Should Patients with Kidney Failure Wash Their Blood Lifetime?

Kidney disease is a health problem in Indonesia, where the prevalence and incidence of kidney failure increases every year. The results of the 2013 Riskedas showed that many experienced chronic kidney failure at the age of 35-44 years with more prevalence in men.

Kidney failure is a disease when kidney organ function has decreased so that it is unable to work. The main kidney function is a regulating organ that helps maintain fluid and electrolyte stability, and filters out toxins that the body does not need. In addition, the kidney organs also help regulate the hormone renin which plays a role in regulating blood pressure and erythropoetin (EPO) which helps stimulate the production of red blood cells in the spinal cord.

Broadly speaking, kidney failure is divided into two, namely acute kidney failure and chronic kidney failure. Acute kidney injury is a rapid decrease in kidney function seen from the glomerular filtration rate and generally returns to normal. As for chronic kidney failure or chronic kidney disease is a condition of decreased kidney function occurs gradually or slowly.

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Recognize the causes of kidney failure

The cause of a person experiencing acute kidney failure is usually due to severe dehydration, severe infection or sepsis, autoimmune diseases, urinary tract infections, urinary tract obstruction (can be caused by stones or narrowing of the ducts), free use of drugs without medical supervision, or disease heart (such as chronic heart failure, heart attack).

Meanwhile, chronic kidney failure usually results from complications from other diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and uncontrolled hypertension. In addition, if a person experiences acute kidney failure and is not treated properly, it can continue to become chronic kidney failure.

Signs and symptoms of kidney failure alone are generally characterized by BAK disorders, such as reduced or no amount of urine, swelling in both legs and tightness.

In the later stages, kidney failure can cause symptoms of nausea, vomiting, seizures, anemia, and decreased consciousness. Not all people who experience kidney failure experience these signs and symptoms at an early stage, symptoms may not appear at all, but are detected from the results of laboratory tests performed.

Is blood washing required?

Not all people need kidney failure to have dialysis or hemodialysis. Many people think that when they experience kidney failure, dialysis must be done. In fact, it must be known in advance the type of kidney failure experienced.

Patients with acute kidney failure usually do not need dialysis therapy. However, in severe and life-threatening conditions dialysis can be considered. Meanwhile, in the condition of chronic kidney failure can be seen the degree of severity. The use of drugs, for example to control blood pressure, reduce swelling, and diabetes medications, also must be consumed regularly.

If kidney function decreases, dialysis or kidney transplantation should be done. The act of dialysis or hemodialysis is one way to help the kidney organs still be able to work with help. Although hemodialysis devices cannot completely replace kidney function, this action can help the kidneys remove waste substances that are toxic to the body.

Usually someone who experiences chronic renal failure will require 1-3 times hemodialysis every week, depending on the patient's condition and kidney function. This action lasts a lifetime. If you do not do hemodialysis, symptoms can arise such as shortness of breath, anxiety, to a decrease in consciousness.

However, if you do not want to do hemodialysis regularly, you can consider doing a kidney transplant. Kidney transplantation is the transfer of the donor's kidney to the patient's body. After undergoing this action, of course you must be controlled with drugs consumed for life.

So, not all kidney failure patients have to undergo dialysis for life. Please note the type of kidney failure, whether acute or chronic. Only advanced stage kidney failure requires a person to undergo dialysis for life. However, if you don't want to undergo dialysis for life, kidney transplantation can be a consideration.

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