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The post Nephrology Nurses Week appeared first on DRG.

When your kidneys are damaged, they can no longer filter your blood, and excess wastes can build up causes catastrophic effects. That’s why it’s important to understand what can cause kidney disease. The top two causes are diabetes and high blood pressure. Both are directly affected by diet and weight.

Being overweight or obese can cause a variety of health problems, which can have a snowball effect. Here are just a few of the health problems that are linked to being overweight or obese:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Certain cancers
• Kidney disease

How to tell if you’re overweight

There are two main ways to tell if you are overweight or obese. One is your body mass index (BMI) score and the other is your waist size.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of your body fat based on your weight and height. You can use this calculator to find your BMI: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

• normal weight: BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
• overweight: BMI of 25 to 29.9
• obesity: BMI of 30 or higher

Waist size plays an important part as well. For women, it’s recommended to keep waist size under 35 inches. For men, ideal waist size is under 40 inches. Having excess fat around the waist, in particular, can increase health risks.

How to prevent weight gain or lose weight

Eating a healthy, balanced diet can do a lot for your health. One good rule of thumb is to use moderation in everything you consume. Unless you have kidney disease, there are two things that you can’t have too much of: water and above-ground vegetables. Everything else you eat, including fruits, meats, and dairy products should be in moderation.

If you have kidney disease, then you need to follow a very specific diet. Stop here and visit this link to read exactly what to eat and what to avoid. 

Fruits aren’t necessarily bad for you, but they can be high in sugar, so use moderation. The same goes for root vegetables such as potatoes.

Meats can be high in fat, so be sure to buy lean meats like chicken breast, turkey, or fish. Beans and avocado are a great source of protein and can sometimes be substituted for meat.

Dairy products can be high in fat, but Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are a great option. Just make sure you read the label and avoid buying yogurt that’s high in sugar. Eggs are a great source of protein.

Processed foods and snacks, like pasta, bread, chips, and cookies, can be high in sugar, carbohydrates, sodium, and fat. It’s best to avoid those items. Alcoholic beverages and sodas should be consumed sparingly, if at all.

In addition to eating healthy, it’s important to stay active and exercise. Whether your goal is to prevent weight gain or lose weight, diet and exercise are absolute musts!

To learn more, visit some selected resources below.

https://www.health.harvard.edu

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/health-risks-overweight#addLinks

https://www.choosemyplate.gov/dietary-guidelines

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones/eating-diet-nutrition

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/just-enough-food-portions

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/

https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/nutritionwyska

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There are two types of dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that uses a machine to filter your blood outside your body. At the start of a hemodialysis treatment, a dialysis nurse places two needles into your arm. A pump on the hemodialysis machine draws your blood through one of the needles into a tube, a few ounces at a time. Your blood travels through the tube to the filter, called a dialyzer. Inside the dialyzer, your blood flows through thin fibers that filter out wastes, extra salt, and extra fluid. After the dialyzer filters your blood, a different tube carries your blood back to your body through the second needle. This is usually done 3 days per week for 4-5 hours at a time.

Many of our patients choose to have dialysis at home, which can be much more convenient and allow you more freedom. We recommend Liberty Home Dialysis an at-home dialysis company that will provide a nurse who will come to you and deliver treatment in the privacy and comfort of your own home, at a time that works for you. We recognize that it’s not convenient for everyone to come to a dialysis facility three times per week. Liberty Home Dialysis works to remove all barriers to receiving dialysis by bringing the treatment to you. Some of our patients choose to dialyze early in the morning before they start their day and head to work. Some opt to dialyze in the evening, while they spend time with family or watch TV.

We have several dialysis clinic locations around the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Each and every facility we partner with is state-of-the-art and staffed with caring, licensed renal nurses. You can work with a clinic that is most convenient for you to set up a schedule. Unlike at-home dialysis, you may be limited to the clinic’s operating hours.

Peritoneal dialysis is an alternative to hemodialysis that utilizes the membrane that lines the peritoneal cavity within your abdomen. With this method, you will have a catheter placed in your abdominal cavity which is used to fill your abdomen with dialysis solution. Once the dialysis solution fills your abdominal cavity, the membrane lining, called the peritoneum, allows wastes and excess fluid to pass from your blood into the dialysis solution. The wastes and excess fluid then leaves your body when the dialysis solution is drained.

There are two methods of peritoneal dialysis. One can be done manually, in a method called Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). The other uses a machine while you sleep, called Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD). Both methods are done 7 days per week, and are performed by the patient following a several week training program. This peritoneal dialysis has comparable risks and benefits. Your kidney doctor will review the treatment options with you to determine the best solution.

The post Selecting the Right Dialysis Method & Schedule appeared first on DRG.

1. Why am I being referred to a nephrologist?
2. What are the signs that my kidneys may be in trouble?
3. What is creatinine and how is that important?
4. Do I need a biopsy?
5. What is a biopsy and what are the risks?
6. What stage of kidney failure am I at?
7. How did I get this disease? What causes kidney failure?
8. Can I reverse this?
9. What are my options?
10. What is dialysis?
11. Is a transplant an option for me?

We understand that doctor’s visits can be overwhelming with information. If you have a loved one or caregiver who can attend with you, they can help take notes and make sure that you get all your questions answered.

Dallas Renal Group physicians spend time with you to answer all your questions, listen to your concerns, and work with you to determine the best plan of action.

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