Signs of Renal Failure in Humans

Renal failure occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to remove wastes and fluids from the blood. Renal failure can occur over a period of days, months or years, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Types

• Acute renal failure is often caused by another medical condition, such as an injury to the kidneys or bladder outlet obstruction. It often develops quickly and is treatable. The Mayo Clinic states that chronic renal failure often progresses slowly and is not detectable until the kidneys have almost completely failed.

Risk Factors

• People who have diabetes, high blood pressure, an enlarged prostate, kidney diseases, rhabdomyolysis, liver disease, prostate cancer and/or chronic glomerulonephritis have an increased risk of developing renal failure.

Symptoms

• During early stages of renal failure, people often have no symptoms. As the disease progresses, they often experience a shortness of breath, high blood pressure, decreased urination, anemia, headaches, pain in the back or side, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, swelling in the legs or feet, muscle cramps, bloody stools, seizures and/or changes in body weight.

Diagnosis

• Urine tests are often used to show if patients have increased levels of protein in their urine, which can signal renal failure. Blood tests, such as the creatinine level and blood urea nitrogen tests, can show if people have increased levels of waste products in their blood.

Treatment

• Doctors often prescribe medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, to regulate blood pressure in people suffering from renal failure, according to MedlinePlus. Dialysis is a procedure that uses filters to eliminate waste products from the blood in renal failure patients.