Post Date December, 02 2023
In winter, due to a sharp drop in temperature, the body's immune system decreases, which in turn affects changes in kidney function and leads to various types of kidney diseases, especially nephrotic syndrome, which is more prone to attacks. Therefore, it is necessary to take good care of kidney disease in winter, otherwise it will pose a threat to personal health.
Kidney disease experts have proposed some methods for winter kidney disease health preservation based on traditional Chinese medicine, which eliminate various possibilities of kidney disease onset in winter from various aspects. However, these methods are for reference only, and the guidelines for kidney health and wellness during implementation shall be based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia or the guidance of a physician
Prior to the 1980s, nephrologists had advocated a high protein diet (1.2-1.5 g/kg. d) in an attempt to alleviate hypoproteinemia and its associated complications. However, animal experiments and human kidney disease observations have confirmed that a high protein diet, although liver albumin synthesis increases, increases urinary protein excretion and does not help correct hypoproteinemia. Instead, it leads to hyperperfusion of glomerular capillaries, high pressure, and high filtration, Accelerating non inflammatory glomerulosclerosis and limiting protein intake can slow down the development of chronic kidney function damage
Patients with nephrotic syndrome are often accompanied by gastrointestinal mucosal edema and ascites, which affect digestion and absorption. It is advisable to eat a light, semi fluid diet that is easy to digest. When kidney disease occurs, a large amount of urinary protein is lost, and the body is in a protein malnutrition state. Almost all patients with this disease have hyperlipemia, limiting the intake of animal fat. The diet is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as fish oil) and vegetable oils (soybean oil, rapeseed oil, sesame oil). Those with high edema limit the intake of sodium salt, The daily intake of salt is less than 2 grams, and appropriate supplementation of trace elements is recommended. Therefore, a high-quality protein diet is currently advocated, with a daily intake of 0.7 to 1.0 grams per kilogram of body weight
The following points must be paid attention to for winter kidney syndrome health care
The first aspect is to pay attention to daily diet. The following points need to be noted in daily diet
1. Sodium salt:
When edema occurs in nephrotic syndrome, it is recommended to consume a low salt diet to avoid worsening the edema. Preserved foods should be avoided, and monosodium glutamate and alkaloids should be used sparingly to reduce swelling. When plasma protein levels are close to normal, it is generally recommended to consume no more than 2g of salt per day, and a normal diet can be restored
2. Protein:
When there is no renal failure in the early and extreme stages of nephrotic syndrome, a high-quality protein diet (1-1.5g/kg * d) should be given, such as fish and meat. This can help alleviate hypoproteinemia and some accompanying complications
However, a high protein diet can increase renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate, keeping glomerular capillaries under high pressure. At the same time, consuming a large amount of protein also increases urinary protein, which can accelerate glomerular sclerosis. Therefore, patients with chronic and non polar nephrotic syndrome should consume a small amount of high-quality protein (0.7~1g/kg * d), and when chronic renal function damage occurs, a low protein diet (0.65g/kg * d) should be recommended
3 Fat
Nephrotic syndrome should limit the intake of foods rich in cholesterol and fat, such as animal organs, fat, and certain seafood
4. Trace Elements
Due to the increased permeability of the glomerular basement membrane in patients with nephrotic syndrome, in addition to the loss of a large amount of protein in the urine, certain trace elements and hormones bound to protein are also lost, resulting in a deficiency of calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and other elements in the human body. Appropriate supplementation should be given. Generally, vegetables, fruits, and grains rich in vitamins and trace elements can be consumed to supplement
Eat with moderation, do not be greedy
Patients with nephrotic syndrome should still strictly follow dietary rules and avoid overeating to avoid increasing the burden on the kidneys
Secondly, daily living and health care for patients with nephrotic syndrome
1. Reduce daily sunlight exposure
There are some harmful rays in the sunlight, such as r-rays, which are easily harmful to the human body and cause skin inflammation. Patients with nephrotic syndrome have low immune function, so they should be cautious when exposed to sunlight to avoid worsening the condition due to skin inflammation
2. Exercise appropriately and pay attention to personal hygiene
Appropriate physical exercise is beneficial for the recovery of diseases, such as walking, practicing Tai Chi, practicing Qigong, etc. However, attention should be paid to the timing of exercise, preferably in the morning and evening, and it is not advisable to exercise at noon or in strong sunlight
In terms of hygiene, patients with nephrotic syndrome should pay attention to: firstly, they should have a healthy diet and avoid eating sour and unclean food overnight to avoid gastrointestinal diseases and affect recovery. Secondly, personal hygiene should be carried out, and clothes should be washed and changed frequently, preferably loose and soft. They should take frequent baths and clean their skin to avoid heat rash and boils, which can cause disease recurrence or exacerbation. They should also pay attention to killing mosquitoes, flies, and other summer insects to prevent them from biting and causing skin infections
3. Pay attention to sleep and living environment
The living room of patients with nephrotic syndrome should be spacious, bright, ventilated, and maintain a certain temperature. Otherwise, it is very easy to catch a cold due to sudden changes in temperature
The bedding should be clean and dry, and the bedroom should be soft, ventilated and breathable. Since basal metabolism is weakened after falling asleep, people's self-defense function is poor, and they are vulnerable to colds, so patients with nephrotic syndrome should pay attention to covering their abdomen when sleeping in summer to protect stomach yang and prevent colds
Due to the cold weather in winter, although nephrotic syndrome is a common season, as long as daily maintenance is done well, nephrotic syndrome will not recur or worsen.
In fact, nephrotic syndrome not only requires maintenance during the special winter season, but also requires careful maintenance every day in daily life. Maintenance is a medical treatment method that does not require medication. Although it may be slow, over time, it can have unexpected effects
