Choosing the right type and amount of proteins you eat is important when you have chronic kidney disease. It can affect your overall health and kidney function.

If you have kidney disease, phosphorus may build up in your blood. Excess phosphorus in the body tends to bind with calcium and gets deposited in blood vessels and other organs. This can lead to renal bone disease.

Calcium and phosphorus are minerals found in many foods. Your body works best when these minerals are in balance. But if you have kidney disease, phosphorus may build up in your blood. This can make your bones weak over time. This sheet will help you maintain balance.

By controlling the amount of potassium you eat, you can keep a safe level in your blood. Here are cooking tips and a list of hidden sources of potassium.

When the carotid arteries are healthy, the brain gets all the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function well. If the carotid arteries are damaged, however, it can greatly increase your chances of stroke.

Your doctor will teach you how to care for your catheter and exit site. Good care is important to prevent infection. If an infection occurs, the catheter may have to be taken out. A new one will have to be put in at a later date.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment that can take over when your kidneys stop working. PD uses the lining of your abdomen as a filter for your blood. Before PD can be done, an opening into this lining must be made. This is done by placing a soft tube called a catheter into your abdomen.

It's important to care for your access to help it last. A problem such as an infection or a blood clot may make your access unusable. Follow these guidelines to help protect your access.

Before hemodialysis can be done, a way for blood to leave and return to your body (an access) is needed. A hemodialysis access is often made in your arm. The two main types of accesses are an arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) and an arteriovenous graft (AV graft).

A central line is often used instead of a standard I.V. line when you need treatment for longer than a week or so. The line can send medicine or nutrition right into your bloodstream.