Kidney disease is a broad term that presents dozens of different kidney disorders and hundreds of specific kidney diseases. If you have kidney disease, it is important that you learn as much as you can about your illness.
Your body is made up of trillions of individual cells that need adequate nutrition, removal of waste products, and a stable internal environment in order to function properly. Your kidneys play a critical role in this process. To better understand kidney diseases, it helps to have a good understanding of the kidneys.
Were you recently told that you have a problem with your kidneys and you need to see a kidney specialist? Seeing a kidney doctor for the first time can be a scary thing. You can prepare yourself by learning more about the people you are going to me, what a typical visit is like, and what you can to get the most out of this important visit.
Many kidney diseases can cause irreversible damage to your kidneys. If this has happened to you, then you have chronic kidney disease or CKD. There are an estimated 20 million people with CKD in the United States and most of them don’t require dialysis. Learn more about living with CKD and what you can do to avoid the need for dialysis.
Having kidney disease or kidney failure means you may require a special diet and be more conscious about your diet. You need to learn how kidney disease affects your intake of carbohydrates, fats, protein, fluids, electrolytes and vitamins. You will also want to know what is safe to eat and what is not.
The kidneys (along with the liver) play a major role in breaking down and removing drug from the body. Kidney disease often requires stopping or adjusting the dosages of many medications. It is important to be aware how your medications will be affected by chronic kidney disease, dialysis, or a kidney transplant.
Dialysis is the process of artificially cleansing the blood of wastes and fluid after the kidneys have failed. There are several different types of dialysis but the most common is hemodialysis. Dialysis is lifesaving when you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) but it can lead to dramatic changes in ones life.
Dialysis is not a cure for kidney failure and for many, a better alternative is getting a kidney transplant. It can be a long process to get a kidney and it is not without its risks and it is not for everyone.
