Common causes of dialysis heart failure, summarized in one article!

1. Excessive capacity load

The renal drainage function of dialysis patients is impaired. If water intake is not strictly controlled between dialysis sessions, drinking a large amount of water in a short period of time will cause excessive fluid retention in the body. At the same time, insufficient ultrafiltration during dialysis cannot effectively remove excess water, leading to a continuous increase in blood volume, excessive heart load, and ultimately heart failure. For example, some patients gain weight beyond the prescribed range between dialysis sessions, which puts great pressure on the heart.

2. Poor control of hypertension

Long-term high blood pressure will increase the afterload of the heart, requiring the heart to pump blood more vigorously. If the blood pressure of dialysis patients is at a high level for a long time and is not effectively controlled, the structure and function of the heart will gradually be damaged. For example, if the blood pressure is higher than 160/90 mmHg for a long time, the heart will be under high pressure for a long time, the myocardium will gradually thicken, and eventually lead to decreased heart function and heart failure.

3. Severe anemia

Dialysis patients often have varying degrees of anemia, which can lead to insufficient oxygen supply to various tissues and organs of the body. In order to meet the needs of the body, the heart has to speed up the beating frequency and increase the output. If this continues for a long time, the burden on the heart will increase and it is easy to cause heart failure. If the hemoglobin level continues to be lower than 80g/L, the burden on the heart will increase significantly.

4. Electrolyte imbalance

During dialysis, if electrolytes are imbalanced, especially potassium and calcium, it will affect the normal electrophysiological activity of the heart. For example, hyperkalemia can lead to heart conduction block, arrhythmia, and in severe cases, heart failure. In addition, hypocalcemia can also affect myocardial contractility and increase the risk of heart failure.