Hemodialysis is a treatment method that serves to eliminate waste materials from the body by filtering them out from the blood. Filtering waste materials is actually done by the kidneys, but when there is kidney failure, there is a build-up of waste materials inside the body. In this case, hemodialysis is the treatment.
Hemodialysis can also maintain the balance between important minerals in the body such as sodium, potassium and calcium. It also helps control hypertension. However, this is not considered to be a cure for kidney failure.
In this method, a machine filters out waste materials, excess fluid and salt from the blood in cases of kidney failure. While on hemodialysis, a person is expected to comply with a strict treatment schedule, take medications daily and do some changes in the diet.
