Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that state your kidneys are not working as they are supposed t and allowing the filters to leak protein out of them. Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by the swelling of the body. It is not gender-biased, but still, it is seen to be more prominent in the males. Protein leakage is also common in children in their early years of life.

What are its symptoms?

The generalized symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include:

• Infections: You may be more prone to get infections, as albumin, which is an antibody gets slipped from the blood. The albumin protects the body from various foreign attacks.
• Hypoalbuminemia: The low amount of albumin in the blood is termed as hypoalbuminemia.
• Proteinuria: Proteinuria means the protein gets seep along with the urine when such a disorder appears.
• Edema: Proteins like albumin help hold the water in the blood. Off chance the protein gets leaked along with the urine, its reduced level in the blood can allow the water molecules to get in the interstitial space within the cells. The fluid retention in the cells and tissues then becomes the reason for the swelling.
• Low growth in the children: Children need protein for the proper growth and strength of the muscles. During nephrotic syndrome, their body does not get enough protein. This causes severe weakness, weight reduction, and low growth sometimes.
• Loss of appetite: Those with proteinuria have relative less appetite as the waste in the blood makes the stomach fluffy.
• Foamy urine: if the protein amount in the urine is relatively high, the person also notices foaminess in the urine. The presence of the protein makes the urine appears cloudy.

What are the causes of Nephrotic syndrome?

Many conditions can interfere with the working of the kidneys and cause nephrotic syndrome. Some influence the kidneys in the first place and so known to be the primary reasons for nephrotic syndrome. These may include:

• Membranous nephropathy: Membranous nephropathy means the filters of the called glomeruli have got thickened. The cause is unknown; however, it appears in the people with lupus, hepatitis B or C, or some type of cancer.
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS): It is a condition arising because of the scarring of the glomeruli, maybe because of some genetic condition or an unknown cause.
• Minimal change disease: During minimal change disease, the tissues of the kidneys look normal under a microscope, but they have some condition that allows the glomeruli to skip protein through them.
• Renal vein thrombosis: In this disorder, the vein that empties the blood out of the kidneys form clumps inside it.

The secondary reasons that affect the other organs and resultant causes nephrotic syndrome include: –

• Diabetes: Uncontrolled blood sugar can influence the blood vessels of the kidneys and that of the entire body. Over time, too much sugar can damage the glomeruli(s), a part of the kidneys.
• Lupus: Lupus is an immune system disorder inflaming the kidneys.
• Amyloidosis: It causes amyloid proteins to accumulate in the organs. This protein buildup can severely damage the kidneys.

How you can diagnose nephrotic syndrome?

A complete examination of the kidneys will help to diagnose the nephrotic syndrome. The following tests are beneficial to know if your kidneys are damaged or not.

• Urine tests: 24-hour urine tests help to confirm the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome. Usually, we all have some protein in the urine, but if the level goes beyond 3.5gm, it points towards the problem.
• Blood tests: The sample of the blood is sent to the lab for checking the level of albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood. Through the blood test, it is possible to get some information about the kidneys.
• Ultrasound: An ultrasound waves create the image of the kidneys and let the patient determine the abnormality in the structure of the kidneys.
• A kidney biopsy: It is a way to determine the cause of the nephrotic syndrome and other related problems causing kidney damage.

How Ayurveda can help cure nephrotic syndrome?

Ayurveda believes the disease to be an outcome of imbalance in the doshas and channels of the organ. So, the ayurvedic medicine attempt to nephrotic syndrome treatment this abnormality in the first place. Along with the medications, the patients need to adopt a careful approach to their eating habits. There are various foods that can further depress your situation, such as sour fruits or fruits with seeds. So, a proper renal diet is also suggested during nephrotic syndrome by an ayurvedic specialist.

The ayurvedic medications help to improve the cells of the kidneys and rejuvenate their function. The medicines also tend to stop the production of faulty cells and tissues and generate new ones. The herbs that are used in the ayurvedic medicines include:

Punarnava: Punarnava helps to stimulate the output of the blood from the heart. By promoting healthy blood circulation, they allow the kidneys to receive blood and thus prevent them from diseases like end-stage renal disease, Glomerulonephritis, and nephrotic syndrome.

• Palash: Helps fight infections and inflammation in the urinary tract.
• Rakt Chandan: It is a cooling agent that acts as a natural diuretic in the event of urine infection during kidney damage.
• Gokshuradi Guggulu: Gokshur is a combination of herbs that helps to improvise and rejuvenate the damage to the kidneys.
• Kasni: Kasni is an herb that provides the strength to the function of the kidneys at the cellular level.
• Trinnpanchmool: Since ages, this herb (a combination of the five herbs) has been used to treat kidney disorders. This herb helps to regenerate the healthier cells so that the nephrotic syndrome can be treated permanently.

Dietary changes as suggested during the ayurvedic treatment

Ayurvedic medicine treatment for the nephrotic syndrome helps to resolve kidney problems with a better diet plan, which has the following measures:

• Reduce sodium intake to less than 2300 mg per day.
• Avoid canned foods, canned vegetables containing salt to enrich their shelf life.
• Reduce the intake of protein animal food.
• Avoid saturated fat in the form of butter, cheese, fried foods, red meats, egg yolk though you can take the unsaturated fat like olive oil, canola oil, and nuts.
• Increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Decrease the intake of fluids.
• Avoid the consumption of potassium and phosphorus.

Particular Questions are Asked by Kidney Patients

1. What is a good diet for nephrotic syndrome patients?

A good diet for nephrotic syndrome includes lean meats such as poultry, fish, shellfish, dried beans, peanut butter, soybeans, apples, watermelons, pears, oranges, bananas, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, rice, whole grains, potato chips, nuts, popcorn, cottage cheese, tofu, milk, and butter.

2. Can homeopathy cure nephrotic syndrome?

Nephrotic Syndrome cannot be completely cured, but its symptoms can effectively be managed by homeopathic treatment.

3. Can we drink milk in nephrotic syndrome?

No, Milk should not be taken in nephrotic syndrome.

4. Is garlic good for nephrotic syndrome?

Yes, garlic is good for nephrotic syndrome due to its wide range of benefits.

5. Is coconut water good for nephrotic syndrome?

People with nephrotic syndrome should avoid coconut water as it contains high levels of potassium.

6. Can nephrotic syndrome go away on its own?

Even though nephrotic syndrome does not have a specific cure, sometimes it can go away on its own.

7. What is nephrotic syndrome life expectancy?

If nephrotic syndrome escalates to chronic kidney failure, then without dialysis or kidney transplant, life expectancy ranges from days to weeks.

8. Can you exercise with nephrotic syndrome?

Yes, Exercising is good for people with nephrotic syndrome.

9. Can a nephrotic syndrome patient get pregnant?

Yes, Nephrotic syndrome does not affect pregnancy. However, it is important to correctly manage the condition and evaluate the risk factors involved in maternal kidney disease progression.

10. What is nephrotic syndrome Type 2?

Type 2 nephrotic syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder that may develop clinically by childhood onset of proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema.

11. What happens if nephrotic syndrome is left untreated?

Untreated nephrotic syndrome can cause your kidneys to lose function over time. If the kidney function falls lower than normal, you might need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

12. Does nephrotic syndrome affect both kidneys?

Yes, Nephrotic syndrome and most other chronic diseases usually affect both kidneys.

13. How do you rule out nephrotic syndrome?

Urine tests, blood tests, or a kidney biopsy can help you to diagnose nephrotic syndrome.

14. Is nephrotic syndrome completely curable?

Yes, Nephrotic Syndrome is completely curable through Ayurvedic medicine.