Family Health

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Kidney health and dialysis

Your kidneys are vital organs in your body. They are two bean-shaped organs located below the rib cage on each side of your spine.

Healthy kidneys remove extra fluids, balance the chemicals in the body and filter waste.

When there's kidney failure, dialysis is a lifesaving treatment that does the work that the kidneys can no longer do. This helps the patient feel better and live longer.

There are two types of dialysis:

Hemodialysis. A machine is used to filter waste and remove extra fluid through an access point in your arm. This is done in a clinic called a dialysis center.
Peritoneal. The lining of your belly is used to filter your blood. A doctor will place a soft tube in the belly 10 to 14 days before treatment starts. Patients may be able to do treatments at home.

Someone can develop kidney disease if they have:

Diabetes.
High blood pressure.
Heart disease.
A family history of kidney failure.

Sources:

Categories: Kidney health