Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein.
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Your searched on: Kidney Disorders
Renal Artery Stenosis
Learn the basics of renal artery stenosis, including what it is, what causes it, and how it is treated.
Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease
What is anemia of chronic kidney disease? Anemia of chronic kidney disease means that kidney disease has caused your anemia. Your doctor will have ruled out other causes of anemia. Anemia means that you do not have enough red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to your body's tissues. If your...
Diabetic Kidney Disease
Discusses diabetic nephropathy, which is kidney disease or damage caused by diabetes. Covers causes and symptoms. Discusses how it is diagnosed and treatment options, including medicines, diet, and dialysis. Offers home treatment tips.
Urinary System
Includes info on urine tests and urinary tract infections in children, teens, and adults. Also has links to stress incontinence and kidney stone info.
Acute Kidney Injury Versus Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney problems can develop suddenly (acute) or over the long term (chronic). Many conditions, diseases, and medicines can create situations that lead to acute and chronic kidney problems. Acute kidney injury, which used to be called acute renal...
Acute Kidney Injury
Discusses acute kidney injury (which used to be called acute renal failure). It means your kidneys suddenly stop working normally. Includes prerenal acute kidney injury. Covers causes like kidney or liver disease. Includes symptoms like little urine (oliguria) when you urinate. Covers dialysis.
End-Stage Renal Disease
What is end-stage renal disease? End-stage renal disease means that your kidneys may no longer be able to keep you alive. When your kidneys get to the point where they can no longer remove waste, you may need dialysis or a new kidney. When you understand your options, you can make the choice that's best for you...
Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease
The stages of chronic kidney disease are determined mostly by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Glomerular filtration is the process by which the kidneys filter the blood, removing excess wastes and fluids. The eGFR is a calculation...
Chronic Kidney Disease
Discusses chronic kidney disease (chronic renal failure), which means your kidneys don't work the way they should. Discusses dialysis. Covers treating diabetes and high blood pressure, which cause most cases of chronic kidney disease.
Kidney Health Testing for People With Diabetes
If you have diabetes, your kidneys could become damaged over time. Diabetic kidney disease is sometimes called diabetic nephropathy. In severe cases, it can lead to kidney failure. Diabetic kidney disease usually has no symptoms in the early stages.
Kidney Disease: Changing Your Diet
Discusses changing your diet to help protect your kidneys when you have kidney disease. Gives general ideas about how to follow the diet your doctor or dietitian recommends. Covers limiting salt (sodium), protein, phosphorus, and potassium.
Kidney Transplant
Discusses surgery to replace a diseased kidney with a healthy one. Explains what a living donor is. Covers what to expect after surgery. Looks at risks. Links to picture of kidney transplant. Links to more in-depth info on organ transplant.
Kidney Failure: Should I Start Dialysis?
Guides through decision whether to start kidney dialysis for kidney failure. Covers key factors in decision. Covers benefits and risks. Offers interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Medicines to Be Careful With
Many medicines may impair kidney function and cause kidney damage. If you have chronic kidney disease, your doctor may advise you to continue to take a medicine but may change how much you take. Or you may change to a different medicine. Make sure you talk with your doctor before you start or stop any medicine...
Kidney Failure: What Type of Dialysis Should I Have?
Guides through decision about what type of dialysis to have for kidney failure. Explains the two basic types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Advance Care Planning: Should I Stop Kidney Dialysis?
Guides through decision to stop kidney dialysis for kidney failure. Covers key factors in decision. Covers benefits and risks. Discusses what happens after dialysis is stopped. Offers interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Kidney Failure: When Should I Start Dialysis?
Discusses the decision about when to start dialysis. Includes what kidney failure is, the treatment for it, and reasons why you might or might not want to start dialysis. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
Briefly discusses the urinary system in children. Covers possible causes of problems in young children. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Uremia
Uremia (uremic syndrome) is a serious complication of chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury (which used to be known as acute renal failure). It occurs when urea and other waste products build up in the body because the kidneys are unable to eliminate them. These substances can become poisonous (toxic) to the...
Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older
Briefly discusses the urinary system in teens and adults. Covers possible causes of problems, infections, and changes with age. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Hemodialysis
Discusses process of hemodialysis when chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury cause kidneys to lose ability to remove waste and extra fluid. Covers fistulas and grafts. Looks at what to expect after treatment. Discusses peritoneal dialysis.
Nephrotic Syndrome
Discusses nephrotic syndrome, a sign kidneys aren't working right. Includes high levels of protein in urine, low levels of protein in blood, and high cholesterol. Discusses swelling (edema) and kidney failure. Covers causes like diabetes. Covers treatment.
Potassium (K) in Blood Test
Discusses blood test to check level of potassium (K) in blood. Includes info on what affects potassium levels in the body such as kidney function, blood pH, and hormones. Explains how and why test is done. Covers what results mean.
Dialysis: Measuring How Well It Works
Dialysis removes urea and other waste products from the blood. To find out how well dialysis is working, you will have blood tests that look at the level of urea in your blood. Usually these tests are done once a month, at the start of your session...
Using a Home Test Kit for Protein in Urine
Your doctor may have you check the amount of protein in your urine at home. Increased protein might be a sign that your kidneys are being damaged. You can buy a simple test kit with urine testing strips at most pharmacies and drugstores. To test your urine each day, dip a urine testing strip into a fresh sample of your...
Vascular Access Failure
Any type of dialysis access has some risk of failure. So it's important to always protect your access and be alert for signs of clotting or infection. Call your doctor right away about any signs of trouble. Make a habit of talking with your dialysis nurses and doctor about how well your access is doing. If your dialysis...
High Blood Pressure
Covers causes and symptoms of high blood pressure. Explains systolic and diastolic pressure numbers. Looks at treatment and prevention steps. Includes risks of untreated high blood pressure such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Discusses peritoneal dialysis. Covers having a catheter and using dialysate solution. Discusses hemodialysis. Looks at what to expect after treatment, how well it works, and risks.
Diabetes: Tests to Watch for Complications
These are the tests you may need and how often you should have them. The tests may vary depending on whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. A1c blood test. This test shows the average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months. It helps...