End Stage Kidney Disease Flashcards, test questions and answers

Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about End Stage Kidney Disease and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on End Stage Kidney Disease and get quick solutions for your test.

What is End Stage Kidney Disease?

End stage kidney disease (ESRD) is a serious medical condition characterized by the complete or near-complete failure of both kidneys. As the name implies, it is the final stage of chronic kidney disease, resulting in permanent damage to the kidneys and an inability to filter toxins from the body. This can result in several life-threatening complications, such as fluid buildup, electrolyte imbalance and high blood pressure. Without proper treatment, ESRD can lead to death within 25 years.In order to diagnose ESRD, doctors will typically perform tests such as urine tests, blood tests and imaging studies. Treatment for this condition usually involves dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis is a process that utilizes an artificial machine to filter out waste products from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so on their own. A kidney transplant may be recommended if dialysis is not an option. In this procedure, a healthy kidney from another person is implanted into your body to replace your damaged ones. Transplantation offers a better quality of life and longer life expectancy than dialysis alone but comes with its own risks and potential complications. In addition to these treatments, lifestyle changes are also necessary in order to manage ESRD more effectively. These include maintaining a healthy diet with sufficient amounts of protein and fluids; avoiding foods high in sodium; limiting alcohol intake; quitting smoking; exercising regularly; managing stress levels; monitoring medication compliance; obtaining regular health checkups; attending follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider who specializes in treating renal diseases; and staying informed about advances in treatment for ESRD.