Home : health : All You Need To Know About Kidney And Liver Failure
All you need to know about kidney and liver failure

All you need to know about kidney and liver failure

Hepatorenal syndrome is a condition that is identified as a type of kidney failure that occurs in people who have serious damage caused to the liver, commonly due to cirrhosis. When the kidney stops functioning, toxins begin to accumulate in the body which leads to liver failure as well. Therefore, kidney and liver failures are co-dependent in this case. This condition is of two types: 1 and 2. In Type 1 the kidney failure is more rapid, while type 2 patients tend to move gradually toward renal failure and the symptoms are less aggressive.

Symptoms
The symptoms caused by the hepatorenal syndrome are a cause of medical emergency in most cases. If any of the symptoms associated with the condition occur, the patient must be rushed to a doctor without any delay. The common symptoms associated with the condition include

  • Nausea
  • Increase in body weight
  • Confusion
  • Reduced urination
  • Change in the color of urine, which usually becomes dark-colored
  • Swelling in the abdomen area
  • Jaundice
  • Dementia
  • Vomiting
  • Delirium

Causes and risk factors
In most cases, the hepatorenal syndrome is a complication associated with liver disease. Almost in all patients, the condition is caused as a result of liver cirrhosis. When a person suffers from cirrhosis of the liver, there are several factors that can cause the hepatorenal syndrome, such as

  • Infections, especially the ones that affect the kidneys
  • Digestive tract disorders such as gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Use of diuretics, the substance used for increased production of urine

The primary reason behind the condition is mostly any kind of disease related to the liver. These diseases can include

  • Hepatitis caused by viruses such as Hepatitis B and C, autoimmune diseases, or substances
  • Liver tumors
  • Live cirrhosis

The most severe type of liver disease, which is linked to extreme damage to liver function, fulminant liver failure is also associated with hepatorenal syndrome. All these conditions can lead to kidney disease and eventually kidney failure at various levels in hepatorenal patients.

Other than these, some of the risk factors that increase the chances of kidney failure originating from liver disease have been identified, and these include

  • Abdominal cavity infections, which can occur in people who suffer from live cirrhosis and are known as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis or SBP.
  • Liver cirrhosis patients also suffer from a common problem which is bleeding into the gut. This is one of the risk factors of hepatorenal syndrome

Treatment options

There are various treatment options that a hepatorenal syndrome patient might need. Vasoconstrictors are medications that the patients might be prescribed to keep their blood pressure levels under control, which otherwise can be a problem with hepatorenal syndrome patients. To keep the kidney functions stable, dialysis may also be required. With the help of dialysis, the toxins, excess salt, and extra water can be extracted from the blood. Another effective treatment for patients is liver transplant surgery. Although getting a healthy liver for transplant can take a while, if one does manage to get it, the chances of survival increase greatly.

Top Reads

Top Tags

Popular Reads

Sexual disorders – An overview
health

Sexual disorders – An overview

A sexual disorder refers to the individual or couple not being able to achieve satisfaction from sexual activities. A good sex life involves the couple being able to arouse excitement and achieve an orgasm. Failure to do so maybe because of various reasons, and a common reason is one of them or both the partners suffering from sexual conditions. Now, this is never an easy topic to discuss; however, it is very important to address these issues. Let us try and understand more about the symptoms, causes, and risks of sexual conditions. Symptoms Some of the main symptoms are Lack of sexual desire When a person finds themselves not wanting to have sex, it is a sign that they might have a sexual condition. The lack of sexual desire causes problems in the intimacy of a couple, affecting their sex life. Inability to climax In this case, the person is not satisfied with their sexual interactions. They might still have normal sexual interest but find it difficult to climax. This is a problem for the couple who start losing their intimacy. Sexual stimulation leads to pain In this case, a person feels pain every time during sex. This is a big problem, as the feeling of discomfort will hamper their interest, and they start avoiding such situations altogether.
Read More

Common skin problems you should know about

Skin health is a mirror of a person’s overall health and is also an important part of external grooming. Good skin health means a good diet and a metabolism that’s working well, while skin problems can point to several underlying health conditions. Let’s take a look at some common skin problems and their causes. Acne Acne occurs when the skin pores are blocked by the sebaceous gland’s secretions. A very common skin problem, acne can be categorized into whiteheads, blackheads, and cystic acne, which is a severe type of acne that occurs beneath the skin. This skin problem is most common among teens or children reaching puberty, but almost everyone experiences this at some point. Symptoms Acne may lead to red spots on the skin, and these may or may not be filled with pus. The most common areas of the body affected by this skin problem are the face, back, and neck. Also, acne may swell upward or be compressed into the skin, and black open pores are known as blackheads. Causes and risks Acne has many causes, but it is mostly caused due to skin pores getting clogged due to excess sebum production, which makes people with oily skin more prone to acne.
health

Major symptoms and causes of hair loss

Hair loss is one of the most common physical conditions, especially in older men and women. On average, the adult head loses approximately 100 hairs every day. 90% of the hair on the scalp is growing at all times. There are a number of factors that might result in hair loss, including age, disease, and the like. There are several types of hair loss, and the type depends on the cause, condition, area of the head on which there is maximum hair loss, age of an individual, and various other factors. Symptoms The symptoms of hair loss can tell a lot about the type of hair loss and how it might progress in the years to come. Some of the common symptoms of hair loss include: Gradual thinning of top of the head One of the most common symptoms of hair loss, this affects both the genders, and is mostly age-specific. Hair begins to recede in men in a different way, and there tends to be a shape like a letter ‘M’. In women, hair loss is characterized by the broadening of their parting. Bald spots One might notice bald spots in circular shapes or in the form of patches.
health

Hearing loss – Types, symptoms, causes, and risks

While hearing loss is usually associated with aging, partial or total hearing loss can affect people of all ages if it occurs due to inner ear or nerve damage, among other causes. In fact, two-thirds of all people with hearing loss are aged below 65 years. In most people, using a hearing aid can help treat the issue, or it can be treated with surgery. This article is a basic overview of everything you need to know about hearing loss. Types of hearing loss Based on the part of the ear that is damaged, hearing loss can be categorized into three types: Sensorineural hearing The most common type of hearing loss, it makes up 90% of the total hearing loss cases. It is usually associated with causes like inner ear infections, congenital deformities, or head trauma. Conductive hearing This type of hearing loss occurs when there’s a buildup of earwax or one has a perforated or defective eardrum, and it is treatable in most cases. Mixed hearing loss This type of hearing loss is a combination of the first two types and is caused due to long-term ear infections that cause damage to the eardrum as well as the ossicles.
health

Heartburn and GERD – What you need to know

An uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest, right behind the breastbone, is common in many, especially after a large meal. Experiencing these heartburns occasionally is not a matter of concern as it does not lead to health problems. However, when these heartburns become frequent, it can be referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When heartburn or GERD occurs frequently, it means that the stomach and food pipe are getting affected. Since heartburns are common, you might not know when to seek medical help. If you see any of these signs, make sure you seek medical help: When heartburns take place more than twice in a week The burning sensation worsens When the heartburn gets so severe that it wakes you up Problems while swallowing The heartburn starts interfering with your daily routine Symptoms of heartburn/GERD There are some common symptoms associated with the condition that can help you identify the problem easily. These include: A severe burning sensation in the chest. This occurs usually after having a large meal and takes place at night Pain in the chest Problems with swallowing food Backward flow of food A feeling of a lump stuck inside your throat In cases a person experiences acid reflux at night, the symptoms can include:
health