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Diseases & Conditions- Adult Health Library
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Kidney and Urinary System Disorders
Analgesic Nephropathy
Analgesic Nephropathy Click Image to Enlarge What is analgesic nephropathy? An analgesic is any medicine intended to alleviate pain. Over-the-counter analgesics, among others, include the following: Aspirin Acetaminophen Ibuprofen Naproxen sodium Taking one or a combination of these drugs regularly over a long period of time may increase the risk of kidney problems. Analgesic nephropathy is a chronic kidney disease that gradually leads to end-stage renal disease and the need for permanent dialysis or a ...
Anatomy of the Urinary System
Anatomy of the Urinary System Click Image to Enlarge How do the kidneys and urinary system work? The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has taken the food components that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and in the blood. The kidney and urinary systems help the body to eliminate liquid waste called urea, and to keep chemicals, such as potassium and sodium, and water in balance. Urea is produced when foods containing protein, such as meat, poul...
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Click Image to Enlarge What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)? BPH (also referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy) is a condition in which the prostate gland becomes very enlarged and may cause problems associated with urination. BPH can raise PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels two to three times higher than the normal level. An increased PSA level does not indicate cancer, but the higher the PSA level, the higher the chance of having cancer. Some of the sig...
Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction
Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Bladder dysfunction and bowel dysfunction refer to problems with urinating and passing stools. These may lead to the unwanted passage of urine or stool, called urinary or fecal incontinence. If you have these types of bladder and bowel problems, you may feel embarrassed at the thought of bringing them up with your doctor. The conditions can be physically and emotionally difficult to deal with, but you shouldn't feel uncomfortable about talking to your health care provider. ...
Bladder Cancer
Bladder Cancer What is bladder cancer? Bladder cancer occurs when there are abnormal, cancerous cells growing in the bladder. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 74,000 cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2012. Bladder cancer affects men about three times more often than women, and it occurs in whites twice as often as in African-Americans. The risk of bladder cancer increases with age--over 90 percent of people who are diagnosed with it are older than 55. Click Image to...
Cystocele (Fallen Bladder)
Cystocele (Fallen Bladder) What is a cystocele? Cystocele is the name for a disorder in women that occurs when the wall between the bladder and the vagina weakens, causing the bladder to drop or sag into the vagina. What are the results of a cystocele? In addition to discomfort, the resulting dropped bladder can cause two kinds of problems: Urine leakage Incomplete emptying of the bladder The dropped bladder stretches the opening into the urethra, and urine may leak when a woman does any action that cau...
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Click Image to Enlarge What is renal failure? Renal failure refers to temporary or permanent damage to the kidneys that results in loss of normal kidney function. There are two different types of renal failure--acute and chronic. Acute renal failure has an abrupt onset and is potentially reversible. Chronic renal failure progresses slowly over at least three months and can lead to permanent renal failure. The causes, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes of acute and chronic ...
Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis Click Image to Enlarge What is glomerulonephritis? Glomerulonephritis is a type of glomerular kidney disease in which the kidneys' filters (glomeruli composed of tiny blood vessels) become inflamed and scarred, and slowly lose their ability to remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood to make urine. Types of glomerulonephritis include kidney disease of diabetes, IgA nephropathy, and lupus nephritis. What are the symptoms of glomerulonephritis? The kidneys can be severely damaged b...
Glomerulosclerosis
Glomerulosclerosis Click Image to Enlarge What is glomerulosclerosis? Glomerulosclerosis is the term used to describe scarring that occurs within the kidneys in the collections of tiny blood vessels called the glomeruli. The glomeruli assist the kidneys in filtering urine from the blood. What causes glomerulosclerosis? Glomerulosclerosis may develop in children or adults, and may result from different types of kidney conditions as well as diabetes. What are the symptoms of glomerulosclerosis? Early stag...
Glossary - Urology
Glossary - Urology | A | | B | | C | | D | | E | | F | | G | | H | | I | | J | | K | | L | | M | | N | | O | | P | | Q | | R | | S | | T | | U | | V | | W | | X | | Y | | Z | A [return to top] Analgesic - drug intended to alleviate pain. Anus - opening at the end of the digestive tract where bowel contents leave the body. B [return to top] Balloon urethroplasty - a thin tube with a balloon is inserted into the opening of the penis and guided to the narrowed portion of the urethra, where the balloon is i...
Goodpasture Syndrome
Goodpasture Syndrome Click Image to Enlarge What is Goodpasture syndrome? Goodpasture syndrome is a rare, autoimmune disease that can affect the lungs and kidneys. Normally, the immune system creates antibodies to fight off germs. With Goodpasture syndrome, however, the immune system makes antibodies that attack the lungs and kidneys, instead of the germs. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, this condition may last anywhere from a few weeks to as long as two...
Hematuria (Blood in the Urine)
Hematuria (Blood in the Urine) What is hematuria? Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. Often, the urine appears normal to the naked eye, but examination under a microscope shows a high number of RBCs. In gross hematuria, the urine is red or the color of cola, which can be seen with the naked eye. What causes hematuria? Most of the causes are not serious; in some cases, strenuous exercise will cause blood in the urine, which usually goes away in a day. Other, more serious cau...
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) Click Image to Enlarge What is (HUS)? Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a rare condition that primarily affects children under the age of 10. It is often characterized by: Damage to the lining of blood vessel walls Destruction of red blood cells Kidney failure What causes HUS? Most cases of HUS occur after an infection in the digestive tract caused by the E. coli bacterium, O157:H7, the most common type in the United States. Diarrhea and upper respiratory infections are the mo...
Home Page - Kidney and Urinary System Disorders Home
Topic Index Anatomy of the Kidneys and Urinary System Kidney Disorders Urinary System Disorders Glossary Urology is the branch of medicine concerned with the urinary tract in both genders, and with the genital tract or reproductive system in the male. Urogenital is a word that refers to the urinary and genital organs. The medical specialty of obstetrics and gynecology focuses on the reproduction (genital) system of females. Nephrology is the medical specialty concerned with the kidneys. According to the...
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy Click Image to Enlarge What is IgA nephropathy? IgA nephropathy is a chronic kidney disease that may progress over a period of 10 to 20 years, and can lead to end-stage renal disease. It is caused by deposits of the protein immunoglobulin A (IgA) inside the glomeruli (filters) within the kidney. These glomeruli normally filter waste and excess water from the blood and send them to the bladder as urine. However, the IgA protein prevents this filtering process. This may ...
Impotence / Erectile Dysfunction
Impotence / Erectile Dysfunction Click Image to Enlarge What is erectile dysfunction (ED)? Impotence, or erectile dysfunction, is the inability to achieve an erection, and/or dissatisfaction with the size, rigidity, and/or duration of erections. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), erectile dysfunction affects up to 30 million men. Although in the past it was commonly believed to be due to psychological problems, it is now known that for most men erectile dysfunction is caused by physic...
Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial Cystitis What is interstitial cystitis? Interstitial cystitis (IC) is complex, chronic disorder characterized by an inflamed or irritated bladder wall. It can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder, decreased bladder capacity, and glomerulations (pinpoint bleeding). IC may also be known as: Painful bladder syndrome Frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome What causes IC? The cause of IC is still unknown and patients do not respond to antibiotic medication. Researchers are investigating ma...
Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer Click Image to Enlarge What is kidney cancer? Most cancers are named after the part of the body where the cancer first begins, and kidney cancer is no exception. Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys--two large, bean-shaped organs--one located to the left, and the other to the right of the backbone. Renal is the Latin word for kidney, and kidney cancer may also be referred to as renal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 65,000 people in the U.S. were expected to be ...
Kidney Disorders
Kidney Disorders Many disorders of the kidney require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some of the conditions, for which we have provided a brief overview. Overview of Kidney Disorders Analgesic Nephropathy End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Glomerulonephritis Glomerulosclerosis Goodpasture Syndrome Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Syndrome Kidney Cancer Kidney Stones Kidney Transplantation Nephrotic Syndrome Polycystic Kidney ...
Kidney Stones
Kidney Stones Click Image to Enlarge What is a kidney stone? A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms from crystallization of excreted substances in the urine. The stone may remain in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all of the way out of the body, but a larger stone can get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. This may block the flow of urine and cause great pain. A kidney stone may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as...
Kidney Transplantation
Kidney Transplantation Click Image to Enlarge What is a kidney transplant? A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure performed to replace a diseased kidney with a healthy kidney from another person. The kidney may come from a deceased donor or from a living donor. Family members or individuals who are unrelated but make a good match may be able to donate one of their kidneys. This type of transplant is called a living transplant. Individuals who donate a kidney can live healthy lives with the remainin...
Male Factor Infertility
Male Factor Infertility Click Image to Enlarge What is infertility? Infertility is defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body's ability to perform the basic function of reproduction. Although conceiving a child may seem to be simple and natural, the physiological process is quite complicated and depends on the proper function of many factors, including the following, as listed by the ASRM: Production of healthy sperm by ...
Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic Syndrome Click Image to Enlarge What is nephrotic syndrome? Nephrotic syndrome is a condition often characterized by the following: Very high levels of protein in the urine Low levels of protein in the blood Swelling, especially around the eyes, feet, and hands High cholesterol What causes nephrotic syndrome? Generally, nephrotic syndrome results from damage to the kidneys' glomeruli—the tiny blood vessels that filter waste and excess water from the blood and send them to the bladder as urine....
Neurogenic Bladder
Neurogenic Bladder Click Image to Enlarge What is a neurogenic bladder? The muscles and nerves of the urinary system work together to hold urine in the bladder and then release it at the appropriate time. Nerves carry messages from the bladder to the spinal cord and brain and from the collections of nerves in the peripheral nervous system to the muscles of the bladder telling them either to tighten or release. In a neurogenic bladder, the nerves that are supposed to carry these messages do not work prop...
Online Resources - Urology
Online Resources - Urology This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your health care provider. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. This page contains link...
Overview of Kidney Disorders
Overview of Kidney Disorders How do the kidneys work? Click Image to Enlarge The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has used all the food components that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and in the blood. The kidneys and urinary system help to excrete the waste products and also keep chemicals, such as potassium and sodium, and water in balance by removing a type of waste, called urea, from the blood. Urea is produced when foods containing pro...
Overview of Urogenital Disorders
Overview of Urogenital Disorders What does urogenital mean? Urogenital is a word that refers to the urinary and genital organs. Urology is the branch of medicine concerned with: The urinary tract in both genders. The genital tract or reproductive system in the male. Urologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the urinary tract and the male reproductive system. Other health professionals who treat urinary or urogenital problems include primary care phy...
Peyronie's Disease
Peyronie's Disease Click Image to Enlarge What is Peyronie's disease? Peyronie's disease is characterized by a plaque, or hard lump, that forms on the erection tissue of the penis. The plaque often begins as an inflammation that may develop into a fibrous tissue. Peyronie's disease was first described in 1743 by a French surgeon, François de la Peyronie. It was classified as a form of impotence. However, now impotence is recognized as one factor associated with Peyronie's disease, but it is not always p...
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic Kidney Disease Click Image to Enlarge What is polycystic kidney disease (PKD)? Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts filled with fluid in the kidneys. PKD cysts can reduce kidney function, leading to kidney failure. People with PKD can also have cysts in the liver and problems in other organs, such as the heart and blood vessels in the brain. PKD is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure and affects approximately 600,000 people...
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer statistics The fear of having prostate cancer can be devastating to men. However, it is most successfully treated when found early. Consider these statistics from the American Cancer Society (ACS): More than 90 percent of all prostate cancers are discovered while they are either localized (confined to the prostate) or regional (nearby). The five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate tumors discovered at these stages is nearly 100 percent. In the past 25 years...
Prostate Disease
Prostate Disease Facts about the prostate gland The prostate is a sex gland in men. It's about the size of a walnut, and surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra—the tube that carries urine from the bladder. It's partly muscular and partly glandular, with ducts opening into the prostatic portion of the urethra. It's made up of three lobes: a center lobe with one lobe on each side. Click Image to Enlarge The prostate gland secretes a slightly alkaline fluid that forms part of the seminal fluid, a fl...
Renal Vascular Disease
Renal Vascular Disease What is renal vascular disease? Renal vascular disease is the name given to a variety of complications that affect the arteries and veins of the kidneys. These complications affect the blood circulation of the kidneys, and may cause damage to the tissues of the kidneys, kidney failure, and/or high blood pressure. Vascular conditions affecting the renal arteries and veins include the following: Renal artery stenosis. Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a blockage of an artery to the kid...
Topic Index - Urology
Topic Index - Urology Kidney and Urinary System Disorders Home Anatomy of the Kidneys and Urinary System Kidney Disorders Overview of Kidney Disorders Analgesic Nephropathy End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Glomerulonephritis Glomerulosclerosis Goodpasture Syndrome Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy Kidney Cancer Kidney Stones Kidney Transplantation Nephrotic Syndrome Polycystic Kidney Disease Renal Vascular Disease Urinary System Disorders Overview of Urinary/Urogenital System Di...
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence What is urinary incontinence (UI)? Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of urine control, or the inability to hold your urine until you can reach a restroom. According to the National Association for Continence, approximately 25 million adult Americans experience temporary or chronic urinary incontinence. UI can strike at any age. Women over age 50 are the most likely to develop UI. Urinary incontinence may be a temporary condition, resulting from an underlying medical condition. I...
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) Click Image to Enlarge What are urinary tract infections (UTIs)? Urinary tract infections are a serious, but common, health problem that affects millions of people each year. Women are especially prone to urinary tract infections. What causes urinary tract infections? Normal urine is sterile and contains fluids, salts, and waste products. It is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling t...
Urogenital Disorders
Urogenital Disorders Many disorders of the urinary system require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some of the conditions, for which we have provided a brief overview. Overview of Urinary/Urogenital System Disorders Bladder Cancer Cystocele (Fallen Bladder) Hematuria (Blood in the Urine) Impotence / Erectile Dysfunction Interstitial Cystitis Male Factor Infertility Neurogenic Bladder Peyronie's Disease Prostate Disease Benign Prostatic Hyp...
Vesicoureteral Reflux
Vesicoureteral Reflux Click Image to Enlarge What is vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)? Vesicoureteral reflux occurs when urine dwelling in the bladder flows back into the ureters and often back into the kidneys. The bladder is the hollow, muscular organ that stores urine before urination occurs. The bladder has three small openings; two connect the ureters where urine is drained down from the kidneys, and one connects the bladder to the urethra where urine exits the body. The ureters are funnel-shaped tubes ...
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