What is Kidney Failure?

The function of the kidneys is to remove waste from the bodies, and also to balance fluids. When the kidneys lose the ability to perform this function, it is known as kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease refers to a longstanding illness involving the kidneys which progresses over time and leads to failure of the kidneys, or renal failure. Conversely, acute renal failure refers to a sudden loss of functioning in the kidneys. It means that the kidneys are suddenly unable to filter waste products from the blood, meaning that the levels of waste start to accumulate at dangerous levels. The blood’s chemical makeup then gets out of balance.

Causes of Kidney Failure

There are a variety of diseases and scenarios as well as risk factors that may lead to acute renal failure or kidney failure. The common causes are as follows:

1. Impaired Blood Flow to the Kidneys: This can be caused by a variety of factors:

• Liver failure
• Use of aspirin, ibuprofen or related drugs
• Anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic reaction
• Severe burns
• Severe dehydration
• Heart attack
• Heart disease
• Infection
• Blood or fluid loss
• Blood pressure medications

2. Damage to the Kidneys: Damage to kidneys can be caused by a variety of circumstances, for example:

• Blood clots in the blood vessels surrounding the kidneys
• Cholesterol deposits in blood vessels, blocking blood flow to the kidneys
• Infection
• Lupus
• Certain medications
• Toxins such as alcohol or cocaine
• Muscle tissue breakdown
• Breakdown of tumour cells

3. Urine Blockage: Factors that may cause blockage of urine include:

• Damage to the nerves that control the bladder
• Bladder cancer
• Blood clots in the urinary tract
• Enlarged prostate
• Kidney stones
• Prostate cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Colon cancer

Risk Factors for Kidney Failure

In addition to these three main causes of kidney failures, there are also certain risk factors that can make someone more susceptible to it. Kidney failure usually occurs in conjunction with another medical event.

• Hospitalisation
• Advanced age
• Heart failure
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Liver disease
• Cancer

Prevention of Kidney Failure

Preventing kidney failure involves the following steps:

• Be careful about drugs taken over the counter. Painkillers or other similar medicines are taken too frequently may lead to kidney injury, and thus the labels should be read carefully before consuming them. Always consult a doctor about the medicines consumers as the risk to kidneys is even higher in the case of a chronic illness like diabetes.
• Prioritise healthy lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet and avoidance of alcohol and other toxins.

Treatment for Kidney Failure

Kidney Failure or ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) does not have any cure. However, there are ways with which to prolong life, and many patients of ESRD live long and fulfilling lives with ESRD. The treatment options are dialysis or kidney transplant, following which it is very achievable to live a long and fulfilling life.

Health Insurance Plans for Kidney Failure

Keeping the risk factors and the treatment options in mind, it is important to avail of health insurance that will fulfill the coverage you need in case of a critical illness such as kidney failure or End Stage Renal Disease. A popular critical illness insurance plan that offers coverage for dialysis expenses and thus is ideal for kidney failure coverage is Future Generali Critical Illness Insurance Health Plan, which provides an insurance sum up to Rs. 20 lakh. HDFC Ergo General Insurance also offers an insurance plan namely its HDFC Ergo Critical Illness cover which will offer coverage in case of critical illness such as kidney failure, and others depending on the package that you opt for.

Why Choose InsuranceDekho for an Insurance Policy for Kidney Failure?

When it comes to critical illnesses such as kidney failure or ESRD, InsuranceDekho provides access to a wide range of policies that allow the policyholder to choose between a variety of coverages. It is extremely simple to purchase a policy through InsuranceDekho, where the process is paperless and completely seamless, saving you valuable time and effort and ensuring your peace of mind as you will be able to purchase the coverage you need. Other benefits of purchasing a health insurance policy for kidney failure through InsuranceDekho include:

• Multiple health insurance quotes
• Post policy purchase assistance
• Expert help at the time of purchasing a policy
• Online premium calculator available to get an estimate of health insurance premium
• Assistance during filing a claim settlement