Kidney Disorders
What causes problems with the kidneys?
Problems with the kidneys may include conditions such as kidney failure, kidney stones, and kidney cancer. These problems with the kidneys may be caused by the following:
- Aging. As we age, changes in the structure of the kidneys can cause them to lose some ability to remove wastes from the blood, and the muscles in the ureters, bladder, and urethra tend to lose some of their strength. However, this alone does not cause chronic kidney diseases.
- Illness or injury. Damage to the kidneys caused by illness or an injury can also prevent them from filtering the blood completely or block the passage of urine.
- Toxicity. The kidneys may be damaged by substances such as certain medications, a buildup of some substances in the body, or toxic substances such as poisons.
Overview of Kidney Disorders
What are kidney and urogenital diseases?
Diseases of the kidney and urinary tract remain a major cause of illness and death in the United States. The National Kidney Foundation states that more than 26 million Americans are affected by kidney and urologic diseases, and millions more are at risk. What are the symptoms of kidney disease? Most people may not have any severe symptoms until their kidney disease is advanced. However, you may notice that you have the following symptoms:
- Feel more tired and have less energy
- Trouble concentrating
- Poor appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Muscle cramping at night
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning
- Dry, itchy skin
- Urinate more often, especially at night.
Anyone can get chronic kidney disease at any age. However, some people are more likely than others to develop kidney disease. You may have an increased risk for kidney disease if you have any of the following situations:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Family history of chronic kidney disease
- Older
- Belong to a population group that has a high rate of diabetes or high blood pressure, such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians.
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
What is renal failure?
Renal failure refers to temporary or permanent damage to the kidneys, which results in loss of normal kidney function. There are two different types of renal failure--acute and chronic. Acute renal failure has an abrupt onset and is potentially reversible. Chronic renal failure progresses slowly over at least three months and can lead to permanent renal failure. The causes, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes of acute and chronic are different.
Kidney Cancer
What is kidney cancer?
Most cancers are named after the part of the body where the cancer first begins, and kidney cancer is no exception. Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys -- two large, bean-shaped organs -- one located to the left, and the other to the right of the backbone. Renal is the Latin word for kidney, and kidney cancer may also be referred to as renal cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 64,770 new cases of kidney cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2012.
The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell cancer (also known as RCC, renal cell carcinoma, or renal cell adenocarcinoma). It accounts for more than 9 out of 10 cases of kidney cancer.
Kidney Stones
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms from crystallization of excreted substances in the urine. The stone may remain in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all of the way out of the body, but a larger stone can get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. This may block the flow of urine and cause great pain. A kidney stone may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl, and some are as big as golf balls. They may be smooth, irregular in shape, or jagged, and are usually yellow or brown in color.