Blood naturally clots to slow down and stop bleeding when a vein or artery is cut. Sometimes, however, a blood clot will occur unnecessarily and can cause health problems. A blood clot that takes place in a vein and breaks loose can cause a...
An ultrasound is a noninvasive procedure that can measure the size and shape of the kidneys. Many different conditions can cause an enlarged kidney and ultrasound is a useful procedure for finding these changes. Some of these conditions may...
The kidneys are more than just a way for the body to eliminate waste products. They ensure that that the body has enough red blood cells by secreting a hormone to stimulate red blood cell production when the level is low. They produce vitamin D to...
Renal artery stents are treatment options when the blood vessels that feed the kidney are narrowed or have a clot. This reduces the ability of the kidneys to clear the blood stream of waste products and toxins. Renal artery stenosis or renal...
According to Medline Plus, the kidneys, or renal system, help control water levels and eliminate wastes through urine. They also help regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production and the levels of calcium and minerals. The United States...
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious medical condition characterized by repeated high blood pressure readings. One high reading doesn't mean someone has hypertension, but several high readings over time can indicate a problem. Several...
Blood clots are clumps of blood that form in the blood vessels and can travel into the heart, lungs and brain. Blood clots can cause conditions such as strokes, angina, arterial embolisms, deep vein thrombosis, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms...
Acute renal failure is the sudden loss of the kidneys' ability to filter waste products from the bloodstream, according to MayoClinic.com. Also known as acute kidney injury, it usually occurs in conjunction with another medical condition such as...
