Causes of Fluid Overload in Kidney Dialysis Patients

Fluid overload, also known as hypervolemia, occurs when your body contains too much water.  Hypervolemia treatment is possible and we will also discuss them in this blog. We know that the kidneys' primary job is to keep the body's fluid equilibrium. If your body retains excessive fluid, it can cause health problems such as breathing difficulties and edema.

When you're on dialysis, your kidneys can no longer maintain the proper fluid functioning of the body. They are unable to eliminate enough fluid. That's why it's critical to keep your sodium (salt) and hydration intake under check between dialysis sessions. This assists your body in maintaining the proper fluid balance and makes it easy for your dialysis treatment to eliminate excess water. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the causes of fluid overdose and its treatment of it.

How Do Fluid Overload Symptoms Look Like?

You might be experiencing symptoms as a result of the fundamental illness that is producing your fluid excess. Fluid overload can be caused by a variety of factors and must be addressed. One of the main causes of kidney dialysis and fluid overload is the failure of your kidneys.  If you develop any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor: ‌

• Swelling: Swelling in your feet, legs, hands, or face is possible. Edema is a type of swelling produced by an excess of fluid in the body. If you touch the region of swelling with your thumb and it produces a compressive force, it's termed pitting edema.
• Blood pressure that is too high: Human heart has to work longer because of the excess fluid in your body. Your blood pressure will rise as a result of this. High blood pressure can also cause this fluid overload.
• Shortness of breath: If the extra fluid goes into your lungs, it might be challenging to breathe. When you breathe, you could also hear a crackling sound. If you're experiencing difficulties breathing on kidney dialysis, you should visit our doctor right away. ‌
• Discomfort: You may get a migraine, stomach discomfort, or abdominal cramps, all of which can be unpleasant.
• Weight gain: Weight gain is the most common symptom of fluid excess. When they feel swelling in their legs or abdomen, most people grow 8 to 15 pounds of their weight.

What Are the Causes of Fluid Overload?

When your kidneys retain salt, it causes fluid excess. The cause of kidney dialysis is fluid overload.  The salt and fluid equilibrium in your body are managed by your kidneys. When your kidneys retain salt, the sodium level in the entire body rises as well. This makes your body to create an excessive amount of fluid. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Heart Failure: When your heart muscle is weak or injured, it can't circulate blood as efficiently as it should. This is known as heart failure. If your heart muscle becomes too stiff, your heart may not be able to pump blood as efficiently as it should. It's possible that your kidneys aren't getting enough blood to operate correctly. To try to restore equilibrium, your body stores fluid and salt.
• Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is a condition in which scar tissue forms on the liver as a result of liver illness. Scar tissue in your liver makes it difficult for it to operate properly. This might lead to a build-up of fluid in your abdomen.
• Kidney failure: Kidney failure occurs when your kidneys fail to filter your blood and eliminate toxins from your body. They also keep your body's fluid and salt levels in check. When your kidneys aren't operating properly, fluid can cause a buildup.
• Nephrotic syndrome: Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disease that is characterized by damage to the tiny blood capillaries of the kidneys. The waste and excess water in your blood are filtered out by these blood arteries. Your body can't get rid of extra fluid when they are injured.

These causes of fluid overload can also affect your lifestyle changes but you can keep that under control by like:

• Make sure you're getting enough exercise.
• Take charge of your panic.
• Make sure you get enough sleep.
• Maintain a careful watch on your blood pressure.
• Keep your blood sugar within check if you have diabetes.
• Make sure you're up to date on your seasonal and pneumonia vaccines.

Treatment of Hypervolemia

Hypervolemia treatment can be done by the following remedies:

• Diuretics: These are the medications that aid in the removal of excess fluid.
• Dialysis: It is a therapy in which your blood is filtered by a machine.
• Paracentesis: A technique in which a tiny tube is used to remove fluid from your abdomen is known as paracentesis.
• Limiting salt consumption
• Keeping a daily weight record

Conclusion

There are various causes of fluid overload but it is upon us how we control it. Some medications treat this fluid overload in the body. When you feel any of the symptoms listed above, contact our Alfa Kidney Care.