As is known to all, Polycystic Kidney disease (PKD) is a hereditary disease.
At present, there is no treatment that can cure this disease thoroughly.
Therefore, a healthy lifestyle plays a very important role in slowing down the
progression of PKD. Here are some suggestions to PKD patients.
Watch out for ailments
For people with healthy kidneys, a cold, infection or other ailments usually
will not cause problems. However, PKD patients need to watch out such ailments.
This is because they can further damage the kidneys, speeding up the progression
of Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Have a healthy diet
A healthy diet is of great importance for PKD patient. Some tips in this
regard are as follows:
◇A low-salt diet is suggested. Salt intake should be limited to 3 grams per
day. Sodium in salt is associated with blood pressure. And high blood pressure
also can aggravate the kidneys.
◇Follow a low-potassium and low-phosphorus diet. As PKD progresses, patients
may have electrolyte disturbance, including high blood potassium and phosphorus.
Too much potassium in the blood had a bad effect on heart and high blood
phosphorus leads to uncomfortable itching problem. Therefore, foods containing
rich in potassium and phosphorus should be avoided.
◇ A low-protein diet is suggested. Too much protein can impair the damaged
glomeruli and thereby worsen PKD patients’ illness condition.
Watch out for trauma
As cysts wall secrete fluid continuously, cysts grow bigger and bigger. As a
result, both pressure in cysts and abdominal cavity increases. Under such
circumstances, trauma may cause big pressure to the increasing cysts, resulting
in rupture of cysts which can induce terrible infection in cysts.
Control blood pressure
For most PKD patients, they develop high blood pressure before occurrence of
impaired kidney function. Actually, high blood pressure is caused by PKD and in
turn it is able to aggravate this disease. Survey shows that people develop
renal failure after having high blood pressure for 10 years or so. Besides, high
blood pressure also can damage heart, brain and blood vessels as well as causing
stroke in PKD patients with cerebral hemangioma. Hence, controlling blood
pressure well is necessary for every patient with PKD.
Above are suggestions to PKD patients. If you have some specific questions or
problems, you can email to kidney-treatment@hotmail.com or consult experts online.
