Inherited and congenital conditions may lead to cyst formation within the kidneys. A cyst is a fluid-filled tissue mass. Cysts often grow as increasing amounts of fluid accumulate within the structure. New cysts may also develop over time....
Polycystic kidney disease has two specific variants called autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Both are caused by different genes and produce slightly different diseases. Both can be...
The kidneys secrete hormones, reabsorb substances, convert vitamin D to its active form, keep the right amount of bases and acids in the blood and remove wastes. One waste product that must be excreted is urea. Ammonia, from the metabolism of...
The kidneys have two main functions in the body: they filter the blood and remove waste products and excess electrolytes and they also help regulate blood pressure. Genetic diseases such as polycystic kidney disease can gradually damage the...
Healthy kidneys clean the blood by removing waste products. Unhealthy kidneys do not do this effectively. In addition to leaving waste products in the blood, they often remove vital proteins. Spilling protein into urine is called proteinuria....
Two different diseases -- autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease -- cause renal cysts. Both these diseases are genetic and the key symptom for both is the formation of cysts on the kidneys....
According to Suzanne Watnick, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment," autosomal dominant (adult) polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common genetic...
Caffeine is naturally found in coffee and tea as well as chocolate. And it's added to sodas, energy drinks, pain relievers and other products, too. Though caffeine is generally harmless, it can negatively affect some people in the form of side...
Abdominal pain can be burning, cramping or dull in quality. Sometimes, the pain can be continuous or intermittent. In some instances, this abdominal pain can be concentrated in the left upper quadrant region. This pain can be a sign of an...
If you have polycystic kidney disease, the food you choose to eat may help slow progression of symptoms related to the disease, for which there is no cure. If you have the disease, you develop multiple cysts in your kidneys. These can enlarge your...
Although kidney cysts can be diagnosed at any age, the majority of cases are identified through renal ultrasound or shortly after a baby is born. The severity of this condition is highly variable. In some instances, people make it to adulthood...
Polycystic renal disease, more commonly known as polycystic kidney disease (PKD), is a genetic disorder in which noncancerous fluid-filled cysts grow on the kidneys. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases...
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by multiple cysts found in the kidneys and become filled with fluid. These cysts distort the normal structure of the kidney causing them to ill function and possibly fail over time. According to the...
The average caffeine intake for adults in the United States is 200 mg per day and 80 percent of this country's population consumes caffeinated beverages, according to the authors of "The World of Caffeine." Caffeine, considered a mild diuretic,...
Polycystic kidney disease is far from the death sentence that you might fear. Only 24,828 of the 527,283 Americans treated for end-stage kidney disease in 2007 had polycystic disease, according to the 2009 Annual Report of the U.S. Renal Data...
For most, caffeine is a harmless substance that simply causes you to feel more awake and alert. However, consuming more than the amount of caffeine contained in 1 or 2 cups of coffee could cause unpleasant side effects like headaches or jitters....
Caffeine is one of the primary ingredients in coffee, and the ingredient found in coffee potentially harmful to your kidneys. Caffeine is found in some beans, leaves and fruit acting as a natural pesticide. Humans consume caffeine, mostly, as an...
The kidneys are more than just a way for the body to eliminate waste products. They ensure that that the body has enough red blood cells by secreting a hormone to stimulate red blood cell production when the level is low. They produce vitamin D to...
Caffeine consumed in moderation can lead to mild, stimulating effects that can help keep you temporarily more alert and awake; however; consuming more than 500 mg -- more than 5 cups of coffee -- a day can lead to side effects such as anxiety,...
An estimated 600,000 Americans live with polycystic kidney disease or "PKD," according to the federal National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Polycystic kidney disease causes multiple cysts, fluid-filled pockets, to form...
The kidneys start to grow during the first month of fetal development. These organs produce urine and maintain normal levels of electrolytes and fluids in the body. Kidney problems that occur during fetal development could lead to complications...
Renal failure causes the kidneys to stop working properly, which allows waste products, fluid and minerals to build up in the blood. Without treatment, the accumulation of these substances causes nausea, fatigue, itchy skin, swelling and other...
Polycystic kidney disease is a a genetic disorder that affects the kidneys and other organs of the body. According to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, it can be present in 1 in 1,000 Americans, with some...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, appears to have a strong genetic contribution. It can occur as an isolated symptom, in the case of essential hypertension, or as one of many symptoms in a variety of genetic syndromes. Syndromes that affect...
Research shows that in the United States from 1988 to 2010, the prevalence of chronic renal failure is increasing with poor outcomes for patients and rapidly rising costs. According to a 2009 report from the United States Renal Data System...
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...
