🩺 Dialysis Explained

Dialysis is a treatment that filters your blood when your kidneys can’t. Learn the main types, who needs it, and what to expect.

🩺 Dialysis Explained

What Dialysis Is

Dialysis is a medical treatment that helps do the job your kidneys normally do:

clean your blood

remove extra fluid.

When kidneys are very weak, waste and water build up in the body. Dialysis helps remove them so your body can stay stable.

Dialysis does not cure kidney disease, but it can help you feel better and stay alive when kidney function is very low.

Why Someone Would Need Dialysis

Dialysis is usually needed when kidney function becomes severely low, often called kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

People may need dialysis when they have things like:

Very low eGFR (often under 15)
Severe symptoms (nausea, confusion, extreme swelling, shortness of breath)
Dangerous lab results (high potassium, severe acid build-up)
Fluid overload that medicines can’t control

Common causes include:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Severe acute kidney injury
Autoimmune kidney diseases

The Two Main Types of Dialysis

Hemodialysis (HD)

This is the most common type.

How it works:

Blood leaves your body through an access site
A machine filters the blood (removes waste + extra water)
Clean blood goes back into your body

Most often done:

3 times per week
3–4 hours per session
At a dialysis clinic (sometimes at home)

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

This type uses the inside lining of your belly as a filter.

How it works:

Special fluid goes into your belly through a tube
Waste and extra fluid move into the fluid
The fluid drains out later and is replaced

Often done:

At home
Multiple times per day OR overnight with a machine

How Dialysis Connects to Your Body (Access)

For Hemodialysis:

AV fistula (best long-term option)
AV graft
Catheter (often temporary)

For Peritoneal Dialysis:

A soft tube (catheter) placed into the belly

What Dialysis Helps With

Dialysis can help:

Remove waste products (toxins)
Remove extra water (reduce swelling)
Balance electrolytes (like potassium)
Improve symptoms like nausea and fatigue

Dialysis cannot:

Fully replace all kidney functions
Cure kidney disease
Replace hormones kidneys help make (so medicines may still be needed)

What Dialysis Feels Like

Dialysis usually isn’t painful, but you may feel:

Tired after treatment
Low blood pressure (dizzy)
Muscle cramps
Headaches
Thirst between treatments

Many people feel better overall once they are on a steady schedule.

Dialysis vs Kidney Transplant

Dialysis is one option for kidney failure. A kidney transplant is another option for some people.

Some people use dialysis:

Temporarily (until kidneys recover)
While waiting for a transplant
Long-term if transplant isn’t possible

When to Call Your Doctor Right Away

If you’re on dialysis, call your care team urgently if you have:

Chest pain or trouble breathing
Fever or chills
Severe swelling
Confusion or extreme weakness
Bleeding, pain, or redness at your access site

Bottom Line

Dialysis is a life-saving treatment that helps clean your blood and remove extra fluid when your kidneys can’t. It takes time to adjust, but many people live for years on dialysis with the right routine and medical support.

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