How To Help A Dialysis Patient Not Retain Water In The Body

Healthy kidneys help maintain your body’s fluid balance by collecting excess fluids in your blood and excreting them in your urine. However, when the kidneys fail, they will stop performing this vital function and fluid will build up in your kidneys and body. People in this case typically need to undergo a procedure called dialysis, to remove some of the fluid. But people also need to drink or eat less fluid.

What happens with too much fluid?

If you are on dialysis with too much fluid, your treatment will make you feel bad. Your blood pressure will drop, so you will feel dizzy or faint. You will also have muscle cramp, headache, nausea or pass out. Too much fluid in your body for a long time can harm your body. It can cause heart failure. Your feet or legs will swell up with fluid. Besides, you may feel short of breath if extra fluid goes to your lungs.

How to avoid water retention in dialysis people?

1. limit salt intake

Salt makes you thirsty. It also makes your body keep more water. Healthy kidneys can remove extra salt. When the kidneys fail, most people must limit salt and fluid.

2. snack on fruits and vegetables

The healthy foods have a higher-count of water, which helps stimulate the kidneys and promote frequent urination. Foods include grapes, watermelons, lettuce and cantaloupes.

3. diuretic medications

Water pills cause the body to urinate more than usual and help decrease edema. When taking diuretics, the body may lose important electrolytes such as potassium along with the water, so the doctor may recommend a vitamin supplement. Some foods and herbs are natural diuretics including asparagus, green tea, dandelion, beets, parsley and many others.

4. Chinese medicine treatment

Other treatments for fluid retention may include massage, acupuncture and hot compresses. These therapies can dilate blood vessels, improve blood circulation and increase blood flow as well as provide necessary nutrients for damaged kidneys. In this way, not only fluid retention can be prevented but also injured kidneys can be repaired to a large degree.

If you have any other question, please feel free to consult our online doctor or leave us a message to kidneycares@hotmail.com. We will help you a lot.