Download Kidney Vocabulary for Patients

Vocabulary for Kidney Patients
Access: A specially prepared permanent opening in your arm through which your blood
flows during hemodialysis.
Anemia: A medical condition caused by a decrease in the number of red blood cells,
which can make you feel very tired. Most people with kidney failure are somewhat
anemic.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): A measurement of the amount of a waste product called
urea that is in your blood. Normal adult value is 7–23 milligrams (mg)/deciliter (dL).
Cadaver kidney: A kidney donated from someone who recently died.
Calcium: A mineral that is important in helping to keep your bones strong. Calcium is
found in many foods, especially dairy products. When you have kidney disease, the
calcium level in your blood may become too high or too low. Your health care
professional will monitor the calcium level in your blood. A normal value is 8.5–10.5
mg/dL.
Calories: The amount of energy food contains.
Catheter: If you receive hemodialysis, this is a tube (either temporary or permanent) that
is surgically placed in your neck or chest area so you can receive hemodialysis.
Dialysate: The cleaning solution used in hemodialysis.
Dialysis: A process that filters waste products, such as urea, and excess fluid from your
blood when your kidneys are no longer doing the job.
Dialysis center: A place in a hospital or the community where dialysis treatments are
given to kidney patients.
Dialysis machine: A special machine that uses an artificial kidney for filtering waste
products and excess fluid from your blood.
Dialysis technician: The member of your health care team who is specially trained to
take care of the dialysis machine and other equipment at the dialysis center.
Dialyzer: The artificial kidney that is part of the dialysis machine, which cleans your
blood of waste products and excess fluid.
Diet: The plan that you and your dietitian develop to make sure you are eating and
drinking the right things in the right amounts while you are getting dialysis treatments.
Erythropoietin (EPO): The special medicine used in the treatment of anemia.
Fistula: A permanent access for hemodialysis created by surgically connecting your vein
with your artery.
Graft: A material inserted into the vein to create a vessel suitable for use in
hemodialysis.
Hemodialysis: One of the forms of dialysis treatment, during which your blood is
cleaned of waste products and excess fluid using an artificial kidney and a dialysis
machine.
Hormones: Chemicals produced by different glands and organs, including the kidneys,
to cause certain responses in your body.
Kidney disease: The loss of some or all of your kidney function. Kidney disease can
result from conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or injury to the kidneys.
Kidney disease has 5 stages, varying from very mild (stage 1) to very severe, requiring
dialysis (stage 5).
Kidney failure: The kidneys fail to make urine. When the kidneys stop making urine, it
is necessary to limit the amount of fluids consumed (eg, water, coffee, juice). Persons
with kidney failure need dialysis to get rid of waste products and fluids.
Nephrologist: A doctor who is specially trained in treating kidney disease. Your
nephrologist is part of your health care team.
Phosphate binder: A special medicine that helps control the amount of phosphorus in
your body.
Phosphorus: One of the minerals found in many foods that also contains calcium. The
diet is limited in phosphorus, because too much phosphorus can weaken your bones.
Some foods high in phosphorus are milk (any kind), cheese, dairy products, nuts, beans,
liver, and sardines. The phosphorus level in your blood is monitored to make sure it does
not get too high. A normal value is 3–6 mg/dL.
Potassium: A mineral found in beans, nuts, bananas, oranges, potatoes, milk, and many
other foods. The diet is limited in potassium, because too much potassium can cause heart
problems. The potassium level in your blood is monitored to try to keep it as normal as
possible. A normal value is 3.5–5.5 mg/dL.
Protein: The nutrients your body uses to build muscles and repair tissues. High-quality
protein is found in animal products, and low-quality protein is found in grains, cereals,
and vegetables.
Red blood cells: Cells in your blood that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. A loss of
red blood cells can cause anemia.
Renal dietitian: A person with special training in nutrition and diets for kidney patients.
Your renal dietitian is a member of your health care team.
Renal nurse: A nurse specially trained to care for kidney patients. Your renal nurse is a
member of your health care team.
Social worker: A member of your health care team who is specially trained to help you
cope with the nonmedical problems you may have, such as coping with the stress of
having a serious illness.
Sodium: A mineral found in table salt and many foods. Sodium is limited in the diet,
because too much sodium makes you thirsty and causes high blood pressure. The sodium
level in the blood is monitored in people with kidney disease. A normal value is 135–145
mg/dL.
Sterile: Free of germs.
Transplantation: One of the basic forms of treatment for kidney disease. In
transplantation, a kidney from someone who recently died is surgically placed into a
patient’s body. This new kidney will do the work that diseased kidneys are unable to do.
Urea: A waste product that comes from eating protein.
Vitamins: Various nutrients that help your body do its work and keep your system in
balance. People on dialysis need special vitamins.
Reference and recommended reading
Mahan LK, Escott-Stump S, Raymond JL. Krause’s Food and the Nutrition Care
Process. 13th ed. St Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier; 2012.
Review Date 9/12
R-0534