Health Minute: Kidney Dialysis

The National Kidney Foundation estimates more than 20 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease.

In today's Health Minute, Judy Fortin looks at what happens when the condition progresses.

THE DIALS AND NUMBERS ON A DIALYSIS MACHINE MAY LOOK CONFUSING, BUT TO A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM END-STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE, THEY HAVE A LIFE-SAVING PURPOSE.

THE MACHINE TAKES OVER WHEN THE KIDNEYS ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY:

Dialysis takes out the excess poison levels and the excess fluids, the abnormal electrolytes that the kidneys normally clear.

KIDNEY SPECIALIST DR. EDWARD HIMOT CALLS KIDNEY DIALYSIS AN ARTIFICIAL, INTERMITTENT TREATMENT THAT CAN HELP PROLONG LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH END-STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE.

DIALYSIS MAY BE RECOMMENDED FOR PATIENTS WITH KIDNEYS FUNCTIONING AT LESS THAN 10 TO 15-PERCENT CAPACITY.

EXPERTS SAY CERTAIN PATIENTS MAY REQUIRE UP TO 12  HOURS OF DIALYSIS A WEEK, DIVIDED INTO THREE SESSIONS.

THE TREATMENT COULD BE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

If you have chronic kidney failure that's lapsing over years then the chances of having reversibility of you coming off dialysis is low.

WITH AN ESTIMATED 340-THOUSAND PATIENTS IN THE U-S RECEIVING DIALYSIS EVERY YEAR, THAT MEANS CENTERS LIKE THIS ONE WILL ALWAYS BE BUSY.

FOR TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M JUDY FORTIN.