DIALYSIS 101

​

What Dialysis Does for Your Body

Healthy kidneys quietly remove waste, extra water, and toxins from your blood all day, every day. When they fail, these wastes and fluids build up and can cause shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue, heart problems, and even death if not treated

​

Dialysis helps by:

• Removing extra fluid, salt, and waste so they do not build up in your body.

• Keeping safer levels of important minerals and chemicals like potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate.

• Helping to control blood pressure and reduce strain on your heart.

Doctors may use dialysis for a short time if your kidneys suddenly stop working (acute kidney injury) or long term when you have end-stage kidney disease (usually when kidney function drops below about 15 percent).

​

Two Main Types: Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis

 

There are two main ways dialysis can clean your blood.

• Hemodialysis: Your blood is pumped out of your body to a machine that filters it and returns it cleaned.

• Peritoneal dialysis: Your blood is cleaned inside your body using the lining of your abdomen (the peritoneal cavity) and a special fluid called dialysate.

Both types can be done in different settings, including in-center units and, for many people, at home.

​

Hemodialysis: In-Center and at Home

In-center hemodialysis is what many people first picture when they hear “dialysis.” You go to a dialysis center on a set schedule—usually three times per week (for example, Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday)—and each treatment lasts about four hours.

During treatment:

• A nurse connects you to the machine using a vascular access (fistula, graft, or catheter), which acts as the “lifeline” for your treatments.

• Your blood flows through a filter in the machine that removes wastes and extra fluid, then returns the cleaned blood to your body.

• Staff monitor your blood pressure, symptoms, and machine settings throughout the session.

Some people can do hemodialysis at home (home hemodialysis), which uses similar equipment but allows more flexibility in schedule and sometimes gentler, more frequent treatments.

Peritoneal Dialysis: Cleaning Your Blood from the Inside

With peritoneal dialysis (PD), your own abdominal lining acts as a natural filter. A surgeon places a soft tube (catheter) into your abdomen, and during treatment, dialysate flows into your belly, stays there for a set time to absorb waste and extra fluid, and is then drained out.

Two common forms of PD are:

• Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD): You perform several manual “exchanges” during the day, each taking about 30 minutes, and carry dialysate in your belly between exchanges.

• Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD or automated PD): A machine called a cycler does multiple exchanges for you at night while you sleep.

PD can give you more freedom with your schedule and can be done at home, at work, or while traveling once you are trained.

Daily Life on Dialysis: Food, Fluids, and Feelings

Dialysis changes your daily routine, but with support, many people still work, care for family, and enjoy life. You will likely need to follow a specific kidney-friendly eating plan to manage fluid, salt, potassium, and phosphorus, and you’ll work with a kidney dietitian to make a plan that fits your life and culture.

Key day-to-day points:

​

• Fluid control: Drinking too much between treatments can cause fluid buildup, shortness of breath, and very hard treatments.

• Sodium (salt): Keeping sodium under about 2,000 mg per day helps manage thirst and swelling.

• Support: Emotional and mental health matter; support groups and peer connections can help you adjust to the “new normal” of dialysis.

How Kidney Konnect Can Walk With You

Choosing and living with dialysis is not just a medical decision—it is a life decision. At Kidney Konnect, we aim to:

​

• Break down the differences between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in plain language.

• Help you think through in-center versus home options based on your lifestyle, support system, and health.

• Provide culturally grounded education and peer support so you do not feel alone on this journey.

 

If you or a loved one is facing kidney failure and trying to understand dialysis, Kidney Konnect can help you prepare questions for your care team, connect with others on treatment, and explore all your options, including transplant.