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 >

Flank Pain Causes

A number of disorders can cause flank pain, some of these are associated with the kidneys, some are not. Note, however, that some kidney disorders present without any noticeable symptoms. Kidney disorders that do cause side or flank pain include: Kidney Infection: A kidney infection can be acute or chronic and may be an indication of an underlying health condition, such as diabetes. Chronic forms can lead to... Read more >

Treatment for Kidney Failure

Dialysis filters blood through an "artificial kidney," removing waste products and toxins from the blood. Acute renal failure may require a period of dialysis during treatment. Chronic failure requires long-term dialysis. Kidney dialysis is not a cure for chronic renal failure: Without regular treatment, toxins build up in the body. The treatment can cause malnutrition, so following a renal diet while on dialysis... 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 >

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 >