Kidney Disease Treatments

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• QDo I need to take vitamin and mineral supplements if I have kidney disease?

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  A National Kidney Foundation answered

  If you have kidney disease, it may be important for you to take certain amounts of some vitamins and minerals in the form of supplements. Almost all vitamins and minerals come from the foods you eat. Your body does not make these substances. People with healthy kidneys who eat a variety of foods from all the food groups (meats, grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products) can get lots of vitamins and minerals.
  
  But with kidney disease, you may be on a diet that limits some food groups. Therefore, you may not be getting all the vitamins and minerals you need each day. Ask your doctor if you need to take vitamin and mineral supplements.
• QWhy is a low-protein diet necessary for some patients with kidney disease?

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  A National Kidney Foundation answered

  Protein is needed for growth, upkeep and repair of all parts of your body. Protein comes from the food you eat. When your body digests it, a waste product called urea is produced. If the kidneys are not working well, urea can build up in the bloodstream and may cause loss of appetite and fatigue. In late stage kidney disease, it's important to limit dietary protein to reduce the workload of the kidneys. There are two main sources of protein, and you will need some of each type of protein each day:

  • Animal products (fish, poultry, eggs, meat and dairy products) are considered high-quality protein. You may need to limit dairy products because they are high in phosphorus; which can cause your blood phosphorus level to be too high.
  • Vegetable products (breads, cereals, rice, pasta and dried beans) are considered low-quality protein.
• QWhat follow-up is necessary after angioplasty for renal artery disease?

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  A SCAI answered

  In renal artery disease, or renal artery stenosis (RAS), blockages are present in the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys. One treatment option for RAS is angioplasty and stenting. Angioplasty is a less invasive procedure performed to clear blocked arteries. In certain circumstances, a tiny metal, mesh tube called a stent is inserted to keep the artery from collapsing and to allow blood to flow through.

  After an angioplasty procedure to treat RAS, follow your doctor’s instructions about the activity level appropriate for you. Once you leave the hospital, your post-procedure care will be two-fold:

  • You will need to take care of yourself by taking medication exactly as prescribed, as well as making lifestyle changes such as exercising, improving your diet, and quitting smoking if you smoke.

  • You should also have at least one follow-up appointment with your treating interventional cardiologist or another qualified specialist if you are not able to return to your treating physician. At this appointment, your interventional cardiologist will examine the catheter insertion site to be sure it is healing properly and talk with you about strategies for taking care of yourself.
• QHow can I control my homocysteine level if I have kidney problems?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  If your kidneys are not working properly, you should not only take folic acid supplements but also eat a low-protein diet. This will help you control homocysteine levels, which normally increase with a high-protein diet.
  
  In addition, make sure you get adequate B12 (in supplements, 25 micrograms) and B6 (4 milligrams) every day. Both of these vitamins lower homocysteine levels, so you want to take these with folate. Consult your physician if your homocysteine level is high.
• QWhen should I call my doctor if I have chronic kidney disease?

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  A RealAge answered

  If you have chronic kidney disease you should call your doctor if your symptoms worsen, you develop new symptoms or experience complications from your disease.
  
  You should also call your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of chronic kidney disease but have not yet been diagnosed, or the underlying cause of your chronic kidney disease has not yet been determined. Chronic kidney disease means that your kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood normally, which can cause waste to build up in your body. Early diagnosis can help prevent chronic kidney disease from progressing to kidney failure. Symptoms of chronic kidney disease may include:

  • fatigue
  • difficulty concentrating
  • poor appetite
  • trouble sleeping
  • muscle cramping at night
  • swollen feet and ankles
  • puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning
  • dry, itchy skin
  • frequent urination, especially at night

  You should also talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes -- such as quitting smoking or lowering the salt in your diet -- that can help you manage your chronic kidney disease. You may need to talk to your doctor about referrals to other experts -- such as a dietician, a nephrologist, or heart disease expert -- who might be able to help you manage your kidney disease. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to a kidney disease support group in your area.
• QWhat are the treatment and prevention measures for kidney disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  The treatment options for kidney disease will depend on the severity and the type of the kidney disease you have. Doctors will start by treating any disease or other medical condition that is causing your kidney failure.

  If the disease is acute, meaning it developed suddenly, often as a result of injury, you will usually be hospitalized and treated for whatever caused your kidney failure and kept healthy while your kidneys recover using medications, dialysis (process that cleans your blood), and fluids given through an IV. Sometimes kidneys will recover from the disease, but if the damage is serious it can be permanent and will require dialysis or kidney transplant to keep you alive.

  Chronic kidney disease happens slowly over a time span of years. It isn't usually curable, but treatment can slow down the damage to your kidney function and treat the complications of your low kidney function. Medications to control diabetes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, bring down swelling, and treat anemia and its symptoms of fatigue and weakness may be prescribed to treat chronic kidney disease. Sometimes doctors recommend supplements to keep your bones strong. If chronic kidney disease progresses so that the kidneys fail, you will have to receive dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. Discuss your treatment options with your doctor if you have a kidney disease.

• QHow is renal (kidney) artery disease treated?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Patients whose symptoms are mild to moderate can often manage their disease by making lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, getting regular exercise, and working with their doctors to take care of related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Doctors often use minimally invasive procedures such as balloon angioplasty and stenting to relieve the narrowing and improve blood supply to the kidney and intestines.

  Balloon angioplasty: During angioplasty, a special catheter that has a small balloon at the end, is inserted through an artery in the groin and guided to the narrowed segment of the artery. When the catheter reaches the blockage, the balloon is inflated to widen the narrowed artery.

  Stenting: A stent is a small tube that holds open the artery at the site of the blockage.

  Traditional Surgery

  If renal or mesenteric artery disease is very advanced, or if blockages develop in an artery that is difficult to reach with a catheter, arterial bypass surgery may be necessary to restore blood flow.

  Arterial Bypass Surgery: A bypass graft is made of synthetic material or a natural vein taken from another part of the body. One end of a bypass graft is attached to a point above the blockage and the other end to a point below it. The blood supply is then diverted through the graft, around the blockage, to bypass the diseased section of the artery.

  Dialysis: During dialysis, a patient's blood is passed through an external filter (a hemodialyzer) that performs some of the functions of the kidney: removing wastes, excess fluids, and salts from the blood and correcting levels of specific chemicals.

• QHow do I manage my kidney disease on a daily basis?

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  A Nilima Desai , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered

  There are 5 stages of kidney disease. Managing kidney disease can be very challenging, therefore you should be seen by your doctor on a regular basis. Nutrition also plays a big role in managing this disease. If you are on dialysis (stage 5) there is an "in-house" dietitian present at your dialysis facility that can help tailor your diet. In the earlier stages of kidney disease you may have to watch your protein, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, fluid intake depending on your lab results. You may additionally be prescribed active Vitamin D to help control your parathyroid hormone levels if they are not within the normal levels.

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• QIs there a cure for kidney disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Since there are so many kinds of kidney disease, whether or not kidney disease can be cured will depend on what kind of disease kidney disease someone has. If another medical condition or trauma has caused an acute and sudden loss of kidney function, the kidney may bounce back to normal function, but it could be permanently damaged.

  If kidney disease is a chronic, slowly progressing disease, it generally does not have a cure. Treatment however, can be helpful in preserving kidney function and helping you maintain your quality of life. A well-matched donor kidney can significantly improve your prognosis and lengthen your life. You should talk to your doctor about your specific condition.

• QHow do medications treat kidney disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Medications treat kidney disease by treating the causes of it and helping to manage the consequences of the disease. For instance, if your diabetes or blood pressure led to the disease, controlling those conditions properly with the help of medications will help decrease the damage to your kidneys. Medications can also help lower cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease, decrease swelling, and treat anemia and the fatigue and weakness that result from it. Kidney disease weakens bones, so take calcium and vitamin D supplements.