Understanding Acute Kidney Injury: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Acute Kidney Injury

What do your Kidneys do?

Kidneys, the two bean-shaped organs, each being about the size of a fist, are essential for maintaining overall health. The kidneys help in urine formation and are responsible for filtering waste and excess fluid from the body. If an illness impairs your kidneys’ functioning ability, it will result in electrolyte imbalances, buildup of fluids and minerals, and various other complications such as uremia, anaemia, etc.

What is Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)?

Acute kidney injury (AKI), previously known as acute renal failure, refers to a condition of decline in the kidney’s functioning that occurs in a short duration of time, like in a few hours or days. It is measured by high creatinine levels or reduced urine volume. One of the main issues with accurately understanding AKI’s impact in many areas of the world is the underreporting of the disease, particularly in developing countries. 

Taking medications prescribed by a kidney specialist, making lifestyle changes, and identifying AKI early can help in slowing the disease’s progression.

AKI Symptoms

Various AKI symptoms are

  • Fatigue
  • Swelling 
  • Diarrhoea
  • Feeling unwell
  • Confused state of mind 
  • Changes in urination patterns

Acute Kidney Injury Causes

To treat AKI effectively and efficiently and improve patients’ health, it is essential to identify acute kidney injury causes. The following are the factors that can cause damage to your kidneys

Inadequate blood supply to the kidneys 

Decreased blood flow to the kidneys may hamper their ability to filter blood. It is usually caused by dehydration or severe bleeding.

Obstruction in urine flow 

A patient may be unable to urinate due to obstructions in the ureter or bladder. The backflow of urine into the kidneys may lead to swelling and kidney damage.

Damage from Medication Overdose 

Medication overdose in critical care settings to manage other disorders can put excessive strain on the kidneys’ filtering capacity and may result in AKI.

AKI Treatment

The acute kidney injury (AKI) condition arises when renal functioning is reduced to the point that the body accumulates waste products and is unable to maintain electrolyte, acid-base, and water balance.  Contrary to what the name implies, it is not brought on by a physical blow to the kidneys. If treatment is delayed, excessive amounts of chemicals and salts may accumulate in the body, which can impair the functioning of other organs. 

Therefore, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is in halting the condition’s progress and reducing the disease-associated complications. Curing the disease is the common objective of all treatment options. While every AKI treatment approach has its own set of advantages, opting for the best one can sometimes be challenging. 

Allopathy Treatment

Allopathy treatment, also referred to as conventional treatment, is a system of medicine that treats diseases using medications or syrups. Its medications are made to specifically target and eliminate certain symptoms. Allopathy’s acute kidney injury medication may prove to be quite beneficial if the body is unable to fight off illnesses or is unable to get rid of them on its own. 

However, the concerning part is that it treats only the visible signs and symptoms and not the underlying causes of disease and that too with the risk of adverse side effects, such as rashes, swelling, itching, or even difficulty in breathing. 

Ayurvedic Kidney Treatment

According to Ayurveda, the human body’s balance is maintained by the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which collectively represent the neurological, metabolic, and nutritional systems. A disease can develop whenever the delicate equilibrium between these doshas is disturbed. Therefore, the primary goal of the Ayurvedic kidney treatment method is restoring the balance between the doshas. 

However, just like any other medicinal approach, in spite of being a natural treatment, there are still certain risks associated with ayurvedic treatment.  The lack of evidence-based research and testing for Ayurvedic medications and treatments makes them an unreliable option for treating AKI. Also, its medicines can trigger allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the abdomen. 

Naturopathy Treatment 

According to naturopathy principles, diseases have an impact on a person through a complex interplay between the environment, lifestyle, and physical state. And since every person is different, so are the factors that contribute to the disease in each case. Naturopathy’s treatment approaches are gentle and non-invasive. It holds that altering one’s lifestyle and considering external factors can aid in the restoration of health. 

Still, kidney treatment in naturopathy comes with certain risks and concerns. The lack of scientific data to support and validate the efficacy of naturopathy treatment has resulted in its limited acceptability. One of the methods used for treatment is a detox diet that includes eliminating specific foods. In the long term, there might be a chance that the body won’t get the required amount of vital nutrients. 

AKI Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathy, an alternative treatment approach, has been in existence since the 18th century.  The homeopathic AKI treatment seeks to address the patient’s mental, emotional, and physical health problems in order to treat the ailment from its root. The AKI homeopathic treatment treats the illness by using very diluted substances, often in the form of pills or liquids. Homeopathic medications are prepared through a method called potentisation. It involves a sequence of systematic succussions (strong shaking) and dilutions. This makes the medicines safe while stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

Homeopathy has mixed so comfortably into India’s history and traditions that it is recognised as one of the national systems of medicine. With more than 200,000 registered homeopathic doctors and approximately 12,000 more being added every year, homeopathy is the third most opted treatment approach in India. 

Why Bharat Homeopathy?

Every single procedural safeguard is adhered to at Bharat Homeopathy while creating tailored medications for patients. By carefully examining each patient’s disease symptoms and related problems, we aim to provide the best care possible for anyone who searches for a homeopathic doctor near me. Careful planning and extensive research are involved in creating a dietary regimen for each patient. We have proven our credibility by upholding the highest standards for patient data protection. Owing to our side-effect-free results, we have established ourselves as another name for reliability in healthcare.