What health plans does Medicare offer? Medicare has two main ways to get coverage—Original Medicare External link, which includes Part A External link and Part B External link, or a Medicare Advantage Plan External link, also called Part C. You can also choose to have prescription drug coverage through Medicare...
How does what I eat and drink affect my hemodialysis? Your choices about what to eat and drink while on hemodialysis can make a difference in how you feel and can make your treatments work better. Between dialysis treatment sessions, wastes can build up in your blood and make you sick....
Why is nutrition important for someone with advanced chronic kidney disease? A person may prevent or delay some health problems from chronic kidney disease (CKD) by eating the right foods and avoiding foods high in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. Learning about calories, fats, proteins, and fluids is important for a...
What is mineral and bone disorder in chronic kidney disease (CKD)? Mineral and bone disorder in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disorder that can affect the bones, heart, and blood vessels of a person with CKD. Mineral and bone disease occurs when kidneys damaged by CKD can’t filter blood...
Control your blood pressure The most important step you can take to treat kidney disease is to control your blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage your kidneys. You can protect your kidneys by keeping your blood pressure at or less than the goal set by your health care provider....
What is high blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls as your heart pumps out blood. High blood pressure NIH external link, also called hypertension, is an increase in the amount of force that blood places on blood vessels as it moves through...
How can I tell if I have kidney disease? If you have diabetes, get checked every year. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney failure, talk with your health care provider about how often you should get tested. The sooner you know you...
Diabetes Too much glucose, also called sugar, in your blood damages your kidneys’ filters. Over time, your kidneys can become so damaged that they no longer do a good job filtering wastes and extra fluid from your blood. Often, the first sign of kidney disease from diabetes is protein in your...
What is anemia? Anemia NIH external link is a condition in which your blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the iron NIH external link-rich protein that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. With...
Definition & Facts A kidney stone is a solid, pebble-like piece of material that can form in one or both of your kidneys when high levels of certain minerals are in your urine. Kidney stones rarely cause permanent damage if treated by a health care professional. Symptoms & Causes You may have...
