29/08/2025
Kidney Fact Friday!!
1. Kidneys filter about 180L of blood every single day! Dialysis steps in to do this when the kidneys can’t.
2. 🕒 Dialysis was first used successfully in 1945—it’s been saving lives for nearly 80 years!
3. 🫧 There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis (blood cleaned with a machine) and peritoneal dialysis (using the lining of your abdomen to filter waste).
4. 🌍 Over 2 million people worldwide rely on dialysis to stay alive.
5. 🧪 The first dialysis machines were called “artificial kidneys.” Early versions were even made from washing machine parts!
6. 🍎 Diet matters a lot on dialysis. Too much potassium (like from bananas or potatoes) can be dangerous, so patients often have to follow special meal plans.
7. ❤️ Dialysis not only removes waste, but also balances fluids and electrolytes—keeping the heart, muscles, and nerves working properly.
8. 🚗 Portable dialysis machines are now being developed, making it easier for patients to travel and live more freely.
9. ⏱️ Hemodialysis sessions usually take about 4 hours, three times a week—that’s over 600 hours a year!
10. 👩⚕️ Some patients have been on dialysis for more than 40 years, showing how far treatment and technology have come.
