Healthy Kidneys & Urinary System
Your kidneys are shaped like beans and are about the size of your fist. They play a vital role in keeping the chemicals and water in your body balanced.
Your urinary system removes a waste called urea from your blood after the food you eat is broken down in your body.
Problems can occur in your kidneys and urinary system from aging, from illnesses or from injury. These problems can range from minor to life-threatening.
If you're having kidney or urinary tract problems, you should see your doctor for an evaluation.
Recently Answered
- Q Can changes in my urine be a sign that I'm sick?
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Urine can indeed provide clue that you may be developing or actually have certain health conditions. Look at the color of your urine: If your urine is brown or dark, it could be a sign of liver disease, antibiotic usage, kidney failure, or use of... Full Answer
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- Q Where are the kidneys located?
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Normally, humans have two kidneys. To get a sense of where they are, place your thumbs on your lowest ribs, then slide your hands backward around your torso toward your backbone. You have a kidney located there, on each side of your lower spine at about... Full Answer
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- Q What is hyperuricosuria?
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Hyperuricosuria is a condition that occurs when there is too much uric acid in the urine, resulting in the formation of uric acid kidney. When the pH of urine drops below 5.5, urine becomes saturated with uric acid crystals and stones can form. Uric acid... Full Answer
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- Q What causes unwanted urination when I laugh or cough?
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The loss of urine when laughing or coughing is typically due to the loss of bladder and urethral support (pelvic prolapsed) which is a common occurrence after childbirth. The urethral sphincter (muscle) may also lose strength allowing urine to pass... Full Answer
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- Q How does the detrusor muscle impact urination?
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Dr. Lisa Rogo-Gupta, Obstetrics & GynecologyThe detrusor muscle is what most people call "the bladder." When the bladder is filling with urine, the detrusor muscle remains relaxed and stretches to hold the urine. When it is time to urinate, the detrusor muscle contracts to allow the urine to come... Full Answer
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- Q Is drinking urine healthy?
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Urine is 95% water of which 2.5% is urea and 2.5% a mixture of minerals, salts, hormones and enzymes. The small amounts of toxins that are found in urine are not abundant enough to be toxic to the body if you drink it. Drinking urine is not new and has... Full Answer
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- Q What causes urine to have a strong odor?
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Dr. Arthur Crowley, UrologyNormally, urine doesn't have much of an odor. The volume and concentration of a variety of substances excreted by the kidneys can give urine an odor. Urine that is very concentrated typically has a stronger (ammonia) than usual scent, which is common for... Full Answer
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- Q What are the treatment options for overactive bladder?
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There are many treatment options available for overactive bladder. Some drugs, such as diuretics, worsen the condition, so you may wish to discuss your current medical regimen with your doctor to see if you are taking any such medications. A reduction... Full Answer
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- Q Is there reconstructive surgery to replace a removed bladder?
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There are three general types of surgical reconstruction to replace a bladder that has been removed. They are: Ileal conduit - This procedure has been routinely performed since the 1950s. The internal pouch which holds the urine is made from a small... Full Answer
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- Q What can cause spraying during urinating?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyFor some women, the difficulty is not when they go to the bathroom, but how their body does it. Rather than coming out in a steady stream that can be aimed into a toilet, their urine sprays (kind of like when you put your thumb over the garden hose),... Full Answer
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