Factors that exacerbate chronic renal failure

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on June 16, 2025
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Patients with chronic kidney failure should pay close attention to potential triggers that could worsen kidney failure. Avoiding or managing these triggers is crucial for slowing the progression of chronic kidney failure. Common causes include various factors that lead to renal ischemia and hypoxia, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and heat stroke in the summer. These factors can cause dehydration, leading to ischemia and hypoxia in the kidneys, which is a common scenario for the acute exacerbation of chronic kidney failure. Secondly, obstructions in the urinary system can also contribute to the progression of chronic kidney failure. For example, urinary system stones and benign prostatic hyperplasia in males can cause urinary obstruction, leading to further deterioration of kidney function. Finally, infections, heart failure, and hypercalcemia are also factors that can potentially worsen chronic kidney failure.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Why does chronic renal failure cause vomiting?

Patients with chronic renal failure who experience vomiting generally indicates that their condition has become very severe. Typically, from stage four of chronic kidney disease onwards, a large amount of metabolic waste accumulates in the body, and patients may have severe metabolic acidosis, among other issues. These conditions can cause edema of the gastrointestinal mucosa, and these metabolic wastes can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Of course, besides these reasons, other gastrointestinal diseases such as chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and even gastric cancer should also be ruled out.

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Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
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Causes of Anemia in Chronic Renal Failure

The causes of anemia in chronic renal failure, also known as renal anemia, occur in chronic kidney disease and are related to chronic renal failure. There are multiple reasons for this anemia, such as the lack of raw materials for red blood cell production caused by chronic renal failure, including deficiencies in iron, folic acid, and vitamin B1, shortened lifespan of red blood cells, and blood loss including non-gastrointestinal blood loss. Moreover, uremic toxins including parathyroid hormone can suppress the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. However, the primary cause is the decreased production of erythropoietin by the kidneys during chronic renal failure.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can patients with chronic renal failure have sexual intercourse?

Patients with chronic renal failure can have sexual intercourse, but there are prerequisites. Since sexual activity is physically demanding and requires adequate cardiopulmonary function, patients can engage in sexual activity if they do not experience chest tightness or shortness of breath and their blood pressure is well controlled. If there are no obvious symptoms of fatigue, difficulty breathing, or chest tightness during sexual activity, there should be no significant problems. However, since the patients have chronic renal failure, it is advisable to avoid conception unless prepared for pregnancy. Pregnancy can further burden the kidneys in female patients and potentially exacerbate chronic renal failure. Male patients with chronic renal failure may be taking medications that could affect sperm quality. Therefore, contraception should be practiced unless preparations have been made.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can people with chronic renal failure drink alcohol?

Patients with chronic renal failure should avoid drinking alcohol, as modern medicine has proven that alcohol is harmful to the human body and only causes damage. It can affect various systems, including the nervous system, respiratory system, circulatory system, and the metabolic system. Although the liver is the primary site for metabolizing alcohol, the byproducts of alcohol metabolism are ultimately excreted through urine, which increases the burden on the kidneys. Therefore, for patients with renal failure, drinking alcohol may lead to further progression of kidney damage. Moreover, when drinking, patients might consume a lot of high-protein and high-fat foods, which are also harmful to those with chronic renal failure.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can chronic renal failure be cured?

Chronic kidney failure is irreversible and incurable, with no possibility of kidney function recovery. There are many causes of chronic kidney failure, commonly including diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, chronic nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, etc. These causes affect the kidneys over the long term, resulting in extensive damage to kidney tissues. Since kidney tissues cannot regenerate, chronic kidney failure is incurable and irreversible. Patients with chronic kidney failure still require treatment to control the underlying causes leading to the condition, aiming to slow down the progression of the disease as much as possible, prolong the patient’s life, and ensure the quality of life. This is the primary goal of treatment.