What Dialysis Research Can Tell You About Your Options
Kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death among Americans according to the CDC. An estimated 37 million adults are expected to have kidney disease in the country. With this, dialysis has been an in-demand treatment helping patients improve their quality and length of life. With dialysis comes the importance of dialysis research.
When Does Dialysis Become Necessary?
Dialysis is a medical treatment that mimics some of the functions of healthy kidneys. This gives the body the chance to function normally even when the kidneys no longer work as efficiently as before.
For most patients, dialysis becomes necessary when they reach End Stage Renal Failure (ESRD). This happens when 85-90% of the kidney’s function already fails and the patient’s GFR is less than 15.
What is Dialysis and How Can It Affect Daily Living?
As kidneys fail, the body’s functions are also affected. Dialysis aims to keep things in balance by maintaining safe levels of some chemicals in the blood. Dialysis helps remove waste, extra water, and salt that the kidneys can no longer excrete, and maintains blood pressure levels.
With so many ERSD patients, there’s a growing need for dialysis as a primary intervention for kidney failure.
For many years, medical experts have worked on improving dialysis to further its benefits. Therefore, dialysis research is critical for improving the treatment.
What is Dialysis Research?
Like any other medical treatment or intervention, breakthroughs start with good research. Although dialysis is already effective and helps millions of ESRD patients live a better quality of life, there’s always room for improvement and this is where dialysis research comes in.
This type of research aims to understand the human body’s reactions and interactions with dialysis treatments, so experts can find ways to improve it, especially the comfort level of the patient during the dialysis itself.
Researchers look at patients undergoing dialysis treatments and monitor their progress, side effects, and stress levels to measure how they can improve their experience.
So many medical conditions lead to End Stage Renal Failure. Researchers are closely monitoring how these medical conditions affect the efficiency of dialysis as part of the patient’s treatment plan.
The Bottom-Line
In the end, dialysis research aims to help people living with kidney disease. This research provides patients with options when it comes to treatment, understanding how their body reacts to dialysis and allows them to improve their quality of life.
Being a part of dialysis research is also a great way to contribute to the improvement of the healthcare system and give others the chance to enjoy it. For more information, click here and check out our areas of research at NICR.
The National Institute of Clinical Research is an SMO/CRO with offices and labs in the following cities and states: New Jersey, North Carolina, Austin, San Diego, San Francisco, Bakersfield 93309, Fountain Valley 92708, Garden Grove 92840, Hacienda Heights 91745, Huntington Beach 92648, Las Vegas 89106, Long Beach 90806, Los Angeles 90048, Ontario 91762, Rosemead 91770, San Antonio 78207, Santa Ana 92704, Upland 91786, and Westminster 92683.
