When the kidneys fail to function properly, the body is unable to remove waste, toxins and excess fluid by itself. This is when dialysis becomes a lifesaving intervention. Some of the fear and anxiety that accompanies a patient’s or loved one’s need for dialysis can be mitigated by understanding what it entails.
What Is Dialysis?
Dialysis is a medical treatment that does some of the things done by healthy kidneys. It helps:
✔ Elimination of Waste Products from the Blood
✔ Support electrolyte balance which is important when balancing potassium & sodium
✔ Help eliminate excess fluid from the body
✔Help maintain good chemicals in the blood.
Dialysis doesn’t cure kidney disease but allows people to live longer and have a better quality of life when their kidneys no longer work well enough.
When Is Dialysis Needed?
Someone with advanced kidney failure – otherwise known as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) – will typically need dialysis. Doctors may recommend dialysis when:
Renal function is less than 10–15% of normal
Severe symptoms develop, such as:
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
- Edema in legs,ankles or face
- Shortness of breath, from fluid in your lungs
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Dangerous electrolyte imbalances
The decision to begin dialysis is determined by lab values, as well as symptoms and not numbers alone.
Types of Dialysis
The two primary types of dialysis operate in slightly different ways, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution; the right choice depends on your medical circumstances, lifestyle, and patients who are consulted, as well as other factors.
Hemodialysis (HD)
It is dialysis that most people use.
How it works:
The blood is taken from the body via a vascular access (often in the arm), cleaned through a dialysis machine, and then returned to the body.
Where it’s done:
- Generally done at a dialysis center
- Can sometimes be performed at home with training
Frequency:
Three times weekly usually approximately 4 hours per session
Pros:
✔ Ongoing healthcare professional monitoring
✔ No daily treatment required
Things to consider:
- Travel to the dialysis center
- Feeling tired after sessions
- Dietary and fluid restrictions may become necessary. Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
In this type, the lining of your abdomen (peritoneum) acts as a natural filter.
How it works:
A special fluid is put into the abdominal cavity through a small tube. Waste and excess fluids enter the fluid from blood vessels, which is drained and replaced.
Types of PD:
CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis): Manual exchange 1-4 times per day
APD (Automated Peritoneal Dialysis): At night with the assistance of a machine while you sleep
Pros:
✔ More flexibility and independence
✔ Can be done at home
✔ Less restrictive diet for some patients
Things to consider:
- Requires proper training and hygiene
- Risk of infection in the abdomen (peritonitis) if not done carefully
What to expect after starting dialysis
It’s a big change to start dialysis, but most patients eventually come to adjust to it.
Physical Changes
- You may be tired at first, particularly after hemodialysis treatments
- Appetite energy often increase as toxins are removed
- The swelling and breathing problems typically diminish
Lifestyle Adjustments
- Diets may need to be adjusted (limited potassium, sodium and fluids)
- Treatment regime behaves as a routine patron would
- Medications may be adjusted
Emotional Well-being
Feeling overwhelmed in the beginning is normal. “Support from physicians, nurses, dietitians and the family contributes a lot in keeping patients optimistic and able to have good quality of life.”
Can Dialysis Be Temporary?
Used as temporary dialysis in some patients with acute kidney injury. But with chronic kidney disease, duration of dialysis is long-term unless a patient can receive a kidney transplant.
The Importance of Expert Care
Dialysis is more than a procedure — it is an ongoing treatment that must be accompanied by monitoring, nutrition counseling and infection prevention. Picking the right team for kidney care is a huge factor in comfort, protection and wellbeing.
📞 Step Up Your Kidney Care Game
If you or someone you care for has been told to begin dialysis, or is experiencing signs of kidney failure, obtaining early expertise can be life-saving.
Madhuban Kidney Care provides end-to-end care, from dialysis services to veteran nephrologists to one-on-one patient support, ensuring you are never in the dark on what steps need to be taken during your treatment.
👉 Schedule an appointment now and let our experts help direct you on the path toward safer, healthier kidney care.
📞 Phone: +91 78278 90989 / +91 78400 07989
📍 Location: ED 3A, Madhuban Chowk, Pitampura, New Delhi