About Kidneys and Kidney Diseases

October 27th, 2009 | by admin |
kidney disease
Steven A Johnson asked:


The kidneys are a pair of vital organs that perform many functions to keep the blood clean and chemically balanced. Kidneys are bean shaped and about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of your back just below the rib cage; one is on each side of your spine. Understanding how your kidneys work can and will help you keep them healthier.

Each a one person’s kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood and sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. These wastes and extra water become urine that flows to the bladder and then the bladder stores urine until it is released. The wastes in blood come from the break down of active tissues such as the muscles and from food.

The body uses food for energy and repairs that need to be done in the body. Once the body has taken what it needs from the food the wastes are sent to the blood. If the kidneys were not there to remove the waste it would just build up in the blood and cause a lot of damage to the body.

People with two kidneys have 100% kidney function. Small or declined kidney function of about 30 to 40% would rarely be noticed. Some people are born with only one kidney and they can still lead a normal healthy life. Lots of people also donate one of their kidneys to use for a transplant for a family member of friend in need of a kidney.

Many people who have reduced kidney function, a kidney disease is also present and will get worse. Serious health problems happen when people have less than 25% if their kidney functions. Only after year or even decades is it apparent that there is damage caused by disease. Most kidneys are also attacked simultaneously. The two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. It is also in genetics to get kidney diseases as well.

Diabetic kidney disease is caused by diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that keeps the body from using glucose, a form of sugar, as it should. If the glucose stays in the blood stream instead of breaking down it can poison the body. Keeping blood glucose levels down can delay or prevent diabetic kidney disease.

High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys. The damaged vessels cannot filter wastes from the blood as they should. Medication for lowering blood pressure will protect the kidneys.

Several types of kidney disease are grouped together under glomerular disease. This includes autoimmune diseases, infection related diseases, and sclerotic diseases. Other causes of kidney disease include poisons and trauma. Things like a forceful blow to the kidneys can lead to kidney disease as well. Some over the counter pain killers if taken over a long period of time can be poisonous to the kidneys and cause disease too. Checking with your doctor to make sure your kidneys are not at risk is a good idea if you have to pain killers for a long period of time.

Many factors many influence the speed of kidney failure are not understood. There is still a lot of research being done to identify these causes and about the diseases of kidneys. Controlling your diet to make it healthier, lowering blood pressure, treating anemia, not smoking, and drinking moderately can prevent some kidney disease and prolong the effects of some diseases as well. There are also some supplements that can be taken to promote good kidney health and function. Alternative Health Supplements offers many all natural and safe products to keep your kidneys healthy.



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