Kidney failure; risk factors and symptoms

Our kidneys play a vital role in our whole body system, it is responsible for the filtration of toxins, chemicals, and other waste products from the blood. Additionally, it helps balance the level of electrolytes, moderates blood pressure, and red blood cell stimulation.


These waste products are then excreted through the process of urination and perspiration. When the kidneys are damaged, harmful elements build up in the body which 
consequently brings adverse effects that may affect other vital organs, this is condition is called kidney failure.

RISK FACTORS

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Family history
• Diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the kidneys.
• Repeated bladder infections, kidney infection or septicemia
• Kidney Cancer
• Drug abuse, drug overdose, or long term use of certain medications
• Reduced blood flow to the kidneys.
• Autoimmune diseases that can attack the kidneys.
• Trauma or injury to the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys
• Urinary tract obstruction, which can be caused by a kidney stone, tumor, congenital 
deformity, or enlarged prostate gland.

SYMPTOMS

• Anemia. -if the kidney performs less of its functions, it also affects the production of redblood cells.
• Loss of apetite
• Metallic taste in the mouth
• Nausea and vomiting
• Build up of fluid that usually starts in the legs.


Unfortunately, symtpoms of kidney failure becomes obvious only when the stage of severity is almost at its peak; However, there are available treatments for this condition already. what are those? 

TREATMENTS

• HEMODIALYSIS  -A special filter called a dialyzer that functions as an artificial kidney to clean your blood. It is a canister connected to the hemodialysis machine.

• PERITONEAL DIALYSIS  -This type of dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen, or belly, to filter your blood. This lining is called the peritoneal membrane and acts as the artificial kidney.

• KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION  -Surgical placement of  a healthy kidney from one body to another. The donated kidney does enough of the work that your two failed kidneys used to do to keep you healthy and symptom free.





Okay! We do not want to go through this ordeal right? so what's best to do? take care of our kidneys. Here are some things that we need to   do to have a normal and healthy kidneys;
1. Have a normal blood pressure.
2. Minimize salt and sodium filled food consumption.
3. Do not leave urinary track infections untreated.
4. Exercise
5. Healthy diet
6. Drink plenty of water

"PASS THE KIDNEYS" :D 

Gallstones; what is it?

The Liver produces a liquid called Bile that helps the body digest fats - this liquid substance is then stored into the gallbladder until it is needed by the body. It passes through the hepatic ducts, cystic ducts and the common bile duct.

Gallstones form when bile hardens into a small pebble-like subtance that can grow as big as a golf ball due to high cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or inadiquate bile salts.

In the event, when gallstones clog these ducts, it causes inflammation to the gallbladder wherein if it stays there for a longer period of time, it can result to a severe damage or infection to the gallbladdder, liver or pancreas.

The following are at risk to the  formation of gallstones:

• Women - Excess estrogen from pregnancy, menopausal hormone therapy, and those who                     use birth control pills.

• Family history - Genetic link.

• Weight - Major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women.

• Diet - Low in fiber, high in fat diet increases risk of gallstone formation due to increased cholesterol in the bile.

• Rapid weight loss - The liver secretes extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones.

• Age - People over 60 years old are more likely to develop gallstones as the body tends to secrete more cholesterol into the bile.

• Ethnicity - American Indians have a genetic predisposition to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile. Mexican American men and women of all ages also have high rates of gallstones.

• Cholesterol lowering drugs - Drugs that lower cholesterol levels in the blood actually increase the amount of cholesterol secreted into bile; thus, the risk of gallstones increases.

• Diabetes -People with diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acids called triglycerides. These fatty acids may increase the risk of gallstones.

SYMPTOMS

 

• Steady pain in the upper right abdomen that increases and lasts form 30 minutes to several hours.
• Back pain-in between the shoulder blades.
• Pain under the right shoulder.
• Nauseas and vomiting
• Fever(even low grade)
• yellowish color of the skin or eyes
• Clay-colored stools.

TREATMENT

CHOLECYSTECTOMY →Surgery to remove the gallbladder is one of the most common surgeries performed on adults in the United States.

>Non-surgical treatment<

• Oral Dissolution therapy → Drugs made from bile acid are used to dissolve gallstone.

• Contact dissolution therapy → Injecting a drug direclty into the gallbladder to dissolve cholesterol stone/gallstones.

>>>> <<<<

A chinese doctor named Dr. Lai Chiu Nan introduced a method on how to  remove the gallstones naturally. Various claims on this cheap alternative to be effective have mushroomed all over China.

Here it is.

1. Drink four glasses of Apply juice everyday or eat for to five apples for five consecutive days.
(During the five days, eat normal meals)
2. On the sixth day, take no dinner. 
3. At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water. 
4. At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts. 
5. At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.