What are the consequences of having uremia?

Uremiais a syndrome composed of a series of clinical manifestations that occur after chronic kidney disease enters the terminal stage. Uremia can lead to water-electrolyte imbalance, acid-base balance disorder, gastrointestinal symptoms, heart failure, anemia, etc., which can be life-threatening in severe cases. The following are some of the manifestations:

1. Water-electrolyte imbalance: The glomerular filtration rate of patients with uremia drops significantly, which can lead to impaired water excretion and excessive accumulation of water in the body, causing hypertension, edema, and easy to develop pulmonary edema. Excessively high blood pressure can induce heart failure, cerebral edema, and hyperkalemia, which can lead to arrhythmias, sudden death, and other conditions.

2. Acid-base balance disorder: Patients with uremia have reduced urine output and accumulation of metabolites in the body, leading to acid-base balance disorders, including metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis.

3. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Due to the elevated urea nitrogen levels in the body, patients with uremia can experience gastrointestinal mucosal irritation, leading to indigestion, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension.

4. Heart failure: Uremia is the terminal manifestation of renal failure. The increased cardiac load caused by water and sodium retention and hypertension can easily induce heart failure and exacerbate myocardial damage.

5. Anemia: As the kidney is the main organ for producing erythropoietin, patients with uremia have a reduced production of erythropoietin, leading to insufficient hematopoiesis materials and anemia.

6. Others: Patients with uremia may also experience mental symptoms such as apathy, delirium, memory impairment, decreased judgment, and confusion. Due to the lack of absorption of nutrients, they may also suffer from malnutrition and nutrient deficiency.

In daily life, patients with uremia should pay attention to controlling their diet, strictly controlling the total calorie intake of food, and avoiding excessive intake of high-protein foods. They should also strictly follow the doctor's advice on medication, avoid adding or stopping medication without authorization, maintain sufficient sleep, and avoid fatigue.