Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1960s, when hemodialysis first became a practical treatment for kidney failure, we've learned much about how to make hemodialysis treatments more effective and minimize side effects. In recent years, more compact and simpler dialysis machines have made home dialysis increasingly attractive. But even with better procedures and equipment, hemodialysis is still a complicated and inconvenient therapy that requires a coordinated effort from your whole health care team, including your nephrologist, dialysis nurse, dialysis technician, dietitian, and social worker. The most important members of your health care team are you and your family. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 07-4666) will help you to understand hemodialysis, "How it Works," and your personal care and health during treatment. By learning about your treatment, you can work with your health care team to give yourself the best possible results, and you can lead a full, active life.