Do you need kidney dialysis in your early 30s? Frequent urination and high blood pressure, beware of "polycystic kidney disease"! Doctor: The sooner you take medication, the better
The number of dialysis patients in Taiwan exceeds 90,000, ranking first in the world. Therefore, Taiwan has been dubbed the “Kingdom of Kidney Dialysis”. Although most people receiving dialysis treatment in Taiwan are elderly, many young adults are also at risk of undergoing dialysis at a young age due to polycystic kidney disease. Fortunately, oral drugs for polycystic kidney disease are now available that can delay the time of kidney dialysis. It is expected to help patients regain control of their lives and avoid the obstacles and regrets in life caused by kidney dialysis during the sprint period of their careers.
Master the five golden symptoms and detect polycystic kidney disease early
Dr. Lin Xuanren, director of the peritoneal dialysis unit of Ajou University Hospital, said that polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disease, and the heritability rate is about 50% as long as one parent has the disease. Patients may be born with small cysts in their kidneys that are difficult to detect because they are too small. However, when the patient reaches the age of 30-40, the cysts may enter a period of rapid growth, and the patient’s kidneys will develop cysts of different sizes, which will not only lead to a decline in kidney function, but also may cause compression of the organs in the abdominal cavity.
Dr. Lin Xuanren pointed out that when a cyst compresses other organs, corresponding symptoms may occur. For example, compression of the abdominal cavity may cause abdominal discomfort or pain; in addition, the vortex formed by the cyst can easily produce stones; if the cyst ruptures, it may also cause hematuria or even Urinary tract infection. As kidney function declines, the body’s ability to maintain water and salt becomes dysfunctional, making it more likely to cause high blood pressure. The public is reminded that if these five symptoms occur, they should be alert and go to the nephrology department for medical examination as soon as possible.
In addition, Dr. Lin Xuanren said that patients with polycystic kidney disease also need to pay attention to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Their chance of suffering from “aortic dissection” is 7-10 times higher than that of healthy normal people. Therefore, if a person who has not had any three high blood pressure diseases and is under 35 years old has found out that he has three high blood pressures during a recent health checkup, in addition to immediately going to a cardiology department for treatment, he should also pay attention to whether the high blood pressure problem is caused by polycystic kidney disease.
The sooner you start taking medication for polycystic kidney disease, the better! Can delay dialysis for up to 7 years
Dr. Lin Xuanren explained that early treatment for polycystic kidney disease is not effective. Doctors can only control the condition by reminding patients to drink more water, eat less salt, eat less protein, and avoid strenuous exercise. In the past five years, thanks to medical progress, there are now specialized oral drugs that can slow down kidney deterioration and cyst enlargement in patients with polycystic kidney disease, and the earlier they are taken, the better the effect.
Dr. Lin Xuanren said that currently the drugs are covered by health insurance. If the patient takes the drugs regularly and has a normal schedule, kidney dialysis can be delayed for more than 7 years. However, medication may cause the patient to increase urine output and frequent urination. It is recommended that these symptoms be improved by reducing the dose or adjusting the medication time. For example, in order to reduce frequent urination at night after taking medication, the medication time can be adjusted to noon.
If you have a family history of kidney dialysis, you should get screened early! Doctors remind you of 4 habits to protect your kidneys
In addition to early detection and regular medication to control polycystic kidney disease, Dr. Lin Xuanren also reminds patients that they should develop the following habits to prevent symptoms from affecting their lives:
Drink an appropriate amount of water. The amount of water drunk and the amount of urine should be maintained at a certain level. It is recommended that the amount of urine should be greater than 2000c.c.
Low protein diet. Protein is metabolized by the body and forms “nitrogenous waste”, which may burden the kidneys. Therefore, eggs and meat need to be reduced consciously.
Medication compliance. If it can be detected early and regular medication is started in the second stage, there is a chance to prevent the continued progression of kidney disease. Therefore, early detection and early medication can better protect the patient’s renal function.
Regular tracking. If young adults are diagnosed with high blood pressure prematurely, or have hematuria during urination, or have a family history of unexplained kidney dialysis and other risk factors, they must pay special attention to their kidney health and discuss with their doctor whether they need to undergo regular renal ultrasound examinations.
Finally, Dr. Lin Xuanren reminded that in the past, there were no active treatments for patients with polycystic kidney disease. However, oral drugs are now available that can delay dialysis and maintain kidney function. People with a family history of kidney dialysis must go to the hospital for screening. Once polycystic kidney disease is discovered, they can receive early and appropriate treatment to avoid early kidney dialysis crisis.
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