Normally, urine decreases in amount and becomes more concentrated at night, allowing six to eight hours of sleep without using the bathroom. With the condition called nocturia, individuals are awakened several times throughout the night voiding...
You may think that taking vitamin D supplements is good for you, especially if you wisely use lots of sunscreen when you're outdoors, or you don't eat a lot of dairy foods. But too much of a good thing can be bad for you, and that applies to...
Your body depends on electrolytes such as potassium for water balance, as well as proper cell, nerve and muscle function. Blood levels must therefore remain in a tight range. Usually, your body can tap into potassium reserves inside your cells to...
The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland that produces semen, the fluid responsible for nourishing and transporting sperm, according to the MayoClinic.com. During a prostate biopsy, urologist or a doctor that specializes in male reproductive...
Digoxin is a medication used to improve the strength and efficiency of the heart and control the rate and rhythm of the heart, according to MayoClinic.com. It is often prescribed to patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure or atrial...
Potassium is an essential mineral and electrolyte for human existence. All living cells function using potassium. Without potassium, nerves could not generate electrical impulses, the heart would not pump and skeletal muscles could not contract....
The pituitary gland, located at the base of the skull, is a small organ responsible for secreting various hormones. The pituitary is important for controlling temperature, growth, thyroid activity and sexual function. Because the pituitary is...
Getting adequate amounts of vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin synthesized in the skin when exposed to sunlight and also available in some foods, often requires taking supplements. Vitamin D helps maintain strong bones and may also play a part in...
Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disease in which numerous cysts or fluid-filled pouches form on the kidneys. During the early stages of the disease, the cysts cause your kidneys to swell which leads to impairment of kidney function,...
Ginger has no known dose that causes toxicity, and side effects from consuming ginger are rare. However, if you want to use ginger medicinally, it's still best to proceed with caution and consult a doctor before beginning. Ginger is often used for...
Several conditions can cause protein in your kidneys. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, when blood passes through healthy kidneys, the kidneys filter out waste products and leave things...
Acute renal failure, also called acute kidney failure, is a sudden loss of kidney function that results in an inability of the kidneys to filter wastes without losing electrolytes. This is a very serious condition that can lead to the need for...
The bladder, an organ located near the bottom of the abdomen, is responsible for urination in both children and adults. When your bladder works properly, two sets of muscles allow you to control the retention and release of urine. Children who...
Excessive urination, also referred to as polyuria, is a symptom in which too much urine is secreted, which can result in having to urinate frequently. Several medical conditions can cause excessive urination in toddlers. When this symptom occurs,...
While men experience bladder control problems less frequently than women, between 7 and 15 percent of older men suffer from urinary incontinence of other bladder problems, lead author Cindy Maloney-Monaghan reports in an article published in...
DDAVP, or desmopressin, is a replacement hormone for vasopressin and is an anti-diuretic, meaning that it lessens urine production. Doctors prescribe it to treat bed wetting and diabetes insipidus. Patients can take it in pill form, or via...
The prostate is an endocrine gland that makes up a part of the male reproductive system. Located adjacent to the colon and bladder, the prostate gland helps maintain proper hormone balance in the body and secretes fluid that makes up a component...
Bright's disease is an historical classification of kidney diseases that today includes acute and chronic nephritis (sometimes also known as nephritic syndrome or glomerulonephritis). Nephritis is caused by an inflammation of the internal...
The adrenal and thyroid glands are important parts of the endocrine system. The hormones produced by these glands are released into the bloodstream and travel around the body. They control a variety of functions that are fundamental to sustaining...
The oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT, screens for diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes if you are pregnant or have symptoms of diabetes like excessive thirst and urination, night sweats and an elevated blood glucose. The OGTT evaluates...
Bed wetting, or nocturnal enuresis, can affect people throughout their lifetime. It may occur during childhood and stop during adolescence, but start up again later on in life. At least 2 percent of adults have lack of control of urination during...
If you frequently exhibit symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue after eating or night sweats, your doctor may order an oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT. The OGTT screens patients for diabetes mellitus and...
Conflicting reports by media may have you wondering if caffeine is OK to consume or if you should avoid it. A number of foods and medications contain caffeine, including certain beverages, chocolate and over-the-counter pain relievers. Caffeine is...
The urinary system consists of nerves, muscles, two kidneys, the bladder, tubes called ureters that carry urine to the bladder from the kidneys and the urethra that carries urine out of the body. Disorders of the urinary system can affect any or...
Adult bedwetting can be an embarrassing condition to live with. It is necessary to visit a physician when this condition arises. Bedwetting in adults can be attributed to urinary tract infections, bladder cancer, bladder or kidney stones,...
You may be craving a certain food for a number of reasons. Cravings could be psychological or physical. Various situations that trigger an emotional response can kick-start a craving you associate with stress relief. To normalize an imbalanced...
Initially congestive heart failure causes patients to be short of breath and unable to exert themselves.The condition is caused by weakened or damaged heart vessels that cannot pump sufficient blood to the heart, according to the American Heart...
Diabetes insipidus is a condition in which your kidneys are unable to conserve water. The amount of water your body conserves is controlled by anti-diuretic hormone, which is produced by a region in your brain called the hypothalamus. Diabetes...
Geodon is a brand name prescription medication containing ziprasidone. It is approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia and the manic and mixed episode phases of bipolar disorder. It is also approved for use with other medications as maintenance...
