What Is Dialysis and How Does It Work?
What Is Dialysis? What Is Dialysis ? It is a medical treatment that supports people with severely reduced kidney function. Healthy kidneys remove waste, extra fluid, and certain minerals from the blood. When kidneys cannot perform these functions properly, harmful substances can build up. Dialysis helps remove these substances and supports the body's fluid balance. There are two main types of dialysis: Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis uses a special machine to filter waste from the blood. During treatment, blood passes through a filter called a dialyzer. The cleaned blood then returns to the patient's body. Peritoneal dialysis works differently and uses the lining inside the abdomen. A special solution enters the abdomen through a catheter. The solution absorbs waste and extra fluid from the blood. It is later drained and replaced with fresh solution. How Does Dialysis Work? During hemodialysis, blood flows through a specialized filter called a dialyzer. The...