What Is Hemodialysis?
Hemodialysis is a treatment that performs many of the jobs your kidneys can no longer do when they have lost most of their function. During hemodialysis, your blood is removed from your body through a dialysis access, passed through a special filter called a dialyzer (often called an “artificial kidney”), and then returned to your body.
The dialyzer removes waste products, excess fluid, and extra electrolytes from your blood while helping restore a healthier balance of fluids and minerals. Although hemodialysis is not a cure for kidney failure, it is a life-sustaining treatment that helps many people live active and fulfilling lives.
Why Hemodialysis Matters
Hemodialysis helps perform many important functions that healthy kidneys normally provide.
Hemodialysis helps:
- Remove waste products from the bloodstream
- Remove excess fluid
- Balance electrolytes such as potassium and sodium
- Help control blood pressure
- Reduce symptoms caused by kidney failure
- Improve energy and overall well-being
- Help prepare eligible patients for kidney transplantation
- Support a longer and healthier life with kidney failure
Consistent dialysis treatments are essential for maintaining your health.
Who May Need Hemodialysis?
Hemodialysis is commonly recommended for people with:
- End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD)
- Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
- Severe Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) when kidney function does not recover quickly
- Dangerous electrolyte imbalances
- Severe fluid overload
- Certain types of poisoning or medication overdoses
Your nephrologist will determine when dialysis is medically necessary.
How Hemodialysis Works
During treatment:
- Blood leaves your body through a dialysis access.
- The blood travels through tubing to the dialysis machine.
- The dialyzer filters out waste products and excess fluid.
- Cleaned blood is returned safely to your body.
- Your healthcare team continuously monitors your treatment.
Most in-center treatments last about 3 to 5 hours and are typically performed three times each week, although treatment schedules vary depending on your individual medical needs.
Types of Dialysis Access
Safe, reliable dialysis access is necessary for hemodialysis.
Common access types include:
- Arteriovenous (AV) fistula
- Arteriovenous (AV) graft
- Central venous dialysis catheter
An AV fistula is generally considered the preferred long-term access because it has the lowest risk of infection and usually lasts the longest.
Common Side Effects During Hemodialysis
Some people experience side effects during or after treatment.
Common side effects include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Itching
- Chills
- Access site discomfort
- Temporary weakness after treatment
Many side effects can be managed by adjusting your dialysis prescription or discussing symptoms with your dialysis care team.
Living with Hemodialysis
Many people continue to work, travel, spend time with family, and enjoy hobbies while receiving hemodialysis.
Helpful habits include:
- Never skipping dialysis treatments
- Taking medications exactly as prescribed
- Following your kidney-friendly meal plan
- Managing your fluid intake
- Protecting your dialysis access
- Keeping all medical appointments
- Staying physically active, if approved
- Asking questions about your laboratory results
Learning about your treatment can help you become an active partner in your care.
Protecting Your Dialysis Access
Your dialysis access is your lifeline:
You can help protect it by:
- Keeping the access clean
- Washing the access before treatment
- Checking for a “thrill” (vibration) every day if instructed
- Avoiding blood pressure measurements on the access arm
- Avoiding blood draws from the access arm unless instructed
- Not sleeping on the access arm
- Avoiding tight clothing or jewelry over the access
- Report redness, swelling, drainage, or pain immediately
Taking care of your access helps reduce complications and prolong its lifespan.
When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
Contact your dialysis team or healthcare provider if you experience:
- Fever or chills
- Redness, swelling, or drainage around your access
- Loss of the thrill or vibration in your fistula or graft
- Excessive bleeding from your access
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Severe muscle cramps
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Sudden weight gain
- Missed dialysis treatments
Seek emergency medical care immediately if you experience severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or loss of consciousness.
Tips for Success with Hemodialysis
If you receive hemodialysis:
- Never miss a dialysis treatment.
- Arrive on time for every session.
- Follow your prescribed fluid limit.
- Take medications exactly as directed.
- Know your dry weight.
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Follow your kidney-friendly meal plan.
- Protect your dialysis access every day.
- Ask your healthcare team about your monthly laboratory results.
Being involved in your care can help you feel better and improve your long-term health.
Remember
Hemodialysis is a life-sustaining treatment that replaces many of the important functions of healthy kidneys. By removing waste products and excess fluid and balancing electrolytes, dialysis helps people with kidney failure live longer, healthier lives. Attending every treatment, protecting your dialysis access, following your prescribed diet and fluid recommendations, and working closely with your dialysis care team are essential steps in successfully managing your health.
