In Home Care: Kidney Disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kidney disease affects over 20 million Americans and many more are at risk for developing it. A great number of those with kidney disease are seniors. The main risk factors for kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Next in line are frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics. If kidney disease is not addressed and treated in time, the kidneys will fail. Once a kidney fails, the only options are dialysis or a kidney transplant.
If kidney disease is caught early, in home care provider can help your senior loved one avoid further complications by implementing a few lifestyle modifications. …show more content…
Sadly, smoking cessation will not reverse kidney disease, but smoking will almost certainly make the damage to the kidneys worse.
Second, reduce sodium intake. An average adult with a moderate lifestyle does not need to consume more than 2,300mg of salt in a day. It is estimated that most Americans take in over 9,000mg. The problem is not just adding salt to food; part of the problem is that people don't realize how much sodium is already in their food and the number of different ways it presents itself. For example, look for any ingredient that has Na or Sodium as part of its name such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) or disodium phosphate. Sodium is even in baking soda and baking powder.
To lower dietary sodium, your senior loved one may benefit from the advice of a dietician. If they need help shopping for or preparing nutritious meals, in home care personnel can be of great service. After all, many seniors with kidney disease also have limited mobility and other maladies such as arthritis that make cooking and cleaning difficult. It is a lot easier to grab a microwave meal or make a sandwich with deli meats. While these options may fill the belly and even taste alright, they, as are all processed foods, are loaded with
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kidney disease affects over 20 million Americans and many more are at risk for developing it. A great number of those with kidney disease are seniors. The main risk factors for kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Next in line are frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics. If kidney disease is not addressed and treated in time, the kidneys will fail. Once a kidney fails, the only options are dialysis or a kidney transplant.
If kidney disease is caught early, in home care provider can help your senior loved one avoid further complications by implementing a few lifestyle modifications. …show more content…
Sadly, smoking cessation will not reverse kidney disease, but smoking will almost certainly make the damage to the kidneys worse.
Second, reduce sodium intake. An average adult with a moderate lifestyle does not need to consume more than 2,300mg of salt in a day. It is estimated that most Americans take in over 9,000mg. The problem is not just adding salt to food; part of the problem is that people don't realize how much sodium is already in their food and the number of different ways it presents itself. For example, look for any ingredient that has Na or Sodium as part of its name such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) or disodium phosphate. Sodium is even in baking soda and baking powder.
To lower dietary sodium, your senior loved one may benefit from the advice of a dietician. If they need help shopping for or preparing nutritious meals, in home care personnel can be of great service. After all, many seniors with kidney disease also have limited mobility and other maladies such as arthritis that make cooking and cleaning difficult. It is a lot easier to grab a microwave meal or make a sandwich with deli meats. While these options may fill the belly and even taste alright, they, as are all processed foods, are loaded with