Knowing Kidney Health and Dialysis Right away
What happens if the kidneys are damaged or the function is impaired?
If kidney damage or functional decline persists for more than three months, it is chronic kidney failure (chronic kidney disease).
Along with symptoms of uremia such as decreased energy, loss of appetite, and fatigue, edema, arrhythmia, and blood vessels may become bone-hardened, sacrosanct anemia, high blood pressure, and heart failure may occur.
In fact, even if there is no special disease, the kidney loses its function every year as it ages from the age of 40. At this time, patients with chronic renal failure suffer from kidney function 4 to 5 times faster than normal people.
When should I do dialysis?
When the kidney function is almost absent, nephrotic therapy that artificially replaces the kidney function is needed. This includes dialysis and kidney transplant surgery. Dialysis is a treatment method that requires constant treatment for a long time by removing waste from the body using a dialysis device.
Dialysis is divided into hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and it should be judged by combining one’s lifestyle and medical staff’s recommendations.
If you experience dangerous symptoms such as mental confusion and loss of consciousness due to uremia, uremic pericarditis, metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and uncontrollable itching, dialysis should be started.
Precautions for dialysis patients
Patients with chronic renal failure should be careful of dehydration, high blood pressure, infection, urinary obstruction, and drugs harmful to the kidneys (some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, CT contrast agents, etc.).
In addition, if your kidney function has decreased significantly or you have started dialysis, you should also pay attention to diet management.
The most important thing to note is to control sodium tube potassium, phosphoric acid, and moisture.
You should maintain a low-salt diet that consumes less than 5g of salt a day and properly adjust vegetables, fruits, meat, and processed products so that they are not excessive.
It is recommended to refrain from instant food or health supplements and continue to practice smoking cessation, abstinence, and regular exercise.