Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a rare kidney disease that develops after infection with a specific strain of the Streptococcus bacterium. According to the Children’s Hospital of Boston, acute post-streptococcal...
Tonsillitis is a condition where the tonsils, clumps of fleshy tissue located on each side in the back of the throat, become infected by a virus or bacteria. Viral tonsillitis often subsides without any specific treatment; however, bacterial...
When the kidneys become damaged, they are unable to filter waste from the blood. This is known as kidney failure, which can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). Several medical conditions and chemicals can cause kidney failure in...
A urinalysis is very useful for determining if there are any diseases that involve the urinary tract. It can even be used to monitor the status of some diseases. Certain congenital disorders, toxins, medications, infections, injuries and diseases...
Bright's disease is an historical classification of kidney diseases that today includes acute and chronic nephritis (sometimes also known as nephritic syndrome or glomerulonephritis). Nephritis is caused by an inflammation of the internal...
Potassium is an essential mineral and electrolyte. It works with sodium to help maintain fluid balance, and is necessary for muscle and nerve function. Potassium also helps your heart keep a steady beat. High potassium levels, also known as...
Glomerulonephritis is a collection of diseases that damage your glomeruli, or the part of your kidney that helps filter your blood. According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are two principle types of glomerulonephritis, acute and...
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that filter waste from the blood and maintain fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance in the body. The causes of kidney disease can be trauma, infection, or genetic disorders that damage the filtering units...
Acute renal failure is the sudden loss of the kidneys' ability to filter waste products from the bloodstream, according to MayoClinic.com. Also known as acute kidney injury, it usually occurs in conjunction with another medical condition such as...
One of the leading causes of secondary hypertension is glomerular disease. According to MayoClinic.com, the kidneys function as filters of waste and excess sodium in the body with the help of microscopic filters known as glomeruli, which are very...
Healthy kidneys cleanse the excess fluid, minerals and other bodily waste products collected by the blood by producing urine. They also help balance the volume of electrolytes and regulate the pH range in the body. Furthermore, the kidneys release...
Blood potassium levels of 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter, or mEq/L, are necessary for proper functioning of nerves and muscles. However, when blood levels of potassium rise higher than normal, into the range of 6.0 mEq/L, a condition called...
Potassium helps control muscle contraction and relaxation, and thus plays a vital role in maintaining the heartbeat. Potassium also helps maintain fluid balance and regulate pH. More than 95 percent of the potassium in your body is contained...
Potassium is an essential mineral that plays a key role in proper function of the organs, tissues and cells in the body. It is also one of body's electrolytes that conducts electricity in the body and promotes normal heart, digestive, skeletal and...
The BUN-to-creatinine ratio is a routine lab measurement used by your doctor to assess the function of your kidneys. It is calculated by dividing the serum BUN concentration by the serum creatinine concentration. Various conditions affecting your...
Your body relies on the mineral potassium to effectively perform many functions. Keeping potassium in balance is essential for your health, since too little or too much of the nutrient has adverse effects. You physician will perform a clinical...
Hyperkalemia is a condition in which the levels of potassium in the bloodstream are abnormally high. There are many causes for hyperkalemia, mostly related to kidney disease because this organ helps control the levels of potassium in the body,...
Hyperkalemia is the medical term for high potassium levels in the bloodstream. Potassium is an electrolyte, an electrically charged element important in body functions, including muscle contraction and nervous system signaling. The potassium...
Potassium is an important element for many of the body's functions. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, potassium is involved in muscle contraction, in the functioning of the digestive system and in preserving the normal...
Renal failure occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to carry out their essential functions, including removing waste and toxins from the blood and helping to control blood pressure and the balance of hormones, fluids and minerals in the body....
Hyperkalemia is a condition characterized by high levels of potassium in the bloodstream. According to Medline Plus, the kidneys are responsible for excreting excess potassium from the body, so when levels are high it's usually due to decreased...
The balance of nutrients and minerals in the body is vital to maintaining a properly functioning body. Although the body does a good job of keeping these substances within a narrow, healthy range, many disorders and conditions can lead to...
Hyperkalemia is a condition in which the levels of potassium in the blood stream are abnormally high. Because the normal range for the level of potassium is narrow, small changes in the level of this electrolyte can have significant health...
Potassium is an electrolyte that plays a role in digestion, metabolism and muscle tissue regulation, as well as balancing electrical and chemical processes in the body. A higher-than-normal level of potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia....
Potassium is a mineral that is necessary for the body to function properly. It is used in the building of muscles, growth and development, transmission of nerve impulses, regulating heart activity and blood pressure levels. The body normally...
Potassium is a mineral found in many foods, including meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt and nuts. The body needs potassium for protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, muscle development and other important electrical and cellular...
Your body uses potassium to perform various functions. Potassium is necessary in moderating your muscles and nerves as well as your metabolism. Your body also uses potassium to regulate electrochemical processes. Potassium levels need to remain...
Magnesium supplements are available in many different formulations. Magnesium taurate combines the mineral with the amino acid taurine; this has benefits you don't get from other magnesium supplements. Both magnesium and taurine are connected with...
Potassium is a mineral found in food. It plays a role in maintaining a regular heartbeat and is involved in regulating muscle tissue. If potassium level is too high, it can cause an irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. The kidneys typically...
