Acute Renal Failure Symptoms And Solutions

Shortness Of Breath

Patients with acute renal failure will often feel winded after completing simple tasks, experiencing persistent shortness of breath. This is related to kidney function in more ways than one. First of all, since excess fluid is circulating throughout the body, it can build up in the lungs. Second, anemia leaves the body oxygen-starved. If shortness of breath is due to swelling, patients are encouraged to limit their fluid intake, however, this does change from case to case. Consuming a more alkaline diet can help, as well as natural diuretics. If anemia is the underlying cause, this can be addressed as mentioned previously.

Irregular Heartbeat

Individuals affected by acute renal failure often experience irregular and rapid heartbeat. The circulatory system containing the heart and blood vessels works in tandem with the kidneys to accomplish several things in the body. The heart supplies oxygenated blood and pumps it around the body, while the kidneys filter and regulate fluid balance in the blood. Acute renal failure is a sudden and severe decline in kidney function. Impaired kidneys send signals to the brain, which then initiates a compensatory process of releasing hormones to stimulate more blood flow to the failing kidneys. Impaired kidneys are not able to balance the sodium and water properly, allowing blood pressure to become high. The hormones secreted from the brain's response also cause a further elevation in blood pressure and heartbeat rate. This mechanism causes the heart to have to pump blood harder and faster so it can move through the highly pressurized arteries to reach the kidneys. When the heart is pumping so quickly, there is a higher likelihood it will step out of its normal rhythm when signals through the nodes in the heart become overwhelmed.