Kidney disease is a condition in which your kidneys become damaged and gradually stop working over time. Without your kidneys functioning properly, dangerous levels of waste can build up in your body. Kidneys are also responsible for retaining electrolytes and secreting essential hormones to the rest of your body, which means that impaired kidneys can seriously affect your health.
Although there is no cure for kidney disease, there are numerous treatments that can help relieve symptoms and prevent the condition from getting worse.
Treatment for Kidney Disease
There are several types of treatment options for patients with kidney disease. What type of treatment you receive will depend on your overall health and the severity of your condition. The main treatment options for kidney disease include:
Medications
There are various types of medications that can be prescribed to help patients with kidney disease, depending on their underlying condition. Some medications are:
- ACE inhibitors to manage hypertension
- Statins to reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease
- Diuretics to help eliminate extra fluid build up in the body
- Iron supplements to combat anemia, which may develop in the advanced stages of kidney disease
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
Lifestyle Changes
To help manage and treat kidney disease, your doctor will likely recommend the following lifestyle changes:
- Stop smoking
- Eat a balanced diet
- Restrict salt intake
- Exercise regularly
- Limit alcohol intake
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Drink lots of water
Dialysis
Dialysis is a medical procedure that uses a machine to remove harmful substances and extra fluid from the bloodstream. There are two main types of dialysis:
- Hemodialysis: connects the patient’s blood vessels to a dialysis machine, with blood pulled from one part of the body and blood pumped back into the bloodstream through a different site, forming a circuit.
- Peritoneal dialysis: cleansing of the blood that involves placing a catheter in the patient’s abdomen and emptying out fluid from the abdominal cavity.
Dialysis is typically a treatment option for patients with end-stage kidney disease, which is when kidney function is severely reduced.
Kidney Transplant
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure where a person’s damaged kidneys are replaced with healthy kidneys from a donor. This procedure is a common solution for end-stage renal disease, which is a form of kidney failure when both kidneys have been damaged beyond repair. Transplant procedures do have a long waiting list, but the survival rates of kidney transplants are very high.
Contact The Kidney and Hypertension Center
At The Kidney and Hypertension Center, we understand the significant impact that living with kidney disease can have on your quality of life. To help those affected by kidney disease, we provide thorough treatment options and prevention plans for all forms of kidney disease. To learn more about how you can start prioritizing your kidney health, contact us today or call (833) 247-3625 now!
