Why do dialysis patients often suffer from high blood pressure? You will understand after reading this article!

1. Water and sodium retention

Dialysis patients have impaired kidney function and a weakened ability to excrete water and sodium ions. If water and salt intake is not strictly controlled between dialysis sessions, excessive water and sodium ions will be retained in the body, causing an increase in blood volume. Just like injecting too much water into a water pipe, the pressure will naturally increase. The increase in blood volume increases the pressure on the blood vessel walls when the heart pumps blood, causing high blood pressure. For example, some kidney patients drink a lot of water and eat high-salt foods between dialysis sessions, which causes rapid weight gain and a surge in blood pressure.

2. Activation of the Renin-Angiotensin System

When kidney function is impaired, the renin-angiotensin system will be abnormally activated. Increased renin secretion prompts angiotensinogen to be converted into angiotensin, which causes blood vessels to constrict, leading to increased blood pressure. The overactivity of this system plays a key role in the occurrence and development of hypertension in dialysis patients.

3. Sympathetic nervous system excitement

During dialysis, the body may experience a series of stress reactions, leading to the excitement of the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system excitement can cause blood vessels to constrict, heart rate to increase, and blood pressure to rise. In addition, long-term illness and psychological stress can also stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and continue to affect blood pressure levels.

4. Resistance to antihypertensive drugs

Some dialysis patients may develop drug resistance due to long-term use of antihypertensive drugs, which greatly reduces the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs. Even if the drugs are taken on time and in the right amount, blood pressure is still difficult to be effectively controlled. This is also one of the reasons why dialysis patients often suffer from hypertension.

The frequent occurrence of hypertension in dialysis kidney patients is the result of the combined effect of multiple factors. Only by deeply understanding these causes can we develop more effective prevention and control strategies.