back, sides, or groin are common signs of kidney infections.
In chronic situations, a urinary tract condition causes urine to leak backward to the kidneys, resulting in frequent impurities accumulation and potentially persistent damage.
Immediate treatment of this disorder can help prevent irreversible kidney damage. Unlike men, women have more chances of developing kidney infections because of the shorter length of their urethra.
People who have diabetes or a urinary tract obstruction are more likely to develop this kidney disorder or sakit sa kidney.
Protein in urine
This kidney problem can be an indication of nephrotic syndrome or the beginning stages of kidney disease. Protein is a necessary nutrient in the blood when healthy kidneys remove waste and fluid. But when your kidney’s tiny filters are damaged, albumin, a protein, escapes from your blood and leaks into your urine, called proteinuria.
A urine test is a way to discover if you have protein in your urine. Early treatment of this issue will help prevent it from worsening your case.
Kidney stones
One of the most common kidney disorders are kidney stones. They result from an accumulation of some minerals or chemical waste buildup within your kidneys. If stones are small as a grain of sand, kidney stones can readily move through the body, so you do not feel anything.
On the other hand, stones as large as a pearl can easily become lodged in the urinary tract and obstruct urine from flowing. In this case, severe pain is possible.
If you’re a hepatitis C patient, doctors suggest you be screened for kidney disease once a year.
Key Takeaways
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet, not consuming too much alcohol, and exercising regularly, is essential to prevent kidney failure in the first place.
But if you experience symptoms of a kidney disorder or sakit sa kidney, the best way to stop it from getting worse is to consult with a medical professional.
