Stepping up for Chronic Kidney Disease

I want to thank Kathe Lebeau, of the NeKF for being a guest blogger on Friday.  Today I was planning on continuing posting about the renal diet and the challenges that come with it but I wanted to speak more about advocacy and why it is so important for kidney patients to take action. With over 96,000 people waiting for lifesaving kidney transplants the time is now for all kidney patients to step up and take action. We need to put a face to this disease and get involved. Only a person with CKD can explain what its like living with the disease. Whether its on a local, state of federal level we need to get involved. We have all faced dealing with the cost of medications or issues with transportation. These are just a few of things the NeKF will help address through the Advocates' Alliance. If you have the passion and any amount of time I urge you to contact them and get involved. Be an advocate for yourself and others!

Last Tuesday we began talking about sodium, phosphorus and potassium. Since I have been on dialysis for the last five and half years, I will start with their effect on the dialysis diet and the importance of keeping each of these in balance and under control. We will start with an explanation of what each is, what foods are high in each, and the effects when the levels are too high and the risks of each.

Sodium: is a major mineral found in the fluid surrounding the cells in the body, It helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid volume. It also helps maintain ph balance in the body. Both muscles and the nervous system rely on sodium to function correctly.

Phosphorus: is a mineral that makes up 1% of a person's total body weight, and is present in every cell of the human body. Most phosphorus is found in the teeth and bones. It plays an important role in how the body uses carbohydrates and fats. It is also needed for the production of  protein which is necessary for growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissue. It also helps in kidney function, muscle contractions, normal heartbeat and nerve signaling.

Potassium; is a dietary mineral necessary for balancing ph and fluids in the body. It's important to maintain normal blood pressure and works in opposition to sodium. It also is needed for normal muscle growth and function of the nervous system and brain functions.

Some foods high in sodium include: Fast foods and processed foods, canned goods, baked goods, cheese, salted snacks and luncheon meats. High sodium increases the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, heart attack and kidney disease. In dialysis patients it also causes increased edema or swelling in the feet or ankles.Which can lead to breathing issues and pulmonary edema. That's why its so important to limit sodium intake.

Some foods high in phosphorus include: dairy products, chocolate, processed meats, beer, cola's and dark soft drinks, nuts/seeds and dried beans and peas. High phosphorus levels causes your body to pull extra calcium from the bones and can weaken them. When you have both high phosphorus and calcium, which usually go hand and hand, it can lead to dangerous amounts of  calcium deposits in the lungs, eyes, heart and blood vessels. You want to maintain a phosphorus level of 3.5 to 5.5 mg/dl.

Some foods high in potassium include: raisins, prunes, dates, strawberries, bananas, watermelon, soy and soy foods, turkey and beef. High potassium levels causes irregular heartbeat, nausea and a slow, weak or absent pulse. Low potassium level causes fatigue, muscle pain, cramps, constipation and dizziness. You want to maintain a potassium level of 3.5 to 6.0 mg/dl,

Okay before we go much further lets discuss the functions of  the kidneys and how important they are to our over all well being. Our kidneys are 24/7 cleaning machines. These twin shaped organs located below the rib cage work 365 days a year removing waste from the body.  Each and every day these organs pump about 200 quarts of  blood through about 140 miles of tubes. On top of removing waste products,  the kidneys remove extra fluid, produce hormones like Erythropoietin, and they also help maintain the balance of minerals and chemicals (like sodium, phosphorus, and potassium) to keep us healthy. And we can’t forget to mention one of the most important functions of the kidneys which is to control blood pressure.

One of biggest challenges of the dialysis renal diet is balancing these three levels. It has been the biggest struggle for me. Educating myself about what they where and the ideal levels helped me get them under control and I hope this helps each of you as well.

I want to thank you for joining me on this journey and looks forward to your questions, comments and concerns.

Keep on fighting all you kidney warriors!
~Kidney Blogger