What are the precautions to be taken to avoid kidney failure?
Patient: My sister is experiencing much loss of hair .  She is 84 years old and is taking 50 mg of metoprolol for high blood pressure.  She is also taking 75 mg of levoghiyoxine oxide  for thyroid.  She has lost most of her hair within several weeks.  She states that she uriinates frequently ( about every 20 minutes).  Her kidney count was 100 last month and is now 100.09.  The doctor stated she is getting kidney failure - she gave her water pills because her feet and legs were swollen and gained 8 lbs in one week and also experienced shortness of breath.  PLEASE  let me know if you can help. Doctor: Thank you for your question.Kidney function usually decreases with age.Kidney failure can be due to several reasons but the most common ones are hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes mellitus.The symptoms which you mention are suggestive of generalised edema.Kidney failure progression can be slowed down by having stringent hypertension control measures and thyroxine level control.Antoxidants like acetylcysteine are prescribed in patients with renal failure but they cannot completely halt kidney failure.consult your physician for more details