(This paper got the full 3 marks)
Quality of life is how satisfied we are with our lives and whether there are parts of our health that affect this or inhibit this. For example if there was a lack of money in a family due to little financial support then their quality of life would not be good. This is because they would not be able to afford the necessities of life and other recreational activities.
The job of a kidney is to filter the blood and get rid of waste products; it also balances levels of electrolyte in the body, it controlling blood pressure, and stimulates the production of red blood cells. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which then exit your body in your urine. When the kidney fails, these things are not done efficiently and so therefore can cause serious harm to your body. The signs and symptoms of kidney failure develop slowly over time if the kidneys function continues to progress inadequately.
Rachel Warren, daughter, sister and mother of 2 has Kidney failure. She is 33 years old and is currently paying the mortgage of her 3 bedroomed home. She is in full time work and works from 7am till 3pm and has been working here for 13 years this has affected her whole life in many different ways. However her physical health and social health are the major things that have been affected by this illness. She began showing signs of kidney failure when she was out on a walk with her family in the countryside walking up a steep hill. This is where Rachel started to feel weak and light headed, so therefore did not feel physically able to carry on with the hike. It was then that it was recommended to her that she got tested as it ran in the family. The first signs of kidney failure in Rachel were, swelling of the legs and hands and puffiness around the eyes, high blood pressure, increased urination at night and pale skin. Kidney failure has affected her quality of life ever since.