The kidneys play a vital role in the human body, filtering metabolic waste from the bloodstream. While many can live with diminished kidney functioning for years with medication and dialysis, when the kidneys shut down completely, death is usually...
Due to its strong association with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, kidney failure proves far less common among children than it is among adults. Nonetheless, children affected by kidney failure face substantial health...
Healthy kidneys are needed to remove excess wastes, minerals and fluids in the body. Kidneys produce hormones to help strengthen bones and cleanse the blood. Kidney failure can result in a build up of wastes and excess fluid, raising blood...
Persistent itching can be a stubbornly distressing symptom. Many skin and systemic disorders can precipitate itching, which is caused by stimulation of specialized nerve fibers found only in the skin. Although the precise mechanisms by which...
Kidney failure is characterized by a complete loss of kidney function. Hemodialysis is the most common treatment method for permanent kidney failure. During hemodialysis, a machine is used to filter wastes, extra fluid and salts from your blood....
Dialysis is necessary when people develop end-stage kidney failure, in which 85 to 90 percent of kidney function is lost. Kidney failure occurs gradually because if one kidney is still working or both are functioning partially, normal kidney...
Diabetes is a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance in which disturbances in carbohydrates, fats and proteins metabolism lead to high blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to help control blood sugar...
Iron Deficiency anemia is a condition in which there is low red blood cells in the blood due to decreased iron levels. Iron deficiency anemia is common in patients with chronic kidney diseases, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and...
Medicare insurance coverage has been in effect for disabled and retired Americans since 1972. Medicare Part A is automatic medical coverage, while Part B is voluntary and meant to fill the holes left by the first coverage. According to the...
Each day the kidneys remove about two quarts of waste from the body through urine. If the kidneys do not function properly and kidney disease develops, waste builds up and you may suffer from serious symptoms, such as frequent need to urinate,...
Human growth hormone (HGH) is made in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is part of the endocrine system. It is about the size of a pea and is located at the base of the brain. The hormone is converted in the liver into insulin like growth...
Branched-chain amino acid supplements have been shown to help decrease muscle soreness and damage and increase protein synthesis in your body after exercise. These amino acids, which are the basic building blocks of protein, include leucine,...
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....
Your kidneys and liver have similar functions. They filter toxins and waste. The kidneys do this with fluids, while the liver generally takes care of solids. Either organ can experience bacterial or viral infections, invasion of cancer or...
Both the renal and kidney diets are variations on a low-potassium, low-protein diet designed to limit complications in individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease. Since the term renal refers to the kidneys, the names are sometimes used...
Eczema is thought to be a genetic disorder, although the exact cause and mechanism of the disease is unknown. Some research studies have found a link between diet and the exacerbation or relief of eczema, although the subject is still...
Adopting healthy eating habits is important for your overall health. Learning to eat a well-balanced diet will help you maintain your weight and may also reduce your risk of chronic diseases. Your children will follow your eating habits and learn...
According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. Among the more than 300 biochemical reactions it supports, magnesium helps maintain proper nerve and...
Monochloramine, also known as chloramine, is a disinfectant added to water in city treatment plants. According to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, it is an alternative to chlorination that provides better compliance with federal...
Dialysis is a treatment required when the kidneys can no longer take care of the body's needs. Dialysis is necessary when end-stage kidney failure develops, usually when 85 to 90 percent of kidney function is lost, states the National Kidney...
Renal impairment is the failure of the kidneys to remove all the waste products from the blood such as urea, uric acid and creatinine, and to maintain proper water levels in the body. This condition can have adverse effects in several systems in...
Chronic renal failure, or chronic kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys gradually lose their ability to function. Because the kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from the blood, declining performance can lead to...
The end stages of renal failure occur when the kidneys cease functioning and are no longer able to remove waste from the body, regulate electrolytes and concentrate urine. This condition occurs after a stretch of chronic kidney failure, which in...
Too much calcium in the blood, or hypercalcemia, may be caused by dysfunction of the parathyroid glands, the effects of medications, conditions such as rickets, kidney disease and cancer, immobility and rarely, excessive oral intake of calcium....
Gadolinium-based contrast material used in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, causes nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with kidney disease. Patients with kidney failure have a greater risk. According to the U.S. Food and...
The International Diabetes Federation estimates there are 194 million people in the world suffering from either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, with the largest growth in rapidly developing countries. Diabetes, a metabolic disorder, is a lifelong...
The kidney is a critical organ in your body because it filters your blood of wastes and maintains balanced electrolytes (mineral) levels. Sometimes, your kidney malfunctions because of damage or abnormal structures forming within your kidney....
Diabetics typically don't have to follow a salt-restricting diet, though complications due to diabetes can change dietary recommendations. Generally, a healthy diet is the same for diabetics and nondiabetics: most of your meals should consist of...
Diabetes is a disease that results in high levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. This occurs because insulin, the molecule that controls blood sugar, is either deficient or ineffective in lowering glucose. Diabetes can be genetically related,...
