Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder. The causes of cystitis include urinary tract infection.
Kidney Disease and Urology
The kidneys are amazing organs. One of the kidney’s major functions is to filter and remove waste products and excess fluids from your body. Each and every day, your kidneys filter over 200 quarts of fluid to produce about 2 quarts of urine that is stored in the bladder, and ultimately removed through a process called urination. Your kidneys also play an important role in removing drugs, regulating blood pressure, controlling the production of red bloods cells and helping promote strong, healthy bones by producing an active form of vitamin D.
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St. Mark's Hospital answeredSee All 3 AnswersA cystocele (prolapsed bladder) is when a woman’s bladder sags down into the vagina. It does this when the wall of tissue between the bladder and the vagina gets weak. The sagging bladder can stretch the opening of the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine out of the body. This can cause urine to leak when you cough, sneeze or lift something heavy. A cystocele can also cause discomfort in the pelvis and make it hard to fully empty your bladder.
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See All 3 AnswersA nephrologist is an internal medicine doctor who has received specialized training in kidney diseases. This type of doctor treats patients who have kidney disorders. He also helps manage the kidney disease complications.
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RealAge answeredSee All 2 AnswersUrethritis is an infection that causes swelling and irritation of the urethra, the small tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body. In men, the urethra also carries semen. Urethritis can be caused by infection with bacteria or viruses, including those that cause sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, herpes simplex). In women, it can also be caused by bruising during sexual intercourse.
Symptoms of urethritis in both men and women may include:
- burning or pain during urination
- frequent or urgent urination
- pain with intercourse
- fever
Additional symptoms in men may include:
- pus or white discharge from the penis
- itching, tenderness or swelling in the penis
- swelling in the lymph nodes of the groin area
- pain with ejaculation
Additional symptoms in women may include:
- abdominal pain
- unusual vaginal discharge
Urethritis can often be treated successfully with antibiotics and by avoiding sexual contact until the infection has cleared completely.
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Intermountain Healthcare answeredSee All 4 AnswersA ureteral stent is a tiny, hollow tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder and stays in place for several weeks after a kidney stone procedure. A stent helps you in three important ways:
- It holds your ureter open. Your ureter has some normal swelling after a kidney stone procedure. The stent keeps this swelling from blocking the ureter.
- It prevents severe pain after a procedure. If your ureter is swollen shut, you can have severe stone-like pain for three to seven days. With a stent, urine flows freely and you don't experience this pain.
- It can widen the ureter so small stone fragments pass more easily. A stent also causes its own temporary difficulties—ask your doctor what to expect.
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See All 2 AnswersUrologists treat cancers of the entire urinary tract such as kidneys, bladder and prostate.
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Frankfort Regional Medical Center answeredIf there's potential for cancer or they're particularly sizeable, kidney cysts can be treated with surgery.
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National Kidney Foundation answeredSee All 2 AnswersAs your kidneys fail, your blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood creatinine levels will rise. You may also experience nausea, vomiting a loss of appetite, weakness, increased fatigue, itching, muscle cramps (especially in your legs) and anemia (a low blood count). You may find you need less insulin if you have diabetes. This is because diseased kidneys cause less breakdown of insulin. If you develop any of these signs, call your doctor.
There are a number of things you can do if your kidneys are damaged and you have diabetes. First, the doctor needs to find out if your diabetes has caused the injury. Other diseases can also cause kidney damage. Your kidneys will work better and last longer if you:
- Control your diabetes
- Control high blood pressure
- Get treatment for urinary tract infections
- Correct any problems in your urinary system
- Avoid any medicines that may damage the kidneys (especially over-the-counter pain medications)
If no other problems are found, your doctor will try to keep your kidneys working as long as possible. The use of high blood pressure medicines called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has been shown to help slow the loss of kidney function.
The kidney doctor, called a nephrologist, will plan your treatment with you, your family and your dietitian. Two things to keep in mind for keeping your kidneys healthy are controlling high blood pressure in conjunction with an ACE inhibitor and following your renal/diabetic diet. Restricting protein in your diet also might be helpful. You and your dietitian can plan your diet together.
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National Kidney Foundation answeredSee All 2 Answers
If you have diabetes, it may be possible to prevent or delay the progression of kidney disease. It is important to control your blood sugar by following your diabetic diet and taking all your prescribed medication. Additionally, since high blood pressure is one of the major reasons diabetics will develop kidney disease, it is important to control blood pressure and take prescribed blood pressure medications.
Your doctor may also recommend that you follow a low-protein diet, which reduces the amount of work your kidneys have to do.