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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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- Is there a certain diet that will help me treat my kidney disease?
- What should I do for high blood pressure?
- When do I need dialysis or a kidney transplant?
- How can my edema be treated?
- I am taking drugs for my kidney infection. How long do I have to take them?
- What is Acusize?
- Does Epogen have any adverse effects?
A low protein diet (coupled with ACE inhibitor medication for hypertension) is recommended to reduce the rate of loss of kidney function. Actually, the type of protein eaten can also make a difference. The digestion of animal protein produces substances such as potassium and mineral acids, which the kidney needs to eliminate. When soy or whey proteins are used for fuel, they produce fewer acid products. This reduces the amount of work the kidney needs to do. Therefore, the amount of animal protein in your diet should be limited.
Keeping your blood pressure within the normal range is very important in kidney disease. This is most often achieved with ACE inhibitor medication. Maintaining a normal blood pressure also requires keeping your weight as close to normal for your size and age as possible.
Some women experience a rise in blood pressure during pregnancy. It is essential that blood pressure be monitored during this time, so that appropriate medication can be started at the first sign of hypertension.
When kidney function is reduced below 10-15%, either dialysis or transplant is needed to maintain an acceptable quality of life. At the same time, strict diet control of sodium, potassium, protein, and fluid intakes are absolutely essential.
Edema can be managed with appropriate diet and diuretics.
The usual time to see relief of symptoms is 5 to 10 days. It is most important that you take the drug for the full time that the prescription states, even if you become symptom free in a few days.
Acusize is a procedure performed by a urologist to remove a blockage between the kidney and the tube draining it (called the ureter). It involves placing an instrument in your bladder while you are asleep. Then, under x-ray control, the urologist cuts the narrowing or obstruction. The procedure is done as an outpatient and has an 80% success rate. An alternative is to have an incision in your side and have the obstruction repaired by the surgeon with the use of suture material. The success rate is about 95% but requires several days of hospitalization and recuperation.
Epogen is used to correct the anemia often experienced during dialysis. It may increase blood pressure, which in elderly individuals may cause some hemorrhages (bleeding) in the central nervous system.
This article is a NetWellness exclusive. 
Last Reviewed: Apr 01, 2004
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Philip W. Hall, 3rd, MD Professor of Medicine Emeritus Office of Medical Education School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University |
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