Chronic Kidney Disease

Factors that increase your risk of developing chronic kidney disease include:

• Being overweight or obese
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2)
• Genetic background and family history
• High blood pressure

Dialysis is a mechanical process that filters waste from your blood. There are two main types: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis uses a machine to restore your electrolyte balance and filter waste and extra fluid from your blood. Peritoneal dialysis uses a natural filter in your body — the lining of your belly, called the peritoneal membrane — to do the same.

Hemodialysis most often occurs at a hospital or dialysis center, using an access site in your forearm. Advantages include: 

• Trained health professionals manage and oversee the process
• It requires fewer days and shorter treatment sessions than peritoneal dialysis
• You’ll be in contact with other people having dialysis, which may offer emotional support
• Unlike peritoneal dialysis, it doesn’t increase your risk of peritonitis, an infection of the belly lining

Peritoneal dialysis uses a catheter in your belly to drain waste and excess fluid from your body into a collection bag. Your care team will teach you to perform peritoneal dialysis at home. Advantages include:

• You can perform dialysis at home or any clean location, even while traveling or sleeping
• You can perform it yourself
• It doesn’t require as many food and fluid restrictions as hemodialysis
• It doesn’t use needles
• Unlike hemodialysis, it doesn’t increase your risk of low blood pressure or blood clots