What is Kidney Dialysis?

Kidneys are two organs located on both sides behind the abdominal cavity. Dialysis can allow individuals to live productively, even though their kidneys are no longer working adequately. 

Kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products out of the blood. Kidney dialysis is a procedure to replace normal kidney function.

What is Kidney Dialysis?

Dialysis is a procedure that is a substitute for many of the normal functions of the kidney.   Dialysis makes patients with kidney failure have a chance to live a productive life.



Statistics from 2010 show about 414,000 patients undergoing dialysis in the United States. More than an additional 179,000 patients undergoing a kidney transplant function for end-stage renal disease.

Dialysis helps the body by performing failed kidney function as kidney has many roles. The important work of the kidneys is to regulate the body's fluid balance.

This is done by adjusting the amount of urine expelled on daily basis. On hot days, the body sweats more. So, less water needs to be removed through the kidneys.

On a cold day, the body sweats less. Thus, urine production needs to be greater to maintain the right balance in the body. It is the task of the kidneys to regulate fluid balance by adjusting the output of urine.

Another major task of the kidney is to dispose of waste products that our body produces throughout the day. As with body functions, cells also need to use energy. Cell operation produces waste products that must be removed from the body.

When waste products are not disposed of adequately, waste products are buried in the body. Increased levels of wastewater products, measured in blood called "azotemia."

When waste products accumulate, it will cause pain throughout the body and it is called "uremia".  Therefore azotemia is an increase of waste accumulated in the body, whereas uremia is present when the condition of azotemia has cause pain to the body.

There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Each type of dialysis possesses advantages and disadvantages.

Patients can often choose the type of long-term dialysis based on the individual needs of each patient.
In hemodialysis, your blood is channeled to a special filter that removes waste and excess fluid in the body. The clean blood is then returned to the body.

Moving harmful body waste and excessive salt and fluid helps the patient maintain their blood pressure and balance of chemicals in the body such as potassium and sodium.




Comments

Popular Posts