Do I Need To Make Lifestyle Changes To Manage Kidney Disease?
Glomerulonephritis is a rare but potentially serious condition that affects the kidneys. Each person has two kidneys, one on either side of the body. Inside the kidneys, there are glomeruli, which are small filters that filter waste and liquids through your kidneys to keep them functioning properly. Due to infection, disease, immune disorders, or other reasons, these glomeruli can get damaged, resulting in glomerulonephritis.
Depending on the severity of your condition, you might not show any symptoms or require treatment for glomerulonephritis. However, in most cases, people with this condition will require some form of treatment. If so, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible to keep your kidneys from sustaining too much damage. In severe cases, glomerulonephritis can lead to kidney failure.
One course of treatment for glomerulonephritis is to use immunosuppressants. Immunosuppressants are medications that suppress your immune system and keep it in check. Because glomerulonephritis is often connected to problems with your immune system, immunosuppressants can address this issue and keep your immune system in order.
In addition to immunosuppressants, there are other medications that are helpful in treating glomerulonephritis.
By definition, glomerulonephritis happens because your kidneys and glomeruli are inflamed. Therefore, to reduce inflammation and swelling, you may have to take steroids, such as oxymetholone or boldenone. Steroids also suppress your immune system, another key element in treating glomerulonephritis.
Diuretics, such as thiazide and metolazone, are water pills that promote urination and get rid of excess fluid. This is a great way to force excess fluid from the body, which reduces stress on your kidneys.
Although commonly used to treat high blood pressure, ACE inhibitors are also helpful in treating kidney conditions, including glomerulonephritis. ACE inhibitors, such as benazepril and captopril, reduce the amount of protein in your urine by helping to filter it out of your kidneys. This makes it easier for your glomeruli to do their job, resulting in fewer symptoms.
If diuretics and ACE inhibitors do not filter enough protein from your blood, you may need plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis is a special kidney treatment that removes excess protein from your blood to make life easier for your kidneys. This reduces strain and can mitigate symptoms of glomerulonephritis.
If your glomerulonephritis gets out of control and results in kidney failure, you will need to go on dialysis. Dialysis is a lifelong treatment that involves using a machine that acts in place of your damaged kidneys. Through dialysis, unwanted waste, proteins, and other things that your kidneys normally get rid of are removed from the body. Dialysis is the last course of treatment for people with glomerulonephritis, and you will need it until you receive a kidney transplant.
If you catch glomerulonephritis in time, you might be able to treat your condition with lifestyle changes. These changes include eating a healthy diet and reducing the amount of salt, potassium, protein, and fat that you put into your body. You will also need to stop smoking and drinking alcohol if you want to keep your kidneys healthy.
While there is no permanent cure for glomerulonephritis, there are treatments that can keep your kidneys healthy and prolong your life. Ideally, you can manage your condition by making lifestyle changes and taking medications. If these are not enough, you will need to perform plasmapheresis. Eventually, if you start to experience kidney failure, you will need dialysis treatments or a transplant.