What Is Peritoneal Dialysis?

What It Helps Treat

Peritoneal dialysis helps treat damage to an individual's kidneys. The kidneys keep a careful balance of minerals and salts in an individual's blood for the body to successfully maintain a healthy state of homeostasis. The minerals and salts that depend on the kidneys for regulation include phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and sodium. An individual's kidneys are also responsible for the production of certain hormones that help keep blood pressure at a healthy level, production of red blood cells, and maintenance of the strength of an individual's bones. When the kidneys can no longer perform one or more of these important functions, the individual is considered to have kidney disease, or in severe cases, kidney failure. Kidney failure results in numerous life-threatening complications, including heart disease, anemia, high blood pressure, loss of bone, excessive itchiness, and malnutrition. Treatment of kidney disease and kidney failure with the use of peritoneal dialysis can help extend a patient's life and relieve many of their symptoms.

Discover the benefits of peritoneal dialysis over hemodialysis next.