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Renal Failure Problems

Renal failure is characterized by the loss of function within one or both kidneys. This may be a sudden development or one that takes place over a longer period of time, but it usually involves the accumulation of waste and fluid within your body. While the symptoms of this condition are worrisome, such as unexplained fatigue, confusion, respiratory difficulties and digestive distress, the problems or complications can often be quite serious.

  1. Fluid Retention

    • Fluid retention is the most common of all the problems associated with renal failure. Though this may cause you to suffer from a swelling of the feet, ankles and legs, it may also include inflammation in other areas of the body. When this happens, it could lead to congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema, which is the accumulation of fluids within the lungs and can impair respiration.

    Anemia

    • Often accompanying this fluid retention is the complication of anemia, which essentially impairs the ability of your blood to transport oxygen. This often causes a great deal of fatigue and could change the rhythm of your heart and affect mental function. But when anemia is left untreated, it could lead to death.

    High Blood Pressure

    • Renal failure can also trigger an elevation in your blood pressure. Often referred to as secondary hypertension, the accumulation of waste and toxins within the blood can impair circulation, causing an increase in pressure within the arterial walls. Eventually, this could damage your arteries and lead to conditions like atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), aneurysms, cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

    Hyperkalemia

    • It is also possible for renal failure to cause the problem of hyperkalemia, which is the elevation of potassium within the blood. Since the kidneys are responsible not only for filtering waste but also removing potassium from your bloodstream, any change in function can cause a spike in the levels within your blood. If left untreated, hyperkalemia inevitably hinders your heart's overall function and could cause arrhythmias, also known as irregular heartbeats, or even heart failure.

    Immune Response

    • Sometimes renal failure can cause problems for your immune system. Over time, the damage inflicted on your immunity could impair your immune response, causing more frequent infections--bacterial, viral or even fungal.

    Skeletal Issues

    • For others, renal failure, especially that which is chronic, can cause issues within your bones, prompting them to become weaker of more fragile than normal. This could lead to other issues, such as breaks or fractures of the bones from sudden impacts or falls.

    Other Problems

    • You could develop other problems in relation to renal failure, including a changed sex drive that could lead to impotence and stomach problems that could cause the development of ulcers. You may also incur damage within your central nervous system (CNS) or to the kidneys themselves.

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