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How Effective Is Kidney Dialysis?

How Effective Is Kidney Dialysis?

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Note: This article is only to guide and increase your knowledge. Before taking any action, you can consult “drhealthandbeauty” doctors or your doctor for treatment.

Having chronic kidney disease means that sometimes your kidneys don’t work as well as they should. The kidneys have the important task of purifying the blood. They remove waste materials and excess fluids from the body in the form of urine. When the kidneys are not functioning properly, waste materials accumulate in the blood. The problem of kidney failure occurs when the function of the kidneys falls below a certain limit.

People with failing or damaged kidneys will have trouble removing waste products and unwanted water from the blood. Also, they may have problems in digestion and eating, so they should know “What Is A Stent For Kidney Stones?

Dialysis is an artificial method to removing waste products and unwanted water from the blood. Kidney dialysis replaces the normal work of the kidneys, so it is also known as kidney replacement therapy.

Healthy kidneys regulate the amount of water and minerals in the body and eliminate waste products. Kidneys secrete certain substances that are important in metabolism, but kidney dialysis does not have the ability to do this.

In this valuable and helpful article from Drhealthandbeauty by Dr.Sanaz, we will examine the efficiency of this treatment method and finally, we will state the methods that you should do to make this treatment as effective as possible.

Table of Contents
How Effective Is Kidney Dialysis? 0005

What is that?

In short, we must say that dialysis is a medical treatment that cleans the blood when the kidneys fail.

But in the explanation, it is better to know that dialysis is actually a type of treatment that performs some normal kidney activities. Dialysis treatment should be used when the kidneys are not able to remove waste materials and excess fluids from the body for a long time. 

In fact, this method should be used when 10-150% of kidney function remains (ESRD). Dialysis, like healthy kidneys, maintains the balance of the body and can eliminate waste materials, salt and excess water in order to prevent them from accumulating in the body and stabilize the level of some body chemicals such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate in the blood. It also helps regulate blood pressure.

The dialysis machine works in such a way that blood is taken from the person’s body and transferred to the machine. In the device, the blood is purified from toxins and excess fluids and then returned to the body. 

This process is done with the help of a special filter in the device that separates toxins and excess fluids from the blood and returns the purified blood to the body. This method helps people to reduce the level of toxins and excess fluids in their blood and improve their health.

 

Why do some people need dialysis?

Kidneys are bean-shaped organs that are the size of a fist and their main job is to clean the blood. These organs remove water and waste materials from the body in the form of urine. If the kidneys do not do their job properly, the waste materials accumulate in the body and the person suffers from fatigue.

When the kidneys stop removing waste products and excess water from the blood, a person suffers from kidney failure. Then the person needs dialysis to purify the blood, because the kidneys can’t do it.

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Types of dialysis and their effect method:

There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

  • Hemodialysis

In this method, blood is removed from the body and transferred to a dialysis machine. In this device, the blood is purified from waste and toxic substances and then returned to the body. For this method to be effective, it is usually done several times a week and each session lasts about a few hours.

In fact, hemodialysis uses an artificial membrane called a dialyzer to clean the blood. You are connected to the dialyzer through tubes connected to your veins through a catheter.

  A catheter is an access point to the vessels through which blood flows in and out of the body during dialysis sessions, and is usually placed in the arm.

The doctor places the catheter in the patient’s body weeks or months before dialysis. Dialysis is usually done under the supervision of a nurse or doctor who can immediately check for any problems.

In the hemodialysis method, a device called a hemodialysis machine is used, which separates toxic substances such as urea and ammonia from the blood with the help of a dialysis filter. This device is used as a replacement for the kidneys in case of failure or failure becomes

The use of Fresenius hemodialysis machines allows effective dialysis without the need for any additional equipment.

Note that dialysis will have its effect when it is done on the basis of a regular schedule and several times a week.

Although in some cases, hemodialysis can be done at home. But for this you need to be trained and you also need a space to keep the dialysis machine.

How Effective Is Kidney Dialysis? 0006
  • Peritoneal dialysis

In this procedure, intravenous fluid (usually dialysis solution) is injected into the person’s abdomen. Then, this liquid is absorbed into the person’s blood through the peritoneal membrane (membrane inside the abdomen) and removes waste and toxic substances from the blood. 

This procedure is usually performed at home by the person or by a caregiver and does not require a special device.

In other words, peritoneal dialysis uses the body’s own tissue (peritoneal membrane) as a filter to remove waste materials and extra fluids from the body and restore electrolytes to normal levels. 

To perform peritoneal dialysis, unlike hemodialysis, you do not need to go to a dialysis center for treatment. For maximum effectiveness of this method, peritoneal dialysis should be done every day. This type of dialysis can often be done at night while sleeping. Before starting dialysis, a catheter must be placed in the abdomen.

Peritoneal dialysis diagram

What happens if I don’t start dialysis?

Dialysis is a vital treatment for people whose kidneys are not working properly. Due to kidney disorders such as untreated kidney stones. (Explaining that some kidney disorders are very likely to be treated if they are diagnosed in the early stages. This is why you should know: “What Are The First Signs Of Kidney Stone?“). or for an unknown and sudden reason.

Although dialysis can be associated with side effects such as increased risk of infection, increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and increased risk of blood infections, without dialysis, a person may quickly reach a critical and dangerous condition.

If you don’t do dialysis, the kidneys will continue to fail and you will eventually lose your kidneys. Since dialysis is a method of removing waste products from the blood, without dialysis, toxins accumulate in the blood and cause a condition called uremia (high blood urea). 

This condition can lead to coma and even death. To control the symptoms of uremia, the patient receives the necessary medicines. According to the speed of the accumulation of toxins in the blood and the general state of the patient’s health, the person may die within a few days to a few weeks.

 

How effective can dialysis be?

Regarding the effect of dialysis on the kidney, it should be said that dialysis does the work of the kidneys to clean the blood, but it does not correct or cure kidney failure. 

Some children with acute or sudden kidney failure need dialysis for a short period of time to help the kidneys heal. But if chronic kidney disease turns into kidney failure, the child’s kidneys will not get better. These children will need dialysis for the rest of their lives, unless they receive a kidney transplant.

The effect of dialysis is that it helps patients with kidney failure, but it is not as efficient and effective as a normal kidney. Dialysis patients should be careful about the amount and amount of drinking and eating, and they should take medicines at the same time. 

Most people on kidney dialysis can work, live a normal life, and travel, as long as dialysis treatment is available on site. Women on dialysis usually have trouble getting pregnant. The excess of waste materials in the body compared to normal kidneys causes fertility disorders.

Women who become pregnant while on dialysis will likely need an increased number of dialysis sessions during pregnancy. If a woman has a successful kidney transplant, her fertility will return to normal. 

Warning: In order to have the maximum success of your kidney transplant, you must perform the Kidney Transplant Aftercare in cooperation with your doctor.

Dialysis also has a small effect on male fertility, but less than female fertility.

The life expectancy of dialysis patients depends on various factors, including medical conditions, follow-ups and adherence to instructions. The life expectancy of treated people is 5 to 10 years, but many patients have lived 20 to 30 years with dialysis.

However, life expectancy for those on dialysis has improved significantly over the past decade and is expected to continue to improve in the future.

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Foods useful for the effect of dialysis

Adhering to a proper diet so that the body can help maintain its internal balance can be very useful in improving the effect of dialysis and the general condition of the patient.

In order to get the most effect from dialysis treatment, we suggest the following dietary guidelines:

Pomegranate juice

As you know, pomegranate juice is known for purifying the blood and you can drink it every week and reduce the risk of infection to the lowest level. Not only pomegranate, but other sour drinks such as barberry juice and cherry juice are also good purifiers and will make dialysis more effective.

 

Protein

Dialysis patients lose a lot of protein during treatment. Therefore, it is better to use natural sources of protein such as red meat, but without its fat. The best way to use it for dialysis patients is in boiled form. So they should get enough protein to compensate for the lack of protein in their body.

 

fat

Fat consumption is another important point of dialysis that you should remember. It may sound strange, but more than half of people who undergo dialysis experience death. They have high fat. Fat acts like poison for people with kidney failure.

Related: “Best Morbid Obesity Guidelines For Medical Treatment

 

Fruits and vegetables

Consuming fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber is very good, but be careful that fruits that are high in potassium may be dangerous for your health.

 

liquids

Many people think that drinking fluids is helpful in kidney failure like in other diseases. If the opposite is true. Due to kidney failure, when you drink a lot of fluids, your blood volume increases and your blood pressure rises. In this way, pressure is applied to the heart and during dialysis, you suddenly experience a sharp drop in blood pressure.

It is better that the volume of your fluid intake is only 500 to 700 cc more than the volume of excretion.

 

Salt

People who do dialysis should strictly control their salt intake; Because salt increases their blood pressure. Therefore, even if they do dialysis, it will not have its effect.

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Some tips for more effective dialysis

Medicines and vitamins that are soluble in water quickly enter the bloodstream and remain in it for a short time. For example, vitamin C remains in the blood for only 3 hours. So when you want to do dialysis, it is better to avoid taking this type of medicine and vitamins during dialysis or a little before. Because they are quickly eliminated by the dialysis machine. Important points related to dialysis include the following:

  1. proper nutrition and correct consumption of each food group including proteins, carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, etc. is required;
  2. People who need dialysis have psychological problems, usually their self-confidence is lost or reduced. They are always worried about their future and the effect that dialysis may have on their lives. So they need the spiritual and emotional support of the people around them.

Frequently asked questions

Why do you need dialysis?

If your kidneys are not working properly, they may not be able to clean the blood properly. Waste materials and fluids can build up to dangerous levels in your body. If left untreated, a number of unpleasant symptoms may develop and eventually be fatal. Dialysis filters unwanted substances and fluids from the blood before this happens.

Some people have kidney problems for no reason. Kidney failure can be a long-term condition or it can develop suddenly after a severe illness or injury. This type of kidney failure may go away with recovery.


How is the patient after dialysis?

Most patients lead normal lives except for the time required for treatment. Dialysis usually makes you feel better because it helps with many problems caused by kidney failure. 

You and your family need time to get used to dialysis. You may have some discomfort when the needles are inserted into your fistula or graft, but most patients have no other problems. Dialysis treatment itself is painless, but it may cause problems for some patients.

Conclusion

Kidney failure is more common these days and many people are dealing with it. By observing the important points of dialysis, as well as visiting regularly and on time according to the schedule provided by your doctor, and following a special diet and consuming as much as each food group, you have the possibility to use this treatment for yourself and those around you. Make it more effective and easier.

 

Do not forget to consume useful foods such as pomegranate juice and get fiber. During dialysis, be careful about the substances you consume, especially water-soluble substances. Take infection seriously during this period and if you have even one of the factors of infection, don’t simply pass it by.

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Author and specialist

Dr. Majid Zahrabi,

Neurosurgeon

  • Board Certified Neurosurgeon
  • DHA certificate holder
  • Plantation certificate holder, France
  • Certified holder of Discogol, France
  • A pioneer in the non-surgical treatment of disc herniation in the Middle East and CIS countries.
  • Under the training and coaching of Professor Jacques Theron (founder of Discogel Therapy) since 2008
  • More than 400 successful cervical and 1300 lumbar discogel injections
  • Trained and certified several neurosurgeons and spine surgeons in the Middle East and CIS countries for the treatment of Discogel
  • Strong belief in patient-centered care planning and participation
  • Neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at Imam Khomeini and Amir Mazandarani Hospital, Sari, Iran, with more than 430 surgeries annually, 2000-2011
  • Neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at Farmaniyeh, Nikan and Yas Sepid Hospital, Tehran, Iran, with more than 400 surgeries annually, 2011-2012
  • Neurosurgeon at Iranian Hospital, Dubai, 2022-2023
  • Since 2015, he has been working as a reference doctor for the treatment of intervertebral disc herniation with Discogel and has trained many doctors of spine-related specialties in various countries of the Middle East and CIS in person/practically and online.

 

Education:

  • Individual training sessions under the direct supervision of Professor Jacques Theron in Discogel treatment, 2008-2020
  • Training sessions under the supervision of Professor Thierry Boye on spinal implants, 2007
  • Participation and presentation in several national and international medical and neuro-spinal conferences
  • Board certificate by Iran Neurosurgery Board, 2001
  • Neurosurgery assistant training course, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, 1996-2001 (In 2001, he graduated from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with the first rank in the country.
  • His thesis the titled:The Application of human amniotic membrane in repair of dura matter in dogs.” ( It was happening for the first time in the world. )
  • General medical education, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, 1984-1993

 

Published books:

  • CT scan of the brain for doctors
  • Etiology and treatment of painful spine disorders
  • Atlas of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of spine disorders
  • The most common mistakes in the treatment of spinal disorders
  • Reading brain CT scan in simple language (3rd place in the book of the year)
  • Treatment of head and spine injuries

 

Publications and articles:

  • Bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of DISCOGEL® (https://www.researchgate.net/)
  • Muscle recovery, reduction of pain, and improvement of movement strategies in patients with lumbar discopathy after injection of Discogel.
  • The article on the initial results of the treatment of intervertebral disc herniation with discogel injection, which won the second-best poster rank at the Pan Arab International Congress of Interventional Radiology (March 14-16, 2015) and was accepted for presentation at the Chicago Pain Congress.
  • The use of human amniotic membrane in dura mater repair in dogs, a study for the first time in the world.

 

Lectures:

  • Annual Congress of Physiotherapists of Iran, 2019
  • Chicago International Pain Congress, 2019
  • Iran International Pain Management Congress, 2018
  • Annual Congress of Physiotherapists of Iran, 2018
  • Presentation of Discogel as an innovative solution for the treatment of spinal disc herniation in Armenia for orthopedic specialists and neurosurgeons, 2017
  • First Live Workshop and Seminar on Minimally Invasive Disc Therapy (DISCON), 2017
  • Presentation of Discogel as an innovative solution for the treatment of spinal disc herniation in Azerbaijan for orthopedic specialists and neurosurgeons, 2016
  • Seminar of Iranian official managers, 2016
  • Presentation of Discogel as an innovative solution for the treatment of spinal disc herniation in Tajikistan for orthopedic specialists and neurosurgeons, 2016
  • International Neurological Intervention Congress in Iran, 2014
  • Educational seminar for nurses on treatment approaches for head and spine trauma, 2014
  • Educational seminar for general practitioners on treatment approaches for head and spine trauma, 2014
  • Speech at the Retraining Seminar for General Practitioners and Specialists in Dubai (Discon) in 2017
  • Speech in the internal retraining courses of Irani Hospital, Dubai
  • Holding lecture sessions and practical workshops on the treatment of intervertebral disc herniation with discogel injection in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Oman, and Armenia during the years 2015 to 2021.
  • Giving a lecture and holding a practical workshop for neurosurgeons in Vietnam at Ho Chi Minh City University in 2023

Dr. Majid Zohrabi started treating his patients in Dubai in 2022 and continues his activities in private medical centers in the UAE.