Chronic Kidney Disease - Essay Example

Outline Questions Provide a rationale for the strong link between cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Discuss the lifestyle choices that Ali has taken that have contributed to the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. Describe why Ali’s symptoms (nausea, vomiting, tiredness) have arisen now. Explain how dialysis performs some of the functions of the kidneys. QUESTION1 Provide a rationale for the strong link between cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are usually associated with causing mortality risk, studies show that cardiovascular risk increase if the patient suffers from anemia (Fishbane, 2005, p.716). Cardiovascular disease is normally associated with the renal disease, while chronic kidney disease enhances hypertension and dyslipidemia, which leads to renal failure. In addition, chronic kidney disease leads to kidney failure due to high costs of medication from patients of low income. According to Fishbane (2005), in 1998, there were over 320,000 cases of patients who received transplantation of kidney, with this number expected to rise in future. Generally, cardiovascular diseases are associated with chronic kidney disease, since most patients that suffer from chronic kidney disease are likely to die of cardiovascular disease rather than developing a kidney failure. This is the main relationship between these two diseases. However, both diseases are treatable and preventable. Nevertheless, cardiovascular in kidney failure is up to 30 time higher in patients who are treated by dialysis (Sarnak, et al, 2003). Patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease have a five times high possibility to die fast compared to the normal people. Therefore, research shows that since cardiovascular rate is high, early treatment of the disease is suggested is patients with chronic kidney disease (Collins, et al. 2003). Question 2 Lifestyle choices that Ali has taken that have contributed to the development and progression of chronic kidney disease The main function of a kidney is to eject waste products and excess water from the blood, however, when one suffers from loss of kidney function, this process takes time and the result can start showing after some time. When kidney function ceases, water, waste and toxic substances accumulate in the body. These are the substances that are excreted by a normal kidney, which a damaged kidney cannot handle. The major causes of chronic kidney failures are high blood pressure and diabetes, however, the choice of ones lifestyle can also lead to this disease. In Ali’s case, heavy consumption of alcohol and frequent smoking at his age is the main cause to the kidney disease. When one consumes a lot of alcohol, it not only interferes with the kidney’s function, but also causes heart and liver disease as well as high blood pressure, inclusive of frequent urinating. Nevertheless, moderate alcohol consumption is assumed fine as long as it does not interfere with one’s health and safety. Moreover, it is advisable for one to consume a glass or two as alcohol prevents heart disease; hence, smartness is required in alcohol consumption, (Epstein, 2007, p.84). Question 3 Describe why Ali’s symptoms (nausea, vomiting, tiredness) have arisen now. When the kidney ceases to function, waste substances are not excreted. These results are associated with some symptoms, since the body cannot function normally. Chronic kidney disease starts with the slow loss of the kidney function, and at first, the symptoms are not visible or there may be none. However, when the kidney function is less than one–tenth of the normal function, symptoms begin to show. When the chronic kidney disease reaches its final stage, known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the kidney no longer functions and dialysis is the only option. In Ali’s case, these symptoms are an indication that his condition is worsening, and that is why the doctor has recommended a dialysis. The symptoms are an indication of the failed kidney function, which calls for attention, as waste products are starting to build up in the blood, since the kidney cannot eject them as they have ceased functioning (Medline plus, 2009). Q4. Explain how dialysis performs some of the functions of the kidneys. Kidney dialysis is a process that involves cleansing of blood from toxins via the help of a machine that replaces the function of a kidney. The machine filters blood in the same way that a kidney does; a catheter is placed in a patient’s vein while the other is placed in the artery. The catheter in the artery transports blood from the patient’s body to the dialysis machine. Then the dialysis machine filters that blood and removes waste substances from it, a replica of what the kidney does. Once the blood is cleansed, it is then returned back to the patient’s body through the venous catheter. The dialysis machine is used temporary until the kidneys heal or when a patient awaits transplant; however, the dialysis machine can be used for a longer period of time with an aim of prolonging life especially if the transplant is not appropriate (Casiday & Frey, 1999). Kidney dialysis must be performed especially if the kidneys are incapable of performing. Without this dialysis, harmful waste products will bulge in the blood and tissues, since they cannot be filtered by the kidneys. This condition is uremia, which literally means that the urine has mixed with blood. When these wastes build up, they cause death. The two types of kidney dialysis include hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, both of which involve the cleansing of blood to free it from toxic waste products. The artificial kidney dialysis uses similar chemical principles as those used in the kidneys in order to maintain the normal composition of blood. In addition, dialysis is very essential for patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases. Blood normally contains different particles, like ion, which should always be maintained, however, urea must be removed from the blood and body. Therefore, if the kidney is incapable of performing its functions, a dialysis is likely to perform these functions until the kidneys are capable of functioning once again either through transplant or healing of the affected kidneys (Casiday & Frey, 1999). Reference List Casiday, R & Frey, R 1999, Maintaining the Body's Chemistry: Dialysis in the Kidneys, Membranes and Proteins, Dialysis, Detergents and Proton Gradients Experiment, University of Washington publishers, viewed 24 September 2011, http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/Dialysis/Kidneys.html Collins, A et al. 2003, ‘Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease in the Medicare population’, Kidney International, 64, S24–S31, Minnesota, viewed 24 September 2011, http://www.nature.com/ki/journal/v64/n87s/full/4494195a.html Epstein, M 1997, Alcohol impact on kidney, viewed 24 September 2011, http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh21-1/84.pdf Fishbane, S 2005, Anemia, chronic kidney disease & cardiovascular disease; the clinical trial, viewed 24 September 2011, http://www.jhasim.com/files/articlefiles/pdf/W-ASIM_Issue_5_7Ap715_719.pdf Medline plus, 2009, Chronic kidney disease, viewed 24 September 2011, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000471.htm Sarnak, M et al. 2003, Kidney Disease as a Risk Factor for Development of Cardiovascular Disease, viewed 24 September 2011, http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/108/17/2154.full Read More