Eating the right foods can help improve your dialysis and your health. Your
clinic has a dietitian to help you plan meals. Follow the dietitian's advice
closely to get the most from your hemodialysis treatments. Here are a few
general guidelines.
Fluids. Your dietitian will help you determine how much fluid to
drink each day. Extra fluid can raise your blood pressure, make your heart
work harder, and increase the stress of dialysis treatments. Remember that
many foods-such as soup, ice cream, and fruits-contain plenty of water. Ask
your dietitian for tips on controlling your thirst.
Potassium. The mineral potassium is found in many foods,
especially fruits and vegetables. Potassium affects how steadily your heart
beats, so eating foods with too much of it can be very dangerous to your
heart. To control potassium levels in your blood, avoid foods like oranges,
bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, and dried fruits. You can remove some of the
potassium from potatoes and other vegetables by peeling and soaking them in
a large container of water for several hours, then cooking them in fresh
water.
Phosphorus. The mineral phosphorus can weaken your bones and make
your skin itch if you consume too much. Control of phosphorus may be even
more important than calcium itself in preventing bone disease and related
complications. Foods like milk and cheese, dried beans, peas, colas, nuts,
and peanut butter are high in phosphorus and should be avoided. You'll
probably need to take a phosphate binder with your food to control the
phosphorus in your blood between dialysis sessions.
Salt (sodium chloride). Most canned foods and frozen dinners
contain high amounts of sodium. Too much of it makes you thirsty, and when
you drink more fluid, your heart has to work harder to pump the fluid
through your body. Over time, this can cause high blood pressure and
congestive heart failure. Try to eat fresh foods that are naturally low in
sodium, and look for products labeled "low sodium."
Protein. Before you were on dialysis, your doctor may have told
you to follow a low-protein diet to preserve kidney function. But now you
have different nutritional priorities. Most people on dialysis are
encouraged to eat as much high-quality protein as they can. Protein helps
you keep muscle and repair tissue, but protein breaks down into urea (blood
urea nitrogen, or BUN) in your body. Some sources of protein, called
high-quality proteins, produce less waste than others. High-quality proteins
come from meat, fish, poultry, and eggs. Getting most of your protein from
these sources can reduce the amount of urea in your blood.
Calories. Calories provide your body with energy. Some people on
dialysis need to gain weight. You may need to find ways to add calories to
your diet. Vegetable oils-like olive, canola, and safflower oils-are good
sources of calories and do not contribute to problems controlling your
cholesterol. Hard candy, sugar, honey, jam, and jelly also provide calories
and energy. If you have diabetes, however, be very careful about eating
sweets. A dietitian's guidance is especially important for people with
diabetes.
Supplements. Vitamins and minerals may be missing from your diet
because you have to avoid so many foods. Dialysis also removes some vitamins
from your body. Your doctor may prescribe a vitamin and mineral supplement
designed specifically for people with kidney failure. Take your prescribed
supplement after treatment on the days you have hemodialysis. Never take
vitamins that you can buy off the store shelf, since they may contain
vitamins or minerals that are harmful to you.
You can also ask your dietitian for
recipes and titles of cookbooks for
patients with kidney disease. Following the restrictions of a diet for kidney
disease might be hard at first, but with a little creativity, you can make tasty
and satisfying meals. For more information, see the NIDDK booklet
Eat Right to
Feel Right on Hemodialysis.
Kidney failure can occur from an acute event or a chronic condition or disease. Prerenal kidney failure is caused by blood loss, dehydration, medication. Some of the renal causes of kidney failure are from sepsis, medications, rhabdomyolysis, multiple myeloma, and acute glomerulonephritis. Post renal causes of kidney failure include bladder obstruction, prostate problems, tumors, or kidney stones. Treatment options included diet, medications, or dialysis.
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
There are several types of kidney cancer, including renal cell cancer (renal adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma), transitional cell carcinoma, and Wilms tumor. Symptoms of kidney cancer include blood in the urine, an abdominal lump or mass, chronic pain in the side, and tiredness. Treatment of kidney cancer--which may include surgery, arterial embolization, radiation therapy, biological therapy or chemotherapy--depends upon the stage of the disease and the patient's overall health.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS or restless legs syndrome) is a common cause for painful legs that typically eases with motion, and becomes worse and more noticeable at rest. This characteristic nighttime worsening can frequently lead to insomnia. Treatment of the symptoms of restless leg syndrome is generally with medication as well as treating any underlying condition causing restless leg syndrome.
Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.
Amyloidosis is a group of diseases resulting from abnormal deposition of certain proteins (amyloids) in various bodily areas. The amyloid proteins may either be deposited in one particular area of the body (localized amyloidosis) or they may be deposited throughout the body (systemic amyloidosis). There are three types of systemic amyloidosis: primary (AL), secondary (AA), and familial (ATTR). Primary amyloidosis is not associated with any other diseases and is considered a disease entity of its own. Secondary amyloidosis occurs as a result of another illness. Familial Mediterranean Fever is a form of familial (inherited) amyloidosis. Amyloidosis treatment involves treating the underlying illness and correcting organ failure.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by numerous cysts in the kidneys. Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder. There are two major inherited forms of PKD, autosomal dominant PKD, and autosomal recessive PKD. Symptoms include headaches, urinary tract infections, blood in the urine, liver and pancreatic cysts, abnormal heart valves, high blood pressure, kidney stones, aneurysms, and diverticulosis. Diagnosis of PKD is generally with ultrasound, CT or MRI scan. There is no cure for PKD, so treatment of symptoms is usually the general protocol.
High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and is one of the leading causes of kidney failure (end-stage renal kidney disease). Kidney damage, like hypertension, can be unnoticeable and detected only through medical tests. If you have kidney disease, you should control your blood pressure. Other treatment options include prescription medications.
Arsenic comes in two forms, inorganic and organic. Organic arsenic poisoning is usually not poisonous to humans; however, inorganic arsenic in large enough amounts can lead to shock and death. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, dark urine, vertigo, delirium, shock, and death. Treatment for arsenic poisoning includes Hemodialysis and a variety of drugs.
Fabry disease (Fabry's disease, alpha-galactosidase-A) is a genetic disorder with symptoms such as burning sensations in the hands, small-raised reddish-purplish blemishes on the skin, fever, decreases sweating, and GI difficulties. Fabry disease patients are at increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke. Symptoms of Fabry disease can be treated with medication.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a diseases in which blood clots within the capillaries. Causes associated with HUS include E. Coli, birth control pills, pneumonia, medications such as chemotherapy, Ticlid, and quinine. Symptoms of HUS include gastroenteritis, abdominal cramping, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis of HUS includes medical history, physical examination, and medical tests. Treatment includes rest, fluids, possible hospitalization for blood transfusion or complications due to kidney failure.
Renal osteodystrophy is a bone disease. The kidneys fail to maintain required levels of phosphorous and calcium in the blood. Renal osteodystrophy is common in patients with kidney disease and affects dialysis patients. Diagnosis is performed with a blood sample, and in some cases a bone biopsy. Medication is the general treatment for renal osteodystrophy.
Depression in the elderly is very common. That doesn't mean, though, it's normal. Treatment may involve antidepressants, psychotherapy, or electroconvulsive therapy.
Digestion RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the