Posts Tagged ‘kidney problem’

Prevent Life-Threatening Kidney Failure With An Easy Kidney Test

If you’ve been suffering from unusual back pain or soreness lately, and you haven’t been able to determine the source as muscle damage or a spinal problem, think about talking to your medical professional about having kidney function tests done.|If you’ve been troubled lately by unusual pain and soreness in your back, you might want to talk to your medical professional about having some kidney tests done.|If you’ve had a mysterious, nagging back pain lately, and it doesn’t seem to be a nerve or muscular problem, you might want to ask your medical professional about having some kidney function tests done.|Have you been experiencing soreness or pain in your lower back lately, and it doesn’t seem to be a spinal or muscular problem? If so, it may be time to ask your medical professional about kidney tests.|Anyone who has had recent pain or soreness in the lower back that doesn’t seem to be muscular or spinal in nature should ask their medical professional about getting tested for possible kidney problems.}

There are a number of conditions and diseases that can result in a kidney problem. Some come on strong and fast. As the saying goes, you “dont know what hit you.” This type of pain usually comes from kidney stones or an acute kidney infection.

Other types of kidney back pain are not so acute. They come on gradually over a period of time? because the root cause is chronic. This is usually what happens in the case of kidney failure.

Many times, your doctor can determine if your kidneys are malfunctioning by taking a urine . Toxins, chemicals, blood and sometimes even tissue fragments will appear. This is usually a signal that more tests are required.

Taking blood is another way to ascertain if there is a kidney problem. Your kidneys filter out toxins in the blood, and if a kidney is malfunctioning, certain chemicals will appear in the blood sample .

These are the most common blood tests used to help evaluate the kidneys:

1. The blood urea nitrogen test When the blood is tested for nitrogen, this tells your physician if the urine that the kidney sends to the urethra (the tube connecting a kidney to your bladder) is healthy or not.

2. The creatinine test This resembles the blood urea nitrogen test but checks your creatinine levels. Creatinine is a waste product that is generated by your muscles and is carried to your kidneys through your blood. The kidneys screen it out and remove it through your urine. If creatinine levels are non-standard, then it’s probable that one or both kidneys are malfunctioning.

These are the most frequently used blood tests, but a number of others provide additional options.

At times, more than one of the tests mentioned above will be used at the same time. In fact, doing both tests is normal. Results can be relied upon.

Kidney back pain should not be ignored. Anyone who has concerns about their kidneys should see their physician and ask about kidney tests. Blood and urine samples can help the doctor to see what the issue is and if there is a problem with kidney function.

Kidney diseases that go untreated can lead to dire consequences. Kidney disease, a kidney infection or kidney failure can be life-threating. Someone with kidney failure has only two choices for staying alive: kidney dialysis, or kidney transplantation. Both are certain to have a major impact on your longevity and your everyday life.

Related topics: testing for kidney problems and preventing a kidney problem. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television journalist.

Back Pains Can Be A Indication Of A Kidney Disease

Back pain can come from a variety of possible causes. Typically it results from spine or muscle issues. However, sometimes your pain is coming from a different source all together.

Your discomfort may actually be the result of a kidney problem. Some people say that pain from a kidney stone or kidney infection is the worst pain they’ve ever felt.

So how do you know whether your back pain comes from a spinal or muscular injury versus a renal problem?

One of the best ways to tell is the location of your pain. The most intense pain is likely to occur in the area between the bottom of your rib cage and the top of your hips. It is likely to happen more toward your sides and away from your spinal column.

Many times, pain from kidney disorders is described as “acute.” In other words, it comes on fast and it comes on strong.

Kidney stones sometimes cause back pain when they move from the kidneys down to the bladder. Kidney stones that become “stuck” in the ureters and obstruct the flow of urine to the bladder are likely to cause extreme discomfort.

Another typical symptom of a kidney problem is discoloration of your urine. If it’s darker than normal, you may have a kidney or bladder issue.

Generally speaking, most people with kidney or bladder disorders feel the need to urinate more often than usual. However, when they try, they often find that not much urine is actually produced.

Individuals with kidney stones or a kidney infection often feel a stinging or burning sensation during urination too.

Kidney stones sometimes pass out of your body when you urinate, especially if you drink a lot of water. When this happens, your back pain comes to an end.

Kidney stones – while they may cause severe pain and discomfort – are not considered to be life-threatening.

However, the same cannot be said for a kidney infection, which can lead to kidney failure. Kidney failure can be fatal. Therefore, if you even suspect your back pain is coming from a kidney infection, it’s best to call a doctor right away.

Are you searching for more articles on similar subjects? Click on renal failure. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and TV reporter with a special interest in topics related to the kidneys. You can read more of his articles about kidney health at http://www.kidney-problem.org.

Taking Out A Kidney: Explaining the Nephrectomy Operation

When part or all of a kidney is removed in surgery, the procedure is called a nephrectomy. It may also be referred to as nephrectomy surgery. When when the kidney can no longer function properly because of disease or damage, kidney removal surgery or a nephrectomy may be become necessary.

One of the many important functions of the kidneys is filtering and removing toxins and wastes from the blood. This cleaning process the way urine is produced.

A nephrectomy is done as a solution to one of several possible kidney problems. Kidney cancer and kidney failure are two of the most typical reasons for a nephrectomy.

Removing an entire kidney is called a complete or radical nephrectomy procedure. A partial nephrectomy procedure describes the removal of a section, but not all of the kidney. A third type of nephrectomy is called a donor nephrectomy. This means someone donates a healthy kidney to another person who needs a kidney transplant.

Generally speaking, there are two different types of operations used for kidney removal.

1. Laparoscopic Nephrectomy – The surgeon makes several small incisions. A tube with a small camera attached to it is placed in one of them. Instruments for performing the surgery are placed in the others. The surgeon uses the camera to guide his or her movements in using the instruments to remove all or part of the kidney.

2. Open Nephrectomy – This type of nephrectomy procedure involves one large open incision rather than several small ones. The surgeon removes as much tissue as necessary through the large incision. This is the “traditional” method of kidney removal, and requires a longer recovery period.

Your surgeon will discuss with you which type of nephrectomy is more appropriate in your situation. The decision will depend on why you need the surgery and how much of the kidney needs to be removed.

What factors determine how much tissue must be removed from the kidney?

The first factor is the amount of damage to the kidney, or how much of it has been affected by disease. The doctor will have to find out if the problem affects only one area or only one kidney. He or she will want to ascertain if affects nearby tissue or the other kidney.

There are several types of tests that will help answer these questions. They include:

Ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the kidney and the tissues around it.

Computerized Tomography – This technology uses special X-rays to produce computer-enhanced pictures of thin, cross-section “slices” of tissues in the kidneys. It is also refered to as CT or CT scanning.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging – This type of technology employs radio waves and a magnetic field to produce computer-enhanced 3-dimensional views of the kidney. Also known as an”MRI.”

Your doctor will evaluate the results of these various tests and suggest the appropriate surgical procedure for you.

Recovery time from nephrectomy surgery depends on a number of factors. Your overall health and the type of procedure that was done are important.

Kidney removal surgery can sometimes have post-surgery complications like hypertension and chronic kidney disease. in an overwhelming majority of cases, the patient can live a happy, healthy life with the remaining kidney tissue – even though overall kidney function will be less than normal.

You can get additional information on this and related similar subject matter by clicking kidney removal surgery, nephrectomy or kidney problems.

Study Finds A Kidney Problem And Even Kidney Failure From Certain Skin Lightening Products

A possibly-fatal kidney problem or other organ damage may result from using certain imported skin bleaching products, according to a recent investigative report published in the Chicago Tribune newspaper.

The Tribune examined about fifty skin bleaching creams and lotions and found that some contained , and this is a quote, “toxic” levels of mercury. The results were published in mid-May, 2010.

The products are supposed to lighten age spots and freckles

Mercury is dangerous to humans because it can cause damage to a variety of organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys. Kidney problems, possibly including irreversible kidney failure, are one of the biggest threats.

When kidney failure takes place, treatment possibilities become limited. There are only two ways to save your life: these include kidney transplant operation or kidney dialysis (also called renal dialysis).

Excessive mercury levels can get into the bloodstream after being spread on the skin. The degree of danger varies according to body weight and a number of other factors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers anything above one gram of mercury per kilogram (2.2 pounds) to be excessive. Doses that exceed the maximum can put humans at risk for life-threatening disorders. Minute doses can accumulate over an extended period of time, creating long term ill-effects.

Mercury can trigger vision problems, blurred vision and trouble walking. It can cause organs to malfunction, and in certain cases, result in death. Mercury can be especially dangerous for the fetuses of pregnant women, infants and small children.

Mercury has been illegal for use in skin creams and lotions since 1990 when it was banned by the FDA. The Tribune’s investigation discovered that products are readily available nonetheless. The FDA told the Tribune that it has fewer than 500 inspectors who can investigate imported products, making it possible for some products to slip through the regulatory cracks .

Approximately 50 skin cream samples were sent to to an independent laboratory for testing. 6 included mercury levels that exceeded legal limits in the United States. Five of the six had levels of 6,000 parts per million of mercury, which is high enough to cause kidney damage .

The products came to the U.S. from Lebanon, China, India, Pakistan and Taiwan

One Chicago dermatologist, Dr. Jonith Breadon, said he was “shocked and speechless” that products with such high mercury content in them are so readily available.

Retailers who had the creams and lotions in stock and promised to remove them. Two companies that were distributing the products say they will discontinue them.

Skin lightening creams and lotions have become big sellers in the U.S. in recent years. Sales have been high among Asian, Hispanic and African-American ethnic groups. Sales are expected to exceed 75 million annually by 2015.

Among the other skin lightening products tested during the investigation, the highest amounts of mercury were found in a product called Stillman’s Skin Bleach Cream. Other products wereTop-Gel MCA Extra Pearl Cream, Creme Diana CTR, Ling Ji Su, Lulanjina, and Shabright Clear and Bright Skin Formula.

Many popular skin care products tested by the Tribune contained no mercury at all.

Read more about these kidney problems and others by visiting http://www.kidney-problem.org.

Several doctors who spoke to Tribune reporters said that anyone who wants a safe skin lightening product can get one by prescription. They also stressed that such products should be used only for lightening spots and freckles, not to bleach skin that is naturally dark.

Lern more about other kidney problems and related topics by visiting http://www.kidney-problem.org.