Is Home Dialysis a Treatment Option For Failing Kidneys?

The kidneys are vital organs in the body responsible for cleaning the blood. However, when the kidneys fail, Cypress home dialysis is a blood cleansing option that doctors recommend. The process involves accessing the vascular system using a needle that connects to a dialysis machine that cleans the blood, eliminating any waste products or fluids then sends the blood back to the body’s circulatory system.

What causes kidney failure?

The leading causes of a failing kidney include physical injury or specific diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure that causes the kidneys to work harder. However, kidney failure is a gradual process that if a doctor detects it in its early stages, specific treatments can restore function.

What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

When a patient’s kidney does not function as it should, there is waste and fluid buildup, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, tiredness, low blood count, peripheral muscle cramps, and trouble sleeping.

What is the importance of hemodialysis?

The blood transports many substances throughout your body, including waste products. The function of the kidney is to filter out any waste or extra fluid, helping balance blood nutrients like sodium, calcium, or potassium. The cleansing of blood contributes towards a healthy cardiovascular system by controlling blood pressure. Therefore, patients with end-stage kidney failure need a dialysis procedure that stimulates kidney function.

What happens during hemodialysis?

You will insert a needle in your vein, and the blood will travel through a catheter into the dialyzer machine, which filters the blood and returns it into your circulatory system. However, the machine filters a small amount of blood at a given amount of time.

What are the benefits of home dialysis?

The main benefit of home dialysis is convenience. Compared to traditional clinical dialysis, where the patient has to visit the doctor several times a week to complete the process, home dialysis does not require movement. Patients can complete the dialysis process at the comfort of their homes without traveling to another location which is time-consuming and expensive considering the travel costs. Moreover, the doctor or medical staff at the clinic usually helps patients learn how to treat themselves using the home dialyzer, which is a great way to keep them involved in the care process.

What are the types of Home Dialysis?

There are different kinds of dialysis treatments for specific candidates. It is essential to speak to your primary care provider to understand which option is suitable for your situation. The most common types of home dialysis include:

  • Nocturnal dialysis: The treatment takes place every night as the patient sleeps. The process is usually longer and slower than other types of dialysis. Patients that undergo this type of procedure have lesser food and drink limitations and usually live longer than those that go through standard hemodialysis.
  • Short-day dialysis: The treatment usually takes about two hours and happens five to seven days a week.

Please schedule an appointment at Houston Kidney Specialists Center to learn more about home dialysis.

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