Prevent Heart Failure in Chronic Kidney Failure(CRF)

As is reported, heart failure is the leading death cause among people with chronic kidney failure. Raising awareness among the patients is a tough job, and it is essential the patients know active preventive or treatment measures they can do to reduce incidence of heart failure.

In chronic kidney failure patients, heart failure is a result of multiple risk factors. According to clinical trails, the occurrence rate of cardiovascular disease increases with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reducing. Active treatment and daily nursing care to make the important lab indexes under control will help to improve prognosis and prolong life expectancy in people with chronic kidney failure. Risk factors that are associated to increased risk of heart disease mainly include high blood pressure, anemia, retention of sodium and water, arrhythmia, malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance, infections, etc.

Over 80% people with chronic kidney failure have high blood pressure. Kidney disease elevates blood pressure from two ways, first is through secreting some hormones; second is by causing fluid retention and increasing blood volume. Hypertension, in turn, can damage blood vessels in kidneys, heart and other vital organs. For people who are on maintenance dialysis, insufficiency of dialysis in removing fluid out of the body increases heart workload.

Management of anemia also signifies. Impaired kidneys will be not as effective in producing erythropoietin, thus causing anemia. Anemia and weakness reduces blood and oxygen supplement to heart and increase possibilities in getting infections. High blood lipids and arterial sclerosis are also associated to increased chances of heart disease. Such primary diseases as Diabetes themselves can cause heart disease. Retained toxins in bloodstream can result in heart dysfunction. Long-term high blood pressure, renal anemia and retained water increase incidence chance of congestive heart failure. Between sessions of dialysis, drinking too much water make your heart work harder and aggravate heart damage. In addition, excess arteriovenous fistula shunting and lung infections also contribute to heart failure.

All in all, various risk factors in chronic kidney failure can give rise to heart failure. Management of the mentioned concerned aspects is essential, and the patients by accepting guidance from expert doctors and doing carefully will improve their quality of life and reduce onset of heart disease.