YOUR

KIDNEY AND
YOU
Prepared by: Patricia Anderson and Sophia Johnson - Charles R. Drew University of Medicine
and Science

THE KIDNEY
* The Kidneys are a pair of

organs measuring
approximately 4 5 inches
long and is located at the
back of the abdomen.

FUNCTION OF THE KIDNEYS

They filter the blood.
******-

Blood passes through the kidneys throughout the day.

Waste is removed
Controls the bodys fluid balance
Regulates electrolytes
Creates urine
Provides hormone

KIDNEY DISEASE
* Kidney disease means the kidneys are damaged and cant
filter blood normally.

* This cause waste to build up in the body.

* This damage can occur slowly over many years.

KIDNEY DISEASE
*Acute Kidney disease
*-

Sudden change in Kidney function because of

illness, or injury or by certain medications

*Chronic Kidney disease

*-

This is referred to as Kidney damage occurring

slowly over many years.

KIDNEY CONDITIONS
*Pyelonephritis
*Glomerulonephritis
*Kidney stones
*Nephrotic Syndrome
*Polycystic syndrome
*Diabetic nephropathy
*Kidney Cancer
*Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
*Renal cyst

KIDNEY DISEASE
*Main factors for developing kidney disease are:
****-

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease
Family history of Kidney failure

KIDNEY DISEASE
Early Kidney disease has no signs or symptoms
Kidney disease can be treated if detected early
Kidney disease usually does not go away

KIDNEY DISEASE
*At risk population:
*-

African Americans

*-

Hispanics

*-

American Indians

TESTING FOR KIDNEY DISEASE

*Testing is the only way to know the healthy of
your Kidney.

*It is important to check for Kidney disease if

you have any of the key risk factors

KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS

GFR Glomerular Filtration rate
- Provide information on how well the Kidneys are
filtering removing waste and excessive fluid from the
blood.

Urine Test
- Check for Albumin in the urine. Albumin is a protein
that can pass into the urine when the Kidneys are damaged.

KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS

Serum Creatinine
- Creatinine is a waste product that comes from
the normal wear and tear on the muscles of the
body. A creatinine level greater than 1.2 for
women and 1.4 for men is a sign that the
kidneys are not working properly.

KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS

Creatinine clearance
- Creatinine clearance is a 24 hour collection of
urine to determine how much creatinine the
kidney is filtering from the blood each minute.

KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- Urea nitrogen is as a result of the breakdown of
protein in the foods we consume. A normal BUN
level is between 7 and 20.

KIDNEY FUNCTION IMAGING

Ultra sound
provides a picture of the kidney
CT Scan
Done with contrast (dye), provides a structural view.
Indicate abnormalities and the presence of obstructions

KIDNEY HEALTH

Life style changes

Manage your diet
Get tested
Monitor your health
Exercise

REFERENCES:
* Tests to measure Kidney function, damage and detect
abnormalities. Retrieved from
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneytests

* National Kidney Disease Education Program. Retrieved from

http://nkdep.nih.gov/identify-manage.shtml

* Kidney Disease. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/urinaryincontinence-oab/picture-of-the-kidneys