Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/2818/-1/140/
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Kidney Awareness Week: Using Dialysis
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“Kidney Awareness Week: Your kidneys can last you a lifetime. Take control today” was the theme of last week’s celebration and recognition.
Individuals with kidney failure rely on nephrology nurses to ensure continuing normality in their lives.
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Nurse Velma Hamilton with Ricardo Jeremiah
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“As an extension of the nurses’ contribution to the profession and to kidney patient care, we found it necessary to reach out to the community in this way,” said Velma Hamilton, a dialysis nurse at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
“The aim was to stimulate an awareness of kidney disease; to focus on diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure), the two leading causes of kidney disease and to promote some facts of dialysis, namely, haemodialysis.”
During the awareness week, ways to prevent potential kidney damage were highlighted around the island: Blood pressure checks were conducted at the National Bank of Anguilla, the Bank of Nova Scotia and Cable & Wireless. A talk on health targeted at diabetic and hypertensive persons was held at the Valley Health Centre.
There was also a display set up in the lobby of the Princess Alexandra Hospital which focused on haemodialysis, a view of the haemodialysis machine and all the other items used during the process of dialysis.
The nurses explained that when someone’s kidneys have completely lost their abilities to function, the person will be considered as someone to be in the ‘end stage renal disease’. The individual would need dialysis to stay alive.
The signs of ‘End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) are changes in urination, (colour and frequency), swelling in the legs, ankles or face, general weakness, itching of the skin, problems breathing, chills, high blood pressure, headaches and decreased appetite.
Types of treatments are haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplantation. Dialysis is the medical word that means cleaning the body by artificial means. Peritoneal Dialysis means cleaning the blood by using the lining of the stomach and drained from the stomach into another bag.
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The dialysis machine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital
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Haemodialysis is the use of a machine to clean waste from the blood after the kidneys have failed. Blood travels through tubes to a dialyser (artificial kidney) which removes wastes and extra fluid. The clean blood then flows through another set of tubes back into the body. The process is not painful. Most people require the treatment three times a week. Each treatment lasts an average of 3 to 4 hours. Persons on dialysis are able to do almost anything normal people can do. A common side effect of dialysis is low blood pressure, which usually causes tiredness.
Persons with kidney disease should change their diet – limit total fat, eat an appropriate amount of protein, limit salt intake, avoid foods such as beans, cheese, milk, meats which are high in phosphorus which can cause bone disease. They should also limit foods in high potassium such as bananas, oranges, spinach and tomatoes. They should watch their fluid intake.
Presently, haemodialysis is the only form of dialysis offered on the island. The unit at the Princes Alexandra Hospital offers services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 am to 6 pm. Visitors to the island who may need haemodialysis are welcome to the sessions. The perspective client should contact the unit 4 weeks prior to the actual treatment date to allow time for all necessary arrangements.
For more information, contact the unit at 497 7139.