Kidney disease is called chronic because kidney function slowly decreases over time, leading to kidney failure
Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away at the age of 90 after battling chronic kidney disease for years. "He passed away at 6.38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central. He had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years, but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," his daughter Pia confirmed.
Known for his hard-hitting and prolific films, the critically acclaimed director underwent dialysis at home last year after both his kidneys failed.
What is chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease or CKD, happens when there is irreversible damage to your kidneys and they stop working the way they should. According to doctors, in this condition, your kidneys, which usually filter out was, toxins, and extra water from your blood lose their function. Due to this, the waste builds up in your blood.
Doctors say kidney disease is called chronic because kidney function slowly decreases over time, leading to kidney failure—or end-stage kidney disease. While not everyone with CKD will develop kidney failure, the disease often worsens without treatment.
There’s no cure for chronic kidney disease. However, there are a few steps you can take to slow the damage.
What are the five stages of CKD?
According to experts, the stages of CKD are based on how well your kidneys are able to filter out waste from your blood. Blood and urine tests determine which stage of CKD you are in.
Stage 1
It is considered a mild stage where your kidneys are working well but there is some damage as well.
Stage 2
In this stage, your kidneys work but their functions begin to slow down due to damage.
Stage 3
Your kidneys are not working well and the damage increases from mild to moderate. You may begin to notice symptoms in this stage.
Stage 4
Your kidneys are now severely damaged and close to not working.
Stage 5
Your kidneys have stopped working totally and you would need an immediate transplant.
Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease
As mentioned, early stages of chronic kidney disease usually do not have noticeable symptoms. However, once you begin having symptoms, the first sign something is wrong may involve swelling in your hands and feet, itchy skin, or needing to pee more often. A few would include:
- A need to pee more all the time
- Feeling tired, weak, and having low energy
- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation
- Breathlessness
- Bubbly and foamy pee
- Puffy eyes
- Dry and itchy skin
- Sleeplessness
- Numbness in hands and feet
- Recurrent nausea and vomiting
- Muscle cramps and pain
- High blood pressure
- Skin darkening
Doctors say it takes years for waste to build up in your blood and cause symptoms.
What causes chronic kidney disease?
Doctors say kidney diseases happen when your kidneys are damaged and are not able to filter your blood. A few reasons for that would be:
- High blood pressure, which directly affects kidney function
- Glomerulonephritis in which your kidney’s glomeruli—the filtering units—get damaged
- Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder that causes many fluid-filled cysts to grow in your kidneys
- Nephropathy, in which your body’s immune system attacks the waste-filtering membranes in your kidney.
- Diabetes, which damages or dysfunctions one or nerves
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