Dr. Santosh Gurung
Bharatpur, 26 Jul: Typically, dialysis is required when a person’s kidneys fail. It may need to be done up to two times a week. Patients with kidney failure undergo dialysis until they receive a kidney transplant. In some cases, if a suitable kidney is not available or a transplant cannot be performed, the patient may need long-term dialysis.
Technically, dialysis is a way to extend a person’s life and acts as a bridge until a kidney transplant can be done.
Dialysis helps remove waste products from the body, providing the patient with a chance to survive. However, if a transplant is done, the person can return to living a life similar to before, which is why a transplant is highly recommended if possible.
In about four hours of dialysis, the patient’s blood is purified of waste. Every drop of blood in the body is cleaned through a dialysis machine. Therefore, unless dialysis is done two to three times a week, creatinine levels in the body will continue to rise.
How long a single dialysis session remains effective depends on the patient’s condition and their diet.
For some patients, dialysis may only be temporary. It may be required in cases of severe infection, snake bites, scorpion or hornet stings, or even in cases of severe diarrhea. In such situations, 1 to 3 dialysis sessions may be enough for the kidneys to return to normal.
Since dialysis patients produce less urine, they must pay special attention to their diet — especially when it comes to water and liquid intake.
If, for any reason, water remains in the body, it becomes difficult to breathe. Since this affects the lungs and heart, patients must be very cautious about their water intake.
Another important function of the kidney is to remove nitrogen and acidity from the body. Therefore, dialysis patients need to eat foods that are balanced in sodium and potassium. Salty, spicy food and meat/fish should be consumed less. Fried foods should be avoided as much as possible, and boiled food and green vegetables should be preferred.
Dialysis patients should maintain a daily routine similar to healthy individuals — sleep 7 to 8 hours a night, wake up early, and do light exercise. They can have light tea or a small amount of water in the morning. Dialysis patients are allowed to consume about 500 to 800 milliliters of fluids per day, so all liquid intake (including water) must be calculated within that limit.
Light morning walks are encouraged. Normal meals like lentils, rice, and vegetables are acceptable. However, since lentils contain water, that should be included in the daily 800 ml fluid limit.
Not all fruits are allowed. Apples, radish, carrots, and papaya are safe to eat. Being on dialysis doesn’t mean a person cannot work, but due to physical and mental fatigue, strenuous labor may be difficult. However, regular daily activities don’t need to be stopped.
The kidney’s main function is to filter blood and excrete waste through urine. When kidneys start to fail, this function declines, and urine production decreases.
If, for any reason, the urine doesn’t flow properly or is not excreted efficiently, but the person continues to drink water regularly, that water will remain in the body. This can lead to complications in the lungs and heart. That’s why kidney patients need to carefully control their water and fluid intake.
Because kidney patients have weaker immunity, they should avoid crowds, wear masks, and take their medications on time. By following such precautions, kidney-related problems can be managed more effectively.
