The kidneys play an important role in maintaining blood pressure as well as the amount of fluid, protein and wastes in the blood. When the kidneys are damaged, they cannot perform these functions properly. High blood pressure coupled with protein...
The urinary system is comprised of the kidneys, ureters and bladder, connected by tubes, muscles and nerves for the function of carrying urine through and out of the body. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse details...
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), also called preeclampsia or toxemia, occurs when a woman's blood pressure is elevated during pregnancy. PIH is most likely to impact women who are first-time moms, have a family history of PIH, are pregnant...
Acute glomerulonephritis, sometimes called acute nephritic syndrome, most often affects children between the ages of 2 and 10 after a streptococcal infection, although adults may also develop the disease. Other bacterial and viral infections and...
Gastrointestinal bleeding may occur anywhere along the digestive tract and it could be caused by gastric or duodenal ulcers, esophageal varices, diverticular disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or injury. Some possible symptoms of...
Toxemia, also known as preeclampsia is hypertension that develops in pregnancy. There's actually no known cause for toxemia or preeclampsia. Researchers believe that toxemia begins when a woman is in the early stages of her pregnancy when there's...
According to the National Kidney Foundation more than 26 million Americans -- one in nine adults -- have renal disease. Millions more people are at increased risk for the disease, and most don't know it. If the disease is found and treated early,...
Whole books are written on what women should do and not do when they're pregnant. For women who want to have a healthy pregnancy but don't have time to read all the books, a few essential bits of information increase the odds of having a healthy...
High blood pressure and edema, which is excess fluid in the tissues, is a common complication during and soon after pregnancy. Many changes occur in a woman's body during pregnancy. Changing characteristics of the hormones, heart, blood vessels,...
According to FamilyDoctor.org, toxemia is more common in first-time mothers than those who have been pregnant before. Pregnancies consisting of multiples and women who have family members who experienced toxemia also are at greater risk for this...
Pregnancy-induced hypertension, also known as pre-eclampsia, toxemia of pregnancy, or by the acronym PIH, is a serious condition. Symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling, and protein in your urine. The usual treatment for PIH is bed rest...
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...
Preeclampsia is a potentially serious illness that develops during or immediately following pregnancy. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, it affects approximately 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies, and is characterized by high blood...
The primary mechanism by which the body lowers blood pressure is cardiac output. Sensors within our cardiovascular system called baroreceptors constantly measure our blood pressure and send messages to the heart and brain. Within seconds the...
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, occurs when blood pressure reaches or exceeds 140/90. Hypertension affects 10 percent of pregnancies, according to OBGYN.net. While it can be dangerous for the mother and may necessitate bed rest...
Diuretics are a major class of blood pressure medications, often used as a first-line treatment of hypertension. Diuretics, also known as "water pills," cause the kidneys to dump more fluid from the blood into the urine, thus lowering blood volume...
Polycystic Kidney Disease, or PKD, is a genetic disorder that comes in various forms depending on the genes affected. Most cases affect adults with symptoms beginning in the third or fourth decade of life. The underlying problem is the development...
Vitamin B-12, also known as cyanocobalamin, assists red blood cell production, DNA synthesis and maintenance of healthy nerve cells. Animal foods such as milk, dairy products, eggs, meat and fish contain vitamin B-12. B-12 is also added to...
Food contamination is a major health problem because it can expose thousands of people to potentially toxic chemicals. Melamine is a substance that has been found in a variety of food products, particularly substances from China. Melamine...
At 23 weeks into a pregnancy, a woman's baby bump is obvious and she can feel her baby moving regularly. Firmly in the middle of the second trimester, a mother is more than halfway through her pregnancy. The fetus continues to grow and develop;...
Edema is swelling caused by the buildup of fluids in the tissues of the body. It can occur in any part of the body; however, edema is more common in parts of the body that are lowest to the ground. The most likely areas to be affected are the...
There is varied information about low creatinine levels in children and adults. KidsHealth.org states that your muscles produce creatinine as one of the waste products of your body. Some resources suggest low creatinine levels in adults and...
Normally your immune system protects you from disease. But if you have an autoimmune disorder, your body's immune system attacks your healthy organs and tissues thinking that they are invaders. Gluten intolerance is an autoimmune disorder that...
The B-type natriuretic peptide blood test is used to assess heart function, especially for individuals with a high risk for heart failure. B-type natriuretic peptide, or BNP, aids the detection of congestive heart failure while still in its...
The excretory system, which is also referred to as the urinary system, includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The main function of the excretory system is to maintain fluid balance in the body through filtration and excretion of waste...
There are three types of high blood pressure, or hypertension, that can affect a woman explains the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These include chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. With the...
Regardless of which particular kidney disease you have, proteinuria -- also known as high urine protein -- is usually the first symptom. Patients often are completely unaware that they are sick until a urine specimen during a routine life...
Lisinopril is a medication used in the treatment of congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and to prevent heart attacks. While it is accompanied by common side effects, a variety of side effects are categorized according to the condition...
According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, the first trimester of pregnancy consists of the 13 weeks after your last menstrual period. Typically, your first prenatal visit will occur between the 8th and 10th week of pregnancy to start your...
Bladder stones are small masses of minerals that form in your bladder, the balloon-shaped organ in your pelvis that stores urine. Bladder stones, also called bladder calculi, often form when concentrated urine sits in your bladder. Bladder stones...
Potassium is an important metal for keeping your cells alive and can be found in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, and meats . Try these tips for buying foods rich in potassium in this healthy shopping video.
Preeclampsia eclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that is associated with hypertension. Get expert tips and advice on preventing, diagnosing, and treating preeclampsia eclampsia in this video.
