The kidneys, a pair of bean-shaped organs, are located at the bottom of the
ribcage in the right and left sides of the back. They receive blood from the
aorta, filter it, and send it back to the heart with the right balance of
chemicals and fluids for use throughout the body.
The kidneys control the quantity and quality of fluids within the body.
Besides, they help to control important substances like sodium, potassium,
chloride, bicarbonate (HCO3-), pH, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. They also
produce hormones and vitamins that direct cell activities in many organs. When
the kidneys are not working properly, waste products and fluid can build up to
dangerous levels, creating a life-threatening situation. Then what are routine
western therapies for kidney disease?
Treatment varies depending on the type of kidney disease present. Generally,
the earlier kidney disease is recognized, the more likely it is to be treatable.
Dietary restrictions, drug therapy, and surgical procedures may be applied. For
those patients whose kidneys can no longer effectively remove waste and water
from the body, a dialysis can take over kidney filtration. Kidney transplant
surgery is another option when kidneys fail. Let’s look at some common medical
methods separately.
● Dialysis
Dialysis is a process that performs the work of healthy kidneys by clearing wastes and extra fluid from the body and restoring the proper balance of chemicals (electrolytes) in the blood. Patients may use dialysis for many years, or it may be a short-term measure while they are waiting for a kidney transplant.
● Drug therapy
Western medicines can treat kidney disease symptomatically. Antibiotics are
usually prescribed by the doctor to deal with infection. Erythropoietin (rhEPO)
therapy and iron replacement therapy are for anemia. Diuretics are used to treat
fluid buildup caused by kidney disease. For those who have high blood pressure,
medications like an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) can
be used to lower the blood pressure and reduce the amount of urine protein. Pure
western medicines often lead to the disease recur or can’t control the illness
condition.
● Kidney transplant
A transplant is a treatment for kidney failure but is not a cure. It may
allow patient a more active life and a longer life, but there are some
drawbacks. The most common complications of kidney transplant include infection
and bleeding. People who have transplants must take drugs to keep their body
from rejecting the new kidney for the rest of their lives.