Vincent Bronson

Guide to Dialysis Cookbook Vincent Bronson

People with failed or damaged kidneys may have difficulty eliminating waste and unwanted water from the blood. Dialysis is an artificial way of carrying out this process. Dialysis substitutes the natural work of the kidneys, so it is also known as renal replacement therapy (RRT). Healthy kidneys regulate the body's levels of water and minerals and remove waste. The kidneys also secrete certain products that are important in metabolism, but dialysis cannot do this. A person who has lost 85 to 90 percent of their kidney function will be a likely candidate for dialysis. Around 14 percent of the population of the United States are thought to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dialysis can carry out the function of the kidneys if the kidneys no longer work effectively. A healthy person's kidneys filter around 120 to 150 quarts of blood each day. If the kidneys are not working correctly, waste builds up in the blood. Eventually, this can lead to coma and death. The cause might be a chronic, or long-term condition, or an acute problem, such as an injury or a short-term illness that affects the kidneys. Dialysis prevents the waste products in the blood from reaching hazardous levels. It can also remove toxins or drugs from the blood in an emergency setting.