Ask a doctor - How does renal failure affect the respiratory system?

Q. How does renal failure affect the respiratory system?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Renal (kidney) failure can have a significant effect on the respiratory system due to electrolyte imbalances, including an increase in acidity in the bloodstream (metabolic acidosis), changes in oxygen levels, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and blood clots.

Metabolic acidosis occurs when there is a buildup of waste products that are normally removed by healthy kidneys. This increased level of acids can lead to decreased oxygen levels in the blood, as well as increase carbon dioxide which can cause shortness of breath and difficulty breathing efficiently during physical activity. Fluid retention due to renal failure includes an accumulation of fluids around and within organs such as the lungs (pulmonary edema). This extra fluid that is not able to be processed through normal kidney function adds strain on the respiratory system leading to airway obstruction resulting from difficulty clearing secretions or excess mucus production caused by certain medications used for dialysis treatment. Furthermore, blood clots may form secondary to kidney disease and reduce oxygen delivery throughout the body causing hypoxia - putting additional strain on already compromised lungs making it difficult for patients with renal failure to breathe properly.

In conclusion, renal (kidney) failure causes significant effects on the respiratory system ranging from decreased oxygen levels due metabolic changes induced by impaired kidney function to fluid overloads putting excessive strain on affected organs like the lungs. To improve these conditions arising from renal insufficiency it’s important that necessary treatments such as dialysis are utilized timely or alternatively transplantation becomes medically indicated if appropriate so that potentially life-threatening symptoms associated with poor respiration can be reduced or prevented altogether.