The reported benefits of home hemodialysis may not be experienced by all patients. Despite the health benefits that home and more frequent hemodialysis may provide to those with chronic kidney disease, these forms of therapy are not for everyone. View Risks and Responsibilities × Corporate Information Investor Relations Support Careers Contact Us NXSTAGE WEBSITES Patients Family & Friends Administrators Healthcare Professionals Home / Patients / What You Need to Know About Kidney Disease What You Need to Know About Kidney Disease You don’t always feel sick when you have kidney disease. But getting the diagnosis can make you feel overwhelmed. If you have it, you are not alone. Studies show that 30 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and millions more are at risk.1 We want to provide you with the information you need to help you better cope with the disease, and so you can take an active role in your own care. When you understand more about your kidneys, the disease and your options for treatment, you may have a better chance of improving your quality of life with CKD. Your kidneys are vital to your health Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs behind your rib cage on either side of your spine. You have two kidneys, although you only need one to survive. Each kidney is roughly the size of your fist and it plays several important roles within your body: They remove waste from your blood. In fact, they filter roughly 200 liters of blood every day. They regulate and control your blood pressure. They manage how much fluid remains inside your body. They keep your bones healthy. They regulate certain chemicals in your body. Why your kidneys may fail Adults, the elderly, and even children can get kidney disease. Kidneys may fail for several reasons, including: diabetes obesity high blood pressure family history of kidney disease inflammation of the kidneys (a group of diseases known as glomerulonephritis) an injury immune disorders congenital birth defects Stages of kidney disease Kidney disease goes through several stages. With regular health checkups, your primary care doctor can help you prevent many conditions that lead to kidney disease or catch symptoms early enough to slow the progress of the disease. When damage to your kidneys is permanent, it is called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Your kidneys can still work if there is only minor damage. If the damage gets worse, CKD can lead to End-Stage Renal Disease – also called kidney failure. If you have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease, the kidneys have stopped working well enough to filter your blood and you will need dialysis treatments or a transplant. Visit our Treating Kidney Disease page to get more information about home dialysis treatment options. References: National Chronic Kidney Disease Fact Sheet, 2017. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2017: https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/pdf/kidney_factsheet.pdf APM2090 Rev. D Related Pages: TREATING KIDNEY DISEASE IN THE WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU HELP FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS FIND A CENTER DEVELOPING YOUR KIDNEY DISEASE CARE PLAN Fresenius Medical Care has successfully completed its merger with NxStage Medical, Inc. More Info NAVIGATION Homepage Corporate Information Patients Healthcare Professionals Administrators Investor Relations Website NxStage Company Store Support Careers Contact Us LINKS Privacy Policy Terms of Use CA Supply Chain Act and the UK Modern Slavery Act Privacy Statement (Canada) Privacy Policy (Australia) CONTACT US NxStage Medical, Inc. 350 Merrimack St. Lawrence, MA 01843 United States 1-866-NXSTAGE (697-8243) Contact Us ABOUT US NxStage Medical, Inc. is a leading medical technology company, headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, that develops, manufactures and markets innovative products for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute kidney failure. NxStage also has established a small number of dialysis clinics committed to the development of innovative care delivery models for patients with ESRD. Read more… ©2021 NxStage Medical, Inc. NxStage, ButtonHole, SteriPick, MasterGuard, Medic, Reverso, FingerShield and SecureClip are registered trademarks of NxStage Medical, Inc. PureFlow SL and System One are trademarks of NxStage Medical, Inc. CAUTION: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. APM2000 Rev. T