Kidney Transplantation

Kidney Stones         

Religious believe of Organ  Donation

What are the kidneys ?  |  How do kidneys work ?  |  Why are kidneys so important ?  
 Who is at risk of developing kidney disease ?  |  What are the common warning signs of kidney disease ? 
What happens if the kidneys fail ?  |  How can you help prevent kidney disease ?

The kidneys are the master chemists of the body. Normally, there are two of them, one on either side of the spine under the lower ribs. They are reddish brown in colour and shaped like kidney beans. Each kidney is about the size of your clenched fist. Many other organs depend on the kidneys in order to work properly.

The main job of the kidneys is to remove wastes from the blood and return the cleaned blood back to the body. Every minute, about one liter of blood (one fifth of all the blood pumped by the heart) enters the kidneys through the renal arteries. After the blood is cleaned, it flows back into the body through the renal veins.

AN ENLARGED VIEW OF A NEPHRON

Inside each kidney there are more than one million tiny units called nephrons. Each nephron is made up of a very small filter called a glomerulus, which is attached to a tubule. Water and waste products are separated from the blood by the filters and flow into the tubules. Much of this water is reabsorbed by the tubules and the wastes are concentrated into urine.

The urine is collected from the tubules in a funnel-like renal pelvis and then flows through a tube called the ureter into the bladder. The bladder stores urine until you urinate. Urine passes out of the body through a tube called the urethra. The kidney normally makes one to two liters of urine every day depending on how much you drink.

The normal kidney has the ability to greatly increase its workload. If one kidney is lost, the other kidney can enlarge and do the work of two.

Your kidneys are important because they do three essential things.

1. Kidneys regulate water :
For your body to work properly, it must contain just the right amount of water. One of the important jobs of the kidneys is to remove excess water from the body or to retain water when the body needs more.

2. Kidneys remove wastes :
Many of the substances in the blood and body fluid must be kept at the correct level for the body to function properly. For example, sodium and potassium are minerals which come from food. These minerals are needed by the body for good health, but they must be kept at specific levels. When the kidneys are working properly, excess minerals, such as sodium and potassium, are excreted from the body in the urine. The kidneys also help to regulate the levels of other minerals, such as calcium and phosphate, which are important for the formation of bone.

Wastes, such as urea and creatinine, must also be removed from the body. Urea and other wastes are made when the body breaks down protein, such as meat. Creatinine is a waste product of the muscles. As kidney function decreases, the levels of urea and creatinine in the blood increase.

Many waste products are toxic (poisonous) if they are not removed from the body fluids. For example, when certain drugs are taken, chemical wastes are produced which must be removed from the body by the kidneys.

3. Kidneys produce hormones :
Normal kidneys also make important chemical messengers called hormones. These hormones circulate in the bloodstream and regulate some body functions such as blood pressure, the making of red blood cells, and the uptake of calcium from the intestine.

Kidney disease usually progresses silently, often destroying most of the kidney function before causing any symptoms. Therefore, people at risk of developing kidney disease should be evaluated regularly. These people include those with diabetes, high blood pressure or blood vessel diseases, and close relatives of people with hereditary kidney disease.

Sometimes even people with serious kidney disease may not have any symptoms. That is why a blood or urine test may be necessary to check for kidney problems.

However, the signs and symptoms listed below may indicate kidney disease and if they are present, a medical assessment to check out the kidneys would be advisable.

Some of the Signs and Symptoms That May Indicate Kidney Disease

·  High blood pressure (hypertension)
·  Puffiness of the eyes, hands and feet
·  Passage of bloody, cloudy or tea-coloured urine
·  Presence of protein in the urine
·  Excessive foaming of the urine
·  Frequent passing of urine during the night
·  Passing less urine or difficulty passing urine
·  Fatigue
·  Loss of appetite or weight
·  Persistent generalized itching

When the kidneys fail, wastes and fluids accumulate in your body and you need dialysis treatments (to clean your blood either by machine or in your abdomen), or a kidney transplant.

Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can speed up the natural course of any underlying kidney disease.

If you suffer from diabetes, make sure that your disease is under control. A growing number of kidney patients are people with diabetes.

Be very careful about taking non-prescription medications, particularly painkillers. It is wise to discuss all over-the-counter medications with a doctor or pharmacist before they are taken.

Certain other medications, toxins, pesticides and illegal drugs (such as heroin and cocaine) can also cause kidney damage. Your doctor can explain the problems associated with long-term use or abuse of these substances.  

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