Renal failure is a dangerous disease, the result of which is a metabolic disorder. According to medical statistics, about 3% of the population currently suffers from pathology. Each year, these indicators increase exponentially. Both women and the stronger sex are equally affected by the disease. The disease does not pass by even small children. In this article, we will try to understand what symptoms are accompanied by renal failure in men, what kind of disease it is, how to treat it.
general information
The kidneys in the human body perform an important function. They continuously produce urine, subsequently from which harmful substances are excreted. Such a filtering structure ensures that two balances are kept in equilibrium: water-salt and acid-base. Renal failure is a dangerous pathological condition characterized by massive death of nephron cells. In the future, the body loses its ability to form and excrete urine. The disease is a consequence of acute damage to the tissues of the organ, therefore it develops suddenly. The volume of urine produced decreases sharply, sometimes it is completely absent. It is very important to recognize the symptoms of renal failure in men in a timely manner in order to exclude the occurrence of complications. The sooner the doctor prescribes treatment, the higher the chances of recovery.
The main causes of the disease
Renal failure has two forms of development: acute and chronic. Based on this, doctors distinguish factors predisposing to the development of the disease. Among the causes of the acute variant of the disease, the most common are the following:
- Intoxication of the body with food and alcohol, drugs.
- Renal circulation disorder.
- Diseases of an infectious nature.
- Damage or removal of a single kidney.
- Obstruction of the urinary tract.
Chronic renal failure in men, the causes of which differ from the acute form of the disease, develops gradually. Usually, it is preceded by serious pathologies of the systems of internal organs. It can be diabetes, hypertension, congenital nephropathy, pyelonephritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. Any of these diagnoses requires constant monitoring by a doctor. The implementation of his recommendations and appointments can prevent the occurrence of renal failure.
How is the disease manifested?
The development of the pathological process and its causes affect the symptoms of renal failure in men. Initially, the patient draws attention to the fact that fluid is excreted irregularly from the body. Urination may be accompanied by painful discomfort. The man begins to inexplicably lose weight, the skin becomes yellow. Appetite disappears, nausea and vomiting appear after eating. Anemia can be clearly observed in a blood test. A similar clinical picture is characteristic of a disease such as renal failure. Symptoms in men can vary depending on the form of the disease - acute or chronic. Next, we consider each case in more detail.
Acute course
The disease in this case is manifested by a sharp decrease in the amount of urine or a complete cessation of its excretion from the body. The signs of intoxication are gradually increasing: a decrease in appetite, digestive upset, and the liver increases under the influence of toxins. Renal dysfunction is accompanied by the appearance of specific edema under the eyes.
The clinical picture of the acute form of the disease develops in the following sequence:
- First stage. The appearance of signs of the disease is due to its root cause. As a rule, symptoms of general intoxication are manifested: the skin is pale, the patient is constantly sick. The duration of this step may vary. In some patients, the disease begins to appear after several hours from the death of the nephrons, in others after 2-3 days.
- Second stage. At this stage, the amount of urine excretion is sharply reduced, therefore, a high probability of a fatal outcome. Urea and other products of protein metabolism gradually accumulate in the blood. The result of such a violation is severe swelling. The body begins to poison itself on its own. What are the symptoms of renal failure in the second stage? In men, there is lethargy, drowsiness, and possibly stool disorder. The leading sign of the disease is considered to be an increase in nitrogen in the blood.
- Third stage. At this stage, diuresis is gradually normalizing, but the symptoms still persist. The body's ability to concentrate urine and excrete metabolic products is restored. The work of the lungs, heart system and gastrointestinal tract is also returning to normal. Swelling, pastes of the legs go away. The duration of this phase is approximately 14 days.
- Fourth stage. Renal failure gradually recedes. Symptoms in men do not disappear immediately, for a final recovery it takes from one to three months.
If signs indicating acute renal failure appear, a medical team must be called up immediately. All subsequent therapeutic measures are carried out in a hospital.
Chronic process
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by a latent course. Initially, the patient notices a deterioration in well-being. He quickly gets tired, appetite disappears, headaches appear. The skin becomes dry, and the muscles lose their tone. The patient is constantly sick, worried about frequent bouts of seizures. Hands, feet and face swell strongly. Symptoms of chronic renal failure in men increase gradually. The skin turns yellow, and sores appear in the oral cavity. The patient may suffer from diarrhea and severe flatulence. The smell of urine begins to feel around people. In parallel, the work of the cardiac and respiratory systems is disrupted. Immunity suffers from the pathological process.
Conservative treatment allows you to maintain the full functioning of the excretory organs. However, an increase in psycho-emotional / physical stress, neglect of the prescribed diet, improper drinking regimen - all these factors can cause a deterioration in the patient's condition.
Diagnostic Methods
In order to avoid complications of the disease, it is necessary to diagnose it in a timely manner, determine the causes. A medical examination of a patient begins with a collection of clinical history. Your doctor should know how long the signs of kidney failure have appeared. In men with one kidney, the clinical picture practically does not differ from that in patients with a full-fledged organ (both kidneys). Mandatory is the study of the state of the urinary system. Comprehensive diagnostics include ultrasound, biochemistry of blood and urine, radiography, CT. An early comprehensive examination of the body allows you to start treatment in a timely manner and prevent the disease from becoming chronic.
What is the pathology dangerous?
Renal failure in men, the treatment and diagnosis of which were not carried out in a timely manner, may be accompanied by complications. The organ gradually ceases to work, which is fraught with intoxication of the body by metabolic products. A narrowing of the vessels of the kidneys is considered an extremely unpleasant complication. This pathology is considered as the last degree of the development of the disease, as a result of which the accumulation of sodium in the body occurs.
Therapy of the acute form of the disease
Renal failure is a dangerous disease that requires treatment in a hospital setting. At the initial stages, therapy is reduced to eliminating the causes of the disease, restoring homeostasis and impaired system functions. Depending on the condition of the patient, you may need:
- antibacterial drugs;
- detoxification therapy (hemodialysis, saline infusion);
- fluid replenishment (transfusion of blood and its substitutes);
- hormonal drugs.
With a diagnosis of renal failure in men, treatment and dosage are selected by a specialist. To remove nitrogenous toxins and detoxification of the body, they resort to hemosorption, plasmapheresis, hemodialysis. To normalize diuresis, diuretic medicines (Furosemide) are used. Depending on the type of disturbance of the water-electrolyte balance, solutions of calcium, sodium and potassium salts are introduced.
Chronic treatment
Therapy of the chronic variant of renal failure involves exposure to the underlying cause of the disease, maintaining the functions of the organs and detoxification procedures. In the initial stages, the main goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the pathological process. With arterial hypertension, antihypertensive drugs are used. If the main cause of renal failure is hidden in an autoimmune disease, glucocorticoid hormones and cytostatics are prescribed. With anatomical changes in the excretory system, an operation is performed to improve the patency of the urinary tract or remove the calculus.
Against the background of constant therapy, additional is prescribed to reduce the symptoms of renal failure in men. How to treat the disease, the doctor determines. For example, diuretics are used to reduce swelling. With severe anemia, vitamin complexes and iron preparations are prescribed.
In the last stages, the patient is transferred to permanent hemodialysis. The procedures are repeated every 14 days. An alternative to hemodialysis is kidney transplantation. With good compatibility and successful surgery, the patient has a chance of recovery and a return to normal life.
The principles of diet therapy
We have already told you what renal failure symptoms are in men. Diet for this disease is an important component of treatment. Patients are advised to eat a diet low in protein. Changing the usual diet allows you to slow down the development of the pathological process and reduce the burden on the kidneys. Diet therapy includes several principles:
- Limiting protein intake to 65 g per day.
- Increased nutritional value by increasing the intake of carbohydrate foods in the diet.
- The main emphasis must be placed on fruits and vegetables. It is important to consider the content of vitamins, salts and protein in them.
It is necessary to constantly monitor the amount of fluid consumed and discharged. This parameter can be calculated by the formula: the amount of urine excreted per day + 800 ml. In this case, you should take into account all the liquid (soups, cereals, drink, fruits, vegetables). The absence of pronounced edema and the preserved water balance allow the patient to receive 6 g of salt per day.
Preventive actions
How to prevent kidney failure? First of all, it is necessary to comply with the indications and pattern of use of drugs. Nephrotoxic products, which include surrogate alcohol and narcotic substances, should be discarded. It is important to treat infectious and inflammatory pathologies of the urinary system in a timely manner .
In order to prevent the transition of the disease into a chronic form, one should know what the symptoms of renal failure are. In men, the disease manifests itself with problems with urination and a deterioration in well-being. If such disorders occur, you should seek help from a specialist.
Conclusion
Timely identification of the causes of renal failure, competent diagnosis and appropriate treatment can maintain the health of the patient. The acute form of the disease has a favorable prognosis if the patient follows all the doctor's prescriptions and follows a diet. In a chronic course, the chances of recovery depend on the stage of the pathological process. In the case of full compensation of the kidneys, the prognosis for life is favorable. At the terminal stage, the only option to maintain health is continuous hemodialysis or organ transplantation.