The human body is imperfect. And just coped with one disease, as we already notice, that something else is already on the verge. This can be for various reasons: the weakening of our body and a predisposition to certain diseases, and a hereditary factor may play a role. Some diseases can lurk in the body for years, progressing slowly and imperceptibly to us. Especially you need to be alert to those who have chronic diseases. One of these dangerous diseases is nephropathy.
Nephropathy - what is it
The simplest definition is impaired renal function. Specifically, this concept combines many varieties of kidney disease. This is the same case when the disease creeps up slowly and asymptomatically, at the initial stages without betraying itself. The doctor can make such a diagnosis, after just listening to the patient.
This disease does not appear on its own, but arises as a consequence of some other problems in the body. It is necessary to pass tests, undergo an ultrasound examination and confirm the preliminary diagnosis of the doctor. But it must be clarified, since there are several types of nephropathy.
Types of Nephropathy
The appearance of this disease is affected by many factors. And depending on this, it is divided into several types:
- Diabetic nephropathy.
- Dysmetabolic.
- Nephropathy of pregnant women.
- Toxic
- Metabolic.
- Inherited.
- Analgesic.
- Paraneoplastic.
- Endemic.
- Gouty.
In any case, kidney tissue is affected, even an increase and germination of connective tissue is possible, as a result - this is a deterioration of the kidneys. To learn more about the disease, nephropathy, what it is, you can consider its symptoms.
Signs of the disease
As mentioned above, this disease is very insidious, since in the initial stages it practically does not manifest itself.
However, over time, the disease makes itself felt. The patient has the following symptoms:
- Swelling.
- The pressure rises.
- Protein appears in the urine.
- General weakness.
- Pain in the lumbar region.
It is worth noting that if blood pressure rises and is very difficult to drug treatment, then this is one of the signs of nephropathy. The presence of protein in the urine always indicates kidney disease. If we talk about edema, then nephropathy is characterized by morning swelling on the face at the beginning of the disease, and over time it will spread to the lower extremities.
For adults, these processes will occur slowly, so they do not immediately respond to them. In a child's body, everything happens faster, and the symptoms will be more pronounced. Parents should be alert.
If these symptoms occur, it is necessary to urgently begin examination and treatment. Otherwise, kidney failure may develop.
Metabolic nephropathy
If you ask, dysmetabolic nephropathy - what is it, then any specialist will explain to you that it occurs due to a violation of metabolic processes in the body.
Dysmetabolic nephropathy is divided into primary and secondary. Primary implies metabolic disturbances due to congenital pathologies associated with hereditary diseases. This type of nephropathy proceeds very rapidly, the risk of developing renal failure and urolithiasis increases.
Primary dysmetabolic nephropathy is very rare. But if you had kidney disease in your family, you need to be more careful about your health. You need to know that there is metabolic nephropathy, what it is and what are the causes of its appearance, as well as the symptoms of the disease. Particular attention should be paid to children's health, as these types of nephropathy are more common in children.
Secondary dysmetabolic nephropathy occurs due to metabolic disorders. Most often, the result is the formation of insoluble salts and calcium compounds with oxalic acid.
Causes of dysmetabolic nephropathy
Any disease has its own reasons for occurrence, for nephropathy it can be:
- Improper nutrition.
- Vitamin B6 deficiency.
- Hereditary pathology.
- The ratio of calcium and magnesium in the urine is broken.
- Poor urine excretion of citrates.
- The metabolic processes of uric acid are impaired.
- Infections of the genitourinary system.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Radiation therapy.
Most often, dysmetabolic nephropathy occurs in childhood and adolescence. Such children may still have concomitant diseases, such as:
- Excess weight.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Low blood pressure.
- Tendency to allergies.
Having heard the diagnosis of dysmetabolic nephropathy, what it is and how it could have been avoided, we think when the disease process is already in full swing. Of great importance in the treatment will play, in addition to the proper prescription of drugs, dieting, an increase in fluid intake.
Nephropathy (what it is) is well known to people with diabetes. They constantly need to monitor the work of their excretory system.
Pancreatic Nephropathy
A person with diabetes is at risk. He constantly raises the question: "Diabetic nephropathy - what is it?" In this case, the renal vessels are affected in such patients, they are sclerotized by dense connective tissues, which increases the risk of renal failure.
For diabetes, nephropathy is a complication of this serious illness. And it will develop within 15-20 years is not noticeable to you. Let's look at the stages of development of this disease in diabetics.
- Asymptomatic. The disease shows no signs, and there are already noticeable changes in urinalysis .
- Initial changes. The patient has no complaints yet, but the analysis already has significant deviations from the norm. There is a thickening of the walls of the renal vessels, expansion of the intercellular space.
- Prenephrotic stage. Blood pressure rises periodically. Urine tests with increased glomerular filtration rate.
- Nephrotic stage. Blood pressure is elevated, swelling is increasingly occurring. Tests show anemia, elevated ESR, red blood cells, urea and creatinine are often elevated. Protein appears in the urine.
- Nephrosclerosis High blood pressure. Edema practically does not subside. Blood may appear in the urine. Creatinine and urea increase sharply, and the filtration rate is reduced. A large amount of protein and red blood cells in the urine. Insulin cannot be excreted by the kidneys.
Properly prescribed treatment and a strict diet will help improve the patient's condition. If you have diabetes, then about the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (what is it) you need to know as much as possible to prevent complications of the disease.
Nephropathy of pregnant women
Very often, this disease accompanies an interesting period in a woman’s life - this is pregnancy. As a rule, signs begin to appear in the second half of the term. If you understand, nephropathy of pregnant women - what is it, then the symptoms of this disease are expressed by arterial hypertension and edema. A woman urgently needs to be examined and observed.
Lowering the pressure is very dangerous for both the mother and the baby. If a diagnosis of nephropathy is established, then this may be an indication for delivery. This is considered the most optimal treatment.
Methods of treatment and prevention of nephropathy
If you are diagnosed with nephropathy, what it is and how to treat it, experienced specialists will tell you. All requirements are required of you. First of all, you need to start by eliminating the causes that caused this disease.
For the child's body, a full examination is needed to establish an accurate diagnosis and exclude congenital pathologies.
For diabetics, regular examination and monitoring of test results is necessary.
If nephropathy is diagnosed, treatment should not only consist of medications. Much depends on the patient himself.
Here are some guidelines to help you stabilize your condition:
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Eat more light foods, and less animal fats and sugars.
- Observe drinking regimen.
- Take vitamins.
- Exercise regularly.
If you follow these recommendations, it is possible not only to prevent the development of nephropathy, but also significantly improve the general condition of the body.