Both urologists and nephrologists are medical specialists focusing on treating the organs of the renal system, including the kidney. Naturally, this overlap in their practices is a common source of confusion for those seeking treatment for kidney stones. In this article, we’ll cover some of the main differences and similarities between nephrologists and urologists to help you determine which to see for treating a kidney stone. Let’s get right to it! The Similarities and Differences Between a Urologist and a NephrologistTo understand which type of specialist—a urologist or nephrologist—will best be able to treat your kidney stone, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. Both nephrologists and urologists primarily focus on the health of the overall renal system, which accounts for the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. However, the main distinction between the two specialties lies in their primary focus and treatment abilities. Essentially, urologists are primarily focused on the urinary tract, which can involve kidney health. Therefore, urologists have some focus on the kidneys. Conversely, nephrologists are primarily focused on the kidneys, which can impact the urinary tract. Therefore, nephrologists also have some focus on the urinary tract. However, urologists also focus on treating the organs of the male reproductive system, the adrenal glands, and the prostate glands. Additionally, urology is a surgical specialty, so urologists can surgically treat conditions relating to the urinary tract (including the kidneys) or reproductive system. Should You See a Nephrologist or a Urologist for Kidney Stones?Whether you should see a nephrologist or urologist for your kidney stones may depend on where the kidney stone is located, as well as the size of the kidney stone. If your kidney stone is identified early and is small, a nephrologist may be able to treat it by encouraging a kidney-friendly diet and adequate fluid intake. A nephrologist may also treat a kidney stone by prescribing medications or therapies such as shock wave lithotripsy to break the kidney stone into smaller pieces. However, if a kidney stone is larger or leads to complications, such as getting stuck in the urinary tract, it could potentially need treatment from a urologist. They may perform a surgical operation to locate and remove the stone. Other Urologist vs. Nephrologist FAQsNephrologists and urologists are indeed similar in a number of ways, but by now you have an understanding of the main differences between the two. However, you may still have a few other questions. Here, we’ll answer some common questions about urologists and nephrologists. Do Urologists Treat Kidneys?Yes, urologists treat the kidneys, but these treatments are often surgeries or other medical procedures. However, nephrologists are the experts when it comes to kidney care, and they will typically perform most of your kidney care, such as renal ultrasounds, prescribing kidney-friendly diets, assessing kidney disease, and much more. Do Nephrologists Do Surgery?One of the main distinctions between nephrologists and urologists is that urologists are surgeons, and nephrologists rarely are. Nephrologists are experts on kidneys, so they’ll be able to identify the right specialists, such as a urologist, transplant surgeon, or general surgeon to perform operations, but will not actually perform the operations themselves. Milwaukee Nephrologist is Here to Support Your Kidney HealthUltimately, many of your kidney-related health concerns will initially be addressed by your primary care physician. They will likely be able to determine which specialist you need for your kidney stone; a nephrologist or urologist. Keep in mind that you may not simply need one or the other; oftentimes, nephrologists and urologists work in tandem, with the nephrologist diagnosing and providing guidance for treatment while a urologist executes surgical operations and other treatments. If you’ve spoken with your physician and are looking for a nephrologist in the Milwaukee area, Milwaukee Nephrologists is here for you. With decades of experience providing all aspects of kidney care, from kidney stone treatment to peritoneal dialysis, we’re here to help you along your health journey. To learn more or schedule a consultation with a member of our experienced staff, contact Milwaukee Nephrologists today. This post is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. You should not base any action or inaction on the information conveyed in this post. Consult with your physician for more information.
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Everything You Need to Know About Renal UltrasoundsA renal ultrasound is an ultrasound of the kidney. It can provide insight into your kidney health and clarify what the best treatment options are for your health journey. In this blog, we’ll explore renal ultrasounds in depth and answer frequently asked questions about the procedure. What is a Renal Ultrasound?While one of the most common uses of ultrasound is to observe fetal growth in pregnant women, they can also be used to identify problems with specific organs. A renal ultrasound, or kidney ultrasound, is a commonly used method to observe kidney function. Renal ultrasounds are non-invasive, painless, easy, and unlike an X-Ray, an ultrasound uses no radiation, making it a completely safe procedure. What Does a Renal Ultrasound Show?A kidney ultrasound can show several useful things. If you’ve been having any health issues relating to your kidneys, an ultrasound might be ordered to reveal the following:
How is a Renal Ultrasound Done?An ultrasound is a medical diagnostic technique that uses sound waves to take live images of organs and tissue inside your body. You can think of an ultrasound as an X-ray for your body’s soft tissues. The ultrasound machine sends sound waves toward your kidneys; those sound waves are then recorded and translated into a visual feed, which is then displayed on a computer for analysis. What Happens During the Renal Ultrasound Procedure?The renal ultrasound procedure is very simple and safe. Before it begins, you may be asked to undress and change into a medical gown, as this will reduce the chance that any clothing or objects you have with you interfere with the ultrasound machine. Next, you’ll lie on your stomach and your provider will apply a gel to your skin on the area around your kidneys. The sound waves that an ultrasound machine produces struggle to move directly through the air, so the gel acts as a conductor of the sound waves. The gel can sometimes leave your skin feeling oily, sticky, or dry, although these side effects are generally harmless. Then, the provider will run the ultrasound transducer, which looks vaguely like a remote control, across your body. The transducer produces the soundwaves that then bounce off tissues—including your kidneys. Finally, the reflection of soundwaves off your kidneys will be translated into a visual feed and displayed on a computer. Renal Ultrasound Prep TipsThere’s typically very little you need to do to prep for a renal ultrasound. Furthermore, unlike other medical procedures that limit your food or drink intake ahead of time, most renal ultrasounds don’t require you to alter your diet or stop taking medication. The main renal ultrasound prep tip is to ensure you drink enough water—typically around a quart—before the procedure. This helps ensure that you receive quality images of your kidneys and can also help assess your bladder’s volume. Your nephrologist, physician, or ultrasound provider may have ultrasound prep tips specific to your health, so be sure to consult with them prior to your appointment. Renal Ultrasound FAQsA renal ultrasound is an incredible procedure. To address as much as we can about kidney ultrasounds, we’ve answered a few additional common questions here. What’s the Difference Between a Renal Ultrasound and a Renal Sonogram?As far as the average patient is concerned, there’s no difference between a renal ultrasound and a renal sonogram. Technically speaking, a kidney ultrasound refers to the entire ultrasound procedure—that is, using high-frequency soundwaves to create images of soft tissues. A sonogram, however, only refers to the images produced by the ultrasound process. So, you have an ultrasound done, and you look at the sonogram. How Long Does a Renal Ultrasound Take?A renal ultrasound typically takes about half an hour but can be shorter or longer depending on the patient. However, ultrasounds are rarely lengthy procedures. What Other Procedures Can Observe the Kidneys?An ultrasound isn’t the only method of observing the kidneys. Other effective methods include:
Turn to Milwaukee Nephrologists for Specialized Kidney CareIf you have questions about your kidney health and think an ultrasound could provide answers, turn to Milwaukee Nephrologists, the Milwaukee area’s kidney specialists.
Milwaukee Nephrologists is a network of experts and doctors that are board-certified in nephrology and have chosen a focus that provides a wide array of sub-specialization. If you or a loved one are in southeast Wisconsin and suffer from kidney disease, we're here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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The Difference Between Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
Did you know that chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the United States? Kidney disease poses various health concerns and complications and, if left untreated, it can even be fatal. The most effective way to treat kidney failure is through dialysis.
There are two different types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you should know about hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Click a section to jump directly to it!
To better understand the differences between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, it's important to thoroughly understand what the kidneys do and why they are significant. Your kidneys are crucial to filtering waste and harmful substances out of the bloodstream. They absorb essential vitamins and nutrients, expelling everything else out of the body in the form of urine. The kidneys also regulate your body's hydration levels and assist in hormone production.
If your kidneys fail, they allow harmful elements into the bloodstream, leading to complications with the central nervous system, diabetes, heart problems, and more. You may also experience some common symptoms of kidney failure, such as nausea, vomiting, decreased urine output, fatigue, swelling from fluid retention, and more. If your kidneys no longer remove enough waste and fluid from your blood to keep you healthy, your doctor may recommend dialysis treatments. Dialysis is the most effective way to treat kidney disease. It's a process that allows artificial regulation of hydration, hormone production, and waste filtration. Essentially, the process conducts the kidneys' duties. Treatment is administered on average for about four hours, three times per week. Frequency depends on the severity of the disease and the patient, and patients undergoing home hemodialysis treatments may opt for longer treatments on fewer days a week. ​
Hemodialysis is a process that cleans the blood via a machine called a dialyzer which works as an artificial kidney. Before starting treatments, your doctor will create an exit and entry point for the blood, which is usually done by arm surgery. The blood is drawn from the access point and through IV tubes that send it into the dialyzer, which filters out the waste and retains essential nutrients. It then begins pumping the newly cleaned blood back into the body.
This process is done either in a hospital, dialysis center, or, depending on the severity of the disease and the patient's personal situation, at home. If the kidney disease is caught early enough, hemodialysis may not be needed in the long term. As long as the patient maintains a strict and healthy hemodialysis diet, as instructed by the doctor, the kidneys may heal over time and the patient will see restored functionality. However, if the disease has progressed to severe levels, hemodialysis will be administered for the rest of the patient's life or until they receive a kidney transplant.
Peritoneal dialysis shares the same basic treatment principles as hemodialysis but is performed differently. Instead of using a dialyzer to clean the blood, peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen as a filter. Treatments are done with a special cleansing fluid called dialysate that flows into your abdomen using a catheter. The catheter is usually inserted near the belly button and will require about a month to heal before starting treatments. Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis will require some education as they perform the treatments independently from their homes.
There are two types of peritoneal dialysis; Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) and Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD). With CAPD, the dialysate is administered via the catheter into the abdomen, left for several hours to clean the blood, and then later drained. The administration and draining process takes around 30 minutes and is done between 3-5 times daily. During this time, the patient can continue their day as usual. APD is similar to CAPD, except treatments are done with a machine while the patient sleeps. The machine connects to the patient’s catheter, fills it with dialysate, lets the cleansing fluid sit for a while, and drains it into a sterile bag which can be emptied in the morning. APD treatments usually take 10 to 12 hours and don’t require patients to be connected to the machine at any other point during the day. While receiving peritoneal dialysis, your doctor will likely recommend different tests to measure the treatment’s efficacy. These tests help determine if any changes are needed to your treatment routines, such as increasing the number of daily exchanges or the amount of dialysate used with each treatment.
Various factors play a role in which dialysis treatment you and your doctor decide is right for you. These factors often include your lifestyle, line of work, disease severity, and personal preferences. Your kidney specialist will explain the pros and cons of each type of dialysis to find what's best for you.
Here’s a general overview of the pros and cons of each dialysis type.
Disadvantages of Hemodialysis
Disadvantages of Peritoneal Dialysis
Dialysis Treatments in Milwaukee
The most significant advantage of both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis is that they help patients live healthier and longer lives. At Milwaukee Nephrologists, your health and quality of life are our first priority. Our board-certified physicians are experts in their field and will work with you to develop a treatment plan that addresses your needs and fits your lifestyle.
If you or a loved one suffer from or are at risk for kidney disease, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease or kidney failure, your doctor might recommend hemodialysis for treatment. When your kidneys no longer function properly, hemodialysis, also simply known as dialysis, helps by clearing waste and excess fluids from your blood. Dialysis is the most common treatment for kidney failure and has many benefits that can assist people to live longer and healthier lives. What Is Hemodialysis and How Does It Work?If you and your doctor decide that hemodialysis is right for you, you’ll need to start preparing for treatment at least several weeks before your first procedure. The most important part of the preparation process involves a procedure to create a vascular access point on your body. This allows for blood to be safely removed and returned to your circulation as part of the dialysis process. Most access points are created on an arm, as they provide the easiest and safest points of entry. The access point needs time to heal before you begin treatment. During the dialysis procedure, two tubes are connected to the patient via the vascular access point. The blood travels through one tube and is filtered through the dialyzer where excess waste and fluids are removed before returning to the patient’s body via the other tube. The process effectively replicates the functions of healthy kidneys and is beneficial for most patients with renal diseases. Most hemodialysis treatments are performed at either hospitals or dialysis clinics, but home dialysis is also an option. You and your doctor will develop a treatment plan that includes which location is best for your needs. Dialysis treatments are needed three times a week. Each treatment usually lasts between 3-5 hours. Patients receiving home hemodialysis may choose to do treatments 4-7 days a week but with shorter sessions. In between treatments, it’s important to follow a hemodialysis diet to help you get the most benefits from dialysis. A hemodialysis diet should be rich in protein, calcium, and carbohydrates while limiting the intake of phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and fluids. Advantages of HemodialysisPatients receiving dialysis usually notice health benefits very quickly after starting treatment. Some of the main benefits of hemodialysis include:
Potential Risks and Disadvantages of HemodialysisAlthough hemodialysis has many benefits, like any medical treatment, it also has potential risks that might not make it the best treatment option for everyone. Some potential risks and disadvantages of hemodialysis include:
Dialysis Treatments with Milwaukee NephrologistsAlthough there are some disadvantages, you don't have to stop living a normal life because of hemodialysis treatments. The staff at Milwaukee Nephrologists work to provide accessible dialysis treatments to prioritize patients’ quality of life above all else. If you’re living with kidney disease and are wondering if dialysis is right for you, contact Milwaukee Nephrologists today for a consultation.
If you’ve been having health issues related to your kidneys or the renal system (also known as the urinary system), or have experienced symptoms such as swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs, fatigue, itchy skin, or recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), it might be time to consider seeing a nephrologist. Nephrologists are medical specialists who deal with the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases that involve the kidneys and the rest of the renal system. The kidneys are a pivotal organ, and their health and function have a massive impact on your overall health. Nephrologists may diagnose and treat various kidney-related conditions, as well as recommend diets and perform transplants or other operations. If you’re not sure whether seeing a nephrologist is right for you, talk to your primary care provider and consider the following common indicators that it’s time to see a nephrologist. Six Reasons to See a Nephrologist
There’s no Wrong Time to See a NephrologistWhile there are numerous reasons to see a nephrologist, at the end of the day, the best reason to plan an appointment is to maintain and protect your kidney health. Kidney disease is frequently referred to as the ‘silent killer’ because its symptoms are so often missed, or detected only when the disease has progressed to a critical stage. In fact, 90% of people with CKD don’t even know they have it; by the time obvious symptoms begin to show, your kidneys’ function can have deteriorated significantly. While there’s no cure for kidney disease, early detection can give you and your nephrologist time to make changes to your lifestyle that can help preserve your health and prevent the condition from worsening. Milwaukee Nephrologists Are Here For Kidney HealthTake control of your health. If you’re concerned about your kidneys, contact the experts at Milwaukee Nephrologists today to schedule a consultation, or talk to your primary care physician today about kidney health.
Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure are two frightening health prospects. They can drain you of energy, make you feel sluggish, and force you into highly-restrictive lifestyles. If you or a loved one is going through this, you want solutions. Naturally, you’ll consider a kidney transplant. However, assessing the benefits and risks of different kidney treatments can be overwhelming. But with the right information, it doesn’t need to be. In this blog, we’ll break things down and give an overview of some of the pros and cons of kidney transplant. With this in mind, you may have more context to confidently make informed treatment decisions for yourself or a loved one. Kidney Transplants 101Before we get to the benefits and risks of kidney transplants, let’s take a look at some of the basic things that must happen before a transplant. The process of a kidney transplant begins with eligibility. Patients seeking a kidney transplant must either currently be on dialysis or immediately facing the prospect of it, and also be free of cancer or other diseases that could lead to negative health outcomes following the transplant. Second, eligible patients must be fully prepared to undergo the transplant procedure. This means you not only have to be healthy enough to be operated on, but you also must be financially prepared to cover the operation, and have a support network in place that can assist you during recovery. Finally, when you’re fully cleared and ready for a transplant, you are registered and placed on a waiting list. How soon you receive a transplant depends on factors such as blood type and body size, as these are essential to the success of the transplant. If a family member is a match and willing to donate a kidney, this is typically the fastest route to transplant, and also tends to produce the best result. Benefits of Kidney TransplantThe benefits of a kidney transplant are huge, and can literally change your life:
Risks and Disadvantages of Kidney TransplantKidney transplants are a remarkable health solution. They offer many people a new lease on life and the opportunity to get back to the things they love. However, there are risks involved with the transplant process.
Talk to a Nephrologist Today to Learn if a Kidney Transplant is Right for YouKidney transplants are nothing short of incredible, unbelievable medical operations. They give people who are afraid, tired, and often isolated a chance to get back to the life they had before kidney disease or failure.
If you or a loved one is suffering from kidney failure or end-stage renal disease, a kidney transplant may be a treatment option. To learn more about kidney transplants, contact the experts in kidney health at Milwaukee Nephrologists today. They can assess your health, determine the best treatment solutions, and answer your questions at every stage of the transplant journey. Kidney stones are a common problem with an estimated one in ten people having a kidney stone at some point in their lives. This is often a painful experience and over half a million people go to the emergency room for kidney stone problems every year. We understand how stressful, alarming, and painful passing a kidney stone can be. Proper treatment of kidney stones begins with a better understanding of the problem, so let’s examine the common causes of kidney stones, the ways they can be passed, and the treatment options available. Common Causes of Kidney StonesOne of the most common causes of kidney stones is dehydration. Water is vital for healthy kidney function and helps deliver essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients throughout the body. If you’re dehydrated, those minerals accumulate in your kidneys and can harden and develop into kidney stones. Other dietary habits can also increase the risk of kidney stones. High salt and sodium intake increases the amount of calcium in the urine which will increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Likewise, high levels of sugar consumption can also promote the development of stones. Following a kidney-friendly diet can help reduce your risk of kidney stones. Being overweight or obese can also increase the risk of kidney stones. Studies have shown a link between weight gain and developing kidney stones and other urinary risks. Certain weight loss treatments, such as gastric bypass surgery, have also been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones, so it’s important to keep that risk in mind when exploring weight loss options. How are Kidney Stones Passed?Smaller kidney stones can usually be passed naturally without any special treatments or procedures. Stones vary in size and are usually between the size of a grain of salt and the size of a kernel of corn. You may not even notice you have a smaller stone until it starts moving from the kidney to the bladder. These smaller stones can be passed at home by drinking plenty of water to break down the minerals and using ibuprofen or naproxen to manage any pain. Additional treatments and procedures are necessary in the case of larger stones that can’t be passed at home or stones that are blocking the ureter. In these cases, some type of surgery will be performed. There are several surgical options for treating kidney stones, but which one your doctor recommends largely depends on the size and location of the stone. One of the most common types of surgery options is Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL). This non-invasive procedure is most often used for smaller or medium-sized stones. The surgery uses high-energy sound waves to break stones up into smaller pieces to make them easier to pass. The procedure has a short recovery time and patients can leave the hospital shortly after surgery is completed. Do Muscle Relaxers Help Pass Kidney Stones?In some cases, muscle relaxers can help pass kidney stones. Your doctor may prescribe alpha-blockers or other muscle relaxers to help relax the ureteral muscles, reduce pain, and promote stone passage. Muscle relaxers can widen the ureter, which makes passing small stones easier. Contractions in the ureter, which are a common cause of pain, can sometimes be reduced through muscle relaxers or other medications. There are limitations to muscle relaxers’ effectiveness for kidney stones, however. Muscle relaxers will not be helpful for stones that are too large to pass anyway. Only your doctor can determine if muscle relaxers are a viable treatment option for your kidney stone diagnosis, so always consult with your doctor before beginning any kind of treatment. Do You Think You Have a Kidney Stone?If you think you have a kidney stone, don’t wait to see a nephrologist. Early detection and treatment can reduce the chances that you experience more severe levels of pain from the kidney stone. Without seeing a nephrologist, it will be hard for you to determine whether you have a kidney stone, much less whether it can be passed with a muscle relaxer. Always consult with a medical professional before beginning any treatment. Milwaukee Nephrologists Are Here to HelpAt Milwaukee Nephrologists, our specialists can help diagnose kidney stones and formulate the best treatment plan for your situation. Our staff will work to:
If your kidneys no longer work, or function at a lowered capacity, you might need home hemodialysis, often simply called dialysis. This treatment helps your body remove waste and fluid from your blood. Without dialysis, your kidneys will continue to fail, toxins in your blood won’t be removed, and your health will deteriorate. When you start dialysis treatment, a special diet should be followed for the best health outcomes. Doing so can remove unnecessary stress from your kidneys, make dialysis more effective, and improve your comfort and quality of life. How Diet Impacts the Results of HemodialysisDialysis can remove most of the toxins your kidneys would remove from your body’s blood, but it’s not a completely perfect system. Therefore, by altering your diet to control how much of particular nutrients and minerals you consume, you can ensure your dialysis treatment is as effective as it can be. However, if a dialysis-focused diet isn’t followed, your health can deteriorate, as the treatment may be unable to remove the necessary toxins from your blood. Additionally, a poor diet while on dialysis can lead to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for people on dialysis. The Role Nutrients Play in a Hemodialysis DietOne of the main jobs your kidneys perform is delivering nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to organs throughout your body through your bloodstream. But when you are undergoing hemodialysis, your kidneys aren’t capable of filtering out the excess, so following a careful diet is more important. Because of the way various minerals and nutrients interact within your body, following a hemodialysis diet can help counteract some of the potential side effects that each nutrient can produce. ProteinMost dialysis patients will need to increase their protein intake. This is because dialysis often removes proteins along with blood during the treatment process. As a result, your body may not have enough protein, and when the body doesn’t have enough protein, it will begin consuming protein from your muscles at the expense of your body. A lack of protein can be highly destructive and lead to more health problems if you’re undergoing dialysis, so it’s important to maintain an appropriate protein intake PhosphorusWhen undergoing dialysis, your phosphorus intake needs to be closely monitored. Phosphorus binds with calcium, which is crucial to bone development and health; because of this binding, excess phosphorus can simultaneously have a weakening effect on your bones and a hardening effect on soft tissues like muscles and blood vessels. Foods that are high in protein are often also high in phosphorus, so finding a diet that works for you is a balancing act, but is more than achievable with the help of a dialysis dietician. CalciumDialysis patients typically need to consume more calcium. Calcium’s impact on bone development is crucial for offsetting the impacts of phosphorus, which can have deleterious effects on your bones. PotassiumDialysis is incredibly effective at removing waste from your body, but even so, it has its limits. Dialysis can only remove so much potassium, and therefore your potassium intake must be limited. Dialysis patients who may have been following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet to lower their blood pressure may need to alter their diet, because despite DASH being low in sodium, it typically contains a significant amount of potassium. SodiumReducing sodium consumption is one of the first dietary changes we recommend to patients who are at risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. When you’re undergoing hemodialysis, you similarly need to limit how many salty foods you eat. Dialysis can only remove so much sodium, and without your kidney’s natural regulation, high sodium levels can lead to high blood pressure and more medical complications. CarbsCarbs are particularly important for hemodialysis patients because many are rich in fiber. Fiber is important for the heart, the circulatory system, and preventing constipation. It also helps lower cholesterol, which can prevent the need for additional medications. Lowered cholesterol can also reduce the risk of heart disease, which is a common illness among dialysis patients. FluidsWhile healthy kidneys thrive on receiving plenty of fluids in order to keep your blood and body in ship shape, it’s a different story for individuals who rely on dialysis. Now, dialysis does remove your body’s extra fluids, but it still isn’t the same as healthy kidneys, which work day and night to process waste, whereas dialysis is a process that you undergo far less frequently. Therefore, it’s important that you limit your fluid intake each day. Your dietician will help you determine an amount you can drink without risking a rise in blood pressure, damage to your heart, or edema (swelling in your face, ankles, feet, and wrists). The Benefits of Following a Hemodialysis DietThere’s no denying that hemodialysis is an intense treatment method, but by following a hemodialysis diet, your treatment can be as effective as possible and lead to huge benefits, including factors such as:
At Milwaukee Nephrologists, that’s our goal: to improve your quality of life. For four decades, we’ve been providing state-of-the-art care and pursuing innovative programs in home hemodialysis. To get in touch with a team of highly-skilled nephrologists in Southeastern Wisconsin, contact us today. Is water good for your kidneys? It’s a common question with a simple answer: yes, water is good for your kidneys. There are a few exceptions to that rule, but generally speaking, water is not only beneficial to your kidneys, but vital to its function. Why Your Kidneys Need WaterYour kidneys need water because your body needs water. Imagine that your body is a city: water acts like a vehicle bringing minerals and nutrients to all the factories and services (aka: organs), and expelling waste. Just as water is necessary to move the good stuff around your body, it’s also necessary to haul the bad stuff away. Your kidneys remove toxins from your body with water, and also use water to deliver hormones throughout your body. Water is crucial for your body’s health in general, and water is good for your kidneys too. If you’re not adequately hydrated, you leave your kidneys and entire body vulnerable to many risks. Risks of Dehydration
How Much Water Should You Drink?Clearly water is critical for your kidneys and your body on the whole. You want to take care of it, but how much water should you be drinking? Well, it depends. Historically, eight cups of water a day has been the standard recommendation. While eight cups a day isn’t a bad goal, it’s definitely not a perfect measure for everyone, and it falls quite short of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s findings. The Academies found that a person’s total water intake—water consumed by drinking, as well as by consuming foods such as melons and vegetables—should be around 3.7 liters for men and 2.7 liters for women. Fluids can also be obtained through a variety of means; water isn’t the only option. Water can be supplemented with the following:
What if You're on Dialysis?For most people, drinking quite a bit of water is ideal. However, if you are on dialysis, your water intake actually needs to be limited. Dialysis is highly effective, but it simply isn’t the same as the 24/7 function of healthy kidneys, and consuming too much fluid while on dialysis can lead to edema—swelling that typically occurs in the face, wrists, ankles, and feet. People with kidney failure should always consult with their nephrologist to maintain an optimal level of hydration. Urine is a Good Indicator of how Hydrated You AreFortunately, you often don’t need a professional to tell you if you’re getting enough fluids each day—your urine can tell you that. Urine that’s a very faint yellow or clear color is a strong indicator that you’re giving your kidneys the support they need, whereas urine that’s a darker yellow, you need to drink more water. It’s normal for the color of your urine to change slightly from day to day, but monitor it to ensure it’s staying relatively the same and that you’re staying fully hydrated. Water is Part of a Kidney-Friendly Diet and LifestyleFollowing a kidney-friendly diet and staying hydrated can work wonders, helping your kidneys to perform better and longer, even if you have kidney disease. Milwaukee Nephrologists is dedicated to helping our patients gain a greater understanding of kidney disease, and what their options are for avoiding or treating it.
Our board-certified specialists make Milwaukee Nephrologists your go-to experts on all-things kidneys. Whether you have been treating renal disease for years or if you or a loved one are at risk of kidney disease, Milwaukee Nephrologists can help. To schedule an appointment, contact us today for an examination, or learn more about kidney health on our blog. Your kidneys' main function is to filter waste and excess fluids from your blood. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function, often over the course of many years, which means waste and toxins slowly seep into the blood and cause various illnesses or even organ failure. CKD can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without the use of dialysis or a kidney transplant. CKD occurs most often when a disease or condition impairs kidney functionality, which causes kidney damage to worsen over months and years. The two main causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure, which together cause about two-thirds of CKD cases.
How Can I Prevent Chronic Kidney Disease?Follow these prevention tips to reduce your risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease:
Risk Factors of CKD
When to See A Doctor For CKDThe earlier that kidney disease is detected and treated, the higher chance of slowing down or hindering its progression. Early detection can be difficult with CKD because by the time symptoms surface, the patient is usually already far along the disease's timeline. Getting regular checkups and blood work is extremely important. If you are at high risk of developing CKD, make an appointment with your doctor or make an appointment with a nephrologist (kidney specialist) here. Got Questions? We Have AnswersMilwaukee Nephrologists is a network of experts and doctors that are board-certified in Nephrology and have chosen a focus that provides a wide array of sub-specialization. If you or a loved one suffers from, or is at risk for kidney disease, please contact us for an examination.
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