Spinal Diseases
Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include
* Infections
* Injuries
* Tumors
* Conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
* Bone changes that come with age, such as spinal stenosis and herniated disks
Spinal diseases often cause pain when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. They can also limit movement. Treatments differ by disease, but sometimes they include back braces and surgery.
Kidney Cancer
You have two kidneys. They are fist-sized organs on either side of your backbone above your waist. The tubes inside filter and clean your blood, taking out waste products and making urine. Kidney cancer forms in the lining of tiny tubes inside your kidneys. It happens most often in people over 40. Risk factors include smoking, having certain genetic conditions and misusing pain medicines for a long time.
Often, kidney cancer doesn't have early symptoms. However, see your health care provider if you notice.
* Blood in your urine
* A lump in your abdomen
* Unexplained weight loss
* Pain in your side
* Loss of appetite
Treatment depends on your age, your overall health and how advanced the cancer is. It might include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or biologic therapy. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.
Urinary Tract Infections
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Infections of the urinary tract (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the body. You may have a UTI if you notice
* Pain or burning when you use the bathroom
* Fever, tiredness or shakiness
* An urge to use the bathroom often
* Pressure in your lower belly
* Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy or reddish
* Less frequently, nausea or back pain
If you think you have a UTI, it is important to see your doctor. Your doctor can tell if you have a UTI by testing a sample of your urine. Treatment with medicines to kill the infection will make it better, often in one or two days.
Kidney Failure
Healthy kidneys clean your blood by removing excess fluid, minerals and wastes. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. But if the kidneys are damaged, they don't work properly. Harmful wastes can build up in your body. Your blood pressure may rise. Your body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. This is called kidney failure.
If your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work they normally do. The treatment options are dialysis or a kidney transplant. Each treatment has benefits and drawbacks. No matter which treatment you choose, you'll need to make some changes in your life, including how you eat and plan your activities. But with the help of healthcare providers, family and friends, most people with kidney failure can lead full and active lives.
Kidney Diseases
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the mass of your fists. They are situated near the middle of your back, just below the rib enclose. Inside each kidney about a million tiny structures called nephrons filter blood. They remove waste goods and extra water, which become urine. The urine flow through tube called ureters to your bladder, which stores the urine pending you go to the bathroom.
Damage to the nephrons results in kidney illness. This damage may leave kidneys incapable to take away wastes. Usually the damage occurs gradually over years. There are no obvious symptoms, so you don't know it is occurrence.
Many things can cause kidney illness. You are at risk if you have
* Diabetes
* High blood pressure
* A close family member with kidney disease
Your doctor can run tests to find out if you have kidney illness. If your kidneys fail totally, a kidney remove or dialysis can replace the work your kidneys usually do.
Kidney Cancer
You contain two kidneys. They are fist-sized organs on either side of your backbone over your waist. The tubes inside sift and clean your blood, taking out waste goods and making urine. Kidney cancer forms in the lining of tiny tubes within your kidneys. It happens nearly all often in people over 40. Risk factors contain smoking, having certain genetic situation and misusing pain medicines for a long time.
Often, kidney cancer doesn't have early on symptoms. However, see your health care supplier if you notice
Blood in your urine
A lump in your abdomen
Unexplained weight loss
Pain in your side
Loss of appetite
Treatment depends on your age, your overall health and how superior the cancer is. It might contain surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or biologic therapy. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own capability to fight cancer.
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