CHBT key terms

The final, irreversible stage of chronic kidney failure in which the kidneys can no longer remove wastes and fluid adequately, so life-sustaining renal replacement therapy such as hemodialysis becomes necessary.

A treatment that circulates blood through an external filter called a dialyzer, removing wastes and excess fluid before returning the cleaned blood to the patient.

An estimate of how much blood the kidneys filter per minute, calculated from blood creatinine and other factors; falling values signal worsening kidney function.

The artificial filter in a hemodialysis circuit containing thousands of semipermeable hollow fibers through which blood and dialysate flow on opposite sides, allowing waste and fluid exchange.

A specially prepared electrolyte solution that flows past the dialyzer membrane, drawing wastes out of the blood by diffusion and supplying needed substances such as bicarbonate.

Movement of dissolved particles from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration; in dialysis it drives urea and other solutes from blood into dialysate.

Removal of excess plasma water across the dialyzer membrane by a pressure gradient, used to correct fluid overload and achieve the prescribed dry weight.

The target body weight at which a patient is judged to be free of excess fluid yet not dehydrated, guiding how much fluid each dialysis session should remove.

The surgically created or catheter-based route that allows blood to be withdrawn and returned at high flow during dialysis, such as an arteriovenous fistula, graft, or central catheter.

A surgically joined artery and vein, usually in the forearm, that enlarges and thickens so it can carry high blood flows for dialysis; the preferred long-term access.

A waste product of muscle metabolism measured in blood; rising levels reflect reduced kidney clearance and are used to estimate filtration and dialysis adequacy.

The percentage drop in blood urea nitrogen across a dialysis session, a simple measure of how effectively the treatment cleared small waste molecules.

A drop in blood pressure during dialysis, often with dizziness, cramping, or nausea, commonly caused by rapid fluid removal or impaired cardiovascular compensation.

Accumulation of excess body water that can cause weight gain, swelling, breathlessness, and raised blood pressure between dialysis sessions.

A learning process in which real-time information about a normally unnoticed body function is fed back to a person so they can gain voluntary control over it.

The study of how mental states and emotions interact with physiological processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and skin conductance.

Learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened by its consequences; biofeedback works partly because perceiving a desired physiological change reinforces the skill that produced it.

The branch of the nervous system controlling involuntary functions like heart rate, blood vessels, digestion, and sweating, largely outside conscious awareness but partly modifiable through training.

Activation of the fight-or-flight branch of the autonomic nervous system, raising heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and sweat gland activity during stress.

Activation of the rest-and-digest branch of the autonomic nervous system, slowing heart rate and promoting calm, recovery, and reduced physiological arousal.

Any consequence that increases the likelihood a behavior will recur; in biofeedback, a signal showing progress toward a target reinforces continued self-regulation effort.

A modality that records electrical activity of skeletal muscle through surface sensors and displays it so the person can learn to reduce excess muscle tension.

A modality that measures skin temperature, usually at a fingertip, as an index of peripheral blood flow; warming the hands reflects relaxation and reduced sympathetic tone.

A measure of sweat gland activity obtained from skin conductance or resistance, used as a sensitive indicator of emotional and sympathetic arousal.

A modality that displays beat-to-beat changes in heart rhythm and coaches slow paced breathing to increase variability and strengthen parasympathetic regulation.

A modality that monitors breathing rate, depth, or pattern and feeds the information back so a person can slow and regularize respiration for relaxation.

A conductive sensor placed on the skin, often with gel, that detects electrical or physiological signals for display without penetrating the body.

An unwanted signal on a recording caused by movement, electrical interference, poor sensor contact, or other nonphysiological sources that can distort the reading.

The degree to which a recorded physiological signal faithfully represents the true body activity, free of noise and distortion, and therefore suitable for feedback.

An initial measurement of a physiological signal taken before training begins, used to set realistic targets and later judge whether change has occurred.

Breathing deliberately at a slow, steady rate, often around six breaths per minute, to enhance heart rate variability and promote parasympathetic calm.

Structured practice of techniques such as slow breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery intended to reduce physiological and psychological arousal.

A technique of briefly tensing then releasing muscle groups in sequence to teach awareness of tension and produce a relaxed bodily state.

A relaxation method in which a person is verbally led to imagine calm, pleasant scenes to shift attention and reduce stress and physiological arousal.

Deliberately shifting attention toward a neutral or pleasant focus, such as music or imagery, to reduce the perceived intensity of an unpleasant sensation or procedure.

Discomfort experienced when dialysis needles are inserted into the access site, which can be eased with relaxation, distraction, and topical anesthetic strategies.

Painful involuntary muscle contraction, often in the legs or feet, commonly triggered during dialysis by rapid fluid removal or electrolyte shifts.

Persistent itching common in dialysis patients, related to waste accumulation and dry skin, which can worsen sleep and quality of life.

Systematic gathering of information about a patient's symptoms, including onset, severity, timing, and impact, to guide monitoring and treatment decisions.

A patient's voluntary agreement to a treatment or procedure after receiving and understanding information about its purpose, benefits, risks, and alternatives.

The ethical and legal duty to protect a patient's private health information from unauthorized disclosure to others.

The range of duties and activities a professional is legally and ethically permitted to perform given their training, licensure, and role.

Directing a patient to another qualified professional when a need exceeds one's own competence or scope, such as for psychological or medical concerns.