How does Covid-19 Affect Kidney Disease Patients?

In only a few years, the COVID 19 outbreak has largely disrupted every aspect of human lives worldwide. From a ruptured economy to a gigantic loss of many innocent lives, the mayhem of the COVID-19 apocalypse has deeply wounded the foundations of societal, mental and physical well-being that might take years to get concrete.

The outbreak fragmented even the strong core health systems of many countries, such as India, the US, Russia, and Spain. It made us acutely aware of the helplessness amid the vaccine crisis and the ailing of modern medicines. In India, the new outbreak is so severe that hospitals are running out of oxygen cylinders, and beds appear to be wreaking havoc in the country.

The estimated burden of COVID patients has been more than 200,000 cases every day. Also, Delhi has recently imposed a week-long lockdown as India’s epidemiologists have predicted that the third wave of COVID-19 is inevitable, making kids vulnerable to getting affected this time.

Coronavirus is life-threatening; the virus silently breaches the territories of your natural defences ( immune system) and silently prowls around your primary organs such as lungs, heart, and brain to cause damage. Also, doctors and researchers find evidence that Coronavirus can also cause severe damage to your kidneys’ functioning. People who have had this problem and recovered are vulnerable to kidney-related problems later in life.

How can Coronavirus affect your kidneys?

Most people who catch COVID-19 have felt various after COVID effects, where kidney complications were commonly reported. The report has shown that up to 50 per cent of the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 started having kidney-related complications after weeks of recovering. The virus damages kidney cells with septic shock and develops blood clotting inside the blood vessels that carry blood to your kidneys. This condition ultimately cuts off the blood supply to your kidneys, and they lose their functioning. 

Here are some other possibilities that researchers and doctors are exploring:

The virus creates copies of itself and targets kidney cells

The virus damages your kidney cells, and from here, it all starts. The kidneys’ cells have receptors that let the virus attach, invade, and hybridize itself to a stage where it starts damaging your kidneys.

Less oxygen supply can lead to kidney malfunction

Another possibility is that COVID patients have low oxygen levels in their blood that results in pneumonia. The reduction in low blood supply cuts the oxygen supply to your kidneys, and they can lose their functioning.

Cytokine storm can mistakenly misfire towards the kidneys

The body’s natural defences respond to viruses that try to breach the territories of your organs and interfere with their functioning. It happens that, in a rush to keep you protected against Coronavirus, Your immune system strikes with a force of cytokines into the body. Cytokines are tiny protein cells that act as a messenger between the cells to communicate to fight the infection. But when your body is exposed to this powerful virus, your immune system sends a rush of cytokines that causes severe inflammation. In despair to eliminate this virus, this triggers severe inflammation in your body’s healthy tissues, including that of the kidneys.

What are the symptoms of kidney disease?

Kidney diseases are cumulative loss of kidney functions that might take years to get advanced with time. Normally, a person with compromised kidney function might not experience any visible signs of kidney damage at the beginning, but as diseases progress with time, they might feel some visible symptoms which may include the following-

• Severe muscle cramps 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Loss of appetite 
• Swelling in your ankles and feet 
• Having trouble catching breath 
• Insomnia 
• Having frequent urges to pass urine 
• Depression and anxiety 
• Blood in urine 
• Sudden weight loss 
• Feeling pain or pressure in the chest 
• Having foamy or bubbly urine 
• Weakness or feeling dizzy all-day

When to see a doctor?

If you have just got better from the COVID effect, it’s recommended to isolate yourself for 15 days, as your immune system is low and you’re more likely to have other health conditions that might be dangerous. It’s crucial to seek medical attention if you’re feeling any of the following symptoms that have been addressed above. Kidney failure at the end-stage can’t be reversed with routine medication, although medications can prevent the effect of disease for some period but never cure it.

If you’re looking for a genuine revival of your kidneys, then switch to Ayurvedic treatment for chronic kidney disease.

Can damaged kidneys recover from the post covid effects?

As of yet, doctors and researchers are grappling with a great deal of uncertainty with how Coronavirus will react with kidneys’ functioning. The aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak can trigger a new pandemic of people facing post-COVID kidney disease. According to doctor exploring the possibilities of Coronavirus on kidneys have found some common patterns-

People who do not undergo dialysis have better outcomes and can recover quicker than those who need dialysis. Some patients who were at ICU with acute kidney injury regained their kidney functioning by making some temporary fixes and modifications in their dietary habits without undergoing dialysis. This section clarifies that kidneys’ functioning can be reversed by making some temporary changes in your diet which play a pivotal role in keeping people well protected against the effect of this virus.

Necessary precautions to be taken

Older adults, people with chronic kidney dysfunction or having other chronic health complications are vulnerable to developing more severe COVID-19 illness. If you feel yourself at higher risk of COVID-19, it’s recommended for you to-

• Reserve on supplies 
• Keep sanitizer handy 
• Avoid crowds as much as you can 
• Stay home if an outbreak happens in your area 
• Eat spicy food- black pepper, red chili flakes, and cloves

Foods to be in the kitchen

If your area is under the red zone, make sure you have stock of enough food supplies so that you don’t have to go outside of your homes. This will lessen your risk of getting in contact with the virus. If you’re a kidney patient, make sure you have all the necessary food items in your diet. Check with your renal dietitian if you have any doubts. Here we’ve also listed some necessary food items that you can have to include the following-

• Red grapes 
• Onions 
• Garlic 
• Red bell pepper 
• Blac pepper, in a limited amount 
• Blueberry 
• Cherry 
• Cranberry 
• Potato, once in a week 
• Pointed gourd 
• Bottle gourd 
• Carrot 
• French beans 
• Pumpkin

 

Disclaimer-  Coronavirus is life-threatening and can lead to some serious health complications if it progresses with time. If you’re already under medication, it’s advised not to make any changes in your medication or diet as it can be life-threatening without your doctor consultation.