1. The Little Organs That Could
Each person is born with two kidneys, one on either side of the spine. The kidneys are small but mighty machines that each filter about 45 gallons of blood each day to remove toxins from your body. They're the body's filtration system that captures waste and sends it to the bladder. Nephrons are the tiny filters that perform the actual function of capturing the waste from the blood so that cleaned blood returns to the body.
2. Don't Fail Me Now
When kidney failure occurs, both kidneys fail at the same time more often than not; although it's possible that only one kidney is affected. Kidney failure almost always results from attack on the nephrons. The result is that fewer and fewer toxins are filtered as time goes by, leading to a dangerous build up in the blood. Disease is the most likely reason for kidney failure, though a car accident could damage the kidneys as well. High blood pressure is known to cause a reduction in renal function, as is diabetes. Infections and immune diseases can also stop your kidneys from functioning properly.
3. Prescription for a Healthy Lifestyle
Your lifestyle has a direct effect on how well your kidneys function. Drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy weight. Eat a balanced diet and get plenty of exercise. Obesity increases your chance of kidney disease, as does smoking. See your doctor regularly to check for problems such as high blood pressure. High blood pressure stresses the kidneys, and if it goes untreated it could lead to kidney failure. Discuss your family history with your doctor, as kidney disease can be hereditary.
4. Dialysis Paralysis
Dialysis can help keep a patient healthy until such time as a donor kidney can be found. It's a process where the blood is actually removed from the body and filtered through a machine. Once the filtration process is complete, the clean blood gets returned to the body. Most people who require dialysis have the process done several times each week. Another type of dialysis can be performed at home instead of in a medical setting. It's done by pumping a medical fluid into the abdomen, which works like a net to catch impurities. The fluid is then removed from the body along with the toxins. This process typically must be done every 3 hours, every day.
5. Finding the Perfect Match
For many, a kidney transplant is the only option. A donor kidney is located from either a living person who has two healthy kidneys, or from a recently deceased person. The organ donor and recipient need to have compatible blood types, and their kidneys need to be a shape and size. A person who receives the transplant will take medication for the rest of her life to help prevent rejection. Otherwise, body believes the new organ is a foreign object that should be attacked and killed.
