DEAR DR. GOTT: I am an 86-year-old doctor’s daughter concerned that both my parents died of kidney failure, although I never knew how it happened.
Perhaps you could tell me what steps I should take first to deal with it, as I just got a report from my doctor indicating that I have chronic kidney disease that has stabilized. What does that mean?
DEAR READER: The kidneys are fist-sized, bean-shaped organs located at the back of the upper abdomen. Their purpose is to filter and clean blood. When the kidneys lose their ability to perform as intended, the condition is known as kidney failure. Stabilized failure simply means that your kidneys have lost some function but are no longer deteriorating.
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