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General Information on
Kidney Functions, Care & Kidney Ailments
What kidneys do?
a) Eliminate waste products.
b) Ensure water, mineral & electrolyte balance.
c) Regulate blood pressure.
d) Stimulate synthesis of red blood cells.
When to suspect kidney disease?
a) Hypertension
b) Anemia
c) Anorexia, nausea, vomiting & fatigue
d) Bone pain, increased urination at night
e) Leaking of blood / protein in urine
f) Swelling of blood, feet etc
g) Respiratory distress, coma. Fits
h) Marked reduction of urine volume
How can you keep your kidneys fit?
a) Do not neglect stone/prostate related problems
b) Inform your doctor about any existing kidney problem before
he/she gives you any treatment.
c) Avoid painkiller and antibiotics without medical
supervision.
d) Control hypertension and diabetes aggressively and at all
time.
e) Avoid dehydration specially during diarrhea vomiting and
extreme heat.
f) Treat malaria, snakebite etc. early & effectively.
g) Avoid exposure to industrial & environmental toxins.
Can there be hereditary kidney problem?
Yes, there are. Some of them can not be prevented while for
some counseling prior marriage and conception is extremely
rewarding. Even kidney problems of diabetes, hypertension, and
stone diseases may have hereditary correlation.
How costly is treatment of renal failure?
Prior onset of dialysis, progression of kidney disease must be
retarded by appropriate drug and diet. Ketoanalogues may cost
you $100 (INR 4,000/-), erythropoietin can cost $150 (INR
6,000/-), Hemodialysis will cost you $300 (INR 12,000/-), and
peritoneal dialysis $400 (INR 18,000/-) every months. Kidney
transplantation costs $10,000 (Rs 4,50,000/-) initially followed
by $100-200 (INR 4,000-8,000) every months thereafter. However
this projected expenditure may increase by upto 30% in special
situations. In India, the relative costs of hemodialysis is
declining.
Responsibility of family members towards a kidney patient?
Treat him/her the same way before he/she fell ill and keep
watch on diet and cleanliness. The expenses of treatment may
be discussed as this may induce more discipline and compliance
to diet and treatment. Drug and dialysis timings should be
adhered to. Depression remains a problem and may need medical
and psychological help.
Changing treating physicians:-
Kidney patients need not change physician frequently as this
may be associated with unnecessary repetition of test and
alteration of drugs. Sometimes this causes confusion in diet
and treatment protocols. If you are being treated by a
competent Nephrologists, going to another city for treatment
does not materially change the treatment outcome in vast
majority of the patients. Apart from a rise in treatment cost,
patients family has to face problems accommodation, transport
and language. You must appreciate that doctors at your place
has similar degree and clinical experience as any other
doctors in the world. Moreover your local doctors know more
about you, your family, your living condition, dietary habits,
and local availability of tests, drugs and infrastructure.
Mediclaims and Reimbursement:-
Kidney diseases are included in Mediclaim benefits. However
you need not go for it after a disease is diagnosed. Hiding
facts to access such benefits is easily detected and this
remains the commonest causes of heart break when patients has
to pay through his nose. Many kidney diseases are chronic and
will need treatment for even decades. Even in an upper middle
class family spending the entire lifetime saving / mediclaim
benefit in a single admission in a prestige enhancing hospital
may prove a foolish decision from second year onward. Your
money must be spent for the best total outcome.
Job loss and quality of life:-
Patients with chronic kidney disease must enjoy a certain
quality of life which may vary as par socioeconomic
expectation. Job loss and ongoing expenditure for treatment
may destroy a family both financially and emotionally. Hence
therapeutic options needs to be individualized after
consultation with close family members. Reducing fringe
expenditure and tackling patient's core problems with rational
investigation and minimizing hospitalization still remains the
best offer that can satisfy most family.
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