Kidney Failure And Need Of Dialysis
The filters of our body, as we know them, are two bean-shaped organs and their primary function is to remove waste and fluid from our body. They also help in maintaining the blood pressure levels of the body and keep the body functions running. Also, kidneys produce hormones that aid further in the production of red blood cells.
Healthy functioning of kidneys is absolutely necessary to keep the blood clean from toxic wastes. It is important to understand that kidney diseases or kidney failure can prove to be fatal. Kidney failure usually leads to the following ailments in the body:
● Insufficient or disrupted blood supply to the kidneys
● Reactions to toxic substances or any kind of auto-immune attack on the kidneys
● Obstruction during urine flow.
Some prominent symptoms of kidney failure include prolonged nausea, fatigue, tiredness and swelling on parts of the body.
When do you need dialysis?
Kidney failure is an alarming stage where only two procedures can cure the ailment: kidney transplantation or dialysis. As and when there are signs and symptoms of kidney failure, one should immediately start with dialysis. In many cases, kidney failure does not show any evident signs and symptoms but your lab results and GFR report show poor kidney function. In such cases, the doctor may start your dialysis to reduce the complications and chances of complete kidney failure.
How does dialysis help?
The procedure of dialysis is required when more than 90 percent of the kidney cannot function properly. The need for dialysis is also measured by the GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate), which measures the stage of kidney disease and how soon the dialysis needs to start. GFR tells your doctor about the current situation of your kidney functions and will accordingly plan your dialysis schedule.
Dialysis is a procedural way of filtering and purifying the blood and removing toxic waste from the body, using a machine. Basically, the dialysis machine replicates the function of kidneys to keep the body functions running. Dialysis removes extra salt and other toxic wastes from the body thereby preventing its accumulation. It also helps in maintaining a certain level of important chemicals in the body such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonates.
Dialysis is of following two types and your doctor shall decide which one shall suit your body. This majorly depends upon the age and other comorbidities that you are suffering from.
1. Hemodialysis: In this procedure, the blood of your body is filtered outside the body and then again put back in the body. In order to conduct this procedure, a minor surgery is done on your leg or arm, to make an entrance to the blood vessels. The blood is then passed through a hemodialyzer to remove the toxic waste.
2. Peritoneal dialysis: In this procedure, the blood is cleaned and filtered inside the body with the help of a fluid that is injected into the body. The fluid is injected into the abdomen and it absorbs all the waste from the blood that passes through the abdominal cavity.
Can kidney failure be permanently cured?
Kidney failure is a kind of severe damage to your organs and may require prolonged treatment and dialysis, for the kidneys to function better. If the kidney failure is acute, the kidneys can get better after treatment or after certain sessions of dialysis. In cases of chronic kidney failure, the patient may have to depend on dialysis for the rest of their lives, since the kidneys are permanently disabled to function properly. In such cases, the only cure is kidney transplant.
Usually after starting dialysis, it may become a permanent part of your life. But you should always take care of your body with proper nutrition and a healthy diet to benefit from dialysis and to maintain healthy functioning of kidneys.