Dialysis is an important treatment option for those living with end-stage kidney disease. It helps to eliminate the wastes from the body and replace the kidneys. Every hospital has a department of renal sciences with a dialysis unit. This appliance withdraws the blood from the body, purifies it, and sends it back to the body. This is the main treatment option for people suffering from end-stage kidney diseases until they get a suitable kidney for transplantation.
What is chronic kidney disease, and what are its symptoms?
Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is a condition that affects the functioning of the kidneys. It is a long-term disease and leads to kidney failure. The following are the symptoms of CKD, according to experts in renal sciences.
- Changes in the amount of urine
- Changes in the frequency of urination
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swelling in the feet and ankles
- Itchy skin
- Shortness of breath
- High blood pressure
- Muscle cramps and twitches
Treatment options for chronic kidney disease:
The main function of kidneys is to eliminate wastes from the body. They also help to reabsorb the important nutrients from the blood and do not let them go to waste in urine. When a person suffers from chronic kidney disease, his kidneys are not performing their function. Wastes in the blood thus tend to accumulate and affect the other body parts as a result. The person suffers fluid overload, which might affect the workload of the heart and the lungs. The Department of Renal Sciences suggests the following treatment options for this condition.
- Hemodialysis – The dialysis machine will filter the blood outside the body and remove the waste. It also influxs some important nutrients in the blood while pumping it inside the body.
- Peritoneal dialysis – This is another type of dialysis where the exchange of fluids takes place in the belly. This helps to filter the blood inside the body and to remove the wastes
- Kidney transplantation – a healthy kidney from another individual, living or dead, will be transplanted in the body of the affected person to filter the blood.
FAQ
Is dialysis the cure for kidney disease?
Hemodialysis is not a cure for chronic kidney disease. It only makes a person feel better and live longer. It can never replace the functions of the kidney. With chronic kidney disease, people develop other problems such as bone disease, heart disease, nerve damage, and malnutrition. These will not go away with dialysis.
Kidney transplantation:
Kidney transplantation is a remedy for chronic kidney disease. This is a surgical procedure that helps to replace the damaged kidney with a healthy one. Experts in renal sciences place the new kidney and establish its vascular connections. The transplanted kidney takes up the function of filtering the blood. To prevent the body from rejecting the new kidney, doctors prescribe immunosuppressants. The advantages of this procedure are as follows.
- After transplantation, the new kidney functions very well
- It is possible to feel healthy and enjoy a better quality of living
- There are fewer restrictions on the diet after the procedure.
- There is no need for dialysis.
- People with a new donated kidney tend to live longer than those who take up dialysis treatment.
Bottom Line:
Apart from dialysis and renal transplantation, experts in renal sciences also suggest conservative management for CKD. The focus of this care is to enhance the quality of life of the individual by controlling the symptoms. Apart from this, doctors also prescribe dialysis to manage the symptoms. It is important to learn about the treatment options and how they will affect the health of the individual.