Kidney health: Diet, medication and psychological tips for a person on dialysis during COVID-19 pandemic | Photo Credit: iStock Images
New Delhi: Health experts have warned that people living with certain chronic health conditions such as chronic kidney (CKD) disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes, cancer are at an increased risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2. Current available data suggest that people living with kidney disease, particularly those on dialysis and transplant recipients might be at risk of severe infection and mortality from COVID-19.
As the coronavirus pandemic persists all over the world, doctors, health agencies and governments are engaging in several activities to educate, inform the public with kidney disease and other chronic health issuesto reduce their exposure to this dreaded virus and how to respond to a potential infection. Yet, before we list some COVID-19 guidance for patients with chronic kidney disease, let us try to understand what happens to the body when a person with CKD reaches the end-stage of renal disease.
When a person with chronic kidney disease reaches the end-stage (stage V) of renal disease, the kidneys no longer essay the role or function as healthy kidneys do. The kidneys are unable to remove the toxins, metabolic wastes and excess fluid from the bloodstream effectively. At this point, one of the treatment modality is dialysis, which flushes out unwanted toxins, excess fluid and waste products by filtering the blood.
Dialysis is one of the treatment methods for these patients, apart from preventing the accumulation of excess waste in the body, the purpose of dialysis is also to help control blood pressure and regulate levels of chemical elements in the blood, including sodium and potassium. Without dialysis, salts and other waste products continue to accumulate in the blood which eventually damages other important organs of the body, said Dr A S Mathur, Nephrologist, NephroPlus Dialysis Center.
As we pass through the tough times of a pandemic and have been isolated due to intermittent lockdown restrictions in many parts of the country, dialysis patients need to grapple with certain unique challenges with regards to their diet, medication as well as mental health. Below are a few tips suggested by the nephrologist that will help kidney patients, especially those on dialysis, stay healthy amid the pandemic:
Food and Nutrition
Diet is fundamental and, therefore, dialysis patients must make note of their dietary needs:
Medication
People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis face unique health challenges and, thus, it is important to manage all their medication and take them as prescribed. Here are a few tips for managing medication at home:
Mental Health
Your mental health affects your physical health, it is, therefore, common for chronic kidney disease patients and their caretakers to experience mental health issues caused by lifestyle changes especially when living in isolation nowadays.
As a kidney patient, you may feel overwhelmed making decisions surrounding your treatments in these difficult times. However, its important to realise the fact that you have many rights and options when it comes to your care, helping you live a longer and healthier life.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.
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Kidney health: Diet, medication and psychological tips for a person on dialysis during COVID-19 pandemic - Times Now
