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...
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...
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...
The National Institute of Health explains that situs inversus is a rare genetic condition in which the internal organs in the chest and the abdomen lie in mirror image of their usual positions in the body. Situs inversus may occur as an isolated...
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...
Diseased kidneys, also known as kidney disease, is any chronic, or long-term, health problem that causes your kidneys to function improperly. In many cases, notes the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, or NHS, chronic kidney disease...
Heart failure describes a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demands of the cells throughout the body. Heart failure occurs when the heart becomes weak due to added strain caused by conditions such as coronary artery...
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...
The kidneys are an enormously complex organ involved in everything from regulating blood pressure, filtering blood, maintaining healthy bones and helping mature red blood cells. In the absence of illness, it is very possible to avoid thinking...
The normal human body includes two kidneys. These dark-red bean-shaped structures reside behind the abdominal cavity between the lower ribs and the low back. The right kidney lies slightly lower than the left. The kidneys work to filter the...
The most important decision made by patients electing hemodialysis is what type of vascular access they will use for dialysis. "Vascular access" refers to what means is used to couple the dialysis machine to the patient's blood supply. Vascular...
Chronic renal failure is the result of a gradually progressive loss of kidney function. A 2007 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that nearly 17 percent of the U.S. population age 20 and older has chronic kidney...
The side effects of high potassium levels, or hyperkalemia, are high blood pressure, heart problems and kidney stones. Potassium is an ionic salt necessary for all living things to function; it is essential for brain functions and balances energy...
There are many reasons that blood can appear in urine and stools: disease, trauma, infection, tumors and anatomic abnormalities. Under normal circumstances, there should be no blood present in either system, so even the presence of a small amount...
