5 Conditions Indicating That Kidney Disease Patients Need Dialysis
1. Pulmonary Edema
When the kidneys can no longer clear water and waste from the body, water gradually seeps and accumulates in the lungs, eventually causing pulmonary edema. We may observe that the patient experiences shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and the body starts to swell noticeably.
2. Uremia
This condition occurs due to the accumulation of waste, including denatured proteins in the body. Urea is a waste product that interferes with the function of all body systems, especially the nervous system. Most symptoms manifest neurologically. Patients often feel dizzy, confused, and have incoherent speech. In severe cases, they may experience seizures, twitching, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.
3. Acidosis
Acidosis in the blood can be detected by carbon dioxide levels from blood test analysis, where values below 15 millimoles per liter are found. Some patients have high potassium levels in the blood, which not only reduces the body’s response to medication but may also cause irregular heartbeats leading to sudden cardiac arrest.
4. Sodium and Water Retention
This condition causes swelling and high blood pressure, which are difficult to control. In severe cases, it affects the heart’s pumping ability, leading to heart failure, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and some patients cannot lie flat.
5. Pericarditis or Pleuritis Caused by Waste Accumulation
As mentioned, when kidney function decreases to only 10-15%, accumulation of urea nitrogen and other wastes increases. This can be measured by BUN and creatinine levels. If both values are high, it indicates kidney failure and requires urgent treatment.
