Kidney Failure

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

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

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 >

Kidney Health Survey

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 >

Renal Failure Symptoms

Symptoms of kidney failure depend on whether the disease is acute or chronic. The sudden decrease of kidney function associated with acute renal failure (ARF) is accompanied by the rapid development of symptoms. Chronic renal failure (CRF) describes a gradual deterioration of kidney function, and symptoms often become apparent only after irreversible damage has occurred.Chronic renal failure is characterized by a... Read more >

Kidney Stone Types

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 >

Causes of Renal Failure

Chronic and acute renal failure stem from different root causes. While acute renal failure is more likely to develop due to sudden injury, infection or rapidly developing medical conditions, chronic renal insufficiency tends to result from gradual damage caused by diabetes, cancer, or hypertension (high blood pressure). Causes of Acute Renal Failure Three separate types of acute renal failure (ARF) have been... Read more >

The Renal Diet

Treating kidney failure can be as simple as changing your diet, or as complex as long-term dialysis. Additionally, the underlying cause of the disease must be addressed, whether it is hypertension, infection, or other health complications. Following a careful diet and supplementing essential vitamins and hormones can often slow disease progression.A renal diet can prevent or slow the loss of kidney function... Read more >