Kidneys play an important role in the body. Located in the middle of the back on either side of the vertebrae, they produce urine, which is liquid waste caused by daily metabolism, and ensure that harmful waste is discarded from the body and essential ones are kept. Kidney function, or renal function as it's commonly referred to, is vital to the maintenance of the human body. Though small in size, the two kidneys receive one-fifth of the blood pumped from the heart. Without proper care, kidneys can cease to function.
Significance
About the size on an adult fist, kidneys process 200 quarts of blood daily, removing waste and extra water that will eventually become urine. Waste in the blood is caused by the natural breakdown of foods and dying cells. The body consumes what it needs from the food and discards what it doesn't need into the bloodstream. With the aid of ureter tubes, urine is then transferred to the bladder where it is eventually discarded through urination. Without the reprocessing function of the kidneys, waste would build in the blood, causing sickness or even death. With children, problems either develop in the womb or early in life, although some diseases don't reach maturity until adulthood.
Kidney Failure
Kidney failure can be brought on by a number of factors. The most common are diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes prohibits the use of glucose, which is a form of sugar. If left in the bloodstream, it can be lethal, usually resulting in diabetic kidney disease. Nephrons in both kidneys loose their filtering abilities during most kidney diseases. It usually takes years before there is even a sign of the disease. High blood pressure erodes small blood vessels responsible for filtering waste in the kidney. A prescription can often be prescribed to lower blood pressure.
Toxic Abuse
Kidney failure can also be prompted by toxic damage. In addition to being extremely sensitive to alcohol, solvents and fuels are also harmful. Drugs can also halt proper kidney function. Cocaine causes the blood to spasm, which can sometimes lead to high blood pressure. It also has the potential to decrease blood flow to the kidneys, as well as to the brain and heart. It some cases, it's been believed to also cause early hardening of the arteries. Some chemotherapy drugs have also been known to have similar effects.
Dehydration
When the body looses more fluid that it consumes, it often results in dehydration. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure, which restricts the amount of blood reaching the heart. If fluids are not replenished, the results can be traumatic. Frequent urination induced by alcohol can also lead to dehydration.
Risk Factors
Kidney disease can also be hereditary or brought on by external physical damage. When a kidney no longer functions, it's known as End-stage renal disease (ESRD). Weakened kidney function usually goes unnoticed even to those who possess two healthy kidneys, resulting in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). According to American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), there's an estimated 20 million people with CKD and another 20 million at risk for developing CDK. In addition, there is also the high risk of either a heart attack or stroke.
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