The kidney acts like a filter and removes the toxins like urea, creatinine from the blood in the form of urine. When the kidney is paralyzed to perform this function, Chronic Renal failure occurs. It is also known as Chronic Kidney disease(CKD). It is divided into 5 stages (stage 1 or early to advanced stage 5) depending on the severity of kidney injury. Toxins and water build up in the body gradually on regular basis. CKD cannot be reversed or cured, but if diagnosed early can be controlled well from progressing to advance stages. In initial stages he or she can be maintained with medications alone. When the toxins reach dangerously high levels ie stage 5 of CKD, then the patient will require dialysis. Kidney failure can occur at any age, from children to adults to old age.

Reasons for Chronic Renal Failure:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension- High Blood Pressure
• Inherited kidney diseases like Polycystic kidney disease
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Un treated or improperly treated acute kidney injury (AKI/ARF)

Symptoms of Chronic Renal Failure:

• Mostly patients have no or little symptoms till late in the stages.
• Frequent urination during the nights, may be the earliest symptom.
• Decreased urination
• Swelling of legs/ puffiness of face
• Shortness of Breath
• Drastic weight loss
• Bad breath
• Nausea and Loss of appetite

Acute Renal failure(ARF) is also known as Acute Kidney injury (AKI). The main function of the kidney is to remove the waste from the body and balance the fluids. When the kidney fails to perform this function, it is known as Acute Kidney injury. When the kidney fails to filter the waste from the body, the chemical action of the blood gets imbalanced as the toxins get accumulated in the body. Acute Renal failure can develop over a few hours or in few days. The patient must be immediately hospitalized to find out the cause of this kidney failure and early treatment can ensure complete recovery.

Causes of Acute Renal failure:

• Severe dehydration as in gastro enteritis, blood loss
• Infections such as acute pyelonephritis or Septicemia.
• Low blood pressure causing low blood flow – as in severe infection, dehydration, heart attacks
• Drugs like pain killers, certain antibiotics, few ayurvedic medications Urinary tract blockage
• Autoimmune kidney disease
• Toxins as in snake bite, posion consumptions
• Complications during pregnancy

Symptoms of Acute Renal failure:

• Mostly they may be asymptomatic other than Decreased urine
• High coloured urine- brownish or reddish urine
• Shortness of breath
• High blood pressure
• Breath odor