Why Do Dialysis Patients Feel Thirsty and What They Should Do

Patient: I have been on dialysis for about 3 months. I often feel thirsty. Why and how to deal with it?

Doctor: Patients undergoing dialysis will feel thirsty which has close link with the inadequate dialysis.
1. Water-electrolyte disturbance: Water in dialysis patient's body is several times much than that of common people. A large amount of water will permeate into tissue space via blood capillary wall, which will raise the extracellular osmotic pressure to lead to dehydration state of extracellular fluid.
2. Relative hypovolemia: A large amount of water builds up in the tissue space leading to the relative lack of effective blood circulation, which can stimulate the thirst center to cause thirst.
3. The result of toxins: All kinds of metabolic products like urea build up for a long time in body. The body will remove or dilute the all kinds of toxins and concentration of high sodium by balancing the digestive system so that people will feel thirty.
4. Psychology: Many dialysis patients have the feeling that thirsty sense is not so strong but they still want to drink water.
As for the methods to prevent the thirsty feelings, the following is suggestion.
1. Dialysis patients need to have the will power to bear the thirsty feeling.
2. If patient feel thirsty, they can gargle with water.
3. If patients have the feelings of thirsty, they can put ice in the mouth which can low the mouth temperature to quench the thirst.
4. Also patients can chew gum to low the sense of thirst.
5. It is also helpful to prevent the thirst for dialysis patients to have a low-salt diet.
The above is about thirst in dialysis patients and how to deal with. Hope it is helpful for you and your family. For more information, please Email us at khkpcn@hotmail.com