Acute Kidney Injury is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage, causing a build-up of waste products in your blood and excess fluid in your body. AKI can happen within a few hours or a few days, but it is treatable and your kidneys may recover, unlike in chronic kidney disease where the damage is permanent. Learn the causes and symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury in this program.
In order for a dialysis machine to clean excess fluid or waste material from a person's blood, the patient needs to be connected to the machine, usually for several hours, three times a week. This connection, or fistula, is often made in the patient's arm, where an artery is surgically connected to a vein. Learn more about this access point, or AV fistula, and how it works, by watching this program.
Living with Chronic Kidney Disease involves a lot of changes, starting with making room for dialysis in your weekly routine. Beyond dialysis, there are several other healthy choices you can make that might include controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes, stopping smoking, eating healthy, and getting your weight under control. This program will walk you through some important lifestyle changes that can help you live longer with CKD.
Everyone who has Chronic Kidney Disease is unique, so it's important that, working with your healthcare provider, you create a CKD management plan that works for you. By watching this program, you'll learn how eating healthy, staying active, taking your medications and getting regular healthcare checkups are all key parts of managing your CKD.