What Your Kidneys Do for You
Beyond producing urine, your kidneys do other important things to help maintain your health, such as:
- Control your blood pressure
- Keep your bones healthy
- Produce red blood cells
- Regulate body fluids and mineral levels in your blood
- Remove drugs and toxins
At Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, our nephrology team provides expert care related to kidney health — from diagnosing and managing acute and chronic kidney disease to treating kidney stones, electrolyte disturbances, and hypertension. Our nephrologists are here to help improve overall quality of life for you and eliminate any uncomfortable symptoms you may have related to kidney function or renal hypertension.
What is Dialysis
When kidney function declines, dialysis is required in order to remove waste products and excess fluids from the bloodstream. Hemodialysis typically takes place in a dialysis center three to five days per week. An access portal is surgically created to connect an artery and a vein. A machine removes the blood from your body, filters it through a dialyzer, which acts as an artificial kidney, then returns the cleaned blood to your body. Peritoneal dialysis takes place at home and utilizes the tiny blood vessels inside the abdominal lining (peritoneum) to filter blood with the aid of a dialysis solution. A surgeon places a catheter in your belly. A cleansing solution passes through the catheter into the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen where it absorbs waste products from the blood vessels (peritoneum) of the abdomen. After a period of time, the fluid is then drawn back out of the body and discarded.
