How To Prevent Kidney Disease?

“This too shall pass - just like a kidney stone” -- Hunter Madsen

Kidney disease is also known as renal disease. It is characterized by kidney damage causing the kidneys unable to remove wastes, one of their prime functions.

Located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage, kidneys are bean-shaped organs that come in a pair. They are comprise millions of 'filtration units' called nephrons, which filter blood.

The waste products are passed as urine. Kidney disease causes damage to nephrons (filtration units'), and the system goes awry.

The following tips may protect you against kidney disease

1. Keep your diabetes under control
2. Keep your hypertension (high blood pressure) under control
3. Take your medicines for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension just as prescribed by your doctor. Also, ask your doctor about the drugs, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor blockers for treating high blood pressure.
4. If you suffer from heart disease get yourself tested for kidney disease
5. If a close relative (viz. a mother, father, brother) has kidney disease, you may be at risk. Get yourself tested.
6. If you're over 50 years of age get tested.
7. Get your sore throat tested for a strep infection, and if it turns out positive, timely treatment can help prevent any inflammation of the kidney, preventing any damage.
8. Remain alert to identify bladder or urinary tract infections early and get them treated as soon as possible.
9. Bring your weigh under control, if it's not
10. Don't smoke
11. Don't abuse drugs
12. Avoid overuse of painkillers
13. Prefer water over other drinks
14. Drink alcohol in moderation
15. Undertake regular physical exercise
16. Keep yourself relaxed, try relaxation techniques, hobbies, etc.
17. Maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in your blood
18. Eat healthy and consume less salt

Get more tips on protecting your health

References

Plus, Medline (2008,11,03,). MedlinePlus: Kidney Diseases. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from MedlinePlus Health Information from the National Library of Medicine Web site: 'http://'www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneydiseases.html#cat11

Education Program, National Kidney Disease (2008,04,30). National Kidney Disease Education Program Home Page. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from National Kidney Disease Education Program Web site: 'http://'www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources/make_the_kidney_connection.htm

Options, Life (2008,11,10,). Life Options | Kidney Disease Info | Risk Factors. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from Life Options Web site: 'http://'www.lifeoptions.org/kidneyinfo/ckdinfo.php?page=3

Information Clearinghouse, The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases (2007,08,--). Your Kidneys and How They Work. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Web site: 'http://'kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/#8

Editorial Staff, familydoctor.org (2005, 05,--). Chronic Kidney Disease. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from familydoctor.org Home Web site: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/kidney/832.printerview.html

Services, Inc, Diabetes (--,--,--). Kidney Disease. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from The Diabetes Mall Web site: 'http://'www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_complications/diabetes_kidney_information.php

Victoria, State of (2008, 10, --). Kidney disease - prevention - Better Health Channel.. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from Better Health Channel Web site: 'http://'www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/kidney_disease_prevention?opendocument

Protect Yourself From Aneurysms

Aneurysm: It's a bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. If an aneurysm grows large, it can burst and cause dangerous bleeding or even death.

Tips to protect yourself from Aneurysms

1. Maintain your blood pressure well within acceptable limits
2. Don't smoke cigarettes, cigars, etc. Did you know that smokers carry the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, that's 8 times more than in nonsmokers?
3. Maintain a healthy weight
4. Maintain healthy cholesterol levels, as 'High cholesterol' is a risk factor.
5. Eat a low-fat diet,
6. Engage in regular physical exercise
7. If you're between the ages of 65 and 75 and have been a smoker you should have a one-time ultrasound screening test for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Remember. 'a stitch in time saves nine'
8. Because the disease can run in families, if you've had a sibling who’s suffered an aneurysm, consult your doctor about your risk.

More tips on protecting your health

References:

Plus, Medline (2008,10,29). MedlinePlus: Aneurysms. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from Medline Plus Web site: 'http://'www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aneurysms.html#cat11

Healthcare Research and Quality, Agency for (2005, 01, 31 ). Task Force Recommends that Male Smokers Between the Ages of 65 and 75 Be Screened for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Web site: 'http://'www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2005/tfaaapr.htm

Edelson, Ed (2008,10.15, ). HealthDay. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from Health Day Web site: 'http://'www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=620334

Editorial Staff, familydoctor.org (2008,03,--). Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). Retrieved November 8, 2008, from familydoctor.org Web site: 'http://'familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/883.printerview.html

Network, HealthScout (--,--,--). Aneurysms - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from HealthScout Web site: 'http://'www.healthscout.com/ency/416/198/main.html

Health Letter, Mayo Clinic (1999,03,--). NADE Advocate Articles - Aortic Aneurysms - March/April 1999. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from National Association of Disability Examiners Web site: 'http://'www.nade.org/NADEpriorARTICLEMarchApril1999Aneurysms.htm

Prevention From Unintended Pregnancy

When it’s desired, getting pregnant or conceiving a baby is a happy moment for a couple. However, at times we just aren’t prepared to have kids, and that’s when a pregnancy becomes unwanted.

Not that you can’t terminate a pregnancy (the procedure is termed as abortion, or medical termination of pregnancy (MTP)), but it might still not be the ideal thing for you to go through. Given the scenario, prevention appears to be the best bet to take up.

Following are the different ways I discovered to protect oneself from an unwanted pregnancy.

• Abstain from sex (this is the only method that’s supposedly 100% effective!)

The rest of the methods I felt were better classified into 5 different categories, namely Barrier Methods, Intrauterine Device (IUD), Hormonal Birth Control, Sterilization and Natural Family Planning.

• Barrier Methods: Under this head the following are used.

• Condoms (male condoms: more effective;female condoms: less effective)
• The diaphragms
• Cervical Caps
• Spermicides
• Shields
• Contraceptive Sponges

• Intrauterine Devices (IUD)

• Hormonal Birth Control: The following fall under this category.

• Pills
• Injections
• Skin patches
• Vaginal rings
• Hormonal implants

• Sterilization:

• Male sterilization operation, e.g. vasectomy (if you’re a man!)
• Female sterilization operation (e.g Tubal ligation)

• Natural Family Planning:

• Not having sex when the woman partner is most likely to get pregnant.

I especially found THIS resource comprehensive and helpful.

According to a recent study by New York’s Guttmacher Institute, “…28 million women in the United States are at risk for an unintended pregnancy...”

With so many people (women and their concerned partners) not in favor of getting pregnant, prevention seems to be the best cure in sight.