People with any level of kidney failure should be under medical supervision. Patients will usually need to work closely with a renal dietician who can monitor important levels of electrolytes, minerals, and fluids to make sure that patients are maintaining proper nutrition while limiting the load on their kidney and other bodily systems. The diet for dialysis patients is especially strict and should be taken extremely seriously in order avoid further complications.
What special precautions should kidney dialysis patients take?
Kidney dialysis patients can drink, cook, and bathe in chloraminated water. However, chloramines must be removed from the water used in kidney dialysis machines.
Dialysis systems already pre-treat their source water to remove chlorine. However, some modifications may be necessary to remove the chloramines. Home dialysis service companies can usually make the needed modifications, but you should check with your physician to be certain.
All medical facilities that perform kidney dialysis have been notified of this change to chloraminated water treatment. According to the ESRD [End Stage Renal Disease] federal regulations, these facilities are responsible for purifying the water that enters the dialysis machines.
Avoid Aluminium containing things as aluminium is one of the main culprit which can detoriate the condition of patient on dialysis.
As aluminium is one of the most common metal present in earths crust (about 8%) and its ubiquatous in nature so its present in all most every place and every were. some of the sources of aluminiunm are: food stuffs, vaccination, potable water, few drugs (as contaminant) etc.
please be aware of this silent neglected metal, and do routine check up for patient on dialysis for once in 3 months.
kidney diet
Definition
The kidney diet, also known as the renal diet, is a set of guidelines for people with kidney disease. The types of foods prescribed depend on the level of kidney failure the patient is experiencing, but generally the diet involves controlling the amount of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, and fluid that a person ingests. People with kidney disease should be in consultation with a renal dietitian.
Origins
The kidney diet has been developed and refined by the medical science community, including doctors and hospitals, who have worked with patients with kidney disease. It is based upon scientific research done by many professionals in many different settings, including laboratories, clinics, and hospitals. This research in combination with other available information has been used to develop a set of guidelines to allow patients with kidney failure to eat and drink in a way that helps to manage their disease most effectively.
Description
There is no single kidney diet. The kidney diet is a set of guidelines for patients experiencing some level of kidney failure. Because every kidney patient is unique, each kidney diet may be slightly different. People who have been diagnosed with kidney failure should see a renal dietician to determine the exact specifications of the kidney diet they should follow. Whether a person is experiencing early or late stages of kidney failure, whether they are receiving dialysis treatment and which type, as well as regular nutritional factors such as height, age, and weight will play a role in determining what sort of diet should be followed. In any case, renal patients must be very careful and take their diet seriously. Careful adherence to a kidney diet can lessen the symptoms of kidney failure and prolong the usefulness of the kidneys.
Sodium
Sodium is a mineral found in many foods and is important to many different bodily functions. One of the most important functions of sodium involves maintaining fluid levels. If too much sodium builds up in the body it causes thirst and fluid buildup. Normally functioning kidneys help to maintain proper levels of sodium in the body. If the kidneys begin to fail however, it becomes more important to maintain appropriate levels of sodium intake. The easiest way to avoid excess sodium intake is to eliminate putting extra salt on foods. People frequently add salt during cooking and at the table. Even just topping these behaviors will usually cut back significantly on the amount of sodium ingested. It is also important to avoid particularly salty foods such as theater popcorn, potato chips, salted pretzels, bacon and other cured meats, and processed cheese. Checking the ingredients list of processed, frozen, and canned foods is a good way to see how much sodium the product contains. Canned soups are often surprisingly high in salt, but often times there are low-sodium alternatives available.
KEY TERMS
Amino acid - Molecules that are the basic building blocks of proteins.
Electrolyte Ions in the body that participate in metabolic reactions. The major human electrolytes are sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca 2+), magnesium (Mg2+), chloride (Cl-), phosphate (HPO4 2-), bicarbonate (HCO3-), and sulfate (SO4 2-). IonAn atom or molecule that has an electric charge. In the body ions are collectively referred to as electrolytes.
Mineral - An inorganic substance found in the earth that is necessary in small quantities for the body to maintain a health. Examples: zinc, copper, iron.
Vitamin A nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to remain healthy but that the body cannot manufacture for itself and must acquire through diet.
Because salt contributes so much to the flavor of foods, it may be helpful to find replacements for it. Using lemon juice or herb mixtures can add flavor without adding sodium, however mixtures such as garlic salt should not be used because they still have contain a high level of sodium. Artificial salt substitutes should also be avoided because these usually contain high levels of potassium, another mineral that people following a kidney diet need to monitor.
Potassium
Potassium is a mineral found in varying amounts in almost all foods, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. The body uses potassium for a variety of important functions such as maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, sending nerve impulse to muscles, and aiding in metabolic processes. When a persons kidneys are functioning normally they filter out excess potassium, helping to maintain the proper amount in the body. Without properly functioning kidneys, patients need to control their potassium intake. Avoiding foods with high levels of potassium, while maintaining a healthy diet, can be quite difficult because many fruits and vegetables are high in potassium. Oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots are all high in potassium. Apples, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, lettuce, and onions are all relatively low in potassium. Canned vegetables and the juices they are usually canned are particularly high in potassium. For patients with kidney problems who want to eat certain high potassium vegetables, there is one method for removing some of the potassium, called leaching. This process varies depending on the vegetable, but generally it involves repeatedly rinsing and boiling the vegetable in a large amount of water.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is another mineral found in many foods. The body must maintain a proper balance of phosphorus and calcium in order to build and preserve healthy bones. Normally, the kidneys help to maintain this balance by removing excess phosphorus from the bloodstream. However, patients with kidney disease may need to take steps to maintain this balance by watching what they eat, because their kidneys are no longer able to do this important job. If too much phosphorus builds up in the body it can pull calcium out of the bones, making them weak and easily breakable. People following a kidney diet may be told to avoid foods that are high in phosphorus, such as beer, soda, cheese, milk, yogurt, oysters, beans, peas, nuts, and many whole grain products. A renal dietician may also prescribe a phosphate binder, which can help control the amount of phosphate that the body absorbs.
Protein
Proteins are complex organic molecules made of amino acid chains. The body uses these chains to build and maintain muscles, organs, and glands. When the body breaks down protein it produces a waste product called urea. This waste product is usually filtered out by the kidneys and expelled from the body in urine. Patients experiencing kidney failure must be careful about the amount and type of protein they consume because the kidneys are no longer doing a good job of removing urea. If too much urea builds up in the body it can cause serious illness. Patients must be sure to get enough protein however, because without protein the body is not abletoperform proper muscle maintenance.
Fluid Intake
When patients are experiencing kidney failure, their kidneys are no longer removing water from the body with proper efficiency. The worse that the kidneys are functioning, the more important it is for patients to monitor their fluid intake. Water retention can cause swelling in the feet and ankles, as well as other parts of the body. The most recommended method for preventing water retention is to monitor salt intake, as recommended above.
The function of the kidney diet is to help patients with kidney disease to feel better, limit their symptoms, and slow the development of kidney failure. For people with kidney disease, it is important to maintain the proper balance of electrolytes, minerals, and fluid in the bloodstream. For patients undergoing dialysis treatments, this becomes even more important. This is because the kidneys work to rid the body of excess electrolytes, minerals, and fluid by filtering the blood. When a persons kidneys are not functioning properly, these substances can build up in the body and cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tiredness, weakness, sleepiness, and other problems. If patients lower their intake of certain substances they can help to control these problems, but if they limit these same substances too severely, they can suffer from malnutrition. The kidney diet is designed to help patients find the best balance for their body.
Benefits
The benefits of the kidney diet are enormous. Patients who have been diagnosed with early to late kidney failure must follow a special diet in order to slow deterioration and lessen their symptoms. Patients who do not follow a special diet will inevitably see their disease become worse more quickly. Patients who do follow this diet usually feel better and can prolong the use of their kidneys.
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