July 27, 2022 admin
Can hemodialysis cause dehydration
What Effects Do Dry Weight and Fluid Gain Have on Dialysis Patients?
A healthy person can urinate up to seven times per day. Most dialysis patients, however, produce little to no urine because their kidneys are no longer removing wastes and excess fluid from the body. Fluid builds up in the body without urination, causing swelling, shortness of breath, and/or weight gain. Hemodialysis filters your blood to remove excess fluid and return you to your dry weight.
What exactly is dry weight?
Weight without the excess fluid that accumulates between dialysis treatments is referred to as dry weight. This weight is comparable to the weight of a person with normal kidney function after urinating. It is the lowest weight that can be reached safely after dialysis without developing low blood pressure symptoms such as cramping, which can occur when too much fluid is removed.
Dialysis cannot eliminate fluid from the body as effectively as healthy kidneys that work around the clock. Most hemodialysis patients receive dialysis three times a week for about four hours, so the body retains extra fluid and waste in the days between treatments.
During dialysis, fluid is removed in order to return the patient to his or her dry weight by the end of the treatment. Ideally, the goal is to achieve a weight at which the patient is normally hydrated (does not feel thirsty) and comfortable.
How is dry weight calculated?
In most cases, the dry weight is determined by the doctor based on his or her experience and input. The following dry weights will be prescribed by the doctor based on one’s weight:
• normal blood pressure
• no edoema or swelling
• no distended neck veins
• no lung sounds (rales and crackles) caused by fluid overload
• no shortness of breath or congestive heart failure
• an X-ray heart shadow of normal size
Because there are no reliable scientific methods of measuring dry weight, it is usually a clinical estimate. Many patients can be overweight and have extra fluid without being aware of it or experiencing clinical symptoms.
Every three to six weeks, dry weight should be measured and adjusted if a patient gains or loses actual weight. When adjusting the dry weight, other factors such as urine output and swelling between treatments should be considered. (Urine output frequently ceases completely after six months of hemodialysis.) The doctor will calculate dry weight gain rather than fluid weight gain.
What everyone should know about fluid gain?
A decrease in urine flow and a normal to increased intake of dietary fluids cause fluid gain. Because fluid gain is determined by weight gain between treatments, patients are weighed before each dialysis treatment. Fluid gains between dialysis treatments should not exceed 5% of the estimated dry weight.
It is more difficult to achieve the desired dry weight if too much fluid accumulates between dialysis treatments. Gains of less than 5% of a patient’s body weight are easier to remove than gains of more than 5%, which may be more difficult to remove and may require the patient to undergo an uncomfortable dialysis treatment.
What if individuals go below the dry weight?
The dialysis centre’s health care team will monitor treatment to ensure that it is complete and comfortable. If too much fluid is removed and a person falls below their dry weight, the patient may become dehydrated, resulting in:
• Thirst
• Dry mouth
• Light headedness that subsides when lying down
• Cramping
• Nausea
• Lethargy
• Extremely cold extremities
• Rapid heartbeat
The effect of fluid gain on dialysis:
Excess fluid has a negative impact on the body. It may result in:
• Weight gain
• Increased blood pressure due to extra fluid in the bloodstream
• Swelling in the feet, ankles, wrists, face, and around the eyes, known as edoema
• Bloating in the abdomen
• Shortness of breath due to fluid in the lungs
• Heart issues, such as a rapid pulse, weakened heart muscles, and an enlarged heart
More fluid must be removed if the recommended fluid allowance between treatments is exceeded. However, there is a limit to how much fluid can be safely removed during a dialysis treatment.
Treatment can be made more comfortable by removing excess fluid gain. A sudden drop in blood pressure can occur in patients, usually near the end of a dialysis treatment. Because the body is not used to having so much fluid removed at once, individuals may feel nauseated, weak, and tired. When people gain too much fluid weight during dialysis, they may experience muscle cramping. Taking out a lot of fluid in one treatment can leave visitor dizzy or weak afterward. However, not removing enough fluid may overburden the patient, place additional strain on the heart, keep blood pressure high, and make the next treatment more difficult.
One of the most common reasons for a hemodialysis patient to visit the hospital is fluid overload, which causes shortness of breath. An additional dialysis treatment may be required to remove all of the extra fluid.
Fluid gain’s long-term effects on dialysis patients:
Large fluid losses between hemodialysis treatments can be taxing on the heart and lungs. Short-term effects of fluid overload include dialysis cramps, headaches, and breathing difficulties, which serve as warning signs of future problems. That is why it is critical to monitor and control fluid gain between dialysis treatments. Limiting fluid intake can have an impact on both immediate and long-term health.
Maintaining as little fluid gain as possible between dialysis treatments can help reduce the risk of serious health problems. Overloading the system with fluid on a regular basis makes the heart work harder and may lead to heart problems.
Limiting fluid intake between dialysis treatments:
Limiting daily fluid intake will help individuals feel more at ease before, during, and after dialysis treatments. It also reduces the likelihood of unpleasant dialysis symptoms and long-term health problems.
Each patient has a different daily fluid allowance based on physical activity level, body size, and urine output. Most hemodialysis patients are limited to 32 to 50 fluid ounces per day, compared to a fluid intake of 100 ounces per day for someone with functioning kidneys.
Following the dialysis diet:
Diet is an important part of dialysis treatment. Certain foods must also be considered when calculating daily fluid intake. A fluid is defined as anything that is liquid at room temperature. These guidelines may assist in adhering to the recommended daily fluid intake in between dialysis treatments:
• Limit your intake of salt and salty foods, as they can cause thirst and water retention.
• Consume only the recommended amounts of water and other beverages.
• Eat foods that contain liquid or are liquid at room temperature in moderation.
• Take precise measurements of foods. For both dry and liquid measurements, use a food scale, measuring spoons, and measuring cups.
• Use a digital scale to track your daily weight gain.
• Maintain a daily food and fluid diary.
The dialysis diet is difficult, but dietitians and other patients can provide advice on how to limit daily fluid intake while still feeling satisfied. For example, when thirst strikes, suck on a mint, brush your teeth, or squirt a small amount of water into ones mouth with a spray bottle for immediate relief.