All you need to know about chronic kidney diseases

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is also referred to as chronic kidney failure. The result of CKD is that your kidneys gradually become incapable of performing their daily tasks. The kidneys' primary function is to filter out excess fluids and wastes from your blood and drain it out of the body in the form of urine. As kidneys stop performing at full capacity, the level of these unwanted fluids, electrolytes and wastes in the body can increase alarmingly. CKD is a gradual disease and results in the eventual failure of the kidneys. In the worst-case scenario, it can result in complete kidney failure or end-stage renal disease, which triggers the need for a kidney transplant or dialysis as a life-saving procedure. Health insurance claims can be filed for CKD-related expenses if it is covered by your policy.

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

CKD can go undetected in the early stages because the symptoms usually do not manifest until the advanced stages.

Here are the common symptoms of chronic kidney failure

• Fatigue– CKD patients tend to feel tired all the time, as their kidneys cannot produce enough EPO, a hormone that plays a crucial role in producing red blood cells. 
• Shortness of breath– A reduction in red blood cell count causes anaemia. Also, improper hormone production affects heart function, causing excess fluid that can congest the heart. As a result, a CKD patient will be oxygen-starved, thus forcing the lungs to overcompensate and draw in more air.
• Lack of clarity of thought– Anaemia can reduce oxygen supply to the brain, resulting in issues with concentration and memory.
• Itching– As the kidneys cannot filter out wastes from the bloodstream, the increased waste level in the body results in severe itching.
• Swelling– Failing kidneys also results in the accumulation of fluids in the body, which can cause swelling up of hands, feet, ankles, etc. The excess fluid can also result in a puffy face.
• Difficulty urinating– CKD patients often need to apply pressure while urinating. 
• Change in urine– The urine of a CKD patient can look foamy due to the presence of excessive protein. The urine discharge may be reduced in quantity but more frequent. It may take on a darker colour, and the presence of blood is also likely.

Causes of Chronic Kidney Failure

Potential chronic kidney disease causes include the hereditary presence of the disease and certain other health concerns. Health insurance is strongly recommended early on for people at a high risk of CKD due to these causes.

Type 1 or type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, polycystic kidney diseases, inflammation in kidney's filtering units or tubules and surrounding areas, stones or cancer, obstruction of urinary tracts caused by an enlarged prostate, urine reflux, recurrent kidney function can be typical causes of chronic kidney disease.

Potential Risks of Kidney Failure

The probability of developing chronic kidney failure is higher if you have the medical conditions mentioned above. Therefore, people suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases should consider CKD as a potential risk. People with a family history of CKD should also be watchful and take necessary precautions.

Persons using medications that are harsh on the kidneys are included in the high-risk category for CKD. Some other factors that affect susceptibility are smoking habits and obesity. As kidney disease can be brutal and expensive to treat, having critical illness insurance can help you get the best CKD treatment available while protecting your finances.

Consequences of Chronic Kidney Failure

People suffering from chronic kidney failure are likely to be anaemic. Increased potassium levels and fluid in the lungs are other potential complications. The heart, central nervous system and bones may be weakened. Sex drive may reduce, and pregnancy complications can arise, affecting both the mother and the foetus. The body's immunity is reduced, and as you go through advanced chronic kidney disease stages, the kidneys will undergo irreversible damage. Most treatments to manage CKD are long-term and can get expensive, so making sure you have the best health insurance to cover CKD costs goes a long way in easing the financial burden.

Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease

There are only a few ways to reduce your risk of chronic kidney failure. They include being vigilant and taking adequate precautions while consuming medicines that could be harsh on the kidneys. Smoking should be avoided, and body weight should be maintained at a healthy level.

The Treatment and How Much It Costs

Dialysis, which is a treatment for chronic kidney condition, costs Rs 2,000-Rs 3,000 per session on average in India. It needs to be done three times a week. Since it is a critical medical condition, chronic kidney disease treatment, can be quite expensive.  A kidney transplant may cost Rs 7-10 lakhs but can vary depending on organ availability and hospitalisation expenses.

Having Niva Bupa's Critical Illness Health Insurance mediclaim policy can be a boon in covering these costs. Cashless health insurance can be of great help in these treatments with prompt health insurance benefits

When you choose health insurance, timely insurance premium payment ensures that you stay protected from critical illnesses like CKD. Don't wait for a chronic kidney disease stage 3 to select health insurance. Insure yourself early to be eligible for treatment without a waiting period, so you are better prepared if and when the need arises.