Treatments of Stage 3 Renal Failure

Renal failure, also known as kidney failure can be divided into 5 stages according to severity of renal parenchymal impairments and remaining kidney functions.

Treatments for stage 3 kidney failure should aim at alleviating discomforts and stopping or at least slowing down its progression into the final stage and total loss of kidney functions.

In stage 3, there is moderate reduction of GFR, but usually the illness condition is not severe enough for dialysis or kidney transplant. Systemic and scientific treatments for stage 3 renal failure consist of the following aspects.

1. Healthy diets. We know that many diseases are due to improper diets and unhealthy eating habits and this is especially important for kidney disease patients. Kidney has the functions of filtering metabolic wastes and toxins out of the blood and producing urine. What we eat and drink will have great influence on our kidney functioning and therefore we can help reduce burdens or strains to the already damaged kidneys through adhering to proper diets. Healthy renal diets should be low-salt, low-fat, low-protein, low-sugar, high-calories, high-vitamin and high-fibers. Of cause there is no fixed diets for all stage 3 patients, for specific and detailed eating, a dietitian should be consulted.

2. Healthy living. There are many risk factors and inducing factors that can worsen kidney function, patients should pay more attention in daily life to prevent potential renal damages and protect kidney functions. Avoid over-tiredness, negative emotions; have regular and moderate exercises to build up physical strength; give up smoking and drinking if you are a smoker or drinker; take medicines and drugs under the doctors’ guidance to avoid renal toxicity.

3. Timely and right amount intake of medicines. In case of severe symptoms and discomforts, some medicines should be prescribed and taken under the doctor’s permission and guidance including western medicines and some Chinese herbal medicines. Western medicines are good at relieving and eliminating symptoms and the effects are obvious and quick. Chinese medicines take relatively longer time to have effects, but the effects are mild and lasting. What is more, the combination of oral-intake medicines and external application can greatly enhance the curative effects and is quite effective for stage 3 renal failure.