"The Big D" — dialysis — is a topic many people with kidney disease wonder about, and it's a fair question!
On average, people on dialysis live around 5 to 10 years. However, that's just an average — some people live for several decades on dialysis with good medical care and healthy habits. Several factors can influence how Show Full Answer
"The Big D" — dialysis — is a topic many people with kidney disease wonder about, and it's a fair question!
On average, people on dialysis live around 5 to 10 years. However, that's just an average — some people live for several decades on dialysis with good medical care and healthy habits. Several factors can influence how long someone does well on dialysis, including:
- Age — younger people often fare better
- Overall health — managing things like blood pressure and diet matters a lot
- Following your treatment plan — sticking to your dialysis schedule and kidney-friendly diet makes a real difference
- Lifestyle choices — avoiding smoking and heavy alcohol use can improve outcomes
A kidney transplant is another option that can extend life expectancy further — transplants from living donors can last 20 to 25 years on average, and those from deceased donors around 15 to 20 years.
It's always worth having an open conversation with your nephrologist about what to expect based on your specific situation.
July 18
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