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The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the back of the abdomen. Each kidney is about 4 or 5 inches long -- about the size of a fist. The kidneys' function are to filter the blood. All the blood in our bodies passes through the kidneys several times a day. The kidneys remove wastes, control the body's fluid balance, and regulate the balance of electrolytes. As the kidneys filter blood, they create urine, which collects in the kidneys' pelvis -- funnel-shaped structures that drain down tubes called ureters to the bladder. Each kidney contains around a million units called nephrons, each of which is a microscopic filter for blood. It's possible to lose as much as 90% of kidney function without experiencing any symptoms or problems.
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are many types of anemia. Pernicious anemia is a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12.
What is hemodialysis and how does it work? Who needs it? How do you prepare for it? In the United States, over 30 million Americans have kidney disease, and sometimes, kidney disease progresses to kidney failure or end-stage renal disease. When this happens, you cannot survive unless you have a kidney transplant or some form of dialysis. So today we're going to talk about hemodialysis.
Your kidneys are the two kidney bean-shaped organs that are located in your lower back, or in your flanks. And the kidneys are responsible for filtering out or cleaning your blood. They get rid of excess waste, excess toxins, and excess fluids. If your kidneys stop functioning, then you develop renal failure or end-stage renal disease.
What is Hemodialysis?
Hemodialysis, or blood dialysis, is the filtering of your blood outside of your body. So, if your kidneys stop working properly, the hemodialysis acts as a substitute kidney. Now it's important to note that hemodialysis does not actually correct your own kidney function. It does not fix or treat your kidneys.
#hemodialysis #drfrita
What is The Dialyzer?
The dialyzer is actually the filter. It's the main powerhouse of the hemodialysis system, and it is what actually acts as the substitute kidney. In the dialyzer, you have these hollow fibers that run through it, and these fibers are bathed in something called dialysates, or dialysis fluid.
How Often Are Patients Treated With Hemodialysis?
Most patients who are on hemodialysis are on it between three and six hours, about three days a week, especially if they go to a center.
How Does Hemodialysis Work?
So when you are on dialysis, how does your blood get from your body to the hemodialysis machine and then back to your body? Well, it does so through tubes, and those tubes are connected to your access, and we'll talk about access in just a moment. But as far as the tubing, the tubing is connected to your body.
Types Of Hemodialysis Access
Arteriovenous Fistula or AV Fistula
The AV fistula is the gold standard as far as hemodialysis access is concerned because it gives you the most efficient hemodialysis and it is the least likely to be infected.
Arteriovenous Graft or AV Graft
The AV graft is very similar to the AV fistula in that you still have a surgically connected artery and a vein, usually in the arm, but in the case where if you have veins that are rather thin or arteries that are thin and maybe too weak in order to really give you a properly functioning, substantial AV fistula, then the vascular surgeon may opt to add an artificial material in order to make that shunt a little stronger, or little more durable. And so, an AV graft is another option for dialysis access.
Catheter
If you're in a situation where you need temporary dialysis, or if you have acute kidney injury, then you may have a temporary Vascath placed, and it's usually placed in a vein of the neck, the internal jugular vein, or it can be placed in the groin, or in the femoral vein.
Who Needs Hemodialysis Treatment?
How do you know if you need hemodialysis, and when is it time to prepare? Well, if you follow up with your kidney doctor (nephrologist) regularly, he or she will be watching your labs. They'll be able to see those signs of your kidneys not functioning properly.
Bone is not a static part of the body — it's constantly being resorbed (broken down) and formed throughout your life. Your entire skeleton is replaced about every decade, according to the NIH. During your childhood and teenage years, bone formation occurs more quickly than bone resorption, resulting in growth. You reach your maximum bone density and strength around age 30, after which bone resorption slowly overtakes bone formation. Osteoporosis develops when there's an abnormal imbalance between bone resorption and formation — that is, resorption occurs too quickly, or formation too slowly.
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An animation of blood flow inside the Hemodialysis circuit.
About Dr. Rifai:
Dr. Ahmad Oussama Rifai is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in the specialty of Internal Medicine and the sub-specialty of Nephrology.
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Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a type of surgery that improves blood flow to the heart. Surgeons use CABG to treat people who have severe coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque (plak) builds up inside the coronary arteries.
Do you think you have a hernia?
What are hernias?
The hernias we address in this http://DoctorsExpressHartsdale.com Medical Minute are inguinal, or groin, hernias. More common in men than women, an inguinal hernia can occur when part of the small intestine protrudes through a weakness or tear in the area between your abdomen and your thigh- or your groin. It's possible for anyone to get an inguinal hernia, but it is more commonly found in males.
Hernias form a bulge and can be accompanied by pain. Men have an approximate 26% lifetime risk of having hernia at some point in their life, where as women have a much lower chance of one- only about 3% of women will experience a hernia at some point in their life. There are other types of hernias, such as abdominal, or "hiatal" hernias but groin hernias outnumber abdominal hernias by about 3 to 1.
What causes a hernia?
The cause of a hernia is not always known, but hernias are often the result of weak spots in the abdominal wall. Weaknesses can be due to congenital defects (present at birth) or formed later in life. Some risk factors for inguinal hernia include:
• fluid or pressure in the abdomen
• heavy lifting
• straining during urination or bowel movements
• obesity
• chronic cough
• pregnancy
Hernias often form in people with weakened abdominal muscles or in those who do a lot of heavy lifting or straining, which is why we see it quite often in young men. Physiology plays a part: men have testicles and scrotum which descend through the inguinal canal-much larger in men than in women. That is part of the reason men tend to be more susceptible to hernias than women.
Symptoms of hernia
Symptoms of inguinal hernia usually include a bulge in the groin area and pain, pressure, or aching at the bulge—especially when lifting, bending, or coughing. These symptoms usually subside during rest periods. Men may also experience swelling around the testicles.
Screening and Diagnosis of Hernias
If you are having abdominal pain or pelvic bulge and pain, you want to see physician, and he or she will do an exam. They will use their finger, to see if you have a bulge in your scrotum or on your groin and they'll see if its reducible or not. If the exam doesn't give them the answer, they can then perform an ultrasound, an inexpensive test that can tell you the same day whether a hernia is present.
What to do if you think you have a hernia
Most of the time hernias do not cause problems. People often live with hernias their entire life without them becoming aggravated or painful. When they do cause pain though, there is concern that complications may have arisen. Most common hernias are what we call reducible; you can take your finger or you can lie down in bed and due to the effects of gravity, the bulge in the groin will actually disappear, which means the intestinal contents actually go back into the abdominal cavity or to the correct location. If it's not reducible by lying down or using a finger or having a physician trying to reduce it, then there are concerns about complications such as strangulation, or incarceration occurring. If those concerns are there, then you need to see a surgeon, and there may be a need for surgery.
How to Treat a Hernia
As stated earlier, hernias can often be watched for years without being treated. If however, they are causing pain, we generally refer you to a surgeon who can do a very simple laparoscopic surgery.
If you suspect a hernia, but have not been diagnosed, you should see your doctor, and of course, we are happy to see you here at Doctors Express