How can kidneys become damaged

Your risk for diabetic nephropathy increases the longer you live with the condition. Find out what other factors may increase your risk for this type of kidney disease.

Every person with kidney failure is different. In general, a person on dialysis can expect to live for an average of 5 to 10 years as long as they follow their treatment.

A young person in midstage kidney failure who has no complicating risk factors or other conditions will likely live longer than an older individual with stage 4 or stage 5 kidney failure plus diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Once you reach end-stage kidney failure, you will need dialysis to live. Missing even one treatment can decrease your life expectancy. A kidney transplant is likely to last for about 5 to 10 years. If you have kidney failure and drink alcohol, your kidneys will be forced to work harder than they already are.

Beer and wine contain large amounts of phosphorous. It can cause severe heart issues and even death if your kidneys are unable to filter it out. If you have kidney failure or late-stage kidney disease, your doctor may recommend you limit how often you drink alcohol.

For some people, completely eliminating alcohol from the diet may be best. Drinking alcohol with kidney failure can hurt the normal function of other organs. Over time, long-term, heavy alcohol use can lead to liver disease. Alcohol use may cause additional symptoms, such as pain.

Find out how drinking alcohol causes back and flank pain. The prognosis, or outlook, for people with kidney failure depends on several factors.

These include the underlying cause, how well that cause is treated, and any complicating factors, like high blood pressure or diabetes. Proper treatment and healthy lifestyle changes may be able to improve your outlook. Eating a healthy diet, cutting back on kidney-damaging foods, and treating any underlying issues can help extend your health and your life. Follow directions when taking over-the-counter medications.

Taking doses that are too high even of common drugs like aspirin can create high toxin levels in a short amount of time. This can overload your kidneys. You can help reduce your risk for kidney failure by:. Physical signs of kidney disease include back pain, concerns with urinating, and more. Learn more signs of kidney failure.

In end-stage kidney disease, also known as end-stage renal disease ESRD , the kidneys are functioning below 10 percent of their normal function. Discover the link between type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the leading cause for kidney failure in the United States.

Learn preventive steps you…. Kidney function tests are simple blood and urine tests that can help identify problems with your kidneys. The kidneys filter waste materials from the…. This puts you at risk for other complications.

Chronic kidney disease CKD is progressive and irreversible damage to the kidneys. The most common causes of CKD are high blood pressure and diabetes. During acute kidney failure, kidneys lose their filtering ability and body fluids can rise to dangerous levels.

Learn what causes this condition and…. Elsevier; Accessed July 16, Goldman L, et al. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. American Kidney Fund.

Accessed May 15, The Merck Manual Professional Edition. Negi S, et al. Acute kidney injury: Epidemiology, outcomes, complications, and therapeutic strategies. Seminars in Dialysis. Kidney-friendly diet for CKD. Each nephron receives its blood supply through tiny hair-like capillaries, the smallest of all blood vessels. When the arteries become damaged, the nephrons do not receive the essential oxygen and nutrients — and the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood and regulate the fluid, hormones, acids and salts in the body.

Damaged kidneys fail to regulate blood pressure. Healthy kidneys produce a hormone called aldosterone to help the body regulate blood pressure. Kidney damage and uncontrolled high blood pressure each contribute to a negative spiral.

As more arteries become blocked and stop functioning, the kidneys eventually fail. Protect your kidneys by managing your blood pressure Kidney failure due to high blood pressure is a cumulative process that can take years to develop. It is intended for informational purposes only. Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations.

Skip to main content. Long-term use, especially at high doses, has a harmful effect on kidney tissue and structures. These drugs can also reduce the blood flow to the kidney. Cigarette Smoking: People who smoke are more likely to have protein in the urine, which is a sign of kidney damage.