How should patients with kidney disease correctly understand kidney disease

The kidney, as an obscure but vital organ in our body, has the following main functions: excreting waste and metabolites, regulating electrolyte balance, maintaining acid-base balance, and producing important hormones. However, when the kidney is damaged, i.e., when kidney disease occurs, these functions will be seriously affected, posing a serious threat to our health. There are many types of kidney diseases, with different manifestations, but they share common aspects in terms of the damage to the body and the principles of treatment.

1. Symptoms and manifestations of kidney disease

1. Abnormal urine: Kidney disease patients often have abnormal urine, such as decreased urine volume, darker urine color, increased foam in urine, etc. Foamy urine may be caused by increased protein in urine, which is one of the common manifestations of kidney disease. In addition, symptoms such as hematuria and pyuria may also occur.

2. Edema: Due to impaired renal excretion function, kidney disease patients retain water and sodium in the body, which leads to edema. Edema usually occurs in the eyelids, lower limbs and other parts, and may spread to the whole body in severe cases.

3. Abnormal blood pressure: Kidney disease patients often have symptoms of high blood pressure, which may be a manifestation of kidney disease itself or a sign of worsening kidney disease. High blood pressure not only increases the burden on the kidneys, but may also lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications.

4. Anemia: Due to impaired kidney function, kidney disease patients have reduced red blood cell production, which leads to anemia. Anemia patients often show symptoms such as pale complexion, fatigue, and dizziness.

5. Other symptoms: Kidney disease patients may also experience low back pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. These symptoms vary from person to person, but once they occur, patients should pay close attention to them.

2. The key to protecting kidney health

1. Healthy diet: Maintain a low-salt, low-fat, low-sugar diet, and consume a moderate amount of high-quality protein, such as lean meat, fish, eggs, etc. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits to supplement vitamins and minerals. Avoid excessive intake of high-oil, high-fat, and high-salt foods to avoid increasing the burden on the kidneys.

2. Moderate exercise: Moderate exercise helps promote metabolism, enhance body immunity, and reduce the incidence of kidney disease. It is recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, etc. During the acute onset of the disease, you can choose gentle exercise such as walking and Tai Chi.

3. Control blood pressure and blood sugar: High blood pressure and high blood sugar are important causes of kidney disease, so it is very important to keep blood pressure and blood sugar within the normal range. For patients who already have high blood pressure or diabetes, they should actively cooperate with doctors for treatment and control the progression of the disease.

4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption: Smoking and excessive drinking will increase the burden on the kidneys and increase the risk of kidney disease. Therefore, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption is one of the important measures to prevent kidney disease.

5. Regular physical examinations: Regularly perform routine kidney function and urine tests to promptly detect and intervene in potential kidney problems. For high-risk groups such as those with hypertension, diabetes, and a family history of kidney disease, more frequent examinations should be performed. Once abnormal kidney function is found, seek medical attention immediately and receive professional treatment.

3. Treatment and management of kidney disease

1. Drug treatment: Depending on the condition, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate drugs for treatment. Common drugs include diuretics to relieve edema, antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure, immunosuppressants to suppress immune response, etc. Patients must take the medicine strictly according to the doctor's instructions and cannot increase or decrease the dosage or stop taking the medicine at will.

2. Diet management: A reasonable diet is essential for the treatment of kidney disease. Doctors will develop a personalized diet plan based on the patient's specific situation, which usually includes limiting the intake of protein, sodium, phosphorus and other substances to reduce the burden on the kidneys. At the same time, patients are encouraged to take in enough vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber to maintain the body's normal physiological functions.

3. Lifestyle adjustment: In addition to drug treatment and diet management, patients also need to adjust their lifestyle. Ensure adequate sleep and rest time, avoid staying up late and overwork. Maintain a positive attitude and a good emotional state, avoid excessive anxiety and stress. At the same time, pay attention to personal hygiene and environmental hygiene to prevent complications such as infection.

4. Dialysis and kidney transplantation: For patients with severe renal impairment and ineffective drug treatment, alternative treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation may need to be considered. Dialysis is a treatment method that artificially replaces part of the kidney function, including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Kidney transplantation is the transplantation of a healthy kidney into the patient's body to restore its normal physiological function. Both treatments need to be carried out under the guidance of a doctor and require the active cooperation and support of the patient and his family.

IV. Conclusion

Kidney disease is a common chronic disease, and its occurrence and development are related to many factors. For patients with kidney disease, correctly understanding kidney disease, actively taking preventive measures, receiving professional treatment in time and adjusting their lifestyle are the keys to maintaining kidney health. At the same time, paying attention to the patient's mental health is also an important aspect that cannot be ignored. Through the joint efforts of the whole society and the active cooperation of patients, we can jointly protect kidney health and improve the quality of life.

Author: Xu Xinna Laiyuan County Hospital Baoding, Hebei