Dialysis - Know More About It!

The kidneys are one of the most vital organs of the human body responsible for the purification of blood by the removal of excess fluid and wastes from the body. Dialysis is a method of treatment offered to patients having a non-functional or a partially functional kidney. For dialysis, a specialized machine is used to draw the blood, filter it, purify it, and then send it back to the body. The treatment is quite complex and hence should be performed by a specialized healthcare professional only.

Dialysis is a lifesaving procedure, but at the same time, there are many side effects and risks associated with this treatment. Peritoneal dialysis is associated with weakening of the abdominal muscles, weight gain and increase in blood sugar due to dextrose in the dialysate. Whereas in hemodialysis, the patient might be at risk of low blood pressure, muscle cramping, depression, etc. If you continue to experience these side effects, you should immediately talk to your healthcare professional.

Dialysis is an artificial method used to prevent excess water and other waste from being accumulated in the body. This happens when the kidneys are not able to do their job in the human body. Dialysis also helps in the control of blood pressure and regulates the chemicals sodium and potassium in the blood. Dialysis prevents the body from being poisoned when kidneys do not perform the way they ideally should. It is to be remembered that dialysis cannot be used as a cure for other diseases of the kidney.

Typically, there are two main types of dialysis. One is hemodialysis, and the other is Peritoneal dialysis. In the hemodialysis, a hemodialyzer, which is an artificial kidney, is used for the removal of wastes and harmful chemicals from the body. A surgical entry is created to the vesicles of the body. In the second method, surgery is performed to implant a catheter into the belly area, through which a special fluid known as dialysate flows into the abdomen and draws out the waste from the bloodstream. Hemodialysis is the most commonly used procedure when patients require long-term treatment.