The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located in the middle of your back, just below your rib cage, on either side of your spine.

These organs serve a number of purposes. The most important is that they filter your blood, then return the clean blood to your circulation system and send waste products – such as extra salt, minerals and toxins – out of your body through your urine.

My doctor says I have chronic kidney disease. What is that?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is diagnosed when your kidney function gets worse over time. This can happen as a result of diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions.

How will I know if it’s getting worse?

Your physician can test you on an ongoing basis to see how your disease is progressing.

If you reach a point of losing 85 to 90 percent of your kidney function, you may feel very bad – a sign that waste products are building up in your body. This is called end stage kidney failure. At this stage, you will need dialysis or a transplant to survive.

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys can no longer do the job. There are two kinds of dialysis. In hemodialysis, you are connected through an artery to a machine that removes your blood for filtering then returns it. In peritoneal dialysis, your belly cavity – whose lining acts as a natural filter – is filled with a sterile solution that pulls waste products from the body.

Would a transplant would be a better option?

That depends on a number of factors. You can ask your physician to refer you to the University of Michigan Transplant Center for an evaluation.