Coping with Kidney Disease (eBook)

Mackenzie Walser, M.D., is Professor of Pharmacology and Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Betsy Thorpe is the coauthor of Carol Guber's Type 2 Diabetes Life Plan.

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Terms, Measures, and Abbreviations 5

Part I: Looking at the Disease of Kidney Failure

1 What Do Kidneys Do and What Happens When They Fail? 9

2 Are You at Risk for Kidney Failure? 17

3 Symptoms of Kidney Failure 27

Part II: How to Treat Kidney Failure

4 Treating Kidney Failure 35

5 Step 1: Assess Your Current Treatment Plan 44

6 Step 2: Make Lifestyle Changes 52

7 Step 3: Follow a Low-Protein Diet 55

8 Step 4: Treat Salt and Water Problems 88

9 Step 5: Regulate Your Blood Pressure 96

10 Step 6: Treat Acidosis 106

11 Step 7: Treat Anemia and Iron Deficiency 109

12 Step 8: Treat Potassium Problems 112

13 Step 9: Treat Calcium and Phosphate Problems 117

14 Step 10: Treat Gout and Uric Acid Problems 122

15 Step 11: Treat Your High Cholesterol 126

16 Step 12: Know the Medications That Slow the Progression of Renal Failure 130

Part III: Tracking Kidney Failure, Dialysis, Transplants, and More

17 Keeping Close Watch on Your Kidney Failure 139

18 Dietary Treatment of the Nephrotic Syndrome 158

19 Safe and Unsafe Medications for Patients with Kidney Failure 163

20 Transplantation as an Alternative to Dialysis 167

21 When to Opt for Dialysis 172

22 Patients Who Have Avoided Dialysis 180

Appendix 1: Resources for Kidney Patients 197

Appendix 2: Government Support of Low-Protein Diets 201

Notes 205

Glossary 213

Index 223

Drawing on his work treating hundreds of adult kidney disease patients at his institution's Clinical Research Center, Walser (pharmacology & medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine) aims to assist readers in understanding kidney failure, a condition that can be caused by diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Many of his points--e.g., how to recognize the early warning signs, get a correct diagnosis, and evaluate treatment options-are illustrated by the stories of real patients. Walser also presents a low protein diet as the center of his J 2-step treatment to help kidney disease patients avoid dialysis. Despite the use of patient stories and sample menus for the low protein diet, this book will not suit consumers owing to the prevalent medical jargon. The National Kidney Foundation offers more accessible and useful information on its web site, www.kidney.org. Not recommended. —Marge Kars Bronson. Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI (Library Journal , May 1, 2004)