In the human body, kidneys are located below the rib cage, on either side of the spine. The main function of the kidneys is to filter and remove minerals, waste and fluids from the body through the production of urine. In case the kidneys stop this function, the levels of harmful waste and fluids in your body start increasing. This rise in level can raise one’s blood pressure and can result in kidney failure or end-stage renal disease. The most common causes of end stage renal disease are:
- Diabetes
- Chronic and uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Chronic glomerulonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
People suffering from end-stage renal disease need to go through regular dialysis to have the waste removed from their body, or they can opt for a kidney transplant. A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a deceased or live donor is placed into a person whose kidneys have lost more than 90% of their function.