Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs about the size of your fist. Red-brown in color, they are located on either side of your spine in your upper abdomen. They are part of the urinary tract, and filter waste products, excess salt, and fluids out of the blood. These waste products are then excreted as urine. Renal (kidney) failure occurs when the organs lose their ability to filter out wastes. Toxins build up... Read more >
Kidney pain, or renal pain, is usually centered in the lower back, just below the rib cage. The pain may spread to the sides, the abdomen, or down into the groin. In men, it may even radiate into the testicles.Kidney pain may be a constant dull ache or it may be sharp and intermittent. Occasionally it may be accompanied by hematuria (blood in the urine). Diagnosing the cause of renal pain can be difficult as a... Read more >
Kidney stones (renal calculi or crystals) are solid mineral deposits that accumulate in the urinary tract. According to the National Institutes of Health, ten percent of Americans experience kidney stones during their lifetime. Seven to ten hospital admissions out of every thousand are related to kidney stone symptoms or kidney stone treatment. Usually, the renal calculi pass through the urinary tract without... Read more >
NCERx recently asked people about their kidney health. About 1100 answered questions regarding their kidney pain history and their prevention practices. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported that they have experienced some form of kidney pain. However, 78 percent do not suffer from any of the listed chronic conditions that would trigger this pain. Consequently, most people's kidney problems occur... Read more >
A number of materials can form kidney stones, including calcium and uric acid. Kidney stones develop as minerals and other wastes accumulate, adding layers upon layers and eventually forming masses large enough to cause obstructions and other problems. Kidney Stone Formation Hard masses develop when waste materials are not dissolved adequately in urine. Microscopic crystals of waste material remain in the... Read more >
The first step in confirming a diagnosis of renal failure is establishing the underlying cause of the condition. In some cases, symptoms will point to acute kidney failure, which is often reversible. During the process of examining the patient's symptoms and test results, a physician can assess the extent of organ damage and take steps to prevent further damage if it is localized. Azotemia, Hyponatremia... Read more >
Kidney cysts are not common, but left untreated, they can cause damage that leads to eventual renal failure. Kidney cysts are usually caused by inherited genetic disorders. They require lifelong treatment: Cures for the disorders are currently unavailable. Polycystic Kidney Disease Polycystic kidney disease, or PKD, affects over 500,000 Americans, and is the fourth leading cause of renal failure. It is an... Read more >
For many people with a kidney stone treatment is often unnecessary. Most calculi are spontaneously passed in the urine. Ninety percent of small stones (less than 1/4 inch, or four millimeters) pass without any need for treatment at all. Stones that measure five to seven millimeters can be passed about half of the time. Once a stone exceeds seven millimeters in diameter, however, some form of intervention is... Read more >
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