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Can You Have 4 Kidneys

What Else Do Kidneys Do

4 Simple Things You Can Do To Prevent Kidney Stones Naturally

Kidneys are always busy. Besides filtering the blood and balancing fluids every second during the day, the kidneys constantly react to hormones that the brain sends them. Kidneys even make some of their own hormones. For example, the kidneys produce a hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells.

Now you know what the kidneys do and how important they are. Maybe next Valentine’s Day, instead of the same old heart, you can give your parents a special card featuring the kidneys!

Most Green Juices Or Smoothies

Juices made with spinach and other green veggies can be incredibly high in potassium. Why? It comes down to portion size. Think about how much spinach must be juiced to get a single glass of juice. This is likely a whole lot more spinach than you would eat at one time. Similarly, the amount of vegetable in green smoothies can be quite a bit too.

Even though not everyone with kidney disease needs to limit potassium, green juices and smoothies can have such high amounts of potassium, I recommend everyone with kidney disease avoid them.

Oxalate in Green Juice or Smoothies

In addition, many green juices are made with ingredients that are very high in oxalate such as spinach, beets and almonds. Oxalate is a molecule that is most known for its role in kidney stones. In addition to kidney stones, high levels of oxalate in your urine can damage kidneys.

Oxalate management is very tricky because not all bodies handle oxalate the same. There are big differences in how much oxalate people absorb from food and how much oxalate is made in the liver.

In normal amounts from food, oxalate is not a problem for the vast majority of people. Spinach is a healthy food! But, large amounts of spinach and other very high oxalate ingredients in green juices or smoothies can be problematic and hurt your kidneys.

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Here are 6 tips to make sure youre drinking enough water and to keep your kidneys healthy:

  • Eight is great, but not set in stone. There is no hard and fast rule that everyone needs 8 glasses of water a day. This is just a general recommendation based on the fact that we continually lose water from our bodies, and that we need adequate water intake to survive and optimal amounts to thrive. The Institute of Medicine has estimated that men need approximately 13 cups of fluid daily, and that women need approximately 9 cups of fluid daily.;
  • Less is more if you have kidney failure . When the kidneys fail, people dont excrete enough water, if any at all. For those who are receiving dialysis treatment, water must actually be greatly restricted.
  • Its possible to drink too much water. Though it is not very common for this to happen in the average person, endurance athletes like marathoners may drink large amounts of water and thereby dilute the sodium level in their blood, resulting in a dangerous condition called hyponatremia.
  • Your urine can reveal a lot. For the average person, water wise means drinking enough water or other healthy fluids, such as unsweetened juice or low fat milk to quench thirst and to keep your urine light yellow or colorless. When your urine is dark yellow, this indicates that you are dehydrated. You should be making about 1.5 liters of urine daily .
  • Remember.when water wise, healthy kidneys are the prize! ;

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    Stage 4 Kidney Disease Lifestyle Changes

    There are other lifestyle changes to help prevent further damage to your kidneys. These include:

    • Not smoking, if you smoke. Smoking damages blood vessels and arteries. It increases the risk of clotting, heart attack, and stroke. If you have trouble quitting, talk to your healthcare provider about smoking cessation programs.
    • Exercise. Aim to exercise 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.
    • Take all prescribed medications as directed. In addition to taking all prescribed medications, ask your healthcare provider before adding over-the-counter medications or supplements.
    • See your healthcare provider regularly. Be sure to report and discuss any new and worsening symptoms with your healthcare provider.

    What Is Chronic Kidney Disease

    4 Warning Signs You May Have Kidney Stones And How To ...

    Your kidneys are important because they keep the rest of your body in balance. They:

    • Remove waste products from the body
    • Balance the bodys fluids
    • Help keep blood pressure under control
    • Keep bones healthy
    • Help make red blood cells.

    When you have kidney disease, it means that the kidneys have been damaged. Kidneys can get damaged from a disease like diabetes. Once your kidneys are damaged, they cannot filter your blood nor do other jobs as well as they should.

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    How Many People Have Four Kidneys

    More than realise it. People with extra kidneys are often oblivious to their excess baggage, and only discover it after an ultrasound scan or surgery for a more urgent medical problem. Laura Moon, an 18-year-old from Whinmoor near Leeds, heard of her bonus kidneys during an ultrasound to investigate recurrent stomach pains. Her case is particularly unusual, as each of her kidneys appears to be fully formed, at around 11cm long.

    “It’s extremely rare for additional kidneys to be complete. One in a million is probably about right,” says Niaz Ahmad, a transplant surgeon at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds. “I’ve seen thousands of kidneys and I’ve never seen this.”

    The condition is caused by a glitch in the first trimester, when the developing kidneys split in two. It is more common for these “duplex kidneys” to split only partially, or to grow a second ureter . Moon is having tests to check her four kidneys all work properly. If they do, she may be able to donate one or two.

    Duplex kidneys occur in 1% of the population, the most common complication being infections caused by urine flowing back up to the ureter. But some patients have been delighted with their extra organs. Two Latvian brothers found to have four kidneys each said it explained why they were able to drink their friends under the table.

    When And What To Discuss With Doctor About Stage 4 Ckd

    Having a close relationship with your doctor is vital for optimal kidney disease treatment. You should disclose any problems and concerns that you may be having as well as symptoms that develop. This is important as your doctor will be able to pick out and investigate potential problems before they become any more serious.

    For the sake of convenience, you may discuss with your doctor your dialysis options and whether you can perform dialysis from the comfort of your own home. Speaking directly to a nephrologist will also provide more insight into your condition.

    Those with stage 4 kidney disease are expected to visit their doctor at least every three months, getting a full workup and making sure the treatment plan is working well.

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    Shortness Of Breath After Very Little Effort

    Why this happens:

    Being short of breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.

    What patients said:

    At the times when I get the shortness of breath, it’s alarming to me. It just fears me. I think maybe I might fall or something so I usually go sit down for awhile.

    I couldn’t sleep at night. I couldn’t catch my breath, like I was drowning or something. And, the bloating, can’t breathe, can’t walk anywhere. It was bad.

    Can I Live A Normal Life With Duplex Kidney

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    Typically there are no symptoms of duplex kidney. However, if you have another condition related to the urinary tract, or if a ureter is ectopic, then your quality of life might be effected. You may need to have tests done and procedures performed. Fortunately, these conditions arent life-threatening and the treatments are effective.

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    What Is Ectopic Ureter

    Most of us are born with 2 ureters, the tube that drains the urine from each kidney into the bladder.

    But some babies are born with 2 ureters that drain a single kidney. In these cases, one ureter drains the upper part of the kidney and the second ureter drains the lower part of the kidney. As long as they both enter the bladder, this extra ureter is usually not a problem.

    But if a child is born with a ureter that does not connect with the bladder, it can drain somewhere outside the bladder. This is called an ectopic ureter. In girls, the ectopic ureter can drain into the urethra or even the vagina. In boys, it often drains into the urethra near the prostate or into the sex organs.

    The Role Of Kidneys In The Human Body

    Although many people dont think about their kidneys, they are some of the hardest-working organs in the body. The kidneys are responsible for filtering more than 120 quarts of blood every single day. The waste products that are filtered out are quickly eliminated by the body in the form of urine, composed of excess salts, fats, toxins and liquid. ;The ureter is connected to the kidney , and flows down into the bladder, where urine is stored and then eliminated from the body.

    Aside from assuring that waste is properly disposed of, kidneys are also critical to the balance of electrolytes in our body. Minerals like sodium, potassium and calcium, among others, help to maintain water balance in the system, as well as optimize nervous system communication. Without the kidneys functioning, or present, the body would not be able to function. The composition of our blood must remain stable, if we are to remain healthy, and the kidneys guarantee that happens.

    Furthermore, kidneys produce key hormones that the body requires, such as hormones for strengthening bones, creating new red blood cells and maintaining blood pressure. Clearly, while the kidneys are often overlooked behind major organs like the brain, heart and lungs, they are just as critical to our survival.

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    How Do I Know If I Have Kidney Damage

    Most people with early kidney damage do not have symptoms. The best way to find early kidney damage is to have a urine test once a year. This test checks for very small amounts of protein in the urine called albuminuria. It helps show kidney damage at an early stage in people with diabetes. Not everyone with kidney disease gets kidney failure. With the right treatment, you can prevent kidney disease from getting worse.

    Two Kidneys Better Than One

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    Right now, your kidneys are getting rid of all things your body does not need. They do this by cleaning your blood.

    All of this waste will exit your body when you go to the toilet to pee. But your kidneys do a lot more than just clean your blood. They help your bones stay healthy, tell your body when to make new blood cells, and even help you stay upright when youre walking around all day by taking care of your blood pressure.

    With all those important functions, scientist think having two kidneys must be important for our survival.

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    The Teenager With Four Kidneys Who Has Promised To Donate Her Extra Organs To Save Lives

    After Laura Moon started suffering stomach pains, doctors decided to carry out an ultrasound scan on the teenager.

    When they saw the results, they were astounded.

    For the scan revealed that she had four kidneys. The 18-year-old is now hoping to donate the extra organs for transplant operations.

    Only a handful of people in the UK have four kidneys, although having three is relatively common. But Laura’s case is especially unusual because all four are fully formed and functional.

    Scroll down for more

    Laura Moon discovered she had four kidneys when she had an ultrasound

    Laura, a customer services adviser from Leeds, said: “I think if I’ve got four, I don’t need all four. Why not donate if there’s someone else in need?

    “I hope I can help somebody else while I am young. I will do everything in my power to become a donor.”

    It is not known why people develop multiple, or duplex, organs but one in 125 people have one extra kidney, normally a partial organ.

    Laura’s condition often causes the patient no problems, although sufferers can be more prone to urinary infections.

    She discovered she had the unusual anatomy six months ago when she was undergoing tests following a road accident.

    “I was in a car crash a year ago and six months later I began having a lot of pain in my stomach. My GP referred me to the hospital for a scan.”

    “He measured them and I have two which are 14cm and two which are 9cm.

    “To have completely duplex kidneys on both sides is extremely rare,” he said.

    Do These Blockages Always Cause Kidney Damage

    No. Before birth, the mother’s placenta performs most of the functions of the kidney. As a result, babies with urinary tract abnormalities generally develop normally before delivery. In addition, many kidney or urinary tract abnormalities detected before birth have no major impact on the overall health of the baby following delivery. Nevertheless, certain conditions may interfere with the baby’s kidney function or growth after birth. For example, severely blocked flow of urine may damage the developing kidney and result in poor function after birth, a condition called dysplasia. If both kidneys are involved, the amount of urine may be seriously decreased. As a result, there may not be enough amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus, and the baby’s lungs may also be affected.

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    Juice Detoxes & Cleanses

    Although a small glass of juice can be a part of a kidney friendly diet, juice should never be used in place of an entire meal. Or even worse in place of food for an entire day or more.

    Unfortunately, many juice detox and cleanse regimens claim to be good for you. Even worse, many claim to be good for your kidneys. No detox or cleanse will help your kidneys. In fact, many of these detox regimens can hurt your kidneys. I recommend avoiding these quick fixes at all costs.

    How We Care For Hydronephrosis

    How To Know If You Have Kidney Stones

    At Boston Childrens Hospital, we are here to help. Our physicians and nurses are trained in pediatric urology and have extensive experience with hydronephrosis. We are honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as #1 in the nation, and have the largest pediatric urology service in the world.

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    Swollen Or Puffy Face

    Why this happens:

    Failing kidneys don’t remove extra fluid, which builds up in your body causing swelling in the face.

    What patients said:

    My sister, her hair started to fall out, she was losing weight, but her face was really puffy, you know, and everything like that, before she found out what was going on with her.

    My checks were always puffy and tight. Sometimes they would even hurt.

    Kidney Pain Vs Back Pain

    Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between kidney pain and back pain. Some muscular problems in the back or other diseases can mimic kidney pain. Dr. Davis goes on to explain that pain that comes from your kidneys is usually accompanied by other symptoms. For example, you may notice changes in your urination or you may have a fever.3

    Usually, back pain is distinguished from kidney pain because it may get better or worse when moving the back muscles. Unlike kidney stone pain which comes on in sharp, painful waves, back pain is more constant and connected with movement.

    In general, flank or kidney pain is usually higher in the back just under the ribs and the pain sensation is deeper. Back pain that is muscular is usually in the lower back.

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    Tomato & Vegetable Juices

    Not only are tomato and vegetable juices generally very high in potassium, but they also pack a surprising amount of salt. One can of V8 vegetable juice contains 940mg of sodium. This is 40-63% of the sodium you should eat in an entire day!

    Even low sodium vegetable juice is pretty salty. One can of low sodium V8 juice has 200mg of sodium. This is much lower than the original version, but still has 9-13% of daily sodium. I dont know about you, but I would much rather eat my salt in other ways!

    So Now Is The Time To Pamper Your Kidneys

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    If youre experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should see your health practitioner and have a check-up, including tests to assess your kidney function.

    And you should also make sure youre helping your kidneys stay in top shape by doing a thorough cleanse.

    Even if you dont have any of these signs, a systemic cleanse is like a spa day for your kidneys. It helps them get in top shape and avoid damage and disease. This is why OsteoCleanse, The 7 Day Bone Building Accelerator was developed in conjunction with the Osteoporosis Reversal Program.

    OsteoCleanse is not just about alkalizing your body, feeling younger and more energized, and removing osteoporosis drugs from your system. It does all of these things in just seven days, but at the heart of OsteoCleanses effectiveness are its kidney-boosting, liver-cleansing effects so youll strengthen and build your bones faster.

    Its always a good idea to heed early warning signs and treat your kidneys to a cleanse before damage occurs, and its particularly important to offset the effects of aging on your renal system.

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