are at risk from today's common lifestyle diseases.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are common lifestyle
diseases but, if left uncontroller, they can cause kidney
damage. Kidneys are among the most important organs
in the body and the repercussions are serious when both
kidneys are affected.
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size
of a fist.They are located near the middle of the back, just
below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The
kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines.
Every day, the kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood
to sift out about two quart of waste product and extra
water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flow
to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The bladder
store urine until releasing it through urination.
The actual removal of wastes occurs in the tiny units inside
the kidneys called nephrons, a glomerulus, which is a tiny
blood vessel, or capillary, intertwines with a tiny urine,
collecting tube called a tubule. The glomerulus acts as a
filtering unit, or sieve, and keeps normal proteins and cells
in the bloodstream, allowing extra fluid and waste to pass
through.
Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons, causing them
to lose their filtering capacity. Damage to the nephrons
can happen quickly, often as the result of injury or
poisoning. Most kidney diseases destroy the nephrons
slowly and silently. Only after years or even decades
will the damage become apparent. Most kidney
diseases attack both kidneys together.
Diabetes is a disease that keeps the body from using
glucose, a form of sugar, as it should. If glucose stays
in the blood instead of breaking down, it can act like
a poison. Damage to the nephrons from unused
glucose in the blood is called diabetes kidney disease.
People in the early stages of chronic kidney
disease symptoms
disease symptoms
- Need to urinate more or less often
- Fell tired
- Lose their appetite or experience nausea and vomiting
- Have swelling in their hand or feet
- Feel itchy or numb
- Get drowsy or have trouble concentrating
- Have darkened skin
- Have muscle cramps
