How long can you live with chronic kidney disease?

The lifespan of a patient suffering from chronic kidney disease depends on various factors, like- age, health problems, other medical conditions, and the condition of your kidneys. Without undergoing dialysis or transplant, the expected life expectancy of a CKD patient (men) between the ages of 30 to 35 is around 14 years. Where for women suffering from CKD of the same ages, the expected life span is around 13 years.

Chronic kidney disease has become commonplace in India, with an estimated prevalence of 800 per million population. Why are numbers not slowing down?

The Ayurvedic aspect says that the regular ingestion of unhealthy food or virrudhaaaharare the primary cause of giving oxygen to ckd problems in India. According to Ayurveda , our body is a pure complex of five cosmosive elements, which are- earth, air, space, water, and fire. Whatever you eat is looked up as an offering to your agni( fire, one of five elements of the human body). You can either nourish and strengthen your fire by eating right, or you smother and weaken your fire by eating unhealthy food or viruddhaahaar in your diet .

In the broadest sense, the regular consumption of junk food can affect your body’s functioning, which can develop some major health ailments like- high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, and diabetes, which can be a secondary cause of kidney damage.

Let’s pull some more strings out of the term “Chronic kidney disease”...

What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease is the gradual loss of kidneys’ functioning, which is also termed as the lasting damage to the kidneys. CKD is a common but serious renal ailment that leads to the permanent loss of your kidneys’ functioning. A person afflicted by any type of chronic kidney disease might need to undergo a kidney transplant or dialysis to live.

What happens when your kidneys stop working?

Kidney dysfunction is a call of concern, and it shouldn’t be overlooked or underestimated in any way. Your fist-sized kidneys play a crucial role in purifying your blood from chemical toxins, pollutants, and other excessive fluids which are required to be expelled out from your bloodstream in time. Unfiltered blood can give a spike to waste products which can also bring some serious health problems in your life, like- heart attack, stroke, brain tumor, and kidney stones.

What are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a silent killer that comes up with visible signs or symptoms after 30 to 40 percent loss of your kidneys’ functioning. It usually takes a certain period to come up with visible signs or symptoms, which may include the following-

• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• Itchy skin
• Muscle cramps
• Headaches
• Blood in urine
• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Swollen ankles, hands, and feet due to excessive fluid retention
• Insomnia
• Shortness of breath
• Having frequent urges to pass urine

It’s important to consult the doctor if you feel any of the following symptoms in your health. CKD, if detected in time, can be controlled and prevented with routine medication. It can also bring a storm over your health if avoided or not get cured with the right treatment in time.

What are the causes of chronic kidney disease?

There are several conditions, agents, and diseases that can lead to permanent kidney dysfunction, which may include the following-

• If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• If you have had polycystic kidney disease
• Obstruction in the urine passageways due to kidney stone, enlarged prostate, and some cancers
• If you underwent renal surgery
• Injury caused to the cluster of blood tubules ( glomeruli) inside the kidneys
• Recurrent kidney infections ( Pyelonephritis)

What are the primary risk factors?

There are certain conditions that can keep you at higher risk of developing kidney problems, which may include the following-

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Old age
• Smoking
• cardiovascular disease
• Abnormal kidney structure
• Family history of kidney disease

What are the complications of chronic kidney disease?

CKD can affect different areas of a body by bringing many physical complications, which may include the following-

• Weak bones which are more prone to get a fracture
• Anemia
• Cardiovascular disease
• Decreased immune system response
• A sudden increase in potassium level in your blood which can affect your heart
• Irreversible kidney problems
• Swollen arms, legs, and feet due to excessive fluid retention

Ayurvedic treatment for chronic kidney disease

Ayurveda gives several combinations of natural remedies which aid in natural recovery from any type of health ailments ranging from mild to severe ones. Ayurveda uses a holistic approach of treatment which is a precise blend of several potent herbs and a good diet and natural remedies. The Ayurvedic treatments are intended to work on the primary drivers of the problems and provide 360-degree relief from the pain permanently. Like other medications, Ayurvedic treatment not only works on the upper layers of the problems; instead, the herbs reach the ground cause of the problem and restore the damage from scratch.

Kidney Disease Treatment in Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda , the human body is composed of three powerful forces, which are known as tridoshas (Vata dosha, Pitta dosha, and Kapha dosha). These three doshas control certain areas of the human body. These doshas can be easily aggravated or disrupted due to unhealthy eating habits , which can affect your kidneys’ functioning.

Ayurvedic treatment functions to bring balance to the aggravated doshas and help you to attain overall holistic health which involves your mental, physical, and social well-being.