Hypokalemia is the medical term for a lower than normal potassium level in your blood. Hypokalemia can result from certain drugs such as antibiotics and diuretics, vomiting, eating foods rich in glycyrrhetinic acid, diarrhea, diseases affecting...
A member of the Asteraceae family, milk thistle, or Silybum marianum, has also been commonly referred to as St. Mary's thistle, Marian thistle, lady's thistle and holy thistle, according to the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Milk thistle is native...
Acute kidney failure is different from chronic kidney failure. Unlike patients with chronic kidney disease, patients with acute disease do not have the luxury of years of experience and mental preparation for the eventuality of kidney failure....
According to Baylor College of Medicine, renal failure can be defined as either the sudden or gradual loss of kidney function. When the kidneys do not perform like they should, excess waste and fluid that would normally be filtered out remains in...
According to National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, cirrhosis is the condition of slow deterioration of the liver. This occurs due to the replacement of the healthy tissue with the scarring tissues and involves the blockage of...
NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are generally prescribed for mild to moderate pain. This category of drugs includes aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naprosyn and other other-the-counter and prescription drugs. Warnings...
Hyperkalemia is a condition of high level of potassium in the blood. The kidneys normally measure the right amount of potassium in the bloodstream and excrete excess amounts. Potassium levels can get too high if the kidneys aren't working...
Calcium is an important mineral in the growth and development of bone. It is also important to maintain the function of nerves, muscles, and the heart. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs that help regulate the body's fluid and...
The most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, it strikes men more often than women, often in the sixth or seventh decade of life. The cancer usually manifests in one kidney but...
The kidneys are vital organs that help remove wastes from the bloodstream so they can be excreted through the urinary tract. Some medical researchers believe that smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products may have several effects on the...
High protein diets, such as Atkins, are mainly used to increase weight loss. However, the extra protein in the diet produces waste products that must be filtered by the kidneys. This puts extra stress on the kidneys, which has raised concerns...
Kidney stones can be uncomfortable and may lead to infection. Conventional medical treatment usually involves pain management and prescription medication to help dissolve the stones. Extreme cases may even require surgery. Ayurvedic treatments may...
Chronic renal failure---which is also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD)---occurs when your kidneys are no longer able to function on their own. If this happens, excess waste products build up in your body because the kidneys are no longer able...
The kidneys function in your body by removing waste and excess water from your blood. Medical professionals calculate the glomerular filtration rate, or GFR, to measure the rate at which your kidneys filter blood waste. If you have a low GFR, you...
Chromium Picolinate is a more bio-available form of the mineral chromium, which works with insulin to metabolize carbohydrates. Needed only in trace amounts, deficiency of this mineral is uncommon. According to Care Group, the estimated daily...
Polycystic Kidney Disease, PKD, is a genetic disorder that causes the growth of fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys, eventually causing kidney failure in many cases. Several herbs have been the subject of clinical studies with encouraging results....
The effects of the Atkins Diet on the kidneys have been hotly debated every since "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution" was published in 1972. Although the Atkins Nutritionals company filed for bankruptcy, the diet continues to be popular, and spawns...
The kidneys work by filtering the blood of waste products to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. Chronic renal insufficiency, also known as chronic renal failure, is a condition in which the kidneys have suffered irreversible damage and can no...
Chromium, an essential element, is often sold as a dietary supplement in the form of chromium picolinate to aid in weight loss, decrease blood glucose levels and increase muscle mass. As many as 90 percent of Americans don't get enough chromium in...
Twenty million Americans are affected by chronic renal failure, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Improved treatments for life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease have led to...
Kidney stone formation, known as nephrolithiasis, is caused by precipitation of electrolytes in your kidneys. When there is an imbalance of electrolytes, or a highly concentrated flow of urine, stones are more likely to form. According to...
If your soap never quite rinses off in the shower, if your hair loses its shine and feels stickier the more you wash it, or if your glassware comes out of the dishwasher with more spots on it than when it went in, get your water tested. You may...
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...
The kidneys are the main organ responsible for the balance of fluid and electrolytes in the body. In addition, they eliminate waste products from the blood and maintain the the acid-base balance. The symptoms of renal failure are secondary to an...
Acute renal failure is a condition that develops quickly, usually over several hours or days. The kidneys are suddenly not able to function properly, causing medical complications, and this situation can become fatal if not treated, says the Mayo...
Drinking water helps flush the kidneys of waste, helping them to balance chemicals and regulate fluid in the bloodstream. Kidney disease may occur as the result of other disorders, such as heart failure, high blood pressure, lupus or diabetes....
Knee arthritis exists in three forms: osetoarthritis, the most common and gradual disease, deteriorates the joint cartilage in the knee; rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory condition, destroys the cartilage and is usually present in both knees;...
The human excretory system relies on the functioning of the lungs, kidneys and skin to remove toxins from the body. The movement of blood through the body transports toxins from various parts of the organism to these excretory organs. Exercise,...
Protein supplements are available over the counter at health stores across the U.S. and worldwide. Protein powders are generally safe for most adults, according to Dr. Virginia Uhley of the University of Michigan, who says protein powders are a...
