What You Must Know About Dialysis : The Secrets to Surviving and Thriving on Dialysis

When an individual's kidneys are unable to remove enough waste and excess water from the blood, the standard treatment is dialysis. The person is hooked up to a dialysis machine - typically, three times a week for at least three to four hours of treatment - with the machine performing some of the functions normally completed by the kidneys. Although a proven life-saving technique, over time, the process can become both physically debilitating and psychologically difficult. As the world's population ages, more people go on dialysis every year and each has to find answers to important questions about treatment. To address these pressing issues, kidney specialist, Dr. Rich Snyder, has written a complete guide to dialysis. This book not only answers common questions, but, also, offers practical advice, commonsense strategies and complementary options. The book begins with an introduction to dialysis - how it works, what types are available and how you can manage accessibility and time. The author then goes on to explain the importance of blood tests and how you can learn to read and understand them, common drugs and the complications that may arise from their use and the all-too-common problems of inflammation and heart disease. Dr. Snyder then offers crucial information on natural supplements, lifestyle changes and nutrition. In addition, he looks at the psychological impact of the treatment and offers coping tactics that can help you deal successfully with the issues associated with dialysis. For most people, dialysis is an unplanned and uncharted journey. In this book, Dr. Snyder provides you with a powerful beacon to light the path ahead with compassion and with rock-solid answers to your most important questions. This is a book you can turn to time and time again.