Search the A to Z Guide

Bladder: An organ in your body that holds urine (pee) produced by kidneys. Blood pressure: The force of blood pushing against the inner walls of blood vessels. High blood pressure means the force is too high. Chronic: Constant, long-term, does not go away. Chronic disease: A health problem...

Tips for writing a letter or social media post to your friends, family, and/or community: Make it personal, tell YOUR story (what is treatment like, how do you feel) Use information on kidney.org to include facts on kidney disease, living donation, and transplant.  Include a photo with...

What is Kidney Cancer?  - (Available  in Spanish) Who is at Risk? - (Available in Spanish) How is Kidney Cancer Found? - (Available In Spanish) Treatments for Kidney Cancer - (Available In Spanish) Talking with Your Healthcare Professional - (...

Introduction What is an Advance Directive? I’m 18 Years Old…Why Do I Need an Advance Directive? Advance Directives and Dialysis Other Important Points Discussion Topics Other Resources Introduction The Patient Self-Determination Act, in effect since 1991, gives adults with the capacity to make...

A new baby is a joy for any family. But pregnancy can put a lot of stress on your body. If you have kidney disease or kidney failure, it can put you and the health of your unborn child at risk. Are you thinking about pregnancy? If so, you should discuss it beforehand with your doctor or other...

When it comes to dairy products in our everyday food intake, most people would say that they have milk or other dairy products daily, if not more! Milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurts, pudding and ice cream are some of the favorite dairy products of young and old alike. Dairy products are...

What happens when kidneys stop working? Some parts of our bodies do not work.  These parts might just need some help.  For example, do you know someone who wears glasses or contact lenses to see better?  Or do you know someone who wears a hearing aid?  Or someone who needs a...

People with simple kidney cysts have sacs that are filled with fluid within their kidneys. It is possible to have one or more cysts in one or both kidneys. The exact cause of simple kidney cysts is not known but they tend to be more common as people age. Simple kidney cysts rarely cause problems...

What is lithium? Lithium is a common medicine used to help calm mood for treating people with mental disorders. Since such disorders need lifelong treatment, long-term use of lithium may be harmful to organs, such as the kidneys. How does lithium cause kidney damage? Lithium may cause problems with...

Choosing plant-based foods instead of meats may help prevent and treat chronic kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.