Acute Kidney Injury in Allen, TX
Your kidneys play a vital role in maintaining your health. Acute kidney injury occurs when your kidneys cannot effectively filter waste products and excess fluids from your body, putting your health at risk. The good news is that early intervention can often reverse acute kidney failure. Your trusted team at Texas Advanced Renal Health will provide the care you need to get your kidney health back on track.
What Is Acute Kidney Injury?
Acute kidney injury (AKI) or acute renal failure occurs suddenly when your kidneys lose their filtering abilities. This leads to dangerous levels of waste accumulating in your body and impacts your blood’s chemical balance. It can also affect other organs in your body, like your heart, lungs, and brain.
AKI develops quickly, usually in less than a few days. It is essential to seek immediate care to prevent further complications. Aside from impacting other vital organs, AKI can change how the body handles some medications and can make existing diseases more serious.
What Are the Causes of Acute Kidney Injury?
Most cases of AKI are caused by decreased blood flow to the kidneys resulting from conditions such as:
- Blood loss
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Severe dehydration
- Heart failure, liver failure, or an infection spreading in your body (sepsis)
- Certain medicines that decrease the blood pressure or blood flow to the kidneys, such as the overuse of NSAIDs, or certain diuretics
- Severe allergic reactions
- Conditions causing blockage of the urinary tract, such as kidney stones
What are the symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury?
Symptoms of AKI include:
- Feeling sick, nausea, and vomiting
- Diarrhea and dehydration
- Urinating less than usual (this telltale sign should be taken seriously)
- Confusion and drowsiness
- High blood pressure
- Swelling of the legs and feet
- Shortness of breath
Experiencing any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean a diagnosis of AKI. However, it warrants a visit to Texas Advanced Renal Health for an evaluation. The sooner we treat AKI, the better the outcomes.
What Are the Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury?
Anyone can suffer from AKI, but it is more common in older patients with kidney issues such as chronic kidney disease or kidney stones. Other contributing factors include long-term illnesses such as hypertension, heart failure, liver disease, or diabetes. Dehydration, severe infections, and some medications also put you at risk for AKI. Managing blood sugar and checking blood pressure can help lower the risk of AKI and keep your kidneys healthy.
How Is Acute Kidney Injury Diagnosed and Treated?
Diagnosing AKI usually requires a blood test to determine the level of creatinine, a chemical waste produced by the muscles and eliminated by your kidneys. A high level of creatinine in the blood indicates that the kidneys are not working as they should.
It is also essential that we investigate the underlying causes of AKI. We may ask for urine samples, check other medical conditions, ask about your medication history, or perform an ultrasound to check on your kidneys.
AKI sometimes requires hospitalization. Our team will determine the cause and the severity of your condition and then will customize your treatment plan. We may recommend the following:
- Increasing fluids if you’re dehydrated
- Medications to balance the electrolytes or control blood pressure
- Antibiotics if you have an infection
- A urinary catheter, a thin tube, to drain the bladder if there is a blockage
- In severe cases, short-term dialysis to keep your blood free of toxins
Acute Kidney Injury Treatment Near Me in Allen, TX
Contact our experienced kidney care team at Texas Advanced Renal Health if you have signs of acute kidney injury. Our kidney care team will evaluate your unique needs and outline a personalized treatment plan to help you keep your kidneys functioning at their best. Call us at 972-548-4833 to schedule your appointment today!