Article professionally consulted by Doctor Nguyen Huy Nhat, MD., MSc., - Pulmonologists - Outpatient & Internal Medicine Department - Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang
Acute pulmonary edema is one of the complications of chronic renal failure that can be life-threatening.
1. Overview of renal failure
1.1 What is renal failure?
Renal failure is a condition that reduces glomerular filtration rate below normal levels. Chronic renal failure occurs when glomerular filtration rate consistently decreases, related to a reduction in functional nephrons.
It is a clinical and biochemical syndrome progressing over years, resulting from functional nephron fibrosis, gradually reducing glomerular filtration and causing increased non-protein nitrogen in blood such as urea, creatinine, uric acid. Chronic renal failure typically progresses slowly and shows no symptoms until reaching a dangerous stage harmful to the patient.
1.2 Common complications in chronic renal failure
- Endocrine disorders
- Metabolic disorders: Insulin resistance, nutritional disorders, blood lipid disorders
- Hematological changes: Anemia, immune deficiency, coagulation disorders
- Digestive: Nausea, loss of appetite, oral mucosal ulcers, and more severely, gastrointestinal bleeding
- Cardiovascular: 50-80% of chronic renal failure patients experience cardiovascular complications, including: urea-induced myocardial damage, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, pericarditis, heart rhythm disorders, valvular heart disease.
- Water and electrolyte balance disorders, acid-base imbalance
- Pulmonary complications such as: Pulmonary edema, pneumonia, bronchitis, and pleural effusion
- Neuromuscular: Muscle weakness, cramps, peripheral neuropathy, and potentially coma
- Bone: Renal failure-induced bone damage, collectively called renal osteodystrophy
2. Acute pulmonary edema in renal failure patients
Acute pulmonary edema is one of the complications of chronic renal failure. Patients with chronic renal failure who experience generalized edema, pleural effusion, can develop pleural fluid accumulation and lead to acute pulmonary edema.
Therefore, to be vigilant and prevent dangerous complications like acute pulmonary edema, patients with renal failure need an appropriate lifestyle that includes:
- Lifestyle changes:
If renal failure is due to hypertension, patients need to maintain stable blood pressure. For those with diabetes, blood glucose levels must be controlled. Good blood glucose management can help prevent or slow diabetic complications, including renal failure. Maintain cholesterol levels within target range. Lifestyle and physical activity should be reasonable, maintaining a healthy weight.
- Dietary changes:
Diet can help slow the progression of kidney disease. Patients need to limit salt intake, consuming less than 2 grams of salt per day. Avoid pickled foods, pre-prepared foods such as pickled vegetables, pickled cucumbers, instant noodles, etc. Limit fried foods and avoid adding seasonings like MSG or stock powder when cooking. Increase vitamin intake by consuming more vegetables and fruits.
For acute renal failure, patients sometimes need temporary dialysis for a few weeks while waiting for kidney function to recover. This dialysis is temporary, aimed at removing accumulated substances and excess water from the body.
To detect chronic kidney disease early, individuals should undergo annual health check-ups. Basic blood and urine tests can reveal abnormalities in the kidneys. If the disease is detected early, physicians can recommend appropriate treatment methods to slow kidney failure and mitigate potential cardiovascular complications, electrolyte disorders, and infections.
In summary, kidney failure can cause dangerous complications such as acute pulmonary edema. Therefore, patients must pay attention to maintaining a reasonable lifestyle and regularly visit hospitals for periodic examinations to detect and treat potential causes of kidney failure.
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