What Dose 20% Kidney Function Mean

Improving Kidney function may be always the focus for those who have kidney failure. What this does mean? How to deal with it?

Patients whose kidney function has dropped to a mere 20 percent are likely to be facing renal failure soon. At this stage of renal disease, it becomes a life and death matter for patients to take good care of themselves. Often that means disregarding the well-meaning but inappropriate advice from family and friends who just don't know much about kidney disease. Patients should instead follow the advice of their nephrologist.

Potassium

Many patients who only have 20 percent function have problems with excess potassium because their kidneys no longer remove excess potassium from the blood. The Merck Manual explains that excess potassium can be life-threatening because potassium is involved in nervous conduction. If levels are too high, heart arrhythmias can occur.

Nephrologists routinely monitor potassium. Potassium levels are controlled through dietary restriction. Many otherwise healthy foods, such as bananas, oranges and milk have high levels of potassium. Patients should use a potassium counter such as the one issued by the USDA and plan their meals accordingly.

Transplant

Patients with 20 percent kidney function may want to start thinking about prospective kidney donors. They should not rely on a single donor, because that donor may not be a good match or may be excluded from donating because of hypertension or other health issues. Patients should ask their nephrologist when potential donors should begin the screening process, because it can take several months, and should also ask if paired donations are feasible. A paired donation allows a donor to donate to someone else in exchange for a kidney for a patient. As of 2010, these are uncommon, but several facilities, such as Johns Hopkins, help make arrangements for paired donations.

Dialysis

Even if a patient has a donor lined up, it is appropriate to start researching what modality of dialysis would work best with his lifestyle. The two types of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Patients who choose HD go to a dialysis facility three times a week, where their blood is cleaned. Patients who choose PD dialyze themselves using a catheter in their belly. Both types of dialysis have advantages and risks.

Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy can help patients to keep away from dialysis and kidney transplant as soon as possible, this natural therapy works to promote blood circulation, expend blood vessels, supply sufficient blood and oxygen to the kidneys, thus providing a health environment to help the damage cells to get repaired. This helps to improve kidney function fundamentally.


If you want to know more details about the natural treatment, you are welcomed to send email to kidneyhospitalabroad@hotmail.com.