Kidney dialysis can come to your rescue when your kidneys are not functioning. Read on to know more about its types and side effects.
Kidney dialysis is a procedure that removes waste products from the body, maintains blood pressure and chemical balance in the body — functions that a healthy kidney performs. Doctors resort to it when your kidney function levels drop below 15%. This happens when you have chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.
Read on to know more about the types of kidney dialysis and their side effects.
What are the types of kidney dialysis?
There are two types-
- Haemodialysis
Your doctor attaches a catheter to your blood vessels and connects it to a dialysis machine. It draws out your blood, runs it through the dialyzer (a filter) which cleanses it and sends it back to your body. The procedure lasts for 3 hours and you have to undergo it at least 4 times a week.
Health care professionals will perform this procedure in a dialysis facility.
2. Peritoneal dialysis
The doctor creates a passage into your abdomen and puts a catheter in place. One end of the catheter protrudes a little from the body. Through this end, you have to pour a solution of water, salt and other minerals. On reaching your abdomen, this solution will filter the waste through the peritoneum layer of the stomach.
Side effects of Kidney Dialysis
You may experience chest pain, leg cramps, nausea, and low blood pressure after haemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis can lead to infection. If you notice any of these signs don’t ignore them, apprise your doctor immediately.
Precautions
You can take these measures to reduce the severity of the side effects or to prevent them altogether-
- Your diet should include plenty of proteins.
- Ask your doctor how much fluid you should consume every day. Excess consumption of fluids makes dialysis difficult and leads to a drop in blood pressure. To determine the exact amount, you can consult a doctor on MediBuddy
- Avoid caffeine
- Your food should be fresh and organic
- When you are on dialysis, potassium levels in your blood tend to rise. This could lead to heart ailments. That is why you should avoid food rich in potassium like meat, bread, potatoes, eggs etc.
- If you are undergoing peritoneal dialysis, make sure you are meticulous when it comes to hygiene.
Conclusion
When your kidneys fail, and all other treatment methods are ineffective, you will have to undergo dialysis. Ensure you take all the aforementioned precautions to prevent any further complications.
