Treating Kidney Failure and Eating Healthy
APPENDIX B: Words You Need to Know
To learn more about chronic kidney disease and its treatments, you’ll need to learn the special words used with these subjects. Here are some definitions of words used in this book that may be new to you.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
ALBUMIN: A protein found in your blood. It gives an indication of how much protein you are eating. A low level may mean you are at risk for malnutrition. (See also malnutrition.)
ANEMIA: A condition caused by a decrease in the number of red blood cells in your body. Symptoms include paleness, weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath. (See also red blood cells.)
B
BONE DISEASE: A softening of the bones associated with chronic kidney disease. It is also called renal osteodystrophy.
C
CALCIUM: A mineral in your blood that contributes to bone formation and body function.
CALORIES: A measure of energy from food. Most people eat between 1,500 and 3,500 calories per day.
CHOLESTEROL: A fat-like substance found in all meats, poultry, butter, egg yolks and most dairy products. High levels of blood cholesterol are thought to increase the risks of heart disease and strokes. Lower levels may indicate inadequate nutrition and may also increase health risks.
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: Progressive loss of kidney function caused by diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, etc. It may lead to complete kidney failure, which requires treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. (See also kidney failure.)
D
DEXTROSE: A type of sugar mixed into the dialysis solution used in peritoineal dialysis. Its purpose is to draw excess fluid from the blood.
DIABETES: A disease that occurs when the body is unable to use sugar for energy. This can happen when the body no longer makes enough insulin or is unable to use insulin properly.
DIALYSATE: The cleansing solution used in dialysis to remove excess fluids and waste products from the blood. It is also known as dialysate fluid, or bath.
DIALYSIS: The process of removing wastes and excess fluid from your blood when your kidneys have failed.
DOSE: The amount of medication or treatment to be given at one time.
E
ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO): A hormone made by healthy kidneys, which stimulates your body to make red blood cells. Kidney patients develop anemia because their kidneys no longer make enough of this hormone. A man-made form of EPO is available to treat anemia in kidney patients. (See also anemia.)
F
FERRITIN: A form of iron that is stored in the body’s tissues. (See also iron.)
FLUID OVERLOAD: A condition caused by too much sodium (salt) and fluid buildup in the body. Patients not on dialysis can also have fluid overload.
G
GLOMERULONEPHRITIS: A kidney disease involving inflammation of the filtering units of the kidneys (the glomeruli). It is sometimes called Bright’s disease or nephritis.
H
HEMATOCRIT: A measure of the amount of red blood cells in your blood. A low level indicates that you have anemia, which causes you to feel tired. This can be treated with a man-made form of the hormone, erythropoietin, or EPO. (See also anemia, erythropoietin, red blood cells.)
HEMOGLOBIN: The part of red blood cells that carry oxygen to your cells. A low level of hemoglobin also indicates that you have anemia and need treatment. (See also anemia, hematocrit, red blood cells.)
HEMODIALYSIS: A type of dialysis that uses an artificial kidney machine to filter waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Treatments typically last for four hours, three times a week, and take place at home or in a dialysis center.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A leading cause of chronic kidney disease, heart attacks and strokes. It occurs when the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries becomes too high. It is also called hypertension.
HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN: A type of protein found in foods that come from animal sources, such as milk, eggs, meat, poultry and fish. It is also called complete protein.
I
IRON: A mineral that is an important part of red blood cells. It is often given to kidney patients, either as a pill or by injection, as part of the treatment for anemia. (See also anemia, ferritin, transferrin saturation.)
K
KIDNEY FAILURE: The stage of chronic kidney disease where percent or more of kidney function has been lost, and treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant is required to maintain life. It is also called end stage renal disease, or ESRD.
KIDNEYS: The two vital organs, located behind the abdominal cavity, which maintain the balance of fluids and chemicals in the blood, remove waste products from the blood, release important hormones and help regulate blood pressure.
L
LOW QUALITY PROTEINS: A type of protein found mainly in foods that come from plants, such as vegetables, fruit, breads, cereals and other grain products. It is also called incomplete protein.
M
MALNUTRITION: Poor nutritional status, which may result from not eating enough protein, calories or fats. It can lead to wasting of your muscles and body fat.
MEAL PLAN: A chart or guide, which shows you how to make food choices for meals and snacks throughout the day.
P
PERITONEAL CAVITY: The area of the body that holds the digestive organs.
PERITONEAL DIALYSIS: A type of dialysis that uses the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the abdominal organs) as a natural filter to remove waste products and excess fluid from your blood. Two types of peritoneal dialysis can be done: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, or CAPD, and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis, or CCPD.
PERITONITIS: An infection of the peritoneal cavity. In peritoneal dialysis, it occurs when germs get in through the access site. This infection can be prevented by doing the dialysis procedures carefully as taught by the dialysis care team.
PHOSPHATE BINDERS: Medications that prevent the body from absorbing phosphorus in food. They help prevent bone disease in kidney patients. (See also bone disease.)
PHOSPHORUS: A mineral found mainly in teeth and bones, which plays a role in how cells grow and use energy. Blood levels can become elevated with kidney failure and cause bone disease. A low-phosphorus diet and phosphorus binders help keep levels safe. (See also bone disease, phosphate binders.)
POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE: An inherited disease in which cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, develop in the kidneys, where they may enlarge and cause progressive damage to kidney tissue.
POTASSIUM: A mineral needed for normal heart and muscle function. Too high or too low levels of potassium can be harmful. Potassium needs to be controlled in the diets of people with kidney failure.
PROTEINS: A nutrient obtained from meat, fish, eggs, milk products, beans, pasta and rice. It is needed for growth, strength, healing and fighting infection or illness.
R
RED BLOOD CELLS: The cells in your blood that carry oxygen and nutrients to all your body organs and tissues. If your level is too low, you have a disorder called anemia, which makes you feel tired. (See also anemia, hematocrit, hemoglobin.)
RENAL DIETITIAN: A registered dietitian with specialized training in diets for kidney patients.
S
SODIUM: A mineral found in table salt and many foods, especially packaged and processed foods. It causes the body to hold onto extra fluid, which may lead to swelling and increased blood pressure. (See also fluid overload.)
T
TRANSFERRIN SATURATION: A measure of iron in your body. If your result is below 20 percent, you may need an iron supplement to treat anemia. ( See also iron, anemia.)
TRANSPLANTATION: An operation done to place a new organ, such as a heart, kidney, liver or pancreas from one person to another whose own organ has failed.
U
UREA: A waste product of protein, normally removed from the body by the kidneys.
URINE: A fluid containing the waste products removed from the blood by the kidneys.
V
VITAMINS: A group of substances needed in small amounts for growth and development. They cannot be made by the body and must be provided by your diet.
