How to take care of family members undergoing dialysis

Author: Ruchira Sharma | Published on May 18, 2017

Dialysis is a medical treatment that involves filtration of your blood by purifying it using a machine. This treatment is usually performed in patients who have chronic kidney disorder which leads to dysfunctional kidney. You must be aware that one of the functions of kidney include removal of waste and harmful substance from your blood to purify it. However, if by any reason your kidneys stops functioning well, your doctor might ask you to undergo dialysis in order to avoid toxic substances to develop inside your body.

Dialysis is of two types, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis involve circulation of your blood out of your body for filtration purpose by using a artificial machine that acts as a filter membrane Purified blood is then circulated back inside your body using a catheter. Peritoneal dialysis involves similar filtration process within your body itself by using the peritoneal membrane present inside your abdomen.

In order to take good care of our family members who are undergoing dialysis, we must know what are the possible risks associated with this treatment and how to handle them.

Let us learn about what are the risks involved with dialysis and how to deal with such issues.

Tiredness due to dialysis

Individuals who undergo dialysis complain that they feel exhausted all the time. These signs of fatigue are most common in patients with long term dialysis treatment. The best solution to deal with fatigue is to keep their body hydrated. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day or consuming fruit juices or energy-rich food like fish that contains omega-3 oils, can boost up your energy level.

Sepsis due to dialysis

Those who are receiving dialysis treatment can be at risk to develop blood poisoning condition calledsepsis. Sepsis occurs when harmful bacteria enters your body via your blood and can also result into multiple organ failure. If you observe any symptoms of sepsis like high fever (100 degrees or above) or dizziness, you must immediately consult your doctor.

Itchy skin

When your body undergoes dialysis, there can be minerals built up in your body during the treatment sessions. This causes itching of skin. Informing your doctor about these issues can help you handle such issues in time. Your doctor might recommend you with some creams or moisturizer to soothe your skin.

Feeling Sick

In case of peritoneal dialysis, you might face the risk of feeling or being sick after the treatment sessions. You can also suffer from high fever. At such times, consult your physician and follow all the necessary medications and steps he/she has asked you to take.

Muscle cramps during dialysis

During hemodialysis procedure, there can be fluid loss to some extent. Muscle cramps are result of your muscles reacting to such fluid loss. You can take certain medication for such health problems by consulting your physician.

Low blood pressure

• Abdominal Pain
• Chills
• Bone and Joint Pain
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
  

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About Author: Ruchira Sharma

Ruchira Sharma is a passionate writer who mostly writes on topics related to healthcare. She is a professional writer and expert in the industry who write articles after scientific research.

Website: www.medifee.com/surgery/