Many people experience few or no symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease. However, chronic kidney disease (CKD) may still cause damage even though you feel fine.
Kidney failure symptoms vary between people. If your kidneys aren’t working properly, you may notice one or more of the following signs:
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Unmanaged diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Consistently high blood sugar can damage your kidneys as well as other organs.
High blood pressure means blood travels forcefully through your body’s blood vessels. Over time and without treatment, the extra force can damage your kidneys’ tissue.
Kidney failure usually doesn’t happen quickly. Other causes that may lead to kidney failure include:
Kidney failure can also develop quickly because of an unexpected cause. Acute kidney failure (acute kidney injury) is when your kidneys suddenly lose their ability to function. Acute kidney failure may develop within hours or days. It’s often temporary.
Common causes of acute kidney failure include:
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Kidney failure can affect anyone. However, you may be at a higher risk of developing kidney failure if you:
The kidneys have many different functions in your body. When you have kidney failure, you may develop certain complications. Complications of kidney failure include:
But just because you have kidney failure doesn’t mean death is imminent. You can still manage the condition by following your provider’s treatment plan, which may include medications, lifestyle changes and limiting salt and certain foods. If you don’t follow your provider’s treatment plan, your kidneys will worsen and eventually lead to death.
Yes, end-stage renal failure can lead to death. With the right treatment, most people can live with kidney failure. It’s important to remember that there’s no cure for kidney failure. That means even with treatment, your kidneys won’t go back to functioning as they did before you had kidney disease. Treatment helps preserve whatever function is left in your kidneys, so they don’t decline as rapidly.
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A healthcare provider may use a variety of kidney function tests to evaluate your kidneys and diagnose kidney failure. If the provider suspects you’re at risk of kidney failure, common tests include:
Kidney failure treatment depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Healthcare providers can’t cure kidney failure, and the disease is life-threatening. But treatment can help you live longer and manage any symptoms or complications.
If your kidneys gradually stop working, a healthcare provider may use a few different methods to track your health and maintain kidney function as long as possible. These methods may include:
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If you’re in end-stage kidney failure, you need treatment to keep you alive. There are two main treatments for kidney failure: dialysis and a kidney transplant.
Depending on the cause of your kidney disease, a healthcare provider may prescribe one or more of the following medications:
Dialysis helps your body filter blood. You can think of it as giving your kidneys some relief, so they don’t have to work as hard to do their job. There are two types of dialysis:
A surgeon places a healthy kidney in your body during a kidney transplant to take over for your damaged kidney. The healthy kidney (donor organ) may come from a deceased donor or a living donor. You can live well with one healthy kidney. If you receive a kidney transplant, you’ll be on medications for the rest of your life to prevent any harm to the transplanted kidney.
It depends. With proper treatment, you can continue to live a happy, fulfilling life. But, you can expect to need treatment for the rest of your life. Remember, you can’t reverse kidney disease or kidney failure, you can only slow its progression.
There isn’t a cure for kidney failure. However, with proper diagnosis and treatment, you may still live a long life without drastic changes to your quality of life.
Though kidney failure and CKD aren’t reversible, you can take steps to help preserve your kidney function. Healthy habits and routines may slow down how quickly your kidneys lose their ability to function.
If you have CKD or kidney failure, it’s a good idea to:
Contact a healthcare provider if you have kidney failure risk factors, including:
Consider asking your provider the following questions about kidney failure:
Deciding when it’s time for you or a loved one to receive hospice care is a personal decision. Your healthcare team can help you decide what’s best for your situation. The goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and support for people with end-stage diseases, like kidney failure. Hospice for kidney failure typically happens once treatments like dialysis or a transplant are ineffective or not possible.
Your kidneys perform a critical job in your body by getting rid of waste and extra fluid. If you have kidney failure, your kidneys no longer work effectively. Without treatment, it can be fatal. Dialysis or a kidney transplant can help you continue to live a long life. Your treatment plan may also include taking medications and following a special diet. Be sure to go to all of your appointments. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your treatments, medications, lifestyle changes or any other part of your treatment plan.
If you have a condition that’s affecting your kidneys, you want experts by your side. At Cleveland Clinic, we’ll work with you to craft a personalized treatment plan.
Last reviewed on 01/17/2025.
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