The kidneys are two organs shaped like beans that are about the size of the human fist. The kidneys are located on the right and left sides of the spine, behind the abdominal organs. The kidneys function as filters to remove toxins from the body....
Cystic kidney disease is characterized by fluid filled sacs located in the kidneys. According to the experts at Merck, renal cysts can be a hereditary condition. The presence of theses cysts are harmful to kidney function because they can cause...
Diuretics, or "water pills," work in tandem with other drugs used to relieve symptoms of congestive heart failure, which is commonly called referred to as CHF. Diuretics relieve congestive symptoms and extremity edema seen in patients with stage...
In humans, the two kidneys remove excess waste and salt from the body in the form of urine. Waste removal by the kidneys helps the body maintain normal blood pressure levels, keeping the heart healthy. If there is too much waste in the urine, it...
Kidney stones are particles produced from waste that's been filtered out of urine before it passes to the bladder. Often, the built-up particles stay in the kidney or pass through the urinary tract undetected in very small pieces. In some cases,...
Yohimbe is an herbal medicine produced from the bark of yohimbe evergreen trees. These trees are native to Africa, and their bark contains a chemical called yohimbine that can be taken for several different benefits. But yohimbine isn't always...
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the lower back--on each side of the spine--that function to filter waste products from the body and produce urine. A kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis, occurs when bacteria travels through...
Of the three kinds of surgery that can be performed on kidney stones, uteroscopy is the least invasive because it involves no incisions. A ureteroscopy involves the use of a small instrument with a fiber optic camera (called a ureteroscope). This...
Kidney stones, or renal lithiasis, are caused by many things, including dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dehydration causes the urine in your urinary tract to become concentrated, increasing the chances that normally occurring salts will...
Ganglioneuroblastoma is often identified when a parent or child recognizes a hard mass in the child's abdomen, though the cancerous tumors are capable of growing elsewhere in the body. When they are located on the face or head, there will usually...
Kidney stones, also called nephrolithiasis, are solid masses of urine crystals that form in the kidney. After forming in the kidney, the stones pass through the ureter, into the bladder and out the body during urination. Sometimes the stones stick...
Cramps are unpleasant and often painful. When the muscle contracts or shortens itself it causes the sensation of a cramp. Stomach cramps are relatively common and often their cause is not serious, according to Medline Plus. They may result from...
The kidneys and adrenal glands are intimately related, both in terms of location and certain functions. However, patients with kidney disease or adrenal disorders often focus upon one organ at the expense of the other. Knowing more about both...
IVU stands for intravenous urogram and is also known as intravenous pyelogram (IVP). The examination is a diagnostic system and primary imagining procedure that locates your kidneys, uterus and bladder and discover there sizes. It also checks for...
The kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder all make up the urinary system. If any part of the urinary system gets an infection, it is referred to and a urinary tract infection, or UTI. According to MayoClinic.com, though this type of infection can...
In healthy people, the two kidneys within the body clear waste and excess fluid from the bloodstream and excrete it as urine. If the salt within the urine solidifies and forms crystals, a kidney stone can develop. Kidney stones are one of the most...
Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Because hypertension is a major risk factor for the development of heart disease, many patients take medications to achieve optimal blood pressure control. Diuretics are drugs...
Citrus fruits and juices taste good and provide many necessary nutrients to your body. They also can help your body prevent kidney stones as well as break down existing stones. A well-balanced diet that provides your daily recommended citrus...
Cortisol is a naturally occurring hormone that is secreted by the adrenal glands located on your kidneys. The levels of cortisol within your body fluctuate normally throughout the day and night. If you develop persistent cortisol imbalances --...
Edema, most commonly noticed in the hands, legs, ankles and feet, results when excess fluid becomes trapped in the tissues, causing swelling. Edema occurs when tiny blood vessels known as capillaries leak fluid, which can result from damage to or...
Diuretics, also called water pills, are medications used to treat hypertension, swelling due to fluid accumulation, glaucoma and congestive heart failure. They promote the removal of water and salt from the body through urine. Heart palpitations...
Contraceptive patches are applied to the skin and deliver steady doses of hormones that can prevent pregnancy. While these patches are convenient and remove the possibility that a woman will forget to take a pill or schedule a contraceptive...
Your body naturally produces creatine from amino acids located in your kidneys and liver. Skeletal muscles store most of this creatine. Your body uses creatine to create energy that allows your muscles to perform physical activities. Many athletes...
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2009 approximately 57,760 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. This includes both renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis. Treatment...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common ailment. Most people require more than one medication to achieve treatment goals, according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment...
The decreased atmospheric pressure at high altitudes reduces the oxygen pressure gradient between your lungs and your blood, making it difficult to absorb enough oxygen to support cellular aerobic respiration. Under these conditions, your tissues...
There are several causes of urethral pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the urinary system is comprised of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The urethra, which sits at...
Potassium is a dietary mineral essential to human life. Potassium is necessary for maintaining electrolyte balance in the body and helping nerve and muscle cells work properly. But too much potassium can be toxic and result in serious health...
Herpes zoster is the medical name for shingles, an illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that is responsible for chickenpox. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM), once an individual contracts...
Limiting potassium in your diet can help patients with Addison's disease. Learn how to adjust your diet to fit your specific health and nutrition needs in this healthy shopping video.
Prostatitis is an infection of the prostate glade caused by a bacteria. Symptoms include fever, frequent urination, and burning with urination. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for prostatitis in this health video.
Addison's disease is a disorder that results in your body producing insufficient amounts of certain hormones produced by your adrenal glands. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of Addison's in this video.
Renal Cell cancer (kidney cancer) is found in the kidney and can occur in both adults and children, but most commonly in adults. In this video learn more about this cancer and its various forms, its symptoms, treatments, and preventative techniques.
Adrenal gland cancers are rare cancers occurring in the endocrine tissue of the adrenal glands and are characterized by overproduction of adrenal gland hormones. Learn about the symptoms and treatment options in this video.
