Renal Transplant News

Living a Healthy Lifestyle While on Dialysis

Patients have a vested interest in taking good care of themselves while they are undergoing dialysis treatments. Besides feeling better, they can ensure that they are eligible for a transplant when a donor organ becomes available.

“If a person goes into transplant surgery in good overall health, they generally do a lot better after the transplant,” says Transplant Nephrologist Robert Zenenberg, D.O.

Dr. Zenenberg’s colleague, Nita Shah, M.D., echoes these sentiments. “A proactive patient is the best candidate for transplantation. Many of the symptoms patients experience on dialysis cannot be treated with medication, yet there are basic things patients can do to improve their health. For example, a good diet and exercise can have a dramatic impact on a patient’s overall sense of well-being.”

Drs. Shah and Zennenberg advise that patients advocate for themselves by asking questions and educating themselves on the issues most affecting their health. To help patients who are on the waiting list, Drs. Shah and Zennenberg prepared the following guidelines that describe the areas of most concern for the majority of individuals on dialysis:

Heart
Heart disease remains the most common cause of illness and death for all individuals, including those who have undergone renal transplantation. Decrease your risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and coronary heart disease by:

• Minimizing salt intake; maintaining healthy salt and water balance
• Maintaining calcium and phosphorus balance
• Taking cholesterol medications, if prescribed
• Losing any excess weight

Bones
Post- transplant medications can cause bone loss. To prevent future osteoporosis:

• Stop smoking
• Maintain calcium and phosphorus balance
• Continue weight-bearing exercise such as walking, and consider carrying weights while you walk
• Have a baseline bone density scan

Anemia
Prolonged anemia can cause heart disease. Ensure good blood test results by:

• Taking Epoetin alfin (EPOGEN?), as prescribed, to prevent anemia
• Promptly reporting weakness or fatigue to your dialysis team and nephrologist

Patient Compliance
A proactive patient is the best candidate for transplantation:

• See your nephrologist regularly
• Keep your regular dialysis appointments
• Do not stop dialysis treatments early; increase dialysis time, if necessary
• Take all medications as prescribed
• Restrict fluid gain between dialysis treatments
• Maintain a nutritious diet consistent with any restrictions

Exercise
Maintain good muscle tone:

• Enjoy regular aerobic activity
• Strive for 30 minutes of exercise a day, especially on your non-dialysis days

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