A complete guide to caring for your kidneys and maximizing your health. Kidney disease occurs when your kidneys are damaged and no longer function as well as they should. In the past, it was fatal, but thanks to new treatments, including dialysis and transplantation, people can live long and healthy lives. This book provides everything you need to know to help you cope with your kidney disease and maximize your health. Walter A. Hunt, a medical researcher who had kidney disease and received a kidney transplant, walks you through what science says about how you can take care of your kidneys, including what foods to avoid and what treatment options may be best for you. Also included are recommendations to help you sleep and feel better along with overall health advice. In this latest edition, Hunt adds new sections on emerging subjects, including * coping skills for caregivers * kidney disease in children * environmental causes of chronic kidney failure * conservative care for those who wish to decline treatment * related conditions like gout, depression, and sleep disturbances * diet after transplantation * how best to work with your care team * insurance issues * potential new treatments A useful guide for the healthcare professionals who work with individuals with kidney problems.

A complete guide to caring for your kidneys and maximizing your health. Kidney disease occurs when your kidneys are damaged and no longer function as well as they should. In the past, it was fatal, but thanks to new treatments, including dialysis and transplantation, people can live long and healthy lives. This book provides everything you need to know to help you cope with your kidney disease and maximize your health. Walter A. Hunt, a medical researcher who had kidney disease and received a kidney transplant, walks you through what science says about how you can take care of your kidneys, including what foods to avoid and what treatment options may be best for you. Also included are recommendations to help you sleep and feel better along with overall health advice. In this latest edition, Hunt adds new sections on emerging subjects, including * coping skills for caregivers * kidney disease in children * environmental causes of chronic kidney failure * conservative care for those who wish to decline treatment * related conditions like gout, depression, and sleep disturbances * diet after transplantation * how best to work with your care team * insurance issues * potential new treatments A useful guide for the healthcare professionals who work with individuals with kidney problems.

Walter A. Hunt knows what it means to live with kidney disease. Here, he shares his experience and knowledge to help other people with the disease understand and cope with its challenges.

When Hunt learned he had kidney disease, he was overwhelmed by the prospect of facing kidney failure. He had so many questions: Why are my kidneys failing? Is there anything I can do to save them? How will I know when my kidneys have failed? What will it feel like? What treatments are available for me? Is there a cure for kidney failure?

The good news, as Hunt found out, is that kidney failure is highly treatable. People with the disease can lead full and productive lives, and Hunt's readable and empathetic book will help them do just that. It discusses the latest scientific and medical findings about kidney disease, including what kidneys do; the underlying diseases that cause failure; diagnosis, treatment, and prevention; dietary factors; clinical trials; and the future direction of research on kidney failure.

Kidney disease is difficult, but as Hunt's narrative reveals, people living with it can take control of their health and their future. By understanding kidney failure--what causes it, how it may affect their lives, and what treatment options they have--people with the disease can improve their quality of life and achieve the best possible outcome.