Sodium borate is a form of boron, a naturally occurring element usually found in sediments and sedimentary rock formations, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the U.S., boron compounds are used in glass, ceramics, soaps,...
Kidney failure may occur in two forms. The kidneys can gradually lose their ability to function properly to remove toxins from the body. This form of the problem is called chronic kidney failure, the Mayo Clinic reports, because it takes place...
According to the Washington Health Center, a colonoscopy is a test that is conducted by a gastroenterologist in order to check for colon abnormalities such as colon cancer and colon tumors. In order for the doctor to perform an adequate...
According to Healthcentral.com, the proton pump inhibitor Aciphex is used to treat stomach disorders that are caused by the overproduction of stomach acid. Aciphex is mainly indicated for the treatment of erosive esophagitis, a condition caused by...
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition that is characterized by the breakdown of muscle fibers. When muscle fibers break down, the contents are released into the bloodstream. These contents are called myoglobin. The kidney filters myoglobin from the...
Potassium is essential to the proper functioning of all cells, organs, nerves and muscles, including the cardiac muscle. Normal blood potassium ranges from 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. Often, hypokalemia occurs not because a person's potassium intake is...
Ibuprofen is the generic name for an over-the-counter medication. Apo-Ibuprofen, one particular brand, has several effects to include pain relief, reduction of inflammation, fever reduction, inhibition of certain immune system functions,...
The renal system, meaning kidneys, plays an important role in the regulation of electrolytes. Primary function of the renal system is to filter the blood and remove excess fluid, electrolytes and waste products. When renal function is impaired,...
Renal failure, or kidney failure, happens when the kidneys are not able to filter waste from the body. This may be acute or chronic and usually strikes both kidneys at the same time. Often, an underlying disease in another organ causes the kidneys...
Every human body produces uric acid because the body system breaks down purines. People ingest purines with drinks such as wine and beer, and with foods such as peas, beans and liver. For most people, this process causes no problems. However, when...
When you exercise, skeletal muscle is broken down in microscopic amounts. These changes may be experienced as soreness or fatigue afterward. Normally, this amount of damage is easily repaired and your muscles adapt by growing in size and strength....
Acute renal failure, also called acute kidney failure, is a sudden loss of kidney function that results in an inability of the kidneys to filter wastes without losing electrolytes. This is a very serious condition that can lead to the need for...
Clostridium difficile is a bacterial infection that causes life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Clostridium infection normally affects older people in hospitals and long-term care facilities, according to the Mayo Clinic. Risk factors for...
Lower leg swelling can occur as a result of an injury or condition directly related to the leg or as a result of conditions that involve distant organs and affect the whole body. Inferences about the causes of leg swelling can be made based on the...
Generalizations can usually be made about the cause of leg swelling based on where the swelling occurs. If the swelling occurs in one leg, it usually involves a problem related just to that leg. If swelling occurs in both legs, it usually...
Changes in the sense of taste are medically referred to as dysgeusia. Dysgeusia may be characterized as a bitter taste or a metal taste in the mouth. A metal taste in the mouth often occurs as a symptom of an underlying disease and not as an...
High potassium levels, also referred to as hyperkalemia, result when the level of potassium in the blood is too high. Several different disorders, including acute kidney failure, Addison's disease and type 1 diabetes, as well as high blood...
When kidneys are unable to filter the blood, dangerous levels of fluid and waste collect in the body. According to MayoClinic.com, acute kidney failure can happen over the course of hours or days, and is most likely to occur in critically ill...
Wegener's granulomatosis, a type of vasculitis, is classified as an autoimmune disease, has no known cause and when left untreated is fatal. Initially, Wegener's disease might be mistaken for other illnesses with upper or lower respiratory...
Lysine is an amino acid essential to human life. It can be obtained by eating animal protein, eggs, dairy products and beans. If you do not eat much of these foods, you may need to take supplemental lysine, which is often available in the form of...
Renal insufficiency is another name for kidney failure. It's a condition where the kidneys are no longer able to meet the needs of the body. Unlike healthy kidneys, those suffering from failure can't eliminate excess fluids, salts and waste from...
Phosphates are a derivative of phosphorus, a mineral that can be found in many foods. Phosphates can also be used as a short-term course of treatment for many ailments, including but not limited to constipation, high blood calcium levels, low...
Swelling of the lower leg can occur as a result of a condition that directly affects the leg or as a result of organ failure that affects the whole body. Leg swelling is often accompanied by pain and tenderness to the touch. Generalizations about...
The kidneys normally regulate red blood cell production, activate vitamin D, control blood pressure, excrete metabolic waste material through urine and regulate electrolytes, notes the text "Medical-Surgical Nursing." According to the Mayo Clinic,...
MedlinePlus defines acute renal failure as an inability of the kidneys to remove wastes and maintain normal electrolyte levels. Acute renal failure occurs quickly and has several causes. These causes include autoimmune kidney disease, septic...
Pneumonia is the one of the most common childhood respiratory tract infections, affecting children of all ages, although the highest incidence of pneumonia is in children between 2 and 4 years of age. It is a common cause of hospitalization in...
Hiccups are an involuntary reflex caused by sudden spasms of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. The glottis---a tissue flap that protects the airway during swallowing---snaps shut as the diaphragm spasms,...
The kidneys are vital organs necessary for the excretion of waste products, secretion of hormones and regulation of fluid balance. Acute kidney failure, also called acute renal failure, can occur due to many causes. "Medical-Surgical Nursing"...
