Managing Kidney Disease Without Dialysis
Kidney disease occurs when the kidneys become damaged and can't filter waste and extra fluids from the blood properly.
When the kidneys stop working well, it can lead to end-stage kidney disease, where treatments like dialysis or a kidney transplant may be needed.
However, for people with mild or moderate kidney disease, it is often possible to manage the condition without needing dialysis by making healthy lifestyle changes and following a doctor's advice.
Dietary Changes
One of the most important steps is changing your diet to eat foods that are gentle on the kidneys, which helps reduce their workload.
- Lowering the amount of sodium (salt) in meals is crucial, as too much salt makes it harder for the kidneys to control blood pressure.
- This can lead to fluid buildup in the body, putting more strain on the kidneys.
Making healthy lifestyle changes and following a doctor's advice can help protect the kidneys and improve quality of life.
Author's summary: Manage kidney disease with lifestyle changes.