Kidney failure is when your kidneys stop working well enough for you to live without dialysis or a kidney transplant. Kidney failure can happen very suddenly (called acute renal failure) or slowly over time. In most cases, kidney failure is permanent. This is called end-stage renal disease or ESRD.
What causes kidney failure?
Diabetes and high blood pressure cause most cases of ESRD.
Other causes include:
Autoimmune diseases (like lupus, HIV and IgA nephropathy)
Genetic diseases (like polycystic kidney disease)
Injuries
Some medicines or other drugs
How do i know which treatment is best for me?
The two treatments for kidney failure are dialysis and
kidney transplantation. Two different kinds of dialysis
can be done—hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Each type of treatment has pros and cons. As you find
out more about each one, speaking with your doctor
and your family can help you make a decision about
the treatment that is best for you.
The decision will be based on a number of factors,
including your:
medical condition
lifestyle
personal preference
No matter which treatment you choose, you need to
make a commitment to follow your treatment plan.
This involves:
following your treatment schedule
following your special diet
taking all the medications prescribed for you