Nephrotic Syndrome Is Severely Edematous

Nephrotic syndrome patients often have mild to severe edema (swelling) and it is often the first sign of kidney problems. It is due to proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. Loss of proteins in urine and low protein in the blood can cause decreased plasma colloid osmotic pressure and fluid will flow into interstitial space from blood vessels. This is the main cause of edema in nephrotic syndrome. Besides, too much sodium in the body can cause retention of fluid and sodium.

Many patients do not pay enough attention to edema and merely think that you need to have more rest. However edema can cause serious health problems such as serous cavity fluid, pulmonary edema or even heart failure, therefore proper treatment should be received as early as possible before it becomes too severe to be reversed.

According to the causes of edematous symptom in nephrotic syndrome, the following are how to alleviate and treat it.

1. Reducing proteinuria. Steroid and immunosuppressants can help reduce protein in urine by suppressing abnormal immune inflammatory reactions in the kidneys.

2. Promoting protein production in the liver. Chinese medicine astragalus mongholicus can promote synthesis of proteins in the liver so as to increase albumin level in the blood.

3. Nutritions. Poor appetite, digestive disorders, malnutrition can cause inadequate protein intake, poor absorption or loss of protein. Therefore it is necessary to ensure nutritional supply to the patients. However if kidney functions have been affected, protein intake should be limited.

If the patient is seriously edematous, it is better to stop work and have good rest. When edema disappears and illness conditions become better, patients can have some mild activities. If edema is serious, low-salt diet should be adopted to relieve water and sodium retention. Have less animal oils and high-cholesterol foods such as egg yolk. Besides, have close monitoring of body temperature, pulse, blood pressure and report it immediately to the doctor if the patient has nausea, dizziness, back pain, numbness, reduced urine volume or other changes of illness conditions.