In addition to removing waste products from the blood, kidneys perform many other functions that are vital to good health, including:
- regulating blood pressure
- facilitating the adequate absorption of calcium, therefore helping to build bones
- regulating the levels of magnesium and other minerals in the body
- controlling the body's fluid balance
- controlling the electrolyte balance of the blood
- helping to maintain hemoglobin at normal levels
What is Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a life-threatening condition that has no cure. For reasons not yet understood, the incidence of CKD is growing. The Kidney Foundation of Canada estimates that in British Columbia alone, close to 145,000 people have CKD and many of these individuals do not even know it.
Since CKD progresses silently, it is commonly diagnosed quite late, thereby limiting the treatment options available to prevent progression of the disease.
Warning Signs of Kidney Disease
The following signs may indicate that you have kidney disease. If you have any of these symptoms (particularly if you fall within a risk category, see below), you should ask your doctor to request tests for kidney function.
- foamy or bloody urine
- fatigue
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- headaches
- frequent nighttime urination
- puffiness of ankles, feet or eyes
- persistent generalized itching
- bad taste in the mouth
- shortness of breath
Are You At Risk?
If you have any of the following risk factors, you should be especially aware of the above symptoms.
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- a family history of kidney disease
- a family background that is Asian, South Asian, First Nations, Hispanic or African
Managing Urinary Tract Infections
The urinary tract comprises the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder and the urethra - the tube through which urine leaves the body. Each plays an important role in helping your body to eliminate waste products in the form of urine.
A urinary track infection (UTI) is an inflammation caused by bacteria entering the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. The most common UTI occurs when bacteria enter the urethra and travel to the bladder, causing a bladder infection. A kidney infection results if bacteria climb further from the bladder to the kidneys.
The bacteria that most often cause UTIs are present on the skin in the genital area and are called Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Women are more likely than men to develop UTIs because a woman's urethra is much shorter than a man's, and bacteria have a shorter distance to travel from the outside into the bladder.
If you are prone to developing bladder infections, you should avoid wiping from back to front following a bathroom visit as this might transport bacteria from the anus to the vagina or urethra, causing infection.
Some women have experienced relief from recurring bladder infections by drinking cranberry juice or taking a cranberry supplement such as Webber Naturals Cranberry Juice Extract.
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