A kidney dialysis machine replaces the functions of a healthy kidney for people whose own kidneys are severely compromised. Although the machine can't produce hormones as a normal kidney, it takes care of the blood filtering and waste removal that...
The kidneys work with hormones in the body to retain or excrete fluids. These organs also maintain electrolyte levels, produce urine and filter waste from the blood. When function declines because of chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, the...
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...
MRSA, also known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterium that can cause infections that are resistant to common antibiotics. MRSA is most known for being acquired in hospital or medical settings like nursing homes or...
People with advanced kidney disease are often put on dialysis, which involves a machine doing the work of the kidneys to filter and clean the blood. Because the kidneys are not working well enough to naturally filter out excessive nutrients,...
Healthy kidneys manage the balance of electrolytes in your body, such as calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Kidneys also filter out waste products and extra water, which then is excreted in urine. If you have kidney disease or kidney failure, you...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is type of staph infection caused by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. They are resistant to certain broad-spectrum antibiotics and may lead to skin and other infections. MRSA is...
Staphylococcus aureus, also known as staph, is a bacteria commonly found inside the nose or on the skin of about 1/3 of the population, according to the MayoClinic.com. Simply having staph bacteria in or on the body will not cause a person to...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, or MRSA, is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that is highly resistant to some antibiotics, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic states that MRSA usually begins as small red bumps...
A kidney infection, known medically as pyelonephritis, often occurs when a urinary tract infection, or UTI, spreads up the ureters to the kidneys. Kidney infections are more serious than UTIs and can cause life-threatening infections in some...
Healthy kidneys clean waste products and extra fluids out of the blood, keep your bones healthy and help to prevent anemia. If kidneys are damaged and fail, treatment is needed to replace these important functions. Dialysis is a treatment that can...
Navigating your way through the internet and media to find accurate nutrition information and services can be quite challenging. Because every one eats food, every one seems to be a nutrition professional. Remember that not all information on the...
A dialysis machine is often called an artificial kidney because it performs some of the same functions as a healthy, functioning kidney. First invented in the 1940s, these machines came into common use in the late 1960s and early 1970s as...
The elderly population is growing, and many people need assistance and care in a healthy and safe environment. The elderly face a broad range of medical and physical needs that require assistance and supervision on a temporary or full-time basis,...
When you encounter a hard lump in your leg, your first reaction may be to worry about cancer. An unsightly red lump can be even more unnerving. Fortunately, even though hard red skin bumps on the legs can be an eyesore and a hassle, they're...
Those who work in the health care field know that stopping the growth and the spread of germs is essential in preventing the transmission of illness. For many workers, hand washing techniques are implemented into their daily routine. Many workers...
Dialysis removes toxins and other waste products from your blood when your kidneys no longer function well. Dialysis treatments are usually done several times a week and take 3 to 4 hours at the time. Most centers have rules about when you should...
Learning that you have failing kidneys and require dialysis can be emotionally overwhelming. Confusion about how the process works and what will be required of you can add to your stress level, further compromising your health. Understanding how...
Dialysis makes the difference between life and death, but it is not always easy. Regardless of whether the patient chooses hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, problems can arise. It is important to resolve as many of these issues as possible...
Increased potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia) can be caused by decreased elimination of potassium (usually due to kidney disorders) or from increased production of potassium (due to tumors or cell damage in the body). Certain medications...
Diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and glomerular nephritis can slowly and insidiously rob a person of all kidney function, resulting in renal failure. Dialysis sustains life until a kidney becomes available for transplant, says the...
While humans start life with excess kidney function, disease often robs some patients of this capability. As kidney function dwindles to a point where it is no longer possible to sustain life, doctors often speak to patients about possible...
Before beginning dialysis, also known as hemodialysis, each patient needs to have a vascular access created. This is a site on the body through which blood will enter and leave. It is larger and stronger than most veins and arteries, which could...
Approaching dialysis is a frightening transition for anyone. In addition to worrying about whether they will be able to continue to support their families, patients often worry about being a burden. Physical symptoms of renal failure can be...
When you have to go through kidney dialysis, a good diet is essential. When your kidneys work, they filter waste from your blood. This waste is flushed out through urination. When your kidneys stop working like they should, the only way that you...
The dialysis machine was engineered by Dr. Willem Kolff in 1943. While the first machines were huge, bulky devices whose use was controversial, improvements made them smaller and more effective. Dialysis machines can even be used in the home,...
Herbs are compatible with much of modern medicine -- and many doctors are willing to allow patients to augment their therapies with herbal treatments. However, dialysis is a sufficiently complex area that leaves little room for herbalists....
Kidney failure causes accumulation of waste products and byproducts of protein metabolism in the blood. This also leads to excessive fluid buildup and electrolyte disturbances, resulting in high blood pressure. Kidney dialysis is the process of...
Fully functioning kidneys remove wastes and excess fluids from the blood. When the kidneys fail, harmful wastes and excess fluids build up in the body, causing life-threatening events. Currently, dialysis and kidney transplantation are the only...
Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people. Learn about Diabetes and what it is like to live with the condition in this video.
