Kidney Infections - Symptoms and Treatments

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A KIDNEY INFECTION OR A URINARY TRACT INFECTION?

It can be difficult to distinguish between these two infections as in some ways, the symptoms can be similar. However, whilst those of a kidney infection can indeed mirror those of a urinary tract infection, the symptoms are a more exaggerated, severe version.

Signs and Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection

If you are experiencing some or all of the following symptoms, you are most likely suffering from a urinary tract infection.

* Pain or burning sensation during urination

* Cloudy looking urine

* Urine which has an unpleasant smell

* Urgent desire to urinate despite low production volume

* Mild fever

* Feeling generally unwell

* Mild abdominal pain

Signs of Kidney Infections-Symptoms to Look Out For

* Shivering

* Severe abdominal pain

* Sickness/nausea

* Abnormally darker colored urine, possibly showing traces of blood

* Back pain above waist height

* High fever

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms in addition to those for a urinary tract infection, you should consult your doctor without delay. You will need to see a doctor for confirmation of the diagnosis and specialist medication may be given to prevent the infection causing permanent damage to the kidneys.

SELF HELP MEASURES FOR TREATING A URINARY TRACT INFECTION

There is no denying that a urinary tract infection can be very painful and debilitating, preventing you from carrying out your daily duties. It is therefore sensible to do whatever possible to alleviate the symptoms whilst waiting for a cure to take effect.

You can try some or all of the following measures:

* Place a heated pad/hot water bottle on the lower abdomen

* Wear cotton, non-restricting underwear

* Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day

* Drink 2 glasses of unsweetened cranberry juice daily

* Take showers, not baths

* Do not used perfumed products near the vaginal area

* Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol

TREATMENTS FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Antibiotics were the traditional way of treating urinary tract infections until recently. However, there is much controversy relating to their use. Antibiotics are usually given for between 3-10 days depending on the severity of the infection and, if known, the type of bacteria. If the patient stops taking the antibiotics before the end of the prescribed course, the bacteria may not have been killed off sufficiently and could mutate into a more serious type of infection. The bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics (known as "antibiotic resistance"). This is a pressing worldwide concern for health professionals and it is therefore inadvisable to prescribe antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. Several resistant strains of bacteria already resist and it is therefore wise to seek alternative methods of treatment wherever possible.

The self-help methods above should help to alleviate the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. However, they are unlikely to cure all but the most mild attacks. It is therefore necessary to seek out other forms of effective treatment which can quickly cure the infection and give fast relief from the painful, uncomfortable symptoms which accompany a UTI.

There is a cure available which is extremely effective which will begin to alleviate the pain within just a couple of hours and will normally eradicate all pain by the next day.

This is a completely natural cure which does not involve drinking or eating any foul-tasting substance or taking antibiotics. It is cost-effective, with no side effects and can be taken by people of all ages including pregnant women. You will find out how to prevent further attacks and what causes them in the first place.

You will also receive two bonus reports, The Health Secrets of Water and The Secrets of Organic Food completely free of charge.

The report comes with a CAST IRON, 100% SATISFACTION MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. It has helped thousands of people eradicate the pain of urinary tract infections from their lives for ever. You can have it in your hands within 5 minutes, whatever time of the day or night.

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http://www.squidoo.com/kidneyinfectionstreatments

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Kidney Cars

For more then a quarter of a century, the National Kidney Foundation runs the successful Kidney Cars charity were you can donate your car to help its causes. Giving to the Kidney cars means funds goes to a dialysis transportation service which provides dialysis patients with rides to and from the hospital support kidney screenings for those at risk, kidney research, public and professional education programs, camps for children on dialysis and so much more.

Up till this day, more then 650,000 vehicles has been donated and more then $150 million were raised. Kidney Cars will pass 73% of the donation to its mission.

Where does your charity goes to?
National Kidney Foundation - Improving the Health and Well-Being of Individuals and Families Affected by Kidney Disease.

Available Locations
Nationwide

Pick-Up Time
In many cases it takes one day. Otherwise it takes no more than a few days based on the distance and availability of the tow trucks.

Gift and Freebies
The Grand Prize is a weekend for four at Pebble Beach, including golf, plus a chance to win a $25,000 cash prize. There are a total of 25 prizes including year's worth of free gas and oil changes.

Source: http://www.compare-car-donation.com/site/kidney.org/support/kidneycars/

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Naturally Treat Kidney Stones- How Soft Drinks Can Cause and Cure Kidney Stones

You might think the title of this article sounds a bit misleading, but you will understand in a moment why, "Soda can cause and cure kidney stones"! If you or a loved one suffers from kidney stones, be prepared to pay thousands for medication, surgery and visits ($5000-$9000+). Or you can naturally treat kidney stones at home with a simple step-by-step remedy that has worked for over a hundred years. And the best part is, you will pay about $10.00 (ten dollars) for all the natural remedy's ingredients. But first, let me explain how serious kidney stones can be.

If you suffer from kidney stones, you are part of 24 million Americans who develop this serious disease sometime in their life. Besides the excruciating pain associated with kidney stones, sufferers will also experience an aching back (kidneys), back spasms, abdomen pain, aching groin and genitalia, bloody and cloudy urine, tiredness, nausea, fever and chills. These agonizing symptoms can last for months if the kidney stones are not passed or treated? But what treatment will you or a loved one choose?

An Expensive Kidney Treatment

Naturally, you will go to a doctor and be diagnosed with kidney stones. And you made the right decision. It is extremely important you are properly diagnosed before you consider the proper treatment. But like any other disease, kidney stones can vary from person to person. Kidney stones can differ in size and composition. However, most kidney stones are smaller than 5mm and mostly made up of calcium oxalate. This is perfect for naturally dissolving and passing kidney stones!

After the doctor diagnoses you for kidney stones, he will typically remedy the kidney stones with one of the following: medication with water flush or medical treatment (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or ureteroscopic stone removal). Though kidney removal is typically effective, thousands of kidney stone sufferers are saving thousands of dollars (literally) and dissolving and passing their kidney stones at home.

Imagine paying $7,000 to remove your kidney stones with surgery and medication. Now, imagine paying $10 to remove your kidney stones with a simple home remedy that is just as effective.

Are you ready to hear about the most popular and simplest natural remedy ever?

Does Soda Cause and Cure Kidney Stones?

Yes and No! First, do you know what the cause of kidney stones is? Water! Actually, lack of water. If a person lives a consistently dehydrated (lack of water) lifestyle, chances are they will become part of the 24 million who develop kidney stones sometime in their life. Therefore, it is extremely important to drink 8-10 glasses of water each and every day.

With all that said, can you imagine who is not getting enough water each day! You guessed it, Soda Drinkers! People who drink soda (soft drinks) and coffee are more likely to develop kidney stones than any other group. Why? Soda drinkers' bodies are often craving water but soda tricks the brain and body into thinking 'I'm not thirsty'. In reality, their body is slowly shutting down and kidney stones are the result of improper flushing of the bladder and kidneys.

So yes and no, soda does not cause kidney stones. But, soda drinkers are more likely to develop kidney stones because of lack of water.

Secondly, how do you dissolve hard kidney stones? Phosphoric acid (a natural acid) in soft drinks! Let me explain recent research on this natural remedy of kidney stones.
Recently, researchers conducted research on over 1000 men who suffered from kidney stones and drank at least 5 ounces of cola per day. During a 3 year experiment, half the men didn't drink cola; while the other half drank regular amounts of their preferred cola (containing phosphoric acid).

After 3 years, cola drinkers were one-third less likely to develop kidney stones than the men who completely refrained from cola. Researchers were baffled that phosphoric acid slowly dissolved kidney stones and stopped kidney stone formation! This research supports our natural remedy that uses a popular cola and a 'miracle' vegetable to flush your kidney stones.

Dissolve Your Kidney Stones in Less Than 24 Hours

Are your kidney stone(s) less than 7 mm wide?

Are you sick of dealing with kidney stones?

Are you dreading the future doctor visits, medication or kidney stone surgery?

Would you consider a guaranteed step-by-step kidney stone home remedy that has an 85% success rate from its last 300 customers? Would you be interested in saving over $6,000 in the next year? Would you love to make a phone call to cancel your upcoming surgery?

If this describes you, please visit our secured Naturally Treat Kidney Stones website and see how thousands have saved thousands with our no-risk guarantee. If we don't help you dissolve and pass your kidney stones; You Pay Nothing!

source: Naturally Treat Kidney Stones

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American Kidney Fund Praises New National Health Care Campaign to...

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today lauded a kidney care community campaign aimed to significantly improve survival of first-year dialysis patients nationwide. The 'Performance Excellence and Accountability in Kidney Care' - or PEAK - Campaign, launched by Kidney Care Partners, is a voluntary effort to reduce mortality among first-year dialysis patients by 20 percent.

Working with Brown University and Quality Partners of Rhode Island, as well experts in the kidney care community, the PEAK Campaign will equip health care providers and professionals with tools to help first-year dialysis patients better understand their disease and manage the effects of dialysis on themselves and their families. KCP and its campaign participants believe that, in addition to improving and extending the lives of people with kidney failure, PEAK will also result in a healthier patient population and reduce patient hospitalizations.

'The American Kidney Fund is dedicated to supporting dialysis patients nationwide through education and financial assistance. We support the PEAK Campaign's goals to improve education and patient-centered care methods among first-year dialysis patients,' said LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. 'We commend Kidney Care Partners for taking this step toward further quality improvement with a focus on saving lives.'

Kidney disease affects more than 31 million people nationwide. Approximately 500,000 Americans are living with kidney failure, which requires them to undergo dialysis or kidney transplantation to survive. Transplants are limited because of the shortage of donor organs, so most patients undergo dialysis for three to four hours, three times a week. The number of Americans with kidney disease is rising steadily due to risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, obesity and high blood pressure.

Consistently over the past ten years, kidney failure survival rates have improved; however, first-year mortality has remained stable compared to overall mortality. In fact, recent data from the 2008 US Renal Data System report highlights the persistent high mortality rate in kidney failure patients in the first year of their life on dialysis- an annualized rate of about 30 percent. This is in contrast to the improvement seen in the mortality of dialysis patients between two and five years after dialysis initiation. The kidney care community has recognized the need to improve the first-year mortality rate as compared to other industrialized nations.

PEAK was launched by Kidney Care Partners (KCP), a broad-based coalition of kidney patient advocacy groups, health care professional organizations, dialysis service providers and manufacturers who seek to improve quality of care available to patients diagnosed with CKD and kidney failure.

For more information about PEAK, please visit the campaign website at www.kidneycarequality.org.

About the American Kidney Fund
The American Kidney Fund is the nation's No. 1 source of treatment-related financial assistance to kidney patients and a leader in providing health education to people with or at risk for kidney disease. In 2008, the American Kidney Fund provided treatment-related grants to 75,000 kidney patients totaling more than $119.5 million. The American Kidney Fund reaches tens of thousands of individuals each year with information about kidney health; operates a kidney disease screening program in high-risk communities; and maintains a toll-free HelpLine (866-300-2900) which provides education about kidney disease. The American Kidney Fund is a seven-time recipient of the highest 'Four Star' rating from Charity Navigator; holds an A+ rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy; adheres to the National Health Council Standards of Excellence; and is a member of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. For more information, visit www.kidneyfund.org.

Media Contact: Tenee M. Hawkins, Director of Communications, 301.984.6630 thawkins(at)kidneyfund(dot)org


Media Contact:
American Kidney Fund
Tenee Hawkins
301-984-6630

Source: PRweb.com

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Annual Kidney Fund auction is set for June 6

By NICK SABO

As the recipient of two kidney transplants, Vernon Yoder knows how difficult it can be to find transportation to dialysis clinics and find enough money to pay for medications.

For the last 34 years, Vernon and his family, in conjunction with the Holmes County Kidney Fund annual auction, have been helping 35 area residents with those same expenses year to year.

Vernon's first kidney transplant was in 1972 when he was 19. While at Cleveland Clinic, Vernon and his mother, Lizzie, were approached by a representative of the Ohio Kidney Fund, offering assistance. The meeting encouraged Lizzie to collect locally crafted quilts for OKF's annual auction, Vernon said, before going on to start the Holmes County Kidney Fund in 1976.

"Mom did that for two or three years. I was the first person in Holmes County to get a kidney transplant, but after a while, there were a few more," Yoder said. "Mom and some others decided to get a local fund together."

Marv Yoder, Vernon's brother, said the HCKF auction now brings in about $50,000 a year, with all the proceeds going to patients in Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas and Coshocton counties. The money assists with transportation, medicine and other related expenses.

"We have anywhere from 35 to 40 people we are assisting every year," Marv said. "The money all stays in the area to meet their needs. Mom got this started as sort of a thank you for supporting Vernon back in '72."

The auction, scheduled for June 6 at the Mount Hope Auction, begins with a pancake and sausage breakfast at 6 a.m. The auction starts at 9:30 a.m., with locally handcrafted furniture at 11 a.m. and quilts at 1 p.m.

Vernon said his involvement in the auction has been rewarding.

"It's really very fulfilling when you let people know we're here and can help," Vernon, who had a second kidney transplant in 2008, said. "They can't get to dialysis or they can't afford the drugs, and we can help them."

For more information or to donate to the auction, call Marv Yoder at 330-465-8318 or 330-674-3980.

Reporter Nick Sabo can be reached at 330-674-1811 or e-mail nsabo@the-daily-record.com.

Source: http://www.holmescountyshopper.com/news/article/4595022

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Kidney Cancer Causes, Symptoms, Risks Factors and More

Kidney cancer or renal carcinoma usually occurs in older people and accounts for about 2 to 3% of cancers in adults, affecting about twice as many men as women. In adults, the most common type of kidney tumor is renal cell carcinoma, which begins in the cells that line the small tubes within your kidneys. Kidney cancer rarely strikes children and young adults; the exceptions are a pediatric kidney cancer called Wilms tumor and some forms of hereditary kidney cancer syndromes, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Causes of Kidney Cancer
The causes are not known, however external factors, such as smoking and obesity, have been related to a higher incidence of kidney cancer and changing environmental factors as well as population aging has seen an increase in the presentation of this form of cancer.

Signs and Symptoms
Kidney cancer symptoms are often overlooked because tumours are usually slow growing and not suspected until the patient begins to experience symptoms such as blood in the urine, pain, tiredness and a palpable mass. Since back pain is common among people over 40 years of age, such pain is often ignored and the presence of kidney cancer can go undetected. Kidney cancer may also cause high blood pressure.

Risk Factors
The risk of developing kidney cancer is four times higher if a close relative has had kidney cancer. Being on dialysis for many years is a risk factor for kidney cancer.

People who have had bladder cancer are more likely to develop kidney cancer, and vice versa. About three per cent of kidney cancer patients have inherited a damaged gene that will make it likely the cancer will also be found in their second kidney.

Prevention
Not smoking is the most effective way to prevent kidney cancer and it is estimated that the elimination of smoking would reduce the rate of renal pelvis cancer by one-half and the rate of renal cell carcinoma by one-third.

Other factors that may decrease the risk of developing kidney cancer include: maintaining a normal body weight, a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, especially in bananas and root vegetables such as carrots, maintaining normal blood pressure and limited exposure to environmental toxins.

Diagnosing Kidney Cancer
Cancer of the kidney is most commonly detected with either computed tomography (CT) scan, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cystoscopy can rule out associated bladder cancer. Kidney cancer cells may also break away from the original tumor and spread (or metastasize) to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, bones or lungs, with about one third of cases showing metastasis at the time of diagnosis.

Types of Kidney Cancer
Almost 85% of this tumor are renal cell carcinomas. A less common type of kidney is Papillary carcinoma. Other rare kidney cancers include: Renal sarcoma, Collecting Duct carcinoma, Medullary and Chromophobe carcinomas.

Treatment
Radical nephrectomy with or without the removal of lymph nodes offers the only cure but treatment of kidney cancer may include: surgery, arterial embolization, radiation therapy, biological therapy or chemotherapy depends upon the stage of the disease and the patient's overall health.

Nephrectomy or removal of the entire organ including the adrenal gland, adjacent lymph nodes and surrounding normal tissue has been the norm, but recent research shows that removal of just the tumor, produces similar survival rates and offers less chance of subsequent renal failure in selected cases.

Scientists have also isolated the gene responsible for VHL disease, and this discovery offers exciting future possibilities for improved diagnosis and treatment of some kidney cancers. Various combinations of interleukin-2, interferon, and other biologic agents and even vaccines developed from cells removed from the kidney cancer are also being investigated.

Survival Rates
With prompt and appropriate treatment, the kidney cancer mortality rate is fairly low, unfortunately kidney cancer has a tendency to spread early, especially to the lungs, sometimes before symptoms develop. The five year survival rate is around 90-95% for tumors less than 4 cm. For larger tumors confined to the kidney without venous invasion, survival is still relatively good at 80-85%. If it has metastasized to the lymph nodes, the 5-year survival is around 5 % to 15 %. If it has spread metastatically to other organs, the 5-year survival rate is less than 5 %.

An important factor for those with this form of cancer and for that matter with all cancers is that assertive patients who actively work to overcome cancer often increase the odds of survival, live longer, and enjoy life more.

Dick Aronson has a background of over 35 years in various facets of the Healthcare industry. He set up and ran clinical trials in more than 20 countries and he has also founded a number of small private health related businesses. Dick now runs a number of informative health websites Go" target="_blank">www.healthinnovationsonline.com/">Go to Health Innovations Online and Go to Cancer Information Online


source: http://www.articlesbase.com

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Freezing Kidney Cancer: Hot Treatment Should Be New Gold Standard For Destroying Small Tumors

Freezing kidney tumors -- using a safe minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment that kills the cancer 100 percent effectively without surgery -- should be the gold standard or first treatment option for all individuals with tumors that are 4 centimeters in size or smaller. And, this treatment -- interventional cryoablation -- is a viable option for people with larger tumors, according to two studies presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 34th Annual Scientific Meeting.

"Interventional cryoablation is as effective as laparoscopic surgery (partial nephrectomy), the current gold standard treatment, and laparoscopic cryoablation surgery for treating renal cell carcinoma," said Christos Georgiades, M.D., Ph.D., interventional radiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. "We can eliminate a cancer -- that once it metastasizes can be notoriously difficult to treat and has a low chance of cure -- with a simple outpatient procedure. Eliminating cancer at such an early stage is truly significant news for kidney cancer patients," he added.

It's important that individuals realize all their treatment options -- especially since the incidence of kidney cancer has been steadily increasing in this country over the past 30 years, said Georgiades. Approximately 54,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year -- with nearly 13,000 dying from it annually, according to recent statistics. Most people with this cancer are older, and the overall lifetime risk of getting kidney cancer is about 1 in 75 -- with men at higher risk than women. More than 75 percent of individuals who are diagnosed with kidney cancer have small tumors that are discovered incidentally. "Cryoablation is a great treatment option that doctors should discuss with patients early on," he explained.

The Hopkins studies, examining the safety and efficacy of percutaneous (no incision) cryoablation, show the treatment's powerful results. "Based on the results of our three-year study, we have shown that interventional cryoablation for kidney cancer should be the gold standard or the first treatment option for all patients whose tumors are 4 centimeters or smaller. It should be a viable option for patients whose cancer is even larger than that. And, ablation (or freezing) is a very effective option for patients who cannot or do not want to have surgery," noted Georgiades. Cryoablation's efficacy rate -- the ratio of how many patients' renal cell carcinoma was destroyed completely for localized tumors by size -- is 100 percent up to 4 centimeters (about 2 inches) and nearly 100 percent up to 7 centimeters (about 3 inches). Three localized 10-centimeter (about 4 inches) tumors -- large tumors that are typically removed surgically -- were treated; in two cases the tumor was successfully killed.

"This news is especially significant for individuals with small tumors, since more than 75 percent of patients who are diagnosed with kidney cancer have tumors that are 4 centimeters or less in size," said Georgiades. "These individuals can have their tumors treated completely, effectively, without surgery, with quicker recovery and mostly on an outpatient basis. Whatever the definition of 'cure' is, these results come as close to it as possible," he noted. "At Hopkins, interventional cryoablation is the first-line treatment for small tumors. Most of our patients go home the same day they receive treatment with minimal limitation on regular activities. With laparoscopic kidney surgery, a patient remains in the hospital for several days and recovery time can be from two to four weeks," he added. "Our studies highlight how effective interventional radiology treatments can be -- not just for kidney cancer -- but for other kinds of cancers and other diseases as well. Interventional radiology treatments will have a significant impact on the overall survival and benefits that patients can have from avoiding surgery," said Georgiades.

"There is no question that interventional cryoablation, which uses imaging to pinpoint tumors and probes to penetrate the skin to deliver freezing cold directly to a diseased tumor, works. This interventional treatment is not a widely known procedure yet, even to other doctors, and some patients are going to have to pursue it on their own," said Georgiades. The treatment is widely available in the United States at all major institutions and some smaller institutions as well; it is usually covered by health insurance.

Researchers followed kidney cancer patients who had received cryoablation for three years -- well beyond the established and well-accepted one-year benchmark within the medical community to gauge the success of a kidney tumor treatment option -- since most kidney tumors would be visible within a year with a CT scan or MRI. The use of percutaneous cryoablation should not be limited -- as it has been -- to patients who have other diseases that make surgery very high risk, cannot undergo anesthesia, have borderline kidney function, may only have one kidney or multiple recurring tumors or do not have any other option, said Georgiades. "There may be a bias in the medical community -- among surgeons, primary care doctors and urologists -- that cryoablation works only for certain patients with small tumors. This is not the case," emphasized Georgiades.

"Traditionally, laparoscopic surgery has been the main treatment option for all renal cell cancers; it literally cuts the cancer out. The good news is that individuals no longer need to have a kidney partially or completely removed to treat their cancer," noted Georgiades. When comparing the rate of complications between percutaneous cryoablation and surgery, Georgiades said that none of the patients who had cryoablation developed new or metastatic disease and they had fewer complications. The minimally invasive nature of interventional cryoablation means that it can be performed with minimal blood loss and without an incision, just a tiny hole in the skin. The interventional radiology treatment translates into significantly less pain, a shorter hospital stay and more rapid recovery. This safe treatment can be repeated, if necessary. The most common complication is a bruise around the kidney that goes away by itself, he said.

In studying cryoablation's efficacy, researchers looked at 90 tumors in 84 patients. Efficacy was determined based on a tumor's size at 3-, 6- and 12-month clinic visits and then yearly -- with follow-up imaging with CT or MRI scans. Both efficacy and three-year survival rates approach 100 percent overall.

In studying cryoablation's safety, Georgiades studied the results of 101 percutaneous cryoablations on 91 patients who either couldn't undergo surgery or elected the interventional radiology treatment. Using computed tomography (CT) imaging, researchers could view tumors and probes in real time. Interventional cryoablation "has an excellent safety profile," said Georgiades.

Cryoablation is typically performed under light anesthesia, known as sedation, by an interventional radiologist who has consulted with the patient's urologist. One or more hollow needles are inserted through the skin directly into a tumor. Interventional radiologists can observe and guide the insertion by combined use of ultrasound and CT. The needle, or cryoprobe, is filled with argon gas, which creates an ice ball, which rapidly freezes the tumor. The tumor is then thawed by replacing the argon with helium. The procedure consists of two freezing and one thawing cycle, seeking a frozen margin beyond the tumor edge to ensure death of the entire tumor. After the cryoprobe is removed, a small bandage is placed over the skin puncture site. Cryoablation, which can also be referred to as cryo or cryotherapy, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating soft tissue tumors, such as renal cell cancer.

More information about kidney cancer, cryoablation and interventional radiology can be found online at http://www.SIRweb.org.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

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