The Facts
After the blood has circulated through the body, it passes into the kidneys.
The kidneys filter waste products and excess salt and water out of the blood,
and pass these out of the body as urine. The kidneys also make hormones that
control blood pressure, bone maintenance, and the production of red blood cells. It's a serious
problem when the kidneys stop working. Waste products that build up in the body
cause imbalances in chemicals needed to keep the body functioning smoothly.
There are many different types of kidney diseases. Kidney diseases can
lead to kidney failure, a condition in which the kidneys fail to work normally.
People with kidney failure need to receive dialysis or a kidney transplant.