Cope with The Top Five Side Effects of Dialysis

2015-09-11 07:10

Dialysis is a necessary treatment to replace kidney to filter blood when kidney function is almost lost completely. Nevertheless, people can experience side effects of dialysis in the long term. This is also one of leading reasons why most patients are reluctant to do dialysis. This time we introduce top five side effects of dialysis and how to cope with them well.

Low blood pressure

This is the most common side effect patients on dialysis have, and 15%-30% patients on dialysis can have low blood pressure. Because blood flow volume in extracorporeal circulation increases too much in the process of dialysis, vasoconstriction can not keep up with it, leading to lack of blood in effective circulation. Patients with dialysis are suggested to have limited fluids intake in daily life. Excessive fluids can contribute to blood flow volume. In addition, a low salt diet is very necessary because much salt makes fluids retained in blood.

Nausea and vomiting

These can happen before dialysis for kidney disease patients, which are symptoms of kidney disease. And dialysis can also cause nausea and vomiting with low blood pressure and weakness. You can take medicines to avoid nausea and communicate with doctors to see if dialysis equipment can be adjusted.

Skin problems, like itching and dry

Due to high phosphorus level in blood, most of patients on dialysis may have itching skin or dry skin. Hence, low phosphorus diet is a necessity for dialysis patients in daily life. Some amount of phosphate binders can help lower phosphorus level. Besides, you need to avoid soap which can dry skin much, and avoid lotions with fragrances which stimulate skins.

Restless leg syndrome

Patients on dialysis may have restless leg syndrome which means legs are moving all the time with feelings of pain. This is because nerves and muscles are affected seriously by kidney disease. Talk with your doctors to take medicines helping improve nerve system.

Muscle cramping

This is also very ordinary for dialysis patients. Many factors of dialysis can lead to muscle cramping, like low blood pressure, cold dialyzate, poor immunity and weakness. You can consult doctors if they can adjust dialyzate temperature and take some medicines to control muscle cramps.

If you are a dialysis patient, the above five side effects are very likely to happen on you. It is important to understand how these are caused and try to alleviate during dialysis. More information or any doubt, welcome to contact our online doctor or leave a message anytime.

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