Tuesday 3 March 2015

How A Kidney Specialist Helps Patients Live Normal Lives

By Olivia Cross


The same factors that encourage high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes also spur the development of kidney disease, a serious affliction with no pharmacological cure. The physicians that face this problem daily are nephrologists, and deal with the dangerous complications that commonly arise. A kidney specialist helps patients live their lives as normally as possible while battling the symptoms.

Those most at risk include people who are overweight, do little aerobic exercise, and who may also suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and related heart issues. Lifestyle choices can influence the development of renal problems, which also commonly exist in related family groups. Certain genetic pools have a greater potential for organ failure, and the elderly are always most at risk.

In some cases people develop the problem over several years without experiencing noticeable symptoms, and receive an accurate diagnosis only via blood and urine tests. Testing measures the current levels of waste filtering as well as protein levels, both of which can provide indications of developing problems. While existing damage is irreversible, it is important to discover the disease as early as possible.

If a measurable level of beneficial waste processing is still occurring internally, a doctor may prescribe diuretic medications that are capable of flushing out wastes and lowering overall blood pressure. They also commonly recommend a diet low in sodium, and strongly advise those at risk to begin an appropriate aerobic exercise regimen to help control weight and improve overall physical function. While helpful in some cases, they are not a cure for organ failure.

For patients in that category, only two workable options currently exist. The most common is dialysis, which uses a mechanical device to filter and cleanse the blood. These machines mix and control the artificial fluids used for this type of filtering. They maintain mineral and electrolyte levels, and constantly check blood flow. Some patients have home devices, but most are situated in clinics or hospitals.

The other available option is transplantation. The procedure has become the second most common type of organ replacement used today, and relies on organs taken from genetically matched relatives or from recently deceased donors. The organs are surgically connected, and the non-functioning portions are left in place unless they pose a hazard. Although successful in many cases, some bodies reject the foreign tissue, and immune responses must commonly be repressed.

Most nephrologists tailor individual treatment plans to circumstances and disease progression. Available options commonly include the services of specially trained nurses who regularly deal with kidney-related nutritional issues, related social problems that may develop, and the intricacies of ongoing treatment. Because they see dialysis patients so often, many doctors form close relationships with the people under their care.

The most effective methods of prevention include getting enough aerobic exercise, eating fewer high-calorie processed foods, and having blood tests performed yearly. People in Beverly Hills, CA live close to some of the most advanced medical facilities anywhere, but only benefit if they do not ignore annual testing. Although there is no cure for renal failure, many patients today live fully and enjoyably while undergoing treatments.




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