A Kidney Specialist Helps Patients Cope With Renal Disease

By Olivia Cross


The same factors that encourage high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes also spur the development of kidney disease, a serious affliction with no pharmacological cure. The physicians that face this problem daily are nephrologists, and deal with the dangerous complications that commonly arise. A kidney specialist helps patients live their lives as normally as possible while battling the symptoms.

People with the highest risk factors usually do little aerobic exercise, are commonly overweight, and may additionally suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart problems. Lifestyle choices are an important causative factor, and DNA also plays a part. The disease is more common among members of certain genetic pools, and the elderly population always faces the greatest risk.

In some cases people develop the condition over time, and have few noticeable symptoms. The only truly accurate diagnosis comes from urine and blood tests. They carefully measure levels of filtering and the amounts of proteins contained in urine, and the results may indicate serious problems. Although there is no way to reverse the damage, an accurate diagnosis helps prevent further deterioration.

If internal waste processing is still taking place on a limited scale, physicians may recommend diuretic medications designed to assist urine production while decreasing blood pressure. They also commonly recommend restricted sodium diets combined with a significant but age-appropriate regimen of aerobic exercise that is meant to encourage consistent weight control. While helpful, these options are not an actual cure for organ failure.

For people facing that reality there are only two currently available options. The most prevalent is dialysis, which uses a machine to artificially remove waste products using special solutions designed to imitate natural processes. Dialysis includes monitoring both mineral and electrolyte levels while carefully gauging blood flow. There are currently machines available for home use, but most are still located in hospitals.

The second option involves organ transplantation. Kidney replacement is the second most prevalent type of transplant surgery performed currently, and relies on organs from recently deceased donors or relatives who match the patient genetic profile and are willing to undergo an operation. Non-functional organs are often left in place when the replacements are connected. Many patients physically reject this tissue, and must take immune response-suppressing drugs.

Nephrologists devise treatment plans that are individually tailored to circumstances and the current stage of the disease. These options commonly include special nurses trained in kidney disease-related areas involving nutrition, related social issues that arise, and the complexities of daily care. Doctors often form close relationships with dialysis patients, and see most patients at least once every three months.

The most effective methods of prevention include getting enough aerobic exercise, eating fewer high-calorie processed foods, and having blood tests performed yearly. People in Beverly Hills, CA live close to some of the most advanced medical facilities anywhere, but only benefit if they do not ignore annual testing. Although there is no cure for renal failure, many patients today live fully and enjoyably while undergoing treatments.




About the Author:



Share on :

0 comments:

Post a Comment