Davita Dialysis Newsletter: Your Questions Answered

I received the following exerpt from Davita Dialysis yesterday and knew it was great info for anyone who is caring for or enduring Advanced kidney disease:

Kidney Disease and Dialysis Digest Chronic Kidney Disease and Your Heart If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you’re probably concerned about the health and function of your kidneys. But your kidneys aren’t the only things at risk. Your heart and blood vessels can become damaged due to CKD or the underlying conditions that caused your renal disease. Show your heart some love and learn more about your cardiovascular health.

Your Questions Answered Question: What causes back pain, primarily where the kidneys are located? Answer: Typically three things that can cause back pain related to the kidneys: Urinary tract infection (UTI) Kidney stones Polycystic kidney disease A UTI is what happens when bacteria (germs) get into the urinary tract and multiply. The result is redness, swelling and pain in the urinary tract. Most UTIs stay in the bladder, the pouch-shaped organ where urine is stored before it passes out of the body. If a UTI is not treated promptly, though, the bacteria can travel up to the kidneys and cause a more serious type of infection, called pyelonephritis. Kidney stones are a formation of hardened minerals in the kidneys or urinary system. There are times when a kidney stone causes great pain and cannot pass through the urinary tract without medical help. If you have any of these symptoms, please call your doctor. Taking care of kidney stones early can prevent serious complications, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD)or, in extreme cases, renal failure. Polycystic kidney disease is hereditary. It causes cysts to form in the kidneys. These cysts are filled with fluid and, depending on their size and how many there are, will change the size of the kidneys. In addition, the cysts can interfere with healthy kidney function and eventually lead to kidney failure. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or diagnosis from a physician. Please check with a physician if you need a diagnosis and/or treatments as well as information regarding your specific condition. If you are experiencing urgent medical conditions, please call 9-1-1