Is Fatigue Normal After Dialysis

Many patients after dialysis feel fatigue. Is it normal after dialysis? Fatigue is a debilitating symptom or side effect experienced by many patients on long-term dialysis. Fatigue has a considerable effect on patients’ health-related quality of life and is viewed as being more important than survival by some patients. Fatigue is normal after dialysis. And the following we will tell you the contributors to fatigue in dialysis.

What are the contributors to fatigue in dialysis?

1. Anemia

Anemia in dialysis patients has been shown to contribute to fatigue in dialysis patients. Renal insufficiency fail to produce enough hemoglobin which is responsible for secreting red blood cells. The red blood cells can provide oxygen and blood for your body. When insufficient red blood cells occur, the oxygen and blood will also become deficient. In this way, anemia occurs and has been cited as an important contributor to fatigue in both the dialysis population and other chronic conditions.

2. Uremia

Uremia may lead to protein and energy malnutrition, nausea, and loss of appetite, which can all contribute to fatigue.

3. Depression and fatigue

Fatigue and depression are closely interrelated and depression may manifest as feelings of tiredness and lack of energy. Dialysis has also been shown to correlate strongly with overall symptom burden and severity including fatigue in dialysis patients. Once people are diagnosed with kidney failure and they begin dialysis, they usually feel depression and are in a low mood. In this condition, depression and fatigue are closely related with each other.

4. Physical inactivity and fatigue

Physical inactivity is associated with higher levels of fatigue in end stage renal disease patients. People with kidney disease usually do not take physical exercise, because they think exercise will worsen their medical conditions. It is partly true. In fact, proper exercise is good for their condition. Besides, obesity may also mediate alterations in levels of certain cytokines leading to fatigue. However, the effect of physical activity on the immune system may be different in hemodialysis patients than in healthy adults. There is also evidence that muscle catabolism is increased in dialysis patients, which may due to insulin resistance, acidosis or inflammation. This may lead to muscular fatigue and further physical inactivity. Dialysis patients have severe exercise limitation which has been attributed to muscle atrophy and weakness as well as muscle fatigue.

5. Post-dialysis fatigue

Post-dialysis fatigue is a common and may be improved with more frequent treatment. And the root way to treat fatigue is to reduce the frequence of dialysis and improve kidney functions. As long as kidney function is improved, the frequence of dialysis may be reduced and fatigue will be treated fundamentally.