How To Deal With Water Retention In Renal Failure

Nearly all renal failure patients will suffer from water and sodium retention especially when more than 50% kidney functions are damaged.

Knowing what are the causes of water retention for renal failure patients can help patients have early prevention as well as effective and targeted treatment. There are mainly two causes of water retention for renal failure patients.

One cause is renal dysfunction. When renal functions are damaged and when GFR drops, the kidneys can not remove excess water from the body and if the the re-absorption function of the renal tubules is normal, there will be retention of fluid and sodium in the body. Excessive accumulation of water in the body can cause fluid retention in the internal organs and in serious conditions it can even cause pulmonary edema or even congestive heart failure.

The other cause of water retention is decreased plasma colloid osmotic pressure. Due to decline of GFR and impaired renal filtration system, there is often abnormal protein leakage in urine which can cause low blood albumin and decreased plasma colloid osmotic pressure, resulting in water retention and swelling.

For renal failure patients that have the problem of water retention, daily fluid intake should be controlled or swelling will be worsened and in serious conditions it can be life-threatening.

Diuretics can help remove excess water from the body so as to help relieve edema. Besides conventionally prescribed diuretics drugs, many herbal medicines have natural diuretic properties and at the same time causes no potential renal damages even if they are taken in the long run such as parsley, celery, dandelion root, corn silk, etc.

If water retention is too serious to be controlled by diuretics, renal replacement therapies, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis will be needed. Dialysis is effective at removing water retention. Patients should avoid taking two much water during dialysis sessions or it will increase difficulty to the next dialysis.

Early and effective treatment of proteinuria is necessary if patients have persistent foamy urine. This can help relieve hypoalbuminemia and increase plasma colloid pressure so as to ease swelling.

Besides, adopting a low-salt diet can also help ease water and sodium retention. What is more, a salt-restricted diet helps control high blood pressure and protect residual kidney functions.