Ask a doctor - How can a renal failure cause death?

Q. How can a renal failure cause death?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Renal failure, or kidney failure, is the inability of the kidneys to filter waste and toxins out of the blood. This can result in a buildup of toxins in the body leading to life-threatening complications. Left untreated, renal failure can cause death due to electrolyte imbalance, shock or coma from metabolic acidosis (a condition where there’s an abundance of acids in your body), cardiovascular collapse due to fluid overload or poor cardiac performance, sudden arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms) due to impaired renal metabolism leading to decreased levels of potassium and magnesium in your body as well as high levels of sodium and hydrogen ions, infections resulting from an immune system weakened by kidney disease that cannot fight off bacteria entering through damaged skin membranes or open wounds; aspiration pneumonia due to swallowing difficulties caused by kidney damage; stroke from decreased circulation caused by reduced red blood cell production; severe malnutrition since nutrients are not being adequately absorbed by damaged kidneys; uremia – accumulation of toxic wastes in your body causing nausea, confusion and agitation; sepsis associated with end stage renal disease which is often fatal if not treated quickly enough with antibiotics. All these conditions combined with acute kidney injury (AKI) may lead directly to death. Proper prevention methods should be undertaken such as physical activity and exercising regularly plus avoiding alcohol intake and smoking cessation for those already suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus type 2 which is a great risk factor for developing Kidney Disease.