Best Nephrologist in Kolkata Explains the Concept of Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is a procedure where a dialyzer machine filters salts, wastes, and fluid from the blood when your kidneys cease to perform this task adequately. Hemodialysis is a way to treat kidney failure, and it helps you lead an active lifestyle despite failing kidneys.

Hemodialysis involves:

• Following a strict treatment schedule
• Taking medications regularly
• Making changes in the diet

Hemodialysis is a serious medical responsibility, because of which you will need to work closely with the healthcare team, including an experienced nephrologist and other professionals at Medithics Clinic in Kolkata. You may also be able to perform hemodialysis at home.

Why it is done

The nephrologist will help find out when hemodialysis should be started, including your:

• Kidney function
• Overall health
• Quality of life
• Signs and symptoms
• Personal preferences

You might observe signs of kidney failure, including vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and swelling. The doctor will use your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to measure your level of kidney function.

Possible Causes of Kidney Failure

Hemodialysis can help in controling blood pressure and maintaining the proper fluid and mineral balance in your body. Usually, hemodialysis starts well before the kidneys have shut down to the point of causing life-threatening complications.

Common causes of kidney failure include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes
• Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis)
• Kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis)
• Kidney cysts (polycystic kidney disease)

What are the Risks

People who need hemodialysis usually suffer from a variety of health issues. Although hemodialysis extends the lifespan for many people, life expectancy for those who need it is still less as compared to the general population.

According to the best nephrologist in Kolkata, hemodialysis treatment can efficiently replace some of the lost functions, but you may experience one or more of the related conditions given below. Remember, not everyone will experience all these issues.

• Low blood pressure: A significant decrease in blood pressure is a common side effect of hemodialysis, particularly if you have diabetes.
• Muscle cramps: The cause is not clear, but muscle cramps commonly occur during hemodialysis.
• Itching: People who undergo this treatment may experience itchiness on skin, which gets worse during or after the procedure.
• Sleep disorders: People receiving the hemodialysis treatment may have trouble sleeping. This occurs due to breaks in breathing while sleeping or because of aching, or restless legs.
• Anaemia: Not having adequate red blood cells in the blood is a typical complication of kidney failure, as well as hemodialysis.
• Bone diseases: Damaged kidneys are not able to properly process vitamin D, which assists in absorption of calcium. As a result, your bones gradually weaken.
• High blood pressure: Excessive consumption of salt or fluid might cause your high blood pressure to get worse, leading to strokes or other heart problems.
• Fluid overload: Because fluid is removed from the body during hemodialysis, drinking more fluids than what is recommended between hemodialysis treatments may cause serious complications.

How you prepare

Its preparation starts a few weeks or months before the first procedure. For easy access to your bloodstream, the best nephrologist doctor in Kolkata would create a vascular access. This access allows him to safely remove a small amount of blood from your circulation and then return it to you for the hemodialysis process to work.