Most people thinks of the kidneys as organs concerned only with getting rid of waste material, but they have the double function of keeping back what should not go out in water. The composition of the body is stable, and the kidney hews to keep it so. In each kidney there are about 1,300,000 nephron units into which the blood comes. Here water and the dissolved material to be excreted are picked out and the blood returned to the stream.
One of the most significant tasks of the kidney is to retain sodium or salt while sending out acid material. The kidneys have a vital task; when they are damaged or find it impossible to handle their duties the whole human being suffers, sometimes to the point of death.
Due to the intimate knowledge of the working of the kidney assembled by physiologists, doctors now make a much more accurate diagnosis of what is wrong with the kidney than was possible formerly. There are many highly technical tests which are used on special occasions, but in the majority of instances the doctor can diagnose kidney troubles from the history of the patient and the examination of the urine. First he makes sure there is no albumin or protein in the urine which cannot be accounted for by known conditions. He looks for blood cells which may be related to disease of the kidneys or other portions of the renal tract. If there are elements in the urine called "casts," he relates these to the progress of the disease. There are functional tests which measure the capacity of the kidneys to do their work.
Urination should be free from pain; the urine should come easily and regularly. Failure to hold the urine is abnormal, as is also the necessity to get up to urinate at night.
Urination
Ancient doctors used to attach even greater significance to examination of the urine than do moderns, but actually they knew very little about it. They based their judgments largely on color, odor, and quantity, which were easily determined.
Painful urination is usually associated with infection, irritation, or inflammation in the lower part of the urinary tract and to the passages of stones. Any obstruction to the flow of urine may be painful. Such conditions may also cause frequent urination, but that may be due as well to excitement or anxiety. Hesitancy in urination may also be due to psychological causes. Failure to control the flow of the urine, which is called incontinence, may come in times of great fright or during unconsciousness but children may fail to control the urine for a variety of both physical and mental causes.
Increase in the amount of urine associated with frequent urination may be due to increased intake of fluids, or to failure of sweating. A sudden change from warm to cold weather causes a rise in the volume because of lessened perspiration.
Certain diseases that affect the urinary mechanism, including conditions affecting the pituitary gland and diabetes, cause an increase in amount of urine. People with dropsy or collection of fluid in the body may respond to rest, or treatment with certain drugs that rid the body of large amounts of fluid through the urine. Similarly a diminished output may result from failure of the heart to put enough blood through the kidney and from collection of fluid in the tissues and cavities of the body.
Usually the quantity of urine is diminished during sleep. Anything that disturbs sleep may result in urination at night. Irritations along the tract may also cause awakening and urination at night.
Fluid Retained In The Body
Ordinarily the body contains a certain amount of water which is distributed in the cells of the different structures that make up the body. Extra water is a problem. It may collect in or around the cells in small amounts, or it may collect in large amounts in the different body cavities. The word "edema" is used to describe extra fluid in the tissues beneath the skin; its presence is determined simply by pressing with the finger, in which case the indentation or pit remains. Fluid in the abdomen is called "ascites" and fluid in the chest is known as "hydrothorax." When there is excess fluid everywhere in the body the term "anasarca" is used. One sign of excess fluid accumulation may be rapid gain in weight.
A variety of conditions may be responsible for these disturbances of handling of water by the body. The trouble may be with the blood, or the blood vessels, or the blood pressure. The difficulty may be in the composition of the tissues themselves There may be blocking of the flow of lymph. Finally, the kidneys play an important part in the elimination of fluid.
Actually the taking of an excess of water as fluids or in food is not the chief or important factor in water accumulation. Ordinarily the excess of fluid is simply eliminated by the kidneys, which can get rid of twenty times as much fluid as they usually eliminate. An excess of sodium or salt is more likely to cause accumulation of water in the body since the ability of the kidneys and sweat to get rid of excess salt is much less than for water. Since the adrenal glands are important in controlling the salt-water balance, disturbances of the action of these glands may be responsible for excess fluid in the tissues.
Swelling of one leg or arm is likely due to an obstruction of circulation affecting that organ. When both swell the difficulty is probably a general one. Swelling of eyelids and face in the morning is associated with insufficient protein intake.
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About The Author
David Crawford is the CEO and owner of a Male Enhancement Reviews company known as Male Enhancement Group which is dedicated to researching and comparing male enhancement products in order to determine which male enhancement product is safer and more effective than other products on the market. Copyright 2010 David Crawford of http://www.maleenhancementgroup.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
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