What Happens when your Kidneys Fail?
Kidneys filter wastes from our body. When both our kidneys fail, waste begins to accumulate within our system, causing multiple problems. Broadly, there can be two types of failure, acute and chronic. In acute episodes, the organs fail rapidly within a few months due to some kind of infection that hit the system. Chronic kidney disease is a long term condition where the kidney function slowly declines over a period of many years.
Kidney failure is an extremely serious condition, requiring costly treatment. This is why it is always advisable to seek an additional critical illness insurance policy, along with your basic Mediclaim cover, especially if there happens to be a history of such disorders in the family.
Does it mean the end of the world?
Well, no. Provided your critical illness insurance policy covers the cost of regular dialysis, there are a couple of options available for you. These include hemodialysis or blood dialysis and peritoneal dialysis or water dialysis. We look at both here.
Hemodialysis: This process filters and cleans the blood in your system with the aid of a machine. This will temporarily remove extra salt, harmful wastes and extra water from the body. It helps in controlling blood pressure and maintains the balance of bicarbonate, sodium, potassium and calcium in the blood. Hemodialysis will be required several times a week, depending upon the condition of the patient. It is a hospital based procedure that cannot be carried out at home. In addition, medication, diet control and limited fluid intake will also be required to manage the condition.
Peritoneal Dialysis: This procedure is a home based one and is suggested for those who are not fit for blood dialysis. Often, patients with serious heart conditions are advised this filtering process. Here a mixture of sugar, minerals and water is passed through a catheter tube into the belly. This solution draws out waste, like chemicals and excess water. After a few hours, this solution is drained out from the belly through another tube.
Ideally, a kidney failure patient should get himself or herself enrolled for a transplant, provided the age and medical condition permits. Till a suitable donor is found, dialysis can continue on a regular basis, as advised by specialists. Having critical illness insurance will help in managing the costs effectively. Once a kidney transplant is successful, the person can return to a normal life within a few months.
Kidneys filter wastes from our body. When both our kidneys fail, waste begins to accumulate within our system, causing multiple problems. Broadly, there can be two types of failure, acute and chronic. In acute episodes, the organs fail rapidly within a few months due to some kind of infection that hit the system. Chronic kidney disease is a long term condition where the kidney function slowly declines over a period of many years.
Kidney failure is an extremely serious condition, requiring costly treatment. This is why it is always advisable to seek an additional critical illness insurance policy, along with your basic Mediclaim cover, especially if there happens to be a history of such disorders in the family.
Does it mean the end of the world?
Well, no. Provided your critical illness insurance policy covers the cost of regular dialysis, there are a couple of options available for you. These include hemodialysis or blood dialysis and peritoneal dialysis or water dialysis. We look at both here.
Hemodialysis: This process filters and cleans the blood in your system with the aid of a machine. This will temporarily remove extra salt, harmful wastes and extra water from the body. It helps in controlling blood pressure and maintains the balance of bicarbonate, sodium, potassium and calcium in the blood. Hemodialysis will be required several times a week, depending upon the condition of the patient. It is a hospital based procedure that cannot be carried out at home. In addition, medication, diet control and limited fluid intake will also be required to manage the condition.
Peritoneal Dialysis: This procedure is a home based one and is suggested for those who are not fit for blood dialysis. Often, patients with serious heart conditions are advised this filtering process. Here a mixture of sugar, minerals and water is passed through a catheter tube into the belly. This solution draws out waste, like chemicals and excess water. After a few hours, this solution is drained out from the belly through another tube.
Ideally, a kidney failure patient should get himself or herself enrolled for a transplant, provided the age and medical condition permits. Till a suitable donor is found, dialysis can continue on a regular basis, as advised by specialists. Having critical illness insurance will help in managing the costs effectively. Once a kidney transplant is successful, the person can return to a normal life within a few months.