Having chronic kidney disease (CKD) can impact many parts of your life, that includes your mental and physical health, especially if the patient is on hemodialysis treatment. Being active and doing regular physical exercise can help the patient to feel better.
In CKD, patient kidneys are not able to do their job. Their ability to filter the blood and remove the excess fluids and waste products is decreased.
As a result, you will have more fluid retention in the body, that will cause rapid weight change. So, our doctor will advise you to monitor your weight and do more regular physical activities.
Many people on hemodialysis treatment think they are not able to exercise, but the truth is, most dialysis patients can. In fact, reduced physical functioning is associated with increased mortality in patients with CKD.
Having a regular exercise activity will promote a healthier lifestyle, because they will feel that they have a greater sense of control over their lives.
Patients will have more energy to do their daily activities and feel “normal” again. Also, it improves the quality of sleep and they will feel less anxious and depressed.
Regular exercise will help your muscles to be stronger and strengthen them. Especially the muscle of the heart, which is one of the most important muscles to be exercised. Patients with CKD are at high risk to have cardiovascular diseases.
That’s because there is a strong relationship between hypertension (high blood pressure) and CKD, as hypertension is not only a cause of kidney disease; kidney disease is also a cause of hypertension.
This is happening because when we have a damaged kidney, it will be unable to filter the extra water and salt from our body.
This will increase the blood volume that will lead to a higher blood pressure and those results can then make CKD worse.
Worsening the case of kidney disease can raise blood pressure, and a dangerous cycle result, as each disease makes the other worse.
So, it’s important to have a healthy heart and vascular system to avoid other complications of CKD.
Doing exercises with a proper diet plan can help you to reduce the fat and cholesterol level in your blood, and that may reduce the risk of heart problems.
Starting with the minimum effort, activities like walking (for 30 minutes a day if possible) will help to improve your sense of balance, so you can move more confidently with lower risk of falls.
Walking will also support your vascular system and will make your heart stronger. Other activities like jogging, jumping rope, bicycling, and swimming, might help you to make your heart stronger.
Talk to your healthcare provider first, to tell you which type of activities is suitable and safe for you based on your general health.
Strength activities will help you to build strong muscles and burn more calories throughout the day.
Stretching activities will help you to move better, and it’s also good for your joints and bones and to be more flexible.
In conclusion, regular exercise is the first activity that helps many people on dialysis to feel “normal” again. It also prevents many complications that might happen with CKD patients.
