Kidney Disease

Kidneys are as important to your health as your heart or lungs. Shaped like kidney beans and about the size of your fist, your kidneys are located on either side of your spine under the lower ribs. Their main task is to remove waste products and excess fluids from the body through the urine. The kidneys also ensure that the blood supply to your body's tissues has the proper balance of water, minerals (sodium, potassium, phosphate, calcium, and magnesium) and other substances that the body needs to work properly.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the permanent loss of kidney function. CKD may be the result of physical injury or a disease that damages the kidneys, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. When the kidneys are damaged, they do not remove wastes and extra water from the blood as well as they should.

Your body needs protein every day for growth, building muscles and repairing tissue. After your body uses the protein in the foods you eat, a waste product called urea is made. If you have lost kidney function, your kidneys may not be able to get rid of this urea normally. You may need to reduce the amount of protein you eat to avoid buildup of urea in your body. Protein is found in two types of foods:

In large amounts in foods from animal sources such as poultry, meat, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products.

In smaller amounts in foods from plant sources such as breads, cereals, other starches and grains, and vegetables and fruits.

Chronic kidney disease is caused by damage to the kidneys. The most common causes of this damage are:

High blood pressure.

It causes another 30% of all kidney disease. Because blood pressure often rises with chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure may further damage kidney function even when another medical condition initially caused the disease.

High blood sugar (diabetes).

Diabetes causes about 35% of all chronic kidney disease. High blood sugar levels caused by diabetes damage blood vessels in the kidneys. If the blood sugar level remains high, this damage gradually reduces the function of the kidneys.

Most people don't have any symptoms early in the disease. Once the disease progresses, the symptoms can include the following:

Feeling tired
Feeling weak
Loss of appetite
Swelling of the feet and ankles

Changes in urination -making more or less urine than usual, feeling pressure when urinating, changes in the color of urine, foamy or bubbly urine, or having to get up at night to urinate.

Swelling of the feet, ankles, hands, or face -fluid the kidneys can't remove may stay in the tissues.

When your kidneys can no longer do their job well, you have to control the kinds and amounts of food you eat. Together, you and your dietitian will make a daily eating plan which will:

1. Meet your nutritional needs
2. Cut down the workload on your kidneys
3. Help keep the kidney function that is left (before starting dialysis)
4. Control the build-up of food wastes like urea
5. Reduce symptoms like fatigue, nausea, itching and bad taste in the mouth.

By: peterhutch

Labels: chronic kidney, chronic kidney disease, disease kidney, kidney, kidney cancer, kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney infection, kidney pain, kidney symptoms, kidney transplant, renal failure

Kidney disease is a main health obstruction in America, causing problems some eight million Americans.

Harm to the nephrons effects in kidney disease. This damage might leave kidneys incapable to eliminate wastes. Generally the damage happens little by little over years.

There are no obvious symptoms. According to latest investigation published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, almost half of people with a complicated kind of kidney disease do not realize they have weak or failing kidneys,

Over 500,000 Australians a year seek advice from their doctors regarding kidney disease and urinary tract infections. One in seven Australian adults suffers some sign of chronic kidney disease and one in 35 really suffers critical kidney disease. Throughout their lifetime, one-third of women and one in ten men experience a bladder infection and one in 15 women will have kidney stones.

If your family possesses a history of any kind of kidney problems, you are possibly at risk for kidney disease.

Various factors can bring about kidney disease. You are may be in danger if you have:

* Diabetes
* High blood pressure
* A close family member with kidney disease

Your doctor can make investigations to detect if you suffer kidney disease. If your kidneys fail absolutely, a kidney transplant or dialysis can change the work your kidneys in general do.

But if you are in the first stages of a kidney disease, you could make your kidneys last longer by holding particular steps. In addition, you will desire to be convinced that risks for heart assault and stroke are reduced, because CKD patients are at risk to these troubles.

* If you suffer diabetes, observe your blood glucose carefully to keep it under control. Seek advice from your doctor for the latest in medication.
* Keep away from pain pills that could create your kidney disease worse. Confirm to your doctor prior to take any medicine.

Early discovery of kidney disease could be lifesaving. Medication and alterations to way of life, together with an early recommendation to a kidney specialist, can put off or suspend kidney failure. If you are in higher danger of chronic kidney disease, consult to your doctor concerning having a regular kidney safeguard.

By: Mc Raflesia

Labels: disease kidney, kidney, kidney cancer, kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney infection, kidney pain, kidney symptoms, kidney transplant, renal failure

Kidney disease is an extremely broad term and includes dozens of kidney disorders and hundreds if not thousands of diseases having an effect on the kidney. The kind of complications seen in kidney disease depends a lot on what the kidney disease is and how much kidney function remains.

Complications of kidney disease are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are affected by kidney disease. In several cases the difference between symptoms of kidney disease and complications of kidney disease is still ambiguous.

The listing of complications that have been revealed in many sources for kidney disease consist of kidney failure, anemia, Dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) - from dialysis treatment, Vitamin D deficiency, Excessive serum phosphorus, Bone thinning, and Osteoporosis.

Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney disease. In truth, high blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of kidney disease. This is responsible for probably 70 percent of kidney failure cases with diabetes accounting of 44 percent of kidney failure cases. The early stages of kidney disease have virtually so signs . It attacks your body and by the time it is detected, the damage is so problematic that it might well be too far to prevent kidney failure. Once your kidneys fail, you have two options: dialysis or kidney transplant. If you do not receive either of these, you will die.

How Diabetes causes Kidney Disease

When both kidneys are serving properly, the glomeruli (tiny filters that are in the kidneys) keep all proteins inside of your body. Protein is necessary for many operations within your body and are vital to keep you healthy. Diabetes causes a high concentration of glucose in the blood which damages the glomeruli. The result is that they can no longer keep the protein in the body and it is leaked into the urine from the kidneys.

When kidneys are thus damaged they no longer work correctly and do not clean our waste and extra fluids as they should. When this occurs, the fluids and waste build up in the body instead of being expelled in the urine.

To make a diagnosis on PKD, your doctor will acquire an entire medical history and do a careful physical examination. He/she will be able to consider any enlargement of the kidneys if the disease has developed. Your doctor will direct tests that assess your kidney function, in addition to scans of the kidney area to make sure for enlargement and cysts. He/she can operate a kidney biopsy, in which a small sample of kidney tissue is uninvolved for inspection under a microscope.

By: herbalremedies

Labels: disease kidney, kidney, kidney cancer, kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney infection, kidney pain, kidney symptoms, kidney transplant, renal failure

Our kidneys are very important to us. Without actively functioning kidneys, the presence of kidney disease can be devastating for a person. In the worst case scenario, an individual will need to be on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant to replace the diseased kidneys.

There are several different types of kidney disease, some of which are worse than others. Kidney disease can be "acute", meaning it is of a fast onset or "chronic" meaning the decline in kidney function is slow. Both kinds of kidney disease can be due to autoimmune disorders, toxins, medications or infections. Diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure can gradually worsen the function of the kidneys.

Another classification of kidney disease occurs when the kidneys leak out certain body fluids or substances. One of these diseases is hematuria or blood in the urine. This can come from sickened kidneys that leak out blood cells from the capillaries in the kidneys. The other is fairly common and is called proteinuria. Proteinuria is when protein, mostly albumin, leaks out from the body. This can become so great that there is not enough protein in the blood of the rest of the body. We need our protein to keep the fluid in the blood vessels and without it, fluid leaks out into the tissues all over the body. This condition is known as "nephrotic syndrome".

The presence of kidney stones is another kidney disease. This can occur when a person secretes too much calcium oxalate into the urine and doesn't drink enough water. Uric acid can cause kidney stones as well. The calcium oxalate or the uric acid builds up in the urinary area of the kidneys and precipitates into a stone that, if passed, becomes very painful. Kidney stones do not fit well in the ureters and they get stuck, causing a back of urine and extreme pain. Infections can occur with kidney stones as well.

Hypertension can cause kidney disease or, in some cases, the medications that treat hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause kidney problems. In some cases, a person has a blockage of one or both arteries leading to the kidneys. The kidneys respond by releasing vasopressin which causes the blood pressure to rise remarkably. There are specific blood pressure medications that address this problem. In some cases, surgery to correct the blockage may need to be done.

Chronic pyelonephritis is another kidney disease. This is a condition where infection seeds into the kidneys (one or both) and causes chronic pain and inflammation in the kidneys. Hematuria can result from this type of kidney infection.

There is one primary kidney disease which is cancerous. Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney disease that can occur spontaneously. The cancer can cause pain or bleeding in the area of the kidneys. A CT scan of the abdomen can detect this form of kidney disease. Often, if the cancer doesn't extend beyond the outer capsule of the kidney, the kidney can be removed and the cancer is highly treatable.

Kidney disease can be hereditary. There are a number of rare hereditary kidney diseases that result in leakage of blood or protein from the kidneys. These diseases can sometimes be managed medically but, in other cases, dialysis or kidney transplant are necessary to cure the underlying problem.

By: Michael Webb

Labels: disease kidney, kidney, kidney cancer, kidney cyst, kidney diet, kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney infection, kidney pain, kidney symptoms, kidney transplant, renal failure

Although we tend to take our kidneys for granted, these important organs deserve a little consideration now and then. Often, we don't pay much attention to them until there is a problem. When a kidney malfunctions, you will definitely know it. We've all heard tales of excruciating kidney stones or a painful kidney infection, which, if left untreated, can turn into sepsis that pervades the body and cause substantial harm.

To keep your kidneys functioning as they should, include a few management tips in your health routine. It won't take much time or effort to add these tips to your lifestyle, and the payoff may help to keep you off dialysis in preventing kidney failure later in life.

1. Drink plenty of fluids. We've all heard that drinking eight to ten glasses of water each day promotes better health, but do you know why? Imagine a riverbed that, due to a drought, sinks to low levels and even exposes muddy areas in spots. Debris like tree limbs, large stones, and even flailing fish can be seen floating in the lifeless stream and perhaps sticking to the banks in passing around bends. Then imagine a reservoir with low water levels. It may look dry, dusty, or shallow, with many objects bobbing on the surface that otherwise might be carried off downstream. This grim image is a picture of your bloodstream and kidneys when you don't drink enough fluids. Although the kidneys act as more of a filter than a reservoir, toxins can build up if there isn't enough water pressure to push them through to the urinary tract for excretion.

2. Avoid caffeine. While a couple of cups of tea or coffee, and a little bit of chocolate, may not be bad for most people, don't get hooked on drinking multiple cups of caffeine beverages each day. Your kidneys will be forced to work harder and pump out fluid and toxins when they become dehydrated by caffeine's purging effect and more active by its metabolism-boosting powers. If you find that you are urinating several times a day more than you used to, try cutting back on caffeine products to see if that helps. Too much caffeine isn't good for your body in many ways, and kidney stress is one of them.

3. Cut back on bumpy road rides. Long-distance truck drivers may have a higher incidence of kidney bruising or damage than people in other occupations. Until the possible link is confirmed or disproved, try to take long rides in comfortable seats, and stop for frequent breaks to get out of the vehicle and stretch your legs, which will be good for your back as well as your kidneys and other organs.

4. Eat cleansing foods. Some experts believe that cranberry juice helps to reduce bacteria in the urinary tract by keeping it from sticking to tissues where it can build up and cause an infection. A few glasses of this refreshing beverage each week might be enough to promote better kidney health. Some practitioners claim that white rice is a good food for cleansing the body. You may want to include this in your diet on occasion, as well.

You will feel better about taking control of your health when you use tips like these to protect your kidneys.

By granola

Labels: disease kidney, kidney, kidney cancer, kidney cyst, kidney diet, kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney infection, kidney pain, kidney symptoms, kidney transplant, renal failure

Kidney cleansing is an important treatment method in alternative medical treatment. It is used to flush out toxic wastes from the kidney. Most importantly, the cleansing dissolves kidney stones. Kidney cleansing methods involves the use of juice, supplements and herbs. Another important method is kidney cleansing fast.

Fasting often gives the much needed rest to our vital organs. When you undertake a kidney cleansing fast, your kidneys gets a break from the daily routine. This allows kidneys to perform damage control exercises. The resting period is mainly used to repair damaged tissues. During the fast, herbal teas can be used to washout toxic wastes.

Certain preparation has to be made before undergoing a kidney cleansing fast. You should reduce your food intake, from a few days before the date of fasting. This will prepare your stomach for fasting. On the fasting day, drink lots of liquid. Fresh fruit juices diluted in filtered water are the best choice. Never drink canned fruit juices. Organic apple juice is an ideal choice. Herbal combinations can also be used during kidney cleansing fast. These combinations should be taken along with fresh fruit juices.

A herbal combination made out of celery and parsley leaves helps in the rejuvenation of kidneys during a fast. To prepare the combination, take one-and-half quarts of distilled water. Add one cup of parsley leaves and one cup of celery leaves. Boil for 15 minutes and simmer for 10 minutes. Drink the liquid four or five times.

For the next one week, the juice and herbal combination should be taken along with normal diet. It is better to avoid greasy and non-vegetarian food for a week. Breakfast can include fresh fruit and muesli. For lunch, salads and raw or cooked vegetables along with fruit juices are ideal. The lunch menu can be followed for dinner.

Another important and easy kidney cleansing method is the watermelon cleanse. In this method, you should purchase big watermelons. Cut them into pieces. Then sit in a bathtub or vessel filled with water. Start eating the watermelon. While eating, pass out urine into the water. This procedure can be followed whenever you have time. This method is highly helpful in dissolving kidney stones. Diabetic patients should not undertake watermelon cleansing.

Water cure, also known as water cure recipe, is another kidney cleansing method. The main aim of the method is to drink lots of water to flush out waste materials. Daily, you need to drink water equal to half of your body weight. Water is calculated in ounces. For example, if your body weight is 200 lb, then you need to drink 100 ounces of water daily. This will make about 10 glasses of water daily. A quarter spoon of salt should be added to each glass of water. Caffeinated or alcoholic drinks should be avoided.

Apart from these cleansing kidney methods, several medical practitioners have developed numerous herbal cleansing methods. Information on these methods can be obtained from books written by the practitioners and from their web sites. Numerous kidney cleansing products in the form of herbal tea and supplements are also available in the market.

By skleong

Labels: disease kidney, kidney, kidney cancer, kidney dialysis, kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney infection, kidney pain, kidney symptoms, kidney transplant, kidney treatment, renal failure

Renal calculi or kidney stones have existed as long as man has existed. This is not fiction, it is a fact. The Egyptians preserved the dead bodies; this has helped science discover many facts. The kidneys of the mummies which are more than 7000 years old still have stones in them.

This is a problem, which affects more than 6 to 15% of the people some time during their lives. The number of people who are brought into the emergency room every year due to renal calculi are as high as 400,000. Of the affected percentage of people, a 0.19% is from the United States of America.

It is the men who are at a three times higher risk of getting stones than women and the normal age group that get stones are 21 to 60. If you are an active person, your chances of getting stones are a lot lesser. If you lead a very slow and sedentary life, you will be prone to getting kidney stones.

If a child below the age of sixteen has stones then he must be investigated completely. Kidney stones are not common in children and so if stones are then it maybe due to a hereditary disorder, metabolic disorder, infection or urological problem.

Care at Home

1. Drink lots of water or the better way to say it, is drink many liters of water.
2. If you have a urine strainer, avoid being lazy and use it. Keep a close watch on your urine contents and see if there is any blood in the urine.
3. A lot of anti inflammatory pain killers are available as over the counter products. You may be prescribed pain killers like Ibuprofen or Motrin and Naproxen or Aleve.

Medical Treatment for Kidney Stones

The stones which are less than 4mm or 0.15 to0.2 inches can pass out by themselves and will come out in the urine. A doctor will not try to do anything if the stones are too small and can come out in the urine. The stones, which are in the kidney, come down. Then they slip through the ureter and passes through the bladder. Next, they are sent out with the urine.

Stones which are bigger are the ones you have to be worried about. These stones may have an irregular shape and can cause bruises to the ureter. This is why tinges of blood maybe seen in the urine. The doctor will determine the size of the stone and then will decide on whether to break it into small bits or to remove it surgically. Of the people suffering from kidney stones only 21% of the people will need to take some sort of a treatment.

If the stone can’t pass by itself, the doctor may suggest one of the following treatment procedures:

1. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy where shock waves are used to break the stone. This takes less than an hour and you will be given morphine as a sedative.

2. Radarscope may be inserted via the bladder and through the ureter. Then shock waves will be sent directly at the stone to break it up and will help to the kidney stone to dissolve. Some anesthetic will be given to you. This is also an out patient procedure.

3. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or a tunnel surgery is done when the stone can not be broken and has to be removed surgically.

If you are brought to the emergency room in severe pain, you will be given IV fluids first. Anti-nausea medication too will be given. Then a pain killer like ketorolac or toradol will be given to help reduce the pain.

Only one in five people will have to be admitted to a hospital with severe stomach pain or cramps. Save all the stones that you filter and show it to your doctor. Lastly, ensure that you visit the doctor again and do all that you can to prevent stones from forming in your kidney again.

By yeastion@gmail.com

Labels: disease kidney, kidney, kidney cancer, kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney function, kidney infection, kidney pain, kidney symptoms, kidney transplant, renal disease, renal failure