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Uremia
How long can uremia last?
Currently, kidney transplantation is the best method for treating uremia, but if a kidney source cannot be found or the financial costs are unaffordable, dialysis can be administered. Advances in dialysis technology mean that, under economically permissible circumstances and with a positive personal attitude, it can potentially extend life by several years, and there are often reports of cases extending up to a decade or more. Uremia results from kidney failure, and generally speaking, there is still no way to cure it intrinsically, so kidney transplantation should be pursued whenever possible.
Can uremia be cured?
First, it is necessary to clarify the cause and the severity, so it is important to visit the nephrology department for comprehensive tests. Once the cause is determined, the next steps can be planned based on the results, and dialysis may be necessary if required. If there is no improvement, treatments such as kidney transplantation can be considered. It is also crucial to rest, avoid fatigue, reduce activities, especially strenuous activities, maintain a positive mood, adjust your mentality, and have regular follow-ups. Therefore, this issue needs to be actively addressed, as it can be very troublesome to manage and the prognosis may be very poor if not taken seriously.
How to diagnose uremia
Uremia primarily refers to high levels of creatinine in the blood. Generally, a creatinine blood test can be used to evaluate kidney function, thus diagnosing whether the kidneys are in a compensatory stage, in a chronic stage, or during a period of uremia. Renal insufficiency, which causes uremia, has specific causes. It is essential to determine whether the causes are renal or post-renal by performing routine urinary system CT scans to identify any obstructions, stones, or space-occupying lesions that may lead to hydronephrosis and a decline in renal function. Other internal medical diseases, such as chronic nephritis syndrome and kidney disease, can also lead to increased creatinine levels. In such cases, renal biopsy and pathology are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Once an individual reaches the uremic stage, the overall condition tends to deteriorate, characterized by fatigue, anorexia, and weight loss. Additional issues include toxin accumulation in the body leading to anemia and various other problems, including gastrointestinal issues and reduced digestive capacity resulting in loss of appetite. When the aforementioned symptoms occur, there generally are only two treatment options: dialysis to filter out the toxins or, if an appropriate kidney source is available and economically feasible, kidney transplantation can be considered.
What should I do about uremia heart failure?
Patients with uremia often develop complications of heart failure, which is actually the leading cause of death in patients with uremia. This type of heart failure is mainly due to the decreased ability of the kidneys to excrete water, leading to an increase in blood volume and an increased burden on the heart. It is also related to many factors such as the patient often having hypertension, anemia, coronary heart disease, etc. For such diseases, it is first necessary to assess whether the patient has excess water in the body. If there is too much water, urgent dialysis ultrafiltration is needed to remove the water. After the water is removed, the symptoms of heart failure will be significantly relieved. Secondly, it is necessary to deal with some other complications related to heart failure. For example, in the case of anemia, temporary blood transfusions or the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to promote hematopoiesis can be used. Hypertension requires the use of antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure and other comprehensive treatment measures. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor)
What causes uremia?
Uremia is very common in clinical practice. It is mainly caused by abnormal kidney functions, leading to abnormalities in glomerular filtration, as well as in the reabsorption and secretion functions of the renal tubules, which results in a series of symptoms. Once uremia occurs, it can disrupt the internal environment of the body, cause electrolyte abnormalities, and even lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. Uremia is very dangerous in clinical practice and often requires regular hemodialysis treatment. Therefore, once uremia occurs, medical attention must be sought promptly.
What department is for uremia?
Patients with uremia are generally recommended to consult nephrology or urology departments. Uremia primarily results from the obstruction of toxic metabolic waste excretion, characterized by the accumulation of excessive protein metabolism products in the body, such as urea nitrogen and creatinine. This occurs due to amino acid metabolic disorders, leading to a reduction in essential amino acids, and consequently, symptoms of uremia manifest. Therefore, in the diet of uremic patients, it is important to restrict protein intake, particularly focusing on high-amino acid foods, mainly essential amino acids. It is generally advisable to adhere to a low-protein diet, with about 20 grams of protein supplied daily to alleviate the burden on the kidneys. Hence, choosing potassium-containing foods is crucial; if urine output is below 1000 milliliters, low-potassium foods should be selected to avoid consuming high-phosphorus foods like animal organs and brains, preventing an increase in blood phosphorus levels. Moreover, strict restrictions should be imposed on irritant foods, such as alcohol and chili peppers.
How to diagnose uremia
Uremia is the final state of chronic renal failure. This disease cannot be diagnosed through physical examination and medical history inquiry alone. Diagnosis requires testing, combined with the patient's physical examination and medical history, to comprehensively determine the diagnosis. Patients with uremia first need to have a blood test to check kidney function, with blood creatinine levels needing to exceed 707μmol/L. Secondly, they should undergo an ultrasound of the urinary system. Typically, the kidney size in such patients is reduced, which can be detected by the ultrasound. These two diagnostic methods used together can diagnose uremia. Patients also need to be checked for potential complications caused by uremia, such as measuring blood pressure and performing a complete blood count to check for renal anemia, among others.
Is uremia contagious?
Strictly speaking, uremia is not an independent disease and it is not contagious. Uremia refers to the state where numerous causes chronically damage the kidneys over a long period, eventually leading to the destruction of most kidney tissue, resulting in the kidneys' inability to excrete metabolic waste. There are many causes of uremia, including chronic nephritis, diabetes hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, urinary system stones, and even prostate hyperplasia, among others, which damage the kidneys and lead to this condition. Generally, these causes are not contagious as they do not involve bacteria, viruses, or fungi. However, if uremia is caused by infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B virus or HIV, these infectious diseases can be contagious, but uremia itself is not contagious.
How is uremia caused?
Uremia, also known as end-stage renal disease, is actually the late stage of chronic renal failure development, capable of causing long-term chronic damage to the kidneys. There are many reasons for this, and if these causes persist over a long period, continuously harming the kidneys without effective removal or control, it could eventually lead to severe renal failure, ultimately causing uremia. The causes that can chronically harm the kidneys mainly include diabetes, hypertension, chronic nephritis, polycystic kidney, urinary system stones, tumors, and other such conditions.
Is high creatinine uremia?
High creatinine levels do not necessarily indicate uremia. High creatinine often implies that the patient is experiencing renal failure, which can be classified into acute renal failure and chronic renal failure based on factors such as the patient's medical history and course of the disease. Uremia is the final state of chronic renal failure. Thus, even if high creatinine levels suggest the possibility of chronic renal failure, it does not necessarily mean that the patient has reached the final stage. Uremia, also known as end-stage renal disease, generally requires a patient's blood creatinine to exceed 707 µmol/L. Additionally, patients often simultaneously present with clinical manifestations such as renal anemia, disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and reduction in kidney size.