Introduction to Kidneys

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Kidneys act like a 24-hour cleaning crew for your blood. They filter out waste products. They get rid of excess water. They balance chemicals in your blood such as potassium and sodium. They remove excess acid. They also produce a hormone to help bone marrow make red blood cells. Most People have two kidneys, each the size of a fist. These are located on the either side of the backbone. Each day, The kidneys pump about 200 litres of blood through 140miles of tubes and millions of filters

Functions of the Kidneys

Removal of waste products generated in the body. The method generally used to quantify the level of waste products is measurement of Urea and Creatinine in the blood. The kidneys regulate the fluid balance and sodium and chloride levels of the body. Excess levels of sodium and fluid in the body can result in fluid retention (Puffiness and Swelling) and hypertension (High blood pressure). The kidneys also regulate Potassium in the body, both high and low potassium levels can be dangerous for health. The filteration of calcium and phosphorus in the urine is regulated by the kidneys, thus maintaning these salts within normal limits. It is important to have proper levels of calcium and phosphorus to maintain healthy bones and teeth.

Hormones

The kidneys also produce several hormones. A hormone is a substance produced by the organ of the body and then transported to the other organ or tissue, where it either stops or starts another reaction. One of the hormones produced by the kidneys help regulate blood pressure. Erythropoietin, another hormone is produced in the kidney and is responsible for regulating production of red blood cells. Thus when the kidneys are not healthy, there is Anaemia (decreased red blood cell production, haemoglobin being low.) The active compound of vitamin D is synthesized in the kidney. This is very important for maintenance of calcium and phosphorus balance and bone mineralisation. Because of the importance of this hormones, kidney transplantation offers potential benefits above beyoned those provided by simple filteration of Dialysis, whenever irreversible kidney failure takes place, if both kidneys put together to work 25-30 % of normal function, it is sufficient for living a normal life with normal activities. That is why people are able to live only with one kidney, and why an individual with two healthy kidneys can 'Donate' a kidney to another individual and still live a normal healthy life.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease

Puffiness around the eyes, practically in the morning.
Swelling of the legs and sometimes of the whole body.
Burning sensation while urinating or Red or coffee colored urine.
Change in pattern of urination including increased frequency of urination and having to getup more often at night to pass urine.
Pain in the back just below the ribs, High blood pressure or Increasing weakness.

NOTE: These symptoms of kidney disease however may be absent. Patients may lose a great deal of their kidney function without any of the above symptoms appearing. When the kidneys are damaged, the amount of urine that is passed may not decrease until the amount of damage is extremely severe and perhaps only 5% of the normal kidney function remains.

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