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Valve disease occurs when a valve doesn't open or close the way it should. If a valve doesn't open all the way, the heart has to push blood through a smaller opening. If the valve doesn't close tightly, some blood will leak backward.

Mitral stenosis causes the mitral valve to stiffen and not open right. Learn about what it is, causes, and treatments.

If the kidneys fail, blood is no longer filtered. Though kidney failure has no cure, certain treatments can help keep the body working the best it can.

Hemodialysis is a type of treatment for kidney failure (also called end-stage kidney disease or ESRD). It uses a machine that holds a filter called a dialyzer. As blood flows through the dialyzer, waste is removed and fluid and chemicals are balanced.

Peritoneal dialysis is a way to cleanse the blood to treat kidney failure. It uses the lining of your abdomen, called the peritoneal membrane, and a special solution (dialysate).

Kidney failure and its treatment will mean making some changes. But you can still live a full life with kidney failure. Read on to learn more.

Having kidney failure means many changes in your health and life. It may feel like too much to cope with at times, but you can learn how to deal with these emotions and feel better about your treatment and yourself. Learning as much as you can about kidney failure is a good place to start.

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.

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.