Kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD), occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter waste products and excess fluids from the blood. This can be caused by various factors such as uncontrolled diabetes, chronic high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, kidney stones, urinary tract obstruction, medications and toxins, and severe infections like sepsis. Certain factors may increase the risk of developing kidney failure, such as having diabetes or high blood pressure, a family history of kidney disease, increasing age, being African American, Hispanic American, or Native American, being overweight or obese, smoking, and having cardiovascular disease. To prevent kidney failure, it is important to manage these risk factors, maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, and get regular check-ups with a healthcare provider.