Showing posts with label dialysis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dialysis. Show all posts

Monday, September 16, 2013

A Brief Overview of Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis refers to a treatment method for patients suffering from severe chronic kidney disease. In this method, the peritoneal membrane in the abdomen of the patient is used for the exchange of different fluids, dissolved substances like the glucose, albumin, electrolytes, urea from the blood.

This serves in clearing the wastes and other extra fluids from the body and also in maintaining the optimum electrolyte levels. The introduction of the peritoneal dialysis has enabled people to avoid the frequent visits to the dialysis center for their treatment. The best part with this treatment method is that it can be done at your own home at any time as per your convenience.

The Process of Peritoneal Dialysis

The peritoneal dialysis is more commonly called as the exchange process. It involves about four or six exchanges on a daily basis. This is done in the following manner.

Firstly, peritoneal fluid is filled with the dialysis fluid.

At the same time, all the waste and the extra fluid are driven into the dialysis fluid through the peritoneal membrane.

After some specific time period, the existing dialysis fluid is drained out completely and is replaced with the new fluid.

Pros of Peritoneal Dialysis

The first and the foremost benefit of peritoneal dialysis is that it is a reliable treatment method.

Some of its other benefits include the following:
- Peritoneal Dialysis involves very few adverse side effects which include the vomiting, nausea, cramping, and weight loss as compared to that of the in-center hemodialysis.
- The patients are given complete needle-free treatments.
- You will be facilitated with the direct shipment of the PD supplies to your prescribed place which can be your home, travel destination or any place you are comfortable with.
- You will be free of the frequent and tiring trips to the dialysis center.
- Most importantly, the choice of the treatment schedule is entirely in your hands and hence you can choose it according to your convenience and freedom.
- Your dependence on the blood pressure medicines will gradually decrease.

Risks involved in peritoneal dialysis
- Infection of the lining of the Peritonitis i.e. the abdominal wall is considered to be the most common complications involved with PD.
- As stated by the reports it is found that many of the patients experience mild back pain and abdominal fullness during dialysis.
- This dialysis method is strictly not recommended to patients having scars, leaks in the lining of the peritonitis. Moreover people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases like the ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease should also avoid adopting the peritoneal dialysis technique.

In simple words, the peritoneal dialysis method serves in replacing the work of the kidneys once any kind of kidney failure complications are developed. However it can never reverse the kidney failure or the chronic kidney disease. There are different types of the peritoneal dialysis which include the Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and the Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis.

If you are after a treatment to reverse your kidney disease, natural treatments that include diet, nutrition, and herbal medicine are the best methods currently available.

Are you wishing you could reverse your kidney disease? Wishing you could improve your kidney function? Well I'm here to tell you that you can both improve the function of your kidneys and yes, even reverse the effects of your kidney disease. There are many little known natural health solutions to the problem of kidney disease. With the right foods, vitamins, and herbs you can strengthen your kidneys much more than you think. You will also generally feel much better than you could have hoped for. If you're looking for a real solution to kidney problems check out this specially designed program for people with kidney disease.

Monday, September 9, 2013

All You Need to Know About Hemodialysis

Searching for other ways to lower Creatinine levels, improve kidney function, and safeguard your kidneys from further damage? Kidney disease can come as a complete surprise. You are just living your life and one day seemingly all at once you learn you have a major problem with your kidneys that must be dealt with. While kidney disease is a great burden know that there are solutions and you can heal your kidneys and even restore them to their original health. Hopefully this information will help you come to a better understanding of the other options you have outside of dialysis and transplant.

Healthy Kidneys are essential for the functioning of the body. They help in keeping the blood clean and removing extra fluids from the body in the form of urine. Unfortunately, sometimes due to chronic kidney disease, the organ loses its capacities to function properly. In such cases, patients are placed on dialysis that helps replace such kidney functions. One type of dialysis is hemodialysis.

What is hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis is a method in which waste products such as urea and creatinine are removed from the body during a renal failure. This is done by removing blood from the body, filtering it and returning the filtered blood into the body. A machine called a dialyzer is used to filter out excess fluids and salt from the body and is the most common treatment during advanced kidney failure.

Before going to hemodialysis, heath care professionals check the weight of the patient to determine how much excess fluid is in the body and how much of it needs to be removed. The patient is then put on a dialyzer. The machine is programmed and treatment begins. The machine acts like a pump that keeps a track of blood pressure, bloody flow and other important information. The fluid in the machine, known as the dialysate removes toxins from the blood and then is flushed out.

Advantages of hemodialysis

This treatment is very beneficial as the patient receives help from trained staff. Medical help is also available during an emergency, which is very essential for patients with end stage kidney failure.

Hemodialysis is preferred over peritoneal dialysis as the patients doesn’t have to carry and store a machine.

Another advantage of hemodialysis is that the treatment is carried out only three times a week, giving a patient a good four days a week to relax.

Disadvantages of hemodialysis

The treatment may have some side effects in case of too rapidly or too much fluid being removed from the body. These side effects include fatigue, low blood pressure, leg-cramps, chest pain, headaches and nausea.

The biggest drawback of hemodialysis is that even one session of the treatment cannot be missed. Also, the treatment cannot be shortened without increasing the risk of death. Hemodialysis also increases the risk of sepsis since it exposes the circulatory system to microbes. This risk of infection varies depending on the clinic and machines used.

Other drawbacks of the treatment include long-term complications like neuropathy, amyloidosis and other heart problems.

Things to keep in mind

Patients on hemodialysis should consult their doctors before making plans for long distance travel. Though traveling is not a restriction, doctors just need to check the patient to see if he or she is physically strong enough to travel.

Also, hemodialysis patients can continue working but may have to change their duties if it includes heavy manual labor. Other than that, 9 to 5 desk jobs and light manual labor poses as no threat to the patient.

If you do not require dialysis just yet, there is still plenty one can do to assist the kidneys in healing. The best treatments to date, in reversing kidney disease, come from natural medicine and dietary changes. One can increase kidney function from simple dietary changes, herbal medicines, and specific nutritional vitamins.

Take a look at this great video advice from a professional naturopath who has helped thousands live a happier and healthier life!