How do my kidneys work and how does renal artery disease
affect them?

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located at your waistline on either side of your spine. The kidneys function like filters to remove waste materials and excess fluids from the blood, and from that waste they produce urine.

Your kidneys play a key role in keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range. If your kidneys do not receive adequate blood flow at a certain rate due to a narrowing in the renal artery, they will send out a chemical messenger to increase the amount of fluid in your circulatory system. They will also send a chemical messenger to further narrow (constrict) your arteries. This increases blood pressure in the kidney and can damage the smaller blood vessels within kidneys. If the damage progresses to the point where the kidneys become ineffective in removing waste and extra fluid from your body, dialysis or kidney transplant will become necessary.