symptom of kidney stones

Prevent yourself from getting kidney

2008-08-04T01:23:00.000-07:00

The cause of kidney stone is due to our urine became too concentrated where stones is form due to substance in our urine crystalize. Kidney stone may be forms in our ureter or pelvis area. As the crystal or stone thats move down from the kidney to the ureter then symptom is shown such as heavy pain at the back in the affected parts. The pains usually last not longer then an hours as when the stone has passed to our bladder from the ureter easing the pain.

Others symptoms of the kidney stones are feeling hard and burning sensation when urine, and finding cloudy and smelly urine. You will feel fever and chills in the body. Notice blood in the urine and if it is severe it will accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Prevent yourself from getting kidney stone by drinking plenty of water each day. As water helps to flush away the substances that form stones in the kidneys.

The many risk factor of develop kidney stone

2008-05-16T01:39:00.000-07:00

Kidney stone are cause when there is a decrease in our urine volume and the formation of a excess of stone forming substances in the urine and the most common types of kidney stone contains calcium with a combination of either oxalate or phosphate. Other chemical compounds that can form stones in the urinary tract include uric acid and the amino acid cystine.

Men are more likely to develop kidney stone than women. Family with kidney stone history are a risk factor of develop kidney stone. People who exercise a lot and seldom drink water increases them self the risk of develop kidney stone due to dehydration through reduced fluid intake. People who suffered Gout are at rick of develop kidney stone due to the increased amount of urid acid in the urine and slowly lead to the formation of urid acid stones. People who have had an intestinal bypass or ostomy surgery are also more likely to develop kidney stones.

Most of the symptoms of kidney stone are pain in the lower back and pain in the abdomen and at times it will accompanied by vomiting and nausea. Finding hard to urine and sometimes notice blood in the urine. When experience such symptoms drinks a lot of water and explain to your doctor the symptoms you are experience.

The cause and symptoms of kidney stone

2008-03-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

Kidneys stone are cause due to the out of balance of the formation of the components in our urine, the fluid and various minerals and acids. When our urine contain more crystal-forming substances. This crystal substance slowly stick together and later forming substance called stone. Most kidney stones contain crystals of more than one type.

Most of the sign and symptoms of kidney stone are pain at the side and back and is always below our ribs. You will feel pain when urination and find that your urine give a cloudy or foul-smelling urine and at times feel bloody. Experience pain waves radiating from the side and back to the lower abdomen and groin and at times the pain will last till 50 minutes. Nausea and vomiting, feeling fevers and Persistent urge to urinate. The best treatment for the beginning of kidney stone is to drink plenty of water each days and doing light exercise to get rids of the urid acid.

Ways to prevent kidneys stone

2007-11-30T01:19:00.000-08:00

Kidney stone are crystal separated from our urine and stays on the inner surface of our kidney, these crystal slowly forms a hard substance in our kiney called stone. It is said that chemicals such as calcium combined with either oxalate or phosphate and slowly develop into stones

The symptoms of kidney stone patients are finding their urine unsualy colour and sometimes will notice blood with the urine. Experience pain towards the stomach such as stomach aches and groin pain, going to toilet more often than required, gagging vomit, nausea and having fever quite often.

The best ways to prevent kidneys stone are to live in a healthier life style. Drinks a lots of water each day to avoild crystal forms in our kidney. Drinks less coffee or avoild coffee as caffeine contribute to kiney stone. Avoild spicy and heated foods as this is also one of its contribution. Less food intake like cheese and sugar. Go for some light excerise like waking, jogging, swimming or cycling. Take more vetables and fruits.

Removal of the tumour by RCC of kidney cancer patients

2007-10-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Radical surgical removal of localised tumor is the only potentially curative treatment of Renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim is to achieve a complete removal of the tumour, with a wide surgical margin of normal tissue. Partial removel of the affected kidney with an adequate margin of normal kidney is increasingly being used as primary surgical therpy for patients with small tumour less than 4cm in size.

Other therapeutic approaches being explored for treatment of small renal cancer include use of cryoablation, high intensity focused ultrasound scan and radiofrequency ablation. About a third of the patients with RCC will present with disseminated disease. The prognosis for advance RCC is generally poor. The five year survival rate is typically less than ten percent. UP to recent times, RCC has been known to be among the most resistant to any form of chemotherapy.

New treatment of kiney cancer

2007-10-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

Kidney cancer is one of the more common cancers that affect the urinary system. more than eighty percentage of all kidney cancer are renal cell carcinoma. Over the past few decades, there appears to be an increasing trend worldwide, Rcc occurs and has a male to female ratio 2 to 1. It is now well established that renal cell carcinoma does not represent a single disease linked to many difference genetic abnormalities.

Cigretter smokeing has been consistenly implicated and cigarette smokers have more than twice the risk of developing RCC. The sign and symptoms are that more than 60% of patients present with gross haematuria ( blood in the sugar ), back pain, abdominal mass or anaemia. Symptoms arising from metastatic disease such as shortness of breath, cough, fits, hradache and bone pain are found in thirty percentage of the patients.

Currently with routine use ultrasound and CT scans, many renal tumors are detected incidentally. Out of the 169 RCC cases operated, as mentioned above, 65% were men and 35% were female.

Four doctors held over illegal kidney trade in Pakistan

2007-09-25T23:16:00.000-07:00

I read from a newspaper about pakistani men who sold their kidney for money and some kidney was transplant against the will of the poor people by the doctors. Some of this pakistani men even show their scare to the media at the police station.

Four doctors were arrested by the police included the owner of the local private hospitals in eastern pakistan after the doctors were implicated in the illegal trade and transplant of kidneys and some without the concent of the poor people. The arrests came after police detained two men for allegedly enticing poor people to sell their kidneys for money and some was force to sell their kidneys. The doctor should be striped off his title if proved guilty if poor people are force and some even do not know that their kidneys are transplant to other people.

Warning signs of kidney disease

2007-07-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to prevent ourself from getting kidney disease or kidney stone as the saying goes prevention is better than cure. Take more fruits and vegetable in your daily diets, eat more fibre and reduce the consumtions of salt, sugar and fats. Have regular exercise.

If you are a smokers, stop smoking now as smoking damages our blood vessels wall which can lead to atherosclerosis and ischemia of the kidney. If you are diabetes patients and family history of kidney disease should have a regular blood and urine test to monitor their kidney status.

The warning signs of kidney disease are pain or burning sensation when passing urine. You will wake up very often at night to the toilet for urinations. Notice blood in the urine, swelling of ankles or around our eyes. Pain at our lower back or under the ribs and sometimes radiating to the groin and lastly sign of having high blood pressure.

The functions of our kidneys

2007-07-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

All people have two kidneys lying on the back wall of the abdomen. The kidneys contain a complicated system of filters and tubes. Apart from the main function of filtering off impurities from the blood, they enable many essential nutritions to be absorted back into the bloodstream from the tubes.

The functions of the kidneys as kidneys has small filtering units called nephrons which cleanse the blood of waste products. and assists with the control of blood pressure. The kidney is the main source of epotien hormone which is essential for red blood cell production and also removes excessive fluits from the body. Others functions of the kidney is to regulates the amount of salt acid, salkaline and others chemicals in our body to maintain physiological balance and its produces an active form of vitamin D, which help maintain the health of our bones.

The cause of kidney stone

2007-06-26T02:52:00.000-07:00

The cause of kidney stone are a kinds of tiny pieces of minerals, like calcium that collect in our kidney and when it became to large to pass easily along the ureter to the bladder and out through the urethra. Doctor can easily diagnoise kidney stone by doing urine and blood tests, X-ray with or without dye, conducting an ultrasound. The eliminate of kidney stone by medical professional by a varity methods, ranging from non-invasive flushing with lots of liquid, to minor surgery under general anaesthetic.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is a debilitating, shooting, intense pain anywhere in the abdomen. A kidney stone still lodged in the kidney would cause pain on one side, near your lower back. If it has moved partly down your ureter, the passage connecting the kidneys to the bladder, the pain might originate in your lower abdomen, side, or groin. A strong, continuous pain might indicate that the kidney stone is stuck permanently and will not be passed without a doctor's intervention. Other symptoms of kidney stones include clammy, cold, hot, or sweaty skin accompanying a fever or chills.

Each year thousand are diagnosed to have (ENRF)

2007-05-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

In Malaysia alone there are two thousand five hundred new patients who are diagnosed to have End Stage Renal Failure (ENRF) yearly. The total numbers of patients dialsying in Malaysia by the end of 31st january 2007 is currently at 14,512. Kidneys are a two bean shape organs that perform vital life maintaining fuctions.

The fuctions of the kidneys are removal of waste products such as urea, uraemic and toxins from our body and also removal of excess water from our body and also helps the regulation of blood pressure.

Unfortunately, kidney disease may be silent with no signs until it has become very advanced. Therefore screening is advisable for those at high risk of getting kidney stones or kidney disease.

Kidney disease, early detection is a best protection

2007-04-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Kidney disease is a family disease as it can be passed from generations. If one of the family is diagnosed of kidney disease it is best to let the whole family knowns as early detection is a best protection.

Tell or teach them, that kidney disease runs in families and encourage them to get tested for kidney disease and give them supports in their efforts to control their diabetes and high blood pressure.

The leading cause of kidney failure are diabetes and hypertension. A regular check up and get tested for kidney disease will prevent kidney failure as we could able to control of our blood pressure and blood sugar and this may help the kidneys to stay healthy. Remmembers kidney disease runs in the families so early detection, a early check up with the doctor is a best protection.

The common causes of kidney failure

2007-04-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

The kidneys are two bean shaped organs that perform vital life maintaining fuctions. The fuctions of the kidneys are removal of waste products ( urea, uraemic and toxins ) from the body, also removal of excess water from the body and helps in regulation of blood pressure. Unfortunately, kidney disease may be silent with no signs until it has become very advanced. Therefore screening is advisable for those at high risk of getting kidney disease. In malaysia, 2500 new patients are diagonosed to have End Stage Renal Failure ( ESRT ) yearly. The total number of patients dialysing in Malaysia currently is 14,512 as on 31/1/2007.

People who is at high risk for developing kidney disease and the high risk factors are if you are having high pressure , having diabetes mellitus, having protein or blood in the urine, having a single functioning kidney, having an autoimmune disease like SLE Rheumatoid arthritis, having history of chronic ingestion of pain killers or herbal preparations, having history of renal disease and having heart disease.

The symptoms of kidneys failure are tireness, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Others symptoms are swelling of face, feet and body, difficulty in breathing, frothy urine or blood in the urine, decreased quantity of urine, itchiness of skin and no symptoms in early disease.

Stop calcium supplements if you have symptoms of kidney stone

2007-03-09T01:21:00.000-08:00

Not every persons symptoms of kidney stones is the same as some will feel pain in the lower back or pelvis and the pain may go up and down, the pain may be continuous for a long times. Another sign is you will find very difficult in bending and walking. Others type of symptoms of kidney stone is one may feel that his or her energy level has come down drastically.

You will feel pain and hard in urine as the stone will block the urinary tract causing difficult in urine ane also one of the sign and symptoms of kidney stone. Kidney stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine that stick together to form small solid pebbles that form in the urinary tract.

Taking to much of coffee is not good for our health as coffee contains caffeine and can lead to kidney stone as our kidney has to work double hards. People with kidney stones should not take calcium supplements as its will cause more damage to our kidneys. Avoid beverage with is high in sugar. The best advice of kidney stone patients is to drinks plenty of water each days.

Attitude of our diet cause of kidneys stone

2007-02-01T01:20:00.000-08:00

The cause of kidneys stone sometimes it the faults that lies in ourself, the no attitude of our diet, hurried to finish the meals with very less chewing and taking tit bits such as nuts, sweet without time finish. Too many cups of coffee per days.
This cause and force our kidney to work harder.

The symptoms of kidneys stone is pain in the lower part of the abdomen and difficult and painful to urine. To reduce the cause of getting kidneys stone is to drinking plenty of water, chews your food into tiny pieces before swallow.

Types of symptom of kidney stone

2006-11-21T22:12:00.000-08:00

Nephrolithiases is also known as kidney stone with small compounds found inside the kidneys. If the kidney stone grows bigger in size, groin and pain in the lower abdomen can be feel and difficult in letting out urine and also urine turns red due to presence of blood.

There are few other types of kidney stones and the most commom symptom of kidney stone is when you notice you are having difficult in passing out urine in the early morning when you wake up. The most commom are Calcium Stones where about 80% of the patients cases with kidney stone are calcium stone based which comprise of calcium and oxalate. Calcium stones will form with excessive of calcium and oxalate intake.

Struvite Stones also known as infection stones is any types of kidney stone but this symptom are mostly found in women where the bacteria cause urinary tract infection and are responsible of producing excessive ammonia in the urine.

People taking meat quite oftenly and without properly chewing the meat, as meat ingestion leads to production of uric acid and can cause kidney stone.

Cystinuria, a hereditary disorder, is responsible for the formation of cystine stones and are least commom of kidney stone.

To prevent of getting kidney stone, drink alot of water each day and drinking water in the early morning when you wake up from your bed is very good. Avoid food that is rich in proteins, sodium and nitrogen.

Caffeine cause kidney stress

2006-10-29T20:10:00.000-08:00

A cups of tea or coffee, and a little bit of chocolate, may not be bad for most people, but don’t get to the habit on drinking multiple cups of coffee each day. Too much caffeine isn’t good for our body and kidney stress may lead to kidney stone is one of cause. As your kidneys will be forced to work harder and pump out fluid and toxins when they become dehydrated by caffeine’s purging effect and more active by its metabolism-boosting powers. Try to cut down on your consumptiom of coffee if you see that you are urinating more times than you used to urine a day, try cutting back on caffeine products to see if that helps.

Researce has found that in the majority of cases, men can significantly reduce their risk for urinary and prostate problems by making dietary changes which include eliminating coffee and caffeine also leads to eventual adrenal exhaustion which can leave you vulnerable to a variety of health disorders related to inflammation, autoimmunity, and fatigue. Aging

Most people find in their late forties that they can no longer tolerate the same level of caffeine consumption as they could in their twenties and thirties. The production of DHEA, melatonin, and other vital hormones start to decline and caffeine speeds up that downhill drop. Caffeine dehydrates the body and contributes to the aging of the skin and kidneys. It has been shown to inhibit DNA repair and slow the ability of the liver to detoxify foreign toxins.

Vegetarian diet and magnesium can prevent kidney stone

2006-10-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

Family health history if shows that you may be prone to kidney stones then diet can help in the prevention of kidney stones. The best way is to avoid oxalate-rich foods such as beets, beans, blueberries, celery, grapes, chocolate, strawberries, nuts, bran, almonds and peanuts. It is also best to avoid calcium supplements and foods which cause increased levels of urinary calcium such as animal protein from meat, dairy products, fish and poultry. Peoples who take vegetarians food more often, are less risk to suffer from kidney stones, if their are prone to kidneys stones. So it may well be wise to keep to a vegetarian style diet. Potassium reduces urinary calcium excretion and by eating fruit and vegetables which are high in potassium the risk of suffering from kidney stones is reduced.

People with kidney stones or cancer should not take calcium supplements. Taking magnesium has also proved useful in bladder and urinary problems and in epileptic seizure. Magnesium has also been found effective in the prevention and treatment of kidney stones as its contain mineral together with vitamin B6 or pyridoxineand can be taken in therapeutic doses up to 700 mg. a day. Magnesium is widely distributed in foods. It is a part of the chlorophyll in green vegetables.

Gout may also associated with kidney stones

2006-10-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Gout is a form of arthritis that affects the big toe, other peripheral joints, tendons and kidneys. The first sign of an attack of gout is acute needle-like pain caused from uric acid crystals poking into the surrounding tissues which turns the joint bright red. Generalized fever may result.

Ninety percent of gout cases occur in overweight people over the age of 35 to 40. Gout, often called "rich people's disease", usually runs in the family. It may also be associated with improper digestion, toxic bowels, kidney stones, athlerosclerosis, overeating of rich and fatty foods, drinking too much alcohol, crash diets, stress, certain medications.

Most cases of gout can be treated with diet alone.
Do not add extra salt to food at this time.
Drink lots of distilled water. Eat high potassium foods to put acid crystals back into solution so they can be eliminated.
Reduce sugars, rich gravies, caffeine, fried foods and saturated fats.
Start a weight loss program.
Apply plantain, ginger, and wintergreen oil to the inflamed area to help alleviate pain.

Doing everything you can to support the healthy function of your blood cleaners -- the liver and kidneys. The better they are working, the better they can clean your blood of uric acid and toxins.

symptom of kidney stones

2006-09-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine that stick together to form small solid pebbles that form in the urinary tract that can cause one of the most painful ailments. In many cases they are very small and can pass out of the body without any problems. But if a stone even small when becomes lodged and blocks the flow of urine, excruciating pain may result and prompt medical intervention may be needed.

Occasionally crystals form in urine from various salts that build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Eventually these crystals become large enough to form stones in the kidney, a condition called nephrolithiasis. Not all kidney stones cause symptoms. They're often discovered when you have X-rays for an unrelated condition or when you seek medical care for other problems, such as blood in your urine or recurring urinary tract infections. The pain becomes agonizing only when a kidney stone breaks loose and begins to work its way down from your kidneys to your bladder through the connecting tube.

The symptoms of kidney stones may vary from person to person. Some may feel a dull pain in the lower back or pelvis. This is a clear indication that something is wrong with your body. The level of pain may go up and down, or it may be continuous. Kidney stones often make walking and bending a difficult task. Along with this, if one feels that his or her energy level has come down drastically, that could be another symptom of kidney stones.

This disorder is popularly known as development of kidney stones called Urinary calculi thats build up over a period of time. These kidney stones are made up of the minerals and the crystallized salts that remain in the urine. Urinary calculi disorder of the kidney is usually accompanied by acute pain. The pain is caused when the kidney stones block the paths carrying urine. Generally, these stones move within and out of the urinary tract on their own accord. But if they fail to pass out of the body, they are surgically removed. At times, the urologists use the ultrasound technique called lithotripsy to break down the kidney stones non-surgically.

Now you can understand why there's a growing interest in symptom of kidney stones. When people start looking for more information about symptom of kidney stones, you'll be in a position to meet their needs.

Shock wave treatment for kidney stone

2006-09-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a frequent alternative to surgery of kidney stone. With this method, shockwaves are generated which travel through the body until they reach the denser material of the stones, where they shatter them into fine particles, which can easily be flushed out of the body

Shock wave treatment can be used directly on a stone lodged in the ureter. This is achieved by passing a small fiberoptic device, called a ureterscope, through the urethra and bladder and on into the ureter. Here the stone can either be shattered at close quarters by a shock wave or captured and pulled down the ureter and out of the body.

At times when the stone is too large, neither of these methods are selected and the surgical removal option is used. This involves a tiny incision in the back, creating access to the kidney. Then, using a device called a nephroscope, the surgeon locates the stone and grabs the stone with the device. This allows removal of the stone. If the stone is particularly large shock, wave treatment might also be used.

symptom of kidney stones : Prevention in patients with recurrent stones

2006-09-12T00:03:00.000-07:00

Prevention in patients with recurrent stones — A more extensive work-up is generally recommended for a patient who has had previous stones or who is at higher risk for developing recurrent stones. Special tests are performed to analyze the patient's urine and blood and determine whether underlying conditions may be contributing to stone formation. Examples include too much calcium or uric acid in the urine, which can be treated with specific medications to reduce the incidence of new stone formation.

Radiologic studies, such as an IVP or CT scan, may be performed to search for asymptomatic stones within the urinary tract and to identify anatomic abnormalities that may be responsible for stone formation. If available, the most recently passed stone is analyzed. Depending on its make-up, medications may be prescribed to inhibit the formation of similar stones. Patients with recurrent stones may also benefit from increasing their fluid intake.

SUMMARY

A kidney stone can form when certain substances in the urine are at higher than normal concentrations, although stones can form even if these substance are at normal levels. The substances can form crystals that become attached to the kidney and gradually increase in size, forming a stone.
Eventually, the stone may move down the urinary tract to be expelled in the urine. Or, the stone can remain in the urinary tract, blocking the urine flow and causing pain.
Certain diseases and habits can affect a person's risk for developing kidney stones. These include a past history or family history of kidney stones, certain dietary habits, underlying medical problems, certain medications, and dehydration.
Symptoms are usually produced as a stone passes from the kidney into the ureter (the tube that leads from the kidney to the bladder) (show figure 1). The most common symptom of a kidney stone is pain; other symptoms can include hematuria (blood in the urine), passing small stones, nausea, vomiting, pain with urination, and an urgent feeling of needing to urinate. Many patients with kidney stones have no symptoms.
Clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and diagnostic x-ray studies may all be used to diagnose a kidney stone. Computed tomography (CT scan) is the preferred diagnostic test in most patients.
During initial treatment, many patients require only pain medication and fluids until the stone is passed. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed for pain and can be given in a vein (IV) or by pill. If the pain is not controlled by an NSAID, narcotics may be prescribed.
Patients are typically instructed to increase their fluid intake to three liters per day, including drinking at night. A severe restriction of dietary calcium intake is not recommended, even for patients with a calcium-based stone, because this can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Stones smaller than 5 mm, and even those up to 7 mm, often pass on their own. Larger stones rarely pass on their own and usually require treatment. Several procedures are available for the treatment, including shockwave lithotripsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and ureterorenoscopy.
Patients with stones that cause no symptoms may be treated, depending upon the size and location of the stone. Other factors are considered in deciding whether to treat the stone, including the patient's occupation (eg, pilot, frequent traveler, local worker) and access to a treatment facility.
Further testing is recommended for patients who have recurrent kidney stones or who is at higher risk for developing recurrent stones. Tests may be performed to determine whether underlying medical conditions are causing the stone formation. Medications may be prescribed to prevent the formation of stones. Patients with recurrent stones also benefit from increasing their fluid intake.

by Glenn M Preminger, MD

symptom of kidney stones :History of kidney stones

2006-09-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

History of kidney stones — Patients who have had a kidney stone in the past have the highest risk of future stone formation. It has been estimated that for patients who have already had a stone, the likelihood of forming a second stone is about 15 percent at one year, 35 to 40 percent at 5 years, and 80 percent at 10 years.

Family history of stones — Persons with a positive family history of kidney stones are at increased risk for developing stones.

Dietary habits — Regular ingestion of certain liquids appears to affect a person's risk for stone formation. An increased risk of stones may be associated with the intake of tea in some individuals. On the other hand, drinking large amounts of water or other liquids, particularly citrus juices, has been linked to a reduced risk of stone formation.

Interestingly, higher levels of dietary calcium intake appear to protect against rather than cause stone formation in some patients. This finding is probably due to the combination of some of the extra dietary calcium with dietary oxalate, which prevents oxalate entry into the blood and subsequent excretion. Stone formation falls because the percentage fall in oxalate excretion exceeds the percentage rise in calcium excretion. These changes are reversed and stone formation may be enhanced with a low calcium diet. However, certain individuals who absorb excess calcium from their diet may experience additional stone problems with a high calcium intake. The best recommendation regarding dietary calcium is to avoid excessive intake of calcium, as well as low calcium diets.

Other medical conditions — Some medical conditions can increase an individual's risk for stone formation, including conditions that increase the absorption of oxalate from the gastrointestinal tract (like short bowel syndrome, chronic diarrhea, or previous bowel surgery), or conditions that increase the chance of urinary tract infection. Patients with hyperparathyroidism and sarcoidosis may have an increased risk for stone formation. The risk of kidney stones is also increased in patients with gout or with high concentrations of uric acid in their urine. Cystinuria (increased levels of cystine in the urine) is caused by an inherited condition and increases the risk of cystine stone formation.

by Glenn M Preminger, MD

symptom of kidney stones : Nutrition and Chronic Kidney Disease

2006-08-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

I have been told I have early kidney failure. What does this mean? What can I expect?
This means that your kidneys are not doing as good a job as they should to help keep you healthy. Your kidneys normally remove waste products and extra fluid from your blood. These waste products and fluids come from the foods you eat and liquids you drink. If you have early kidney failure, some of the waste products and extra fluid remain in your blood. Sometimes, early kidney failure may progress to total kidney failure. However, if you follow your doctor's orders carefully, you may be able to slow down this process.

How can a special diet help?
A special diet can help to control the buildup of waste products and fluid in your blood and to decrease the workload of your kidneys. This diet may also help to slow down the loss of kidney function. The main goal of the diet is to keep you healthy. Your doctor may recommend a special diet, depending on the stage of your disease. If and when this diet is ordered for you, your doctor may want you to see a renal dietitian, who has special training in diet for kidney disease.

What is the diet like?
In general, the diet used for the early stages of kidney disease controls the amount of protein and phosphorus you eat. Usually, sodium is also controlled. Getting enough calories to maintain a healthy weight is very important at this time. The following information tells you where these nutrients are found in foods.

What about protein?
Your body needs protein every day for growth, building muscles and repairing tissue. After your body uses the protein in the foods you eat, a waste product called urea is made. If you have lost kidney function, your kidneys may not be able to get rid of this urea normally. You may need to reduce the amount of protein you eat to avoid buildup of urea in your body. Protein is found in two types of foods:

in large amounts in foods from animal sources such as poultry, meat, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products.
in smaller amounts in foods from plant sources such as breads, cereals, other starches and grains, and vegetables and fruits.
While you may need to limit the amount of protein you eat, it is important that you eat the right amount of protein. This helps to keep your body healthy.

What about phosphorus?
Your kidneys may not be able to remove phosphorus from your blood. This causes the level of phosphorus in your blood to become too high. A high blood phosphorus level may cause you to lose calcium from your bones. This may weaken your bones and cause them to break easily.

To help control the phosphorus in your blood, you should eat fewer foods that are high in phosphorus. Phosphorus is found in many foods but is especially high in the following foods:

dairy products such as milk, cheese, pudding, yogurt and ice cream
dried beans and peas such as kidney beans, split peas and lentils
nuts and peanut butter
beverages such as cocoa, beer and cola soft drinks
Using non-dairy creamers and recommended milk substitutes instead of milk is a good way to lower the amount of phosphorus you eat.

What about sodium?
You may need to limit the amount of sodium in your diet. This is because high blood pressure, kidney disease and sodium are often related. Learning to read labels can help you make lower sodium choices. Sodium is found in many foods, but is especially high in the following:

table salt and foods with added salt such as snack foods, soups and processed cheese
some canned foods, prepared foods and "fast foods"
foods pickled in brine such as pickles, olives and sauerkraut
smoked and cured foods such as ham, bacon and luncheon meats

© 2006 National Kidney Foundation,

symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Disease

2006-08-30T00:56:00.000-07:00

The kidneys are bean-shaped organs, normally paired, that lie deep within the abdomen on either side of the lumbar spine. They play a critical role in filtering the blood and in helping maintain normal physiologic levels of important minerals and electrolytes and also help govern total body water content. The kidneys also contribute hormones into the circulation that can affect blood pressure. The kidneys have collecting systems for gathering urine and are connected to long muscular tubes, called ureters, that transmit urine into the bladder for storage and later excretion.

Many different kinds of diseases can affect the kidneys, ureters and bladder as well as the vessels that supply blood to and drain blood from these organs. These include acute and chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, clotting disorders that can affect the renal arteries or veins, cancer (both primary and secondary), trauma, kidney (renal) stone disease and a host of developmental and congenital disorders. Medical imaging continues to play a critical role in both the initial diagnosis and treatment follow-up for most diseases. Pre-surgical planning is greatly aided by the use of imaging, especially in patients being considered for renal donation (transplant), surgical resection for cancer, ureteral obstruction, and kidney stone disease as well as in the evaluation of patients who have already received a transplanted kidney.

Copyright © 2006 RIA.

symptom of kidney stones : lower back pain in kidney

2006-08-30T00:49:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling pain in your lower back, then you should immediately consult your physician and make sure you aren't ending up with another kidney stone infection.

Pain in your lower back side of the body is the most common and accurate symptom of a kidney stone somewhere in your urinary track. The stone may be in your kidneys, or passing through kidneys to the urinary bladder, or itself in the urinary bladder. If you also feel pain while you urinate, then this is a very strong symptom of some kidney stone in your urinary track. Take an action immediately before the pain intensifies and you have intense unbearable pain in your lower back.

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The author of this kidney stones guide suggest two routes, either take the painkillers and strong medicines or even surgery for kidney stones OR take the course of his natural painfree treatment as he suggests.. Not sure how effective it will be… But the author is challenging that he'll refund the whole money if his treatment doesn't work or if I'm not satisfied by the outcome of his prescribed treatment…

Haven't bought this guide yet, but planning to give it a try. Let me know what you think about it… Well if it offer a pain free natural treatment, then I hope it's really worth a try, will go through it and first make sure it's safe and pain free.. And if it is, I think following what it says for all my life will be worth getting this guide for the whole life…

http://iworld.proweblog.com/blog/archives/2005/12/26/157/

symptom of kidney stones : Why The Need For A Kidney Cleanse?

2006-08-24T03:32:00.000-07:00

The kidneys make a tremendous effort in trying to keep the body clear of toxic substances such as lead, cadmium, mercury and other impassable pollutants. They also maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and regulate the pressure from the heart that forces the blood through their filtering system. Kidney stones greatly impair this ability, which consequently increases the amounts of heavy metals and raises the body’s general level of toxicity. This can lead to infection, high blood pressure, heart disease, brain disorders, cancer and many other diseases.

The following signs indicate the presence of crystals and stones in the kidneys or bladder: A dark or whitish color under the eyes; puffy or swollen eyes, particularly in the morning; deep wrinkles under and around the eyes; tiny whitish, tan-colored or dark lumps under the eyes, which can be felt or made visible when stretching the skin outwards towards the cheekbones; overlapping of the skin of the upper eyelid; chronic pain in the lower back; swelling of feet and legs; constant fear or anxiety. There are a number of herbs that can effectively dissolve kidney stones within a period of 20-30 days (see the updated kidney cleanse protocol in the book The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush (www.ener-chi.com); you can purchase the herbs from The Present Moment Herbs and Books in Minneapolis, tel. 800-378-3245 (ask for the "Moritz Kidney Tea") or other herb stores. Whether someone has been diagnosed as having kidney stones or not, doing a kidney cleanse once or twice a year produces tremendous curative and preventive benefits. The kidney cleanse not only improves physical health but also reduces stress, fear and anxieties.

by Andreas Moritz

symptom of kidney stones : Functions of the kidney stone

2006-08-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

Kidney Stones

The main functions of the kidneys are to keep the blood pure and healthy and maintain proper fluid balance in the body. To accomplish this difficult feat, the kidneys constantly monitor normal blood volume and filter from the blood the right quantity of urine to keep it balanced. There are many influences that can disrupt this mechanism and cause congestion in the kidneys. They include overstimulation, dehydration, fatigue, overeating, gallstones, blood pressure disturbance, medical or narcotic drugs, vitamins, digestive disorders, etc. When the kidneys are incapable of sufficiently separating the urine from the blood, part of the urine continues to circulate throughout the body, depositing urinary waste products in the blood vessels, joints, tissues, and organs. Skin diseases, strong body odor, sweating of palms and feet, water retention, intestinal swelling, high blood pressure, etc. are all signs of toxic blood caused by crystals and stones in the kidneys.

Stones in the kidneys begin as tiny crystals and can eventually become as large as an egg. The tiny crystals are too small to be detected by X-rays and since they do not cause pain, they are rarely noticed yet they are big enough to block the flow of liquid through the tiny kidney tubules. Crystals or stones are formed in the kidneys when urinary constituents, which normally in solution, are precipitated. Precipitation occurs when these particles occur in excessive amounts or when urine becomes too concentrated. The crystal particles or stones are usually full of sharp angles, which may cut and wear away the inner surface of the urinary canal (ureter) during their passage from the kidneys to the bladder. This causes severe pain in the loins or lower back. There may even be blood in the urine, pain running down the legs, numbness in the thighs and a difficulty in passing urine.

Most crystals or stones originate in the kidneys, although some may also be formed in the bladder. If a large stone enters a ureter, urine flow becomes obstructed. This can lead to serious complications, such as kidney infection or kidney failure.

By Andreas Moritz

symptom of kidney stones : Water Retention and Kidney Damage

2006-08-24T03:19:00.000-07:00

The Renin-Angiotensin (RA) system is activated when there is a water shortage in the body. This system is used to direct the body to hold on to water wherever possible. It instructs the kidneys to inhibit urination and tightens the capillaries and the vascular system, particularly in areas that are not as vital as the brain and the heart muscles. At the same time, it stimulates an increase in the absorption of sodium (salt), which helps the body to retain water. Unless the body returns to its normal level of hydration, the RA system remains activated. But this also means that the pressure of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels remains abnormally high, causing the damage that is known as cardiovascular disease.

Hypertension and the retention of urine in the kidneys lead to kidney damage. Conventional treatments for this condition consist mostly of diuretic (urine forming) drugs and restricted salt consumption. Both may have severe drawbacks Diuretic drugs, which are used to normalize the blood pressure, as well as reduced salt intake strongly undermine the body’s emergency efforts to save the little water it has left for cell functions. The resulting stress response causes a further increase in dehydration and the vicious cycle is complete. There are so many kidney replacements made today that result from chronic dehydration, caused by something as simple as not drinking enough water or overstimulation of the nervous system.

By Andreas Moritz

symptom of kidney stones : Medications

2006-08-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

Medicine you can buy without a prescription, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), may relieve your pain. Your doctor can give you stronger pain medicine if needed. NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Motrin and Advil), and ketoprofen.

If you get more kidney stones despite drinking more fluids and making changes to your diet, your doctor may give you medicine to help dissolve your stones or to prevent new ones from forming. You may also receive prescription medicine if you have a disease that increases your risk of forming kidney stones. Which medicine you take depends on the type of stones you have.

Medication Choices

Medicine to prevent calcium stones

About 80% of people who have kidney stones have calcium stones. 1

Thiazides (such as hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone) and potassium citrate (Urocit-K) are commonly used to prevent calcium stones.
Orthophosphate (Neutra-Phos) and cellulose phosphate (Calcibind) are sometimes used. They have more side effects than thiazides or potassium citrate.
Calcium carbonate or citrate (Tums, Citracal) and cholestyramine (Questran) may be used to prevent calcium stones if you have high levels of oxalate in your urine.
Medicine to prevent uric acid stones

About 10% of kidney stones are made of uric acid, a waste product that normally exits the body in the urine. 1

Potassium citrate (Urocit-K) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) prevent the urine from becoming too acidic, which helps prevent uric acid stones.
Allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim) makes it more difficult for your body to make uric acid.
Medicine to prevent cystine stones

Less than 1% of kidney stones are made of a chemical called cystine. 1 Cystine stones are more likely to occur in families with a disease that results in too much cystine in the urine (cystinuria).

Penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen), tiopronin (Thiola), and captopril (Capoten) all help keep cystine dissolved in the urine, which makes cystine-type kidney stones less likely to form.
Potassium citrate (Urocit-K) prevents the urine from becoming too acidic, which helps prevent cystine kidney stones from forming.
Medicine to prevent struvite stones

About 10% to 15% of kidney stones are struvite stones. 1 They can also be called infection stones if they occur with kidney or urinary tract infections (UTIs). These types of kidney stones sometimes are also called staghorn calculi if they grow large enough.

Urease inhibitors (Lithostat) are rarely used because of their side effects and are usually only a treatment method if stone removal procedures cannot be used or fail to remove the stone
What To Think About

If you have uric acid stones or cystine stones and are taking medicine to prevent more stones from forming, you will usually have to continue taking that medicine for the rest of your life.

Some struvite stones (staghorn calculi) form because of frequent kidney infections. You will usually need antibiotics and surgery to cure the infection and help prevent new stones from forming.

symptom of kidney stones : Types of kidney stones

2006-08-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

There are four main types of kidney stones.

Calcium stones

Nearly 80% of all kidney stones are made of calcium compounds, especially calcium oxalate. 1 Calcium phosphate and other minerals also may be present. Conditions that cause high calcium levels in the body, such as hyperparathyroidism, increase the risk of calcium stones. High levels of oxalate also increase the risk for calcium stones.

Certain medicines may prevent calcium stones.

Uric acid stones

About 5% to 10% of kidney stones are made of uric acid, a waste product normally passed out of the body in the urine. 1 You are more likely to have uric acid stones if you have:

Low urine output.
A diet high in animal protein, such as red meat.
An increase in how much alcohol you drink.
Gout.
Inflammatory bowel disease.
Certain medicines may prevent or dissolve uric acid stones.

Struvite stones

About 10% to 15% of kidney stones are struvite stones. 1 They can also be called infection stones if they occur with kidney or urinary tract infections (UTIs). These types of kidney stones sometimes are also called staghorn calculi if they grow large enough.

Struvite stones can be serious because they are often large stones and may occur with an infection. Medical treatment, including antibiotics and removal of the stone, is usually needed for struvite stones. Women are affected more than men because of their higher risk of urinary tract infections.

Cystine stones

Less than 1% of kidney stones are made of a chemical called cystine. 1 Cystine stones are more likely to develop in families with a condition that results in too much cystine in the urine (cystinuria).

Cystine stones may be prevented or dissolved with medicine, but this may be difficult and not very effective. If the stones cause blockage in the urinary tract or are too large, then removal of the stone will be needed.

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symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Stones 2

2006-08-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones are small compounds found inside the kidneys or ureters. Small kidney stones leave the body through urine but if they grow in size, they can cause acute pain in the lower abdomen and groin. The size of a kidney stone can be as small as a grain or as large as a golf ball. Kidney stones are also known as nephrolithiases.

The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate. It is formed due to excessive intake of calcium. This, however, does not mean that a low-calcium diet is a guarantee against kidney stones in the body.

There are several other types of kidney stones, such as calcium phosphate, cystine, struvite, etc. Kidney stones are generally asymptomatic. One often comes to know about their presence in the body in wake of urine disorders. Some of the common symptoms that indicate the presence of kidney stones in a human body include acute renal colic (it is one of the most severe pains that a patient can suffer), restlessness, vomiting, nausea and fever caused by an infection. Sometime patients come to know about them only when their urine turns red due to presence of blood.

With the help of technology it is not difficult to diagnose and treat this problem. A few basic tests, which include culture of a urine sample and blood tests, are conducted. As far as treatment is concerned, smaller kidney stones are made to pass through urine. If their size is bigger, then the patient may have to undergo invasive or non-invasive surgery to remove kidney stones.

As a preventive measure, one should avoid diets rich in proteins, sodium and nitrogen, and drink lot of water. But even after all the precautions, they have a tendency to reappear in a patient's body.

By Seth Miller

symptom of kidney stones : Bladder Infections And Pregnancy

2006-08-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Pregnant women are not more likely than others to get a bladder infection, though if one occurs, there are more chances that it will travel to the kidneys. According to some unconfirmed reports, about 3 to 4 percent of all pregnant women develop a urinary tract infection.

According to doctors, frequent hormonal changes and shifts in the position of the urinary tract during pregnancy make it much easier for bacteria to travel up the urethra to the kidneys than under normal conditions. Due to this reason, it is recommended that the urine of pregnant women be tested periodically.

A pregnant woman who develops a bladder infection needs prompt treatment to avoid premature delivery of her baby and other risks such as high blood pressure. Moreover, it must be kept in mind that some antibiotics are not safe for use during pregnancy. Various factors need to be considered before finalizing the treatment, such as the drug's effectiveness, the stage of pregnancy, the mother's health, and potential effects on the fetus.

Bladder infections during pregnancy require immediate attention and should never be ignored. The infection can become especially complicated by blockage of normal urinary flow and infection elsewhere in the body. It can also become complicated by alarmingly low blood pressure. Any medical conditions during pregnancy that impair the normal urinary flow, such as kidney stones or diseases of the nervous system leading to bladder weakness, can lead to more complicated and severe bladder infections. If the root cause of the infection goes untreated, this group of patients is at risk of kidney damage.

By Eddie Tobey

symptom of kidney stones : Remedies for Gout Relief

2006-08-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

There is no cure for gout, but it can be controlled and treated. Usually, the pain associated with gout will subside within 24 hours after treatment has begun. The main objectives of treatment are pain relieving and prevent future attacks of gout.

Although gout is well known, it is not a typical arthritic condition. Gout is caused by an accumulation of uric acid crystals in joints, causing joint pain and inflammation.

Colchicine is a traditional drug used since the 1800's as a treatment for gout. Although Colhicine produces desirable results, it does have side effects of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are also used to treat gout, which does not have the side effects of colhicine. Indomethacin is a widely used NSAID in the treatment of gout. Patients should avoid Aspirin and aspirin-containing products during the attack of gout.

Those people who have had multiple attacks or developed tophi or kidney stones should stabilize uric acid level in the blood. Probenecid is an important drug, which helps the kidney, eliminate uric acid. Another drug called Alopurinol is used to block the excess production of uric acid by the body. The drug of choice between these types of drugs depends upon the quantity of uric acid excreted through urine.

Zyloprim, is a potent treatment for gout, and is usually prescribe for gout patients with kidney stones or other kidney problems. This drug slows down the rate of production of uric acid by the body. The patients who took this drug showed side effects such as skin rashes and stomach upset. Both of these symptoms usually go away as the body began accustomed to the drug.

As we know, prevention is better than treatment; avoiding the intake of food high in uric acid can readily prevent the occurrence of gout. Reducing alcohol consumption is also often helpful.

Alcoholic beverages should not exceed 3 ounces per day. Reduce or eliminate the purine-containing foods such as organ meats (sweet breads, liver, and kidneys), shrimp, sardines, dried legumes, and anchovies.

There are many natural products available in the market. Incorporate flax seed or omega 3 oil into your diet to help reduce inflammation and tissue damage. Burdock root can help rid the body of acidic waste build up and help supports normal uric acid levels in the body.

If you suffer from gout, see your doctor and discuss a pain relief program and a correct diet to reduce gout occurrences. With correct treatment and diet, gout outbreaks can be well controlled.

By David Chandler

symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Stones In Women

2006-08-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones are more common in men than women. But the incidence of kidney stones in women has been on the rise. The number of women suffering from this problem has been increasing, largely due to dietary habits. Low intakes of fruits and vegetables and high-protein diets are the most common causes of kidney stones in women. Also, like a man, a woman also has a greater chance of recurrence of this problem.

Many women feel pain in the lower abdomen from time to time before or during menstruation. Sometime the cause of the pain may be kidney stones, but the women may not be able to identify it. They should carefully observe whether any such pain has been followed by a urinary disorder, dullness, fever, and nausea or vomiting. If that is the case, get in touch with your doctor, as he or she will be able to diagnose the problem.

If the pain persists even after menstruation that could be due to kidney stones, though there could be other reasons for it too.

As almost 80 per cent of kidney stones are calcium stones, women taking calcium supplements should be careful about it. Certain medical studies have suggested that if these supplements are taken as a part of a meal rather than a "supplement" to food, the risk of kidney stones reduces drastically.

However, the medical community has yet to reach at a consensus on this sensitive issue. Though men, in general, are more likely to have kidney stones than women, various studies over the last few decades have suggested that women are more likely to have struvite stones than men. The most common cause of struvite stones is chronic urinary tract bacterial infection. These stones can seriously damage a patient's kidneys, due to their size.

By Seth Miller

symptom of kidney stones : Treatment

2006-07-31T01:01:00.000-07:00

There are several treatment options on offer to rid you of the excruciating kidney stone pain.

The most drastic of these is surgery, which, whilst effective in the removal of the stones, will do little to address the cause and thus prevent a most unwelcome return of the symptom.

Surgery will often be offered as an option if the stone is too large to pass of its own accord or is blocking the flow of urine from the kidney or if it is causing an infection.

Until about 20 years ago, surgery was the only treatment to remove a large stone. It was very invasive and required a recovery period of up to six weeks.

Nowadays, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a frequent alternative to surgery. With this method, shockwaves are generated which travel through the body until they reach the denser material of the stones, where they shatter them into fine particles, which can easily be flushed out of the body.

This procedure is normally done on an out-patient basis and recovery only takes a few days. The side effects include bruising, minor discomfort and blood in the urine. To reduce this unwelcome sign, doctors usually recommend avoid taking Aspirin and other blood thinning medications.

Sometimes shock wave treatment can be used directly on a stone lodged in the ureter. This is achieved by passing a small fiberoptic device, called a ureterscope, through the urethra and bladder and on into the ureter. Here the stone can either be shattered at close quarters by a shock wave or captured and pulled down the ureter and out of the body.

Sometimes, because the stone is too large, neither of these methods are selected and the surgical removal option is used. This involves a tiny incision in the back, creating access to the kidney. Then, using a device called a nephroscope, the surgeon locates the stone and grabs the stone with the device. This allows removal of the stone. If the stone is particularly large shock, wave treatment might also be used.

This procedure involves a hospital stay of a few days, with the possibility of a drain tube inserted in the kidney, to assist clean healing.

Less drastic treatments can sometimes be obtained with pharmaceuticals, but it should be remembered these also are generally not without side effects. This can sometimes require even more medication to deal with these side effects.

The medication prescribed, depends on the type of stone:

Calcium stones: these account for about 85% of all kidney stones and can be caused by an excess of calcium in the bloodstream.

To combat this you may be prescribed a preparation containing phosphate or a thiazide diuretic, to combat the excess calcium.

Uric acid stones: The medication for the less common uric stones involves keeping the urine alkaline. For this a mild allopurinol preparation is used. In some cases this can be used to directly dissolve the uric stones.

Struvite stones: These are caused by infection in the urine. So, in addition to antibiotics the doctor may also prescribe acetohydroxamic acid.

Cystine stones: Fortunately, these stones are very rare and arise from an inherited condition. Cystine is an amino acid in protein that does not dissolve well. This condition – cystinuria – is difficult to treat and requires life-long attention.

Apart from surgery or medications, there are a number of methods that involve a more natural cure. These include a simple home remedy that is proving a very effective way to dissolve kidney stones, allowing you to sidestep the inconvenience and pain of surgery and the possible side effects of pharmaceuticals.

In addition, prevention being better than a cure, closer attention to your diet and lifestyle in future will do much to avoid an unwelcome repetition of kidney stones.

Paul Hooper-Kelly owns http://www.Kidney-Stones-Dissolved.com/ and has just released a report about a simple home remedy, using regular household items, to painlessly dissolve kidney stones in hours, without surgery or pills.

He also reveals some simple steps for kidney stone prevention. Grab your copy now at Dissolve Your Kidney Stones Fast

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hooper_-_Kelly

symptom of kidney stones : Liver Disease Symptoms

2006-07-31T00:52:00.000-07:00

Liver disease may not show any symptoms at first, as symptoms can be vague. This includes weakness and loss of energy.

Other symptoms include jaundice that is a disease of the gall bladder. Jaundice is one of the main symptoms of liver disease. Jaundice can turn the skin color to yellow. Another symptom is related to digestion and appetite. Poor appetite is a very common symptom. It leads to loss of weight and anemia. Along with this vomiting, nausea or diarrhea can also manifest.

Another important symptom is light colored stool. Due to the lack of bile production, the stool will appear light and can be gray colored or pale.

Distention and bloating can be considered as another symptoms to watch out for and can cause a pain during breathing.

Polyuria or excess urination and polydypsia or excess thirst are the other symptoms typical of the liver disease.

Liver cancer has symptoms that include weight loss and loss of appetite. Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, enlarged liver, change of color (yellowing) of the skin and the whites of the eyes are also noticed. Bile duct obstruction has symptoms like pale stools, dark urine, abdominal pain, jaundice, vomiting, nausea and fever.

Portal hypertension that is a high blood pressure in the portal veins has no symptoms. But complications due to this disease can result in bloody vomiting and black, loose stools from varices, ascites; and signs of brain disease called encephalopathy.

Alcoholic liver disease has symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea, swollen abdomen, jaundice, abdominal pain, ascites, weight gain, mental confusion, excessive thirst, dry mouth and fatigue. Additional symptoms include vomiting blood or black, paleness, light-headedness or fainting, fluctuating mood and altered level of consciousness.

Liver Disease provides detailed information on Liver Disease, Liver Disease Symptoms, Fatty Liver Disease, Alcoholic Liver Disease and more. Liver Disease is affiliated with Kidney Stones In Women.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Stith

symptom of kidney stones : How Caffeine Can Affect Your Health

2006-07-29T00:32:00.000-07:00

In a regular cup of coffee there are about 170 mg of caffeine and in decaffeinated coffee there are about 30/40 mg of caffeine.

On the stock market, Coffee is a 90 billion dollar industry but what is significant is that just in North America 85%+ drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day. A huge number of people are at risk for many of the issues surrounding coffee consumption.

Top Ten Reasons why you should consider switching to a "Healthy Coffee"

Top 10 Caffeine-Related Health Problems

Cardiovascular Problems

Caffeine increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure, and can contribute to the development of heart disease. Both decaf and regular coffee increase your cholesterol and homocysteine, the biochemical that science has linked to increased risk for heart attack. Caffeine is also linked to coronary vasospasms, the cause for 20% of all fatal heart attacks which kill otherwise perfectly healthy people. Stress

Caffeine stimulates the excretion of stress hormones which can produce increased levels of anxiety, irritability, muscular tension and pain, indigestion, insomnia, and decreased immunity. Increased levels of stress from caffeine can keep you from being able to make healthy responses to the normal daily stress everyone is subjected to in their lives.

Emotional Disturbances

Anxiety and irritability are hallmark mood disturbances associated with caffeine consumption, but equally important is depression and attention disorders. Depression may occur as part of the let down after the stimulant effects of caffeine wears off. It may also appear during the recovery period after quitting caffeine while the brain's chemistry is readjusted. Caffeine rather than increasing mental activity actually decreases blood flow to the brain by as much as 30% and negatively effects memory and mental performance.

Blood Sugar Swings

Diabetics and hypoglycemics should avoid caffeine because it stimulates a temporary surge in blood sugar which is then followed by an overproduction of insulin that causes a blood sugar crash within hours. If you're trying to loose weight, this rollercoaster will actually cause weight gain since insulin's message to the body is to store excess sugar as fat.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach after drinking coffee because coffee increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid leading to an increased risk for ulcers. Coffee, including decaf, reduces the pressure on the valve between the esophagus and the stomach so that the highly acidic contents of the stomach pass up to the esophagus leading to heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. With America 's high consumption of coffee, its no wonder the best selling over-the-counter drugs are the so-called antacids.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Caffeine inhibits the absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all essential elements necessary for good health. Male Health Problems

Male Health Issues

Coffee is an irritant to the urinary tract and bladder. It is also a diuretic that aggravates conditions associated with frequent urination. Eliminating coffee and caffeine often relieves symptoms associated with frequent urination due to enlarged prostate glands.

Dr. Milton Krisiloff, M.D. has found that in the majority of cases, men can significantly reduce their risk for urinary and prostate problems by making dietary changes which include eliminating coffee and caffeine.

Female Health Problems

Fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, osteoporosis, infertility problems, miscarriage, low birth weight infants, and menopausal problems such as hot flashes are all exacerbated by caffeine consumption. Women on birth control pills are particularly at risk since they have a decreased ability to detoxify caffeine.

Adrenal Exhaustion

Caffeine consumption leads to eventual adrenal exhaustion which can leave you vulnerable to a variety of health disorders related to inflammation, autoimmunity, and fatigue. Aging

Many people find in their forties that they can no longer tolerate the same level of caffeine consumption as they could in their twenties and thirties. The production of DHEA, melatonin, and other vital hormones start to decline and caffeine speeds up that downhill drop. Caffeine dehydrates the body and contributes to the aging of the skin and kidneys. It has been shown to inhibit DNA repair and slow the ability of the liver to detoxify foreign toxins.

Exhausted Adrenal Glands

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It causes the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline, the hormone your body depends on in emergencies to elevate your heart rate, increase your respiration and blood pressure for a rapid flight-or-fight response. When you overuse stimulants, the adrenals become exhausted. If your caffeine sensitivity has diminished or you're one of those who claims you can drink 3 shots of espresso and go right to sleep, guess what? Your adrenals have given up responding. This means you have less resistance to stress, which leaves you vulnerable to health hazards such as environmental pollutants and disease pathogens

Severe Blood Sugar Swings

Caffeine forces the liver to release glycogen into the blood stream. The pancreas responds to the sudden rise in blood sugar by releasing insulin, the hormone which causes excess carbohydrates to be stored as fat. Within the span of an hour or two, the result is a sharp blood sugar drop resulting in a state of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). That's when you think it's time for another cup of coffee and the whole cycle starts up again.

Acid Imbalance

Over 208 acids in coffee can contribute to indigestion and a wide variety of health problems resulting from over-acidity associated with arthritic, rheumatic and skin irritations. Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach after drinking coffee because coffee increases the secretion of acid in the stomach. Optimal health calls for an alkaline pH balance in the body.

Essential Mineral Depletion

Coffee inhibits the absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all essential elements necessary for good health. Women need to be concerned about osteoporosis as menopause sets in. Studies show that women who drink coffee have an increased incidence of osteoporosis compared to non-coffee drinkers. Men are not immune to osteoporosis either.

These are a number of health conditions for which doctors advise their patients to eliminate coffee and all caffeine from their diet.

Acid indigestion Anxiety, irritability and nervousness Candida or yeast problems Colitis, diverticulitis, diarrhea and other irritable bowel symptoms Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other auto-immune disorders Diabetes or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Dizziness, Meniere's syndrome or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Gout (Elevated Uric Acid levels) Heart disease or heart palpitations High blood pressure High cholesterol Insomnia and interrupted or poor quality sleep Liver disease and gallbladder problems such as gallstones Kidney or bladder problems including kidney stones Migraines or other vascular headaches Osteoporosis Skin irritations, rashes and dryness Ulcers, heartburn, and stomach problems such as hiatal hernias Urinary tract irritation

IS THERE A HEALTHY COFFEE, BECAUSE I LIKE MY COFFEE?!?

Gano Healthy Coffee Products reduce the caffeine to about 7 or 8 mg per cup and give you the same energy boost without the health risks. De-caf Gano Cafe, Cafe Mocha and Tea, all blended with Ganoderma Mushroom extract, are available online at www.Healthy-Coffee-Shop.com. Ask for a free sample and try it for yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Colcy

symptom of kidney stones : Beryllium

2006-07-29T00:27:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have determined that beryllium is a human carcinogen. The EPA has determined that beryllium is a probable human carcinogen. EPA has estimated that lifetime exposure to 0.04 µg/m³ beryllium can result in a one in a thousand chance of developing cancer.

While solid beryllium is not harmful, the dust created as result of working with beryllium metal, metal oxides, alloys, ceramics, or salts can be deadly. If ingested into the lungs the dust can cause scarring leading to beryllium disease and lung cancer. Beryllium disease is. An estimated 2-6% of workers exposed to beryllium eventually develop beryllium disease and up to one third will die as a result. Once exposed to beryllium there is a lifelong risk of developing Acute Beryllium Disease (ABD). It usually has a quick onset and resembles pneumonia or bronchitis.

One to fifteen percent of all workers occupationally exposed to beryllium dust develop Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD), a painful incurable lung disease. Symptoms of Chronic Beryllium Disease, also known as berylliosis, include breathing difficulties, chest pain, coughing, and general weakness. While the average latency period is about eight to ten years, Chronic Beryllium Disease can develop as late as thirty years after last exposure. CBD in some people progresses slowly, but in others much more rapidly.

Chronic Beryllium Disease Chronic beryllium disease was first described in 1946. Symptoms usually include:

• labored breathing • shortness of breath • cough • fever • anorexia • weight loss

Other effects that have been observed in individuals with severe cases of chronic beryllium disease include damage to the right heart ventricle, hepatic necrosis, kidney stones, granulomatous hepatitis and hypercalcemia.

Skin lesions are the most common external indicators of chronic beryllium disease. and kidney stones can also occur. Chronic beryllium disease will continue to progress if left untreated. While there is no cure for chronic beryllium disease, it can be treated. The disease does not progress in all patients. If it does, some patients' disease progresses faster than others. While some die within a few years of diagnosis, others experience a downhill course extending over decades.

Diagnosing Chronic Beryllium Disease

Chest X-rays and blood tests known as the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test, are used to diagnose chronic beryllium disease.

Acute Beryllium Disease

Symptoms of acute beryllium disease include shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and acrocyanosis. Two types of the acute disease have been identified. The "fulminating" or rapid type develops within three days of an exposure to high concentrations of beryllium particles.

Beryllium (atomic number 4) discovered in 1797 by French chemist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin (1763-1829), is a naturally occurring metallic element found in rocks, coal, oil, volcanic dust and even the soil in your backyard. Beryllium gets its name from the mineral beryl in which it can be found.

Beryllium's physical and mechanical properties are unmatched by any other metal. Beryllium is non-magnetic, lightweight, hard, and can withstand extreme heat, remain stable over a wide range of temperatures, allowing it to function as an excellent thermal conductor. These attributes make beryllium a unique material suitable for a host of modern demanding industrial applications. For many important industries, beryllium is the only suitable material for the job.

A brief list of products dependent on beryllium or a combination of beryllium and copper would include:

• Battery contacts
• Electronic connections
• Cell phones and base stations
• Underwater fiber optic cable
• Air bag sensors
• Power steering
• Fire extinguishers
• Sprinkler heads
• Pacemakers
• Lasers for blood testing
• High resolution x-rays
• Mammography equipment
• Infrared countermeasure systems
• Radar navigation systems
• Surveillance satellites, and
• Aircraft landing gear components.
• Microprocessor connectors
• Ultra-high speed optical laser
• Airport luggage handling
• Apache helicopters
• Fighter aircraft
• Tanks
• Nuclear weapons
• Dental work
• Bicycle frames
• Tools
• Dyes

Reacting to many cases of what was known as “chemical pneumonia", OSHA adopted community ambient air standards in 1949 for beryllium that remain intact today. The EPA classifies beryllium dust and fumes as toxic air pollutants.

Approximately 800,000 workers in the United States work with and around beryllium. The industries in which beryllium can be found include:

•Electronics (transistors, heat sinks, x-ray windows)
•Atomic energy (heat shields, nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons)
•Laboratory work (research and development, metallurgy, chemistry)
•Metal working (pure beryllium, copper and aluminum alloys, jet brake pads, aerospace components)
•Ceramic manufacturing (semi-conductor chips, ignition modules, crucibles, jet engine blades, rocket covers)
•Extraction (Smelting and refining of ore and scrap metal)
•Dental work (alloys and crowns, bridges, dental plates)
•X-ray tube manufacturing
•Plastic molding
•Precision machining
•Rocket parts and heat shields

If you have been exposed to beryllium and have any symptoms consult your physician immediately.

You may also have damages recoverable in a lawsuit. Consult an attorney experienced in beryllium litigation.

© Copyright 2005 Capital Transaction Group Inc

Wayne Walker, President of Capital Transaction Group Inc http://www.captran.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Walker

symptom of kidney stones : The Calcium Myths

2006-07-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

If you pay attention to the various misleading ads in the media, you are probably aware that calcium is not only important to health, but it's critical to women to avoid osteoporosis as they age. Playing on fear about health is one way to sell things. There's a little truth in those ads, but not much, as the whole truth doesn't sell the product. Let's look at the whole story.

In order to change calcium from blood calcium into bone calcium takes a complex chemical change requiring several chemical catalysts in lots of steps. In the body, these chemical catalysts are actually enzymes, and each of these steps requires a particular enzyme to do this job. Enzymes are basically protein - differing combinations of amino acids - along with a vitamin or a mineral as well.

This means that if you are short in any vitamin or mineral or particular amino acid required for this complex process, at any step in the process, it may not happen. Thus, you don't just need lots of calcium, but you also have to have every vitamin and mineral needed at each step in this complex process. And, to complicate it further, your ability to digest foods changes as you age.

One of the most used minerals in enzyme making is magnesium, and it is also used in the body to "balance" the calcium. The ideal balance is about 2/1, and that's what most nutritionists recommend as a supplement. (I used to do the same.) Calcium and magnesium also make up the "battery" the powers the heart, and these two minerals are ones required in the largest amounts of all.

Surprisingly enough, most people in our culture of milk, cheese, and ice cream etc get plenty of calcium. It's rare for a real calcium deficiency in an individual, although it certainly is possible. What is much more probable is that a magnesium deficiency is present, and the top priority (triage in doctorese) of the body is keeping the heart beating, along with all the other enzymes necessary that need magnesium (over 6000 at last count) . Making bone just isn’t that high on the priority scale.

A common result is that we wind up with much more calcium than magnesium for good balance. So, what happens to the excess calcium?

1. The body tries to take it out the kidney/urine pathway, but without enough vitamin C to make it water soluble, it might cause kidney stones. (There's absolutely no truth to the idea that too much vitamin C causes kidney stones. The opposite is actually true.)

2. Excess calcium may be deposited in bone spurs or cysts in various spots on the skeleton. Arthritis and back problems are often to due to this.

3. It can also be deposited in lungs, breasts and other various body tissues, causing calcareous spots on x-rays in these areas. Sarcoidosis is a possible lung problem.

4. Calcium is the "backbone" of plaque found in blood vessels, and on teeth. Remove excess calcium and these problems lessen. Another way that vitamin C helps health.

Where is magnesium found, and why do we not get enough? One of the prime sources of magnesium is green vegetables. I hate them, from early childhood, and as a result, I have been plagued with bone spurs, cysts, and back problems. (They taste extremely bitter to me for no good reason). Vegetables are excellent for health in three ways - fiber, magnesium and folic acid.

Much of the water in the world flows thru limestone (dolomite) which is mostly composed of a 2/1 mix of calcium and magnesium. This makes the local water in many areas “hard”, because the soft dolomite is dissolved into the water as calcium and magnesium carbonate. Many local water systems are so loaded with this “hard” water that they have to use an ion exchange system to wash clothes. (Along with various other minerals found locally - but that's another issue).

By the way, drinking “hard” water is actually better for you. The ion exchange method of “softening” water exchanges sodium ions for the calcium and magnesium ions. This adds sodium to the water, usually not very good for persons with heart problems.)

So, a BALANCE between magnesium and calcium is required. How can you, as an individual different in many ways than anyone else, obtain that balance?

1. Make sure you take sufficient vitamin C to help get rid of excess calcium. I recommend and take 4 grams per day (4000 mg) in two doses 2 grams in AM, and 2 in PM.

2. Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, and take a good vitamin/mineral supplement. (Better than those cheap once daily types.)

3. This is a bit tricky - How much milk product do you consume every day? These only have calcium so you have to supplement with magnesium to keep the balance. A hair mineral analysis (not very accurate, but it will show balance) may help.

There are a few useful symptoms that may help:

1. Do you have bone spurs, kidney stones, calcareous cysts or spots, etc? If so, you have or have had excess calcium. More vitamin C will gradually take this out.

2. How about cramps? They are a very useful symptom of either a shortage of calcium or magnesium. You have to decide which. Look at your recent diet for few days or weeks.

3. How fast are your hair and your fingernails growing? Hair and fingernails are pretty good indicators for most people. It is an often overlooked excretion route, and both use calcium. If very fast, perhaps you have too much calcium. If very slow, perhaps too little.

YOUR nutrition needs are somewhat different from everyone else. You uptake vitamins and minerals at least somewhat differently, even from those in your immediate family. This idea of INDIVIDUALITY is very important and needs to be more fully understood.

Very few enlightened persons in our culture get enough Vitamin C. The RDA is a joke, and while 75 mg will prevent outright scurvy, it just isn't enough for good health in this polluted world. (By the way, the zoo vets know that a 150 lb ape requires a minimum of 4000 mg (4 grams) of Vitamin C per day, and our body requirements are exactly the same.)

Oh, also by the way, don't fall for the hype in the health food stores. Any source of calcium or magnesium works. The cheapest forms work almost as well as the most expensive. (Another myth, dolomite does NOT contain lead, and if you want a 2/1 mix, it works well.)

For more free info on vitamin/mineral requirements and recommendations, go to: http://www.alternate-health.com/vitmin.html. Good luck and better health.

Dr Phil Bate is the inventor of the new (Patent Pending) Auditory Brain Wave Training system which does the same thing as EEG Biofeedback/neurofeedback - solving brain problems such as ADD/ADHD. Depression, Insomnia, etc. Dr Bate is a retired Orthomolecular Psychologist who helps people at free advice websites at: http://Alternate-health.com,http://ADHD-biofeedback.com, http://AuditoryBrainWaveTraining.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Bate_PhD

symptom of kidney stones : Gout Symptoms

2006-07-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

Gout is a common disease and often presents suddenly with a painful joint. The most common and well-recognized symptom is swelling of the joint in the big toe where it joins the foot. This can be extremely painful and enlarged and if not treated the pain will last about 10 days and can cause lasting damage with repeated attacks. The area can be red, hot, inflamed and very painful or tender.

Kidney stones can form due to gout and can cause back pain. Other joints such as the knee, fingers and heel can also be affected. Some people get lumps on the rim of the ear or other parts of the body near joints under the skin and these are called tophi.

Over the long term there can be deformity of joints and there can be many large lumps under the skin. Nowadays with proper treatment this is less likely. The symptoms can last from three to ten days and often get better even without treatment. The next attack may occur many months or even years later. Usually (and fortunately) only one joint is affected at a time and the symptoms of the swelling and pain start within a day.

The definite diagnosis or determining if the arthritis is due to gout may involve drawing fluid from the joint and looking for crystals of uric acid.

People may have an elevated uric acid also called hyperuricemia but have no symptoms. Later they may develop acute gouty arthritis where the joint is affected. Almost three fourths of people with gout will develop it in the big toe at some point of time. In between attacks the gout is said to be in an interval or intercritical phase and finally some people get chronic tophaceous (with the tophi) gout.

Gout provides detailed information about gout, foods that cause gout, and more. Gout is affiliated with Osteoarthritis Treatment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough

symptom of kidney stones : Preventing Kidney Stones Naturally

2006-07-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones are hard painful lumps which can grow from crystals formed in the kidneys; they cause pain in the back or the flanks which can radiate down into the groin area. Sometimes other symptoms of chills, blood in urine, fever and upset stomach occur with Kidney stones. Kidney stones are a condition that affects men rather than women who are typically over the age of 30 years. Kidney stones are made up of over 75-80% of calcium oxalate and are caused by a high concentration of calcium in the urine. Many conditions can lead to this high concentration but most common is diet, a diet that is low in fibre, high in refined carbohydrates, alcohol, animal protein, fats, salt and calcium and vitamin D rich foods is linked with the formation of kidney stones.

Diet can help in the prevention of kidney stones, if your family health history shows that you may be prone to kidney stones then it is best to avoid oxalate-rich foods such as beets, beans, blueberries, celery, grapes, chocolate, strawberries, spinach, rhubarb, tea, nuts, bran, almonds and peanuts. It is also best to avoid calcium supplements and foods which cause increased levels of urinary calcium such as animal protein from meat, dairy products, fish and poultry. It is for this reason that vegetarians suffer less from kidney stones and if your are prone to kidneys stones it may well be wise to keep to a vegetarian style diet. Potassium reduces urinary calcium excretion and by eating fruit and vegetables which are high in potassium the risk of suffering from kidney stones is reduced.

It is also best to keep to a low salt diet, as salt increases urinary calcium. Drinking plenty of citrus fruit juices especially lemon juice will help to avoid kidney stones, this is because citric acid (citrate) protect against kidney stone formation. The only rule against this is grapefruit juice, it is not exactly known why but grapefruit juice actually increases the risk of kidney stones, the other fruit juice to avoid is apple juice, it is not known why but it also increases the risk of kidney stones. Drinking water, tea and coffee, milk will reduce the risk of kidney stones.

Good supplements to take are magnesium combined with vitamin B6; this will help to reduce kidney stone formation.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from Kidney Stones.

Chondroitin sulphate

IP-6 (phytic acid)

Magnesium citrate and Potassium citrate together Vitamin B6

Vitamin E

Pumpkin seeds

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stewart_Hare

symptom of kidney stones : An Eagle's Eye View of Chicken Allergy

2006-07-24T23:14:00.000-07:00

Lisa was at a birthday party of one of her dear officemates. She has not been fond of attending parties at her age, which is 23. As a child, she was not really into attending parties even of her friends, neighbors and relatives.

No, don’t get it wrong. It is not that Lisa is virtually and practically not sociable. She is very friendly and very outgoing. Lisa admits that she has been afraid of attending parties, especially children’s parties when she was still a kid.

Lisa has a deep dark secret. Don’t get it wrong again. This girl is not a character to judge. Lisa has chicken allergy. It means she can never take in chicken meat because adverse reactions occur in her body whenever she does that.

So that explains why she was not fond of parties, especially when she was just a kid. Most children parties cater or serve fast foods and one of the most popular food served is chicken meat.

It is because more people prefer chicken meat than any other because it is considered to have less fat.. Besides, it is one of the more flexible edible meat around.

Chicken allergy

If you have the symptoms that would be described later, then, you are positive to have chicken allergy. Take note that allergy to chicken is somehow similar to allergy to other meat.

Just like there are people allergic to pork and beef, there are also people allergic to chicken meat. Some people, however, are allergic to chicken but are not allergic to chicken eggs. There are those, on the other hand, that are allergic to both.

In the United States, statistics have it that about 0.6% to 5% of overall reported food allergies annually are chicken meat allergy.

Manifestations of chicken meat allergy

Among the most common and prevalent manifestation or symptom of chicken allergy are frequent infections like ear infections and bladder infections; asthma attack; bed-wetting; eczema; skin rashes; acne; unusual fatigue; insomnia; migraine; depression and chronic disturbance in the gastrointestinal system.

Some people with chicken allergy even develop sinusitis which is somehow unusual if they don’t really have the history. Hives and joint pains are also prevalent to them.

Symptoms of chicken meat allergy occur or show up after several minutes of in take. To some people, the reaction could surface in as fast as at least ten minutes, while in others it can be as slow and prolonged to take up to 24 to 48 hours.

Treatment and prevention of chicken allergy

Chicken meat contains allergens or allergy-producing substances that are called purines. These substances are mainly cited for the onset of several other diseases like gout. Gouts are characterized by the formation or onset of kidney stones.

Purines in chicken meat may lead to excessive uric acid accumulation in the body that can possibly lead to what is called kidney stones.

Thus, if chicken allergy symptoms show up, it is important to immediately consult or seek your doctor’s help. That would prevent further ailments or disease from coming out.

The doctor will have to prescribe several medications to treat or help curtail chicken allergy.

The best prevention would be to avoid eating chicken meat. Allergies to substances, you should remember, is not curable but only treatable.

There are a lot of other meat that could taste better than chicken meat, right?

Charlene J. Nuble 2006.

For answers to All your frequently asked questions about chicken allergy, please go to: http://chicken-allergy.allergyanswers.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlene_Nuble

symptom of kidney stones : Renal Tubular Acidosis

2006-07-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Your body's cells use chemical reactions to carry out tasks such as turning food into energy and repairing tissue. These chemical reactions generate acids. But too much acid in the blood—acidosis—can disturb many bodily functions. Healthy kidneys help maintain acid-base balance by excreting acids into the urine and returning bicarbonate—an alkaline, or base, substance—to the blood. This "reclaimed" bicarbonate neutralizes much of the acid that is created when food is broken down in the body.

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a disease that occurs when the kidneys fail to excrete acids into the urine, which causes a person's blood to remain too acidic. Without proper treatment, chronic acidity of the blood leads to growth retardation, kidney stones, bone disease, and progressive renal failure.

One researcher, pediatric neurologist Donald Lewis, has theorized that Charles Dickens may have been describing a child with RTA when he created the character of Tiny Tim in his famous story, "A Christmas Carol." Tiny Tim's small stature, malformed limbs, and periods of weakness are all possible consequences of the chemical imbalance caused by RTA. Among the evidence cited to support this theory is the fact that Tiny Tim's condition, while fatal in one scenario, is reversible when Scrooge pays for medical treatments, which in those times would likely have included sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate, which are alkaline agents that would neutralize the acid in Tiny Tim's blood. Whether the literary diagnosis of Tiny Tim is correct or not, the good news is that medical treatment can indeed reverse the effects of RTA.

Diagnosis
To diagnose RTA, your doctor will check the acid-base balance in samples of your blood and urine. If the blood is more acidic than it should be and the urine less acidic than it should be, RTA may be the reason, but additional information is needed first to rule out other causes. If RTA is suspected, additional information about the sodium, potassium, and chloride levels in the urine and the potassium level in the blood will help identify which of the three types of RTA you have. In all cases, the first goal of therapy is to neutralize acid in the blood, but different treatments may be needed to address the different underlying causes of acidosis.

NIDDK Health Information

symptom of kidney stones : Hope Through Research

2006-07-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) funds research on the causes, treatments, and prevention of kidney stones. NIDDK is part of the Federal Government's National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

New drugs and the growing field of lithotripsy have greatly improved the treatment of kidney stones. Still, NIDDK researchers and grantees seek to answer questions such as

Why do some people continue to have painful stones?

How can doctors predict, or screen, those at risk for getting stones?

What are the long-term effects of lithotripsy?

Do genes play a role in stone formation?

What is the natural substance(s) found in urine that blocks stone formation?
Researchers are also working on new drugs with fewer side effects.

Prevention Points to Remember
If you have a family history of stones or have had more than one stone, you are likely to develop more stones.

A good first step to prevent the formation of any type of stone is to drink plenty of liquids—water is best.

If you are at risk for developing stones, your doctor may perform certain blood and urine tests to determine which factors can best be altered to reduce that risk.

Some people will need medicines to prevent stones from forming.

People with chronic urinary tract infections and stones will often need the stone removed if the doctor determines that the infection results from the stone's presence. Patients must receive careful followup to be sure that the infection has cleared.

NIDDK Health Information

symptom of kidney stones : Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy

2006-07-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. In ESWL, shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser stones. The stones break down into sand-like particles and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.
There are several types of ESWL devices. In one device, the patient reclines in a water bath while the shock waves are transmitted. Other devices have a soft cushion on which the patient lies. Most devices use either x rays or ultrasound to help the surgeon pinpoint the stone during treatment. For most types of ESWL procedures, anesthesia is needed.

In most cases, ESWL may be done on an outpatient basis. Recovery time is short, and most people can resume normal activities in a few days.

Complications may occur with ESWL. Most patients have blood in their urine for a few days after treatment. Bruising and minor discomfort in the back or abdomen from the shock waves are also common. To reduce the risk of complications, doctors usually tell patients to avoid taking aspirin and other drugs that affect blood clotting for several weeks before treatment.

Another complication may occur if the shattered stone particles cause discomfort as they pass through the urinary tract. In some cases, the doctor will insert a small tube called a stent through the bladder into the ureter to help the fragments pass. Sometimes the stone is not completely shattered with one treatment, and additional treatments may be needed. ESWL is not ideal for very large stones.

copyright NIDDK Health Information

symptom of kidney stones : Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

2006-07-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy is recommended to remove a stone. This treatment is often used when the stone is quite large or in a location that does not allow effective use of ESWL.

In this procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the back and creates a tunnel directly into the kidney. Using an instrument called a nephroscope, the surgeon locates and removes the stone. For large stones, some type of energy probe (ultrasonic or electrohydraulic) may be needed to break the stone into small pieces. Generally, patients stay in the hospital for several days and may have a small tube called a nephrostomy tube left in the kidney during the healing process.

One advantage of percutaneous nephrolithotomy over ESWL is that the surgeon removes the stone fragments instead of relying on their natural passage from the kidney.

Ureteroscopic Stone Removal
Although some kidney stones in the ureters can be treated with ESWL, ureteroscopy may be needed for mid- and lower-ureter stones. No incision is made in this procedure. Instead, the surgeon passes a small fiberoptic instrument called a ureteroscope through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. The surgeon then locates the stone and either removes it with a cage-like device or shatters it with a special instrument that produces a form of shock wave. A small tube or stent may be left in the ureter for a few days to help the lining of the ureter heal. Before fiber optics made ureteroscopy possible, physicians used a similar "blind basket" extraction method. But this outdated technique should not be used because it may damage the ureters.

copyright NIDDK Health Information

symptom of kidney stones : Medical Therapy

2006-07-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

The doctor may prescribe certain medications to prevent calcium and uric acid stones. These drugs control the amount of acid or alkali in the urine, key factors in crystal formation. The drug allopurinol may also be useful in some cases of hyperuricosuria.

Doctors usually try to control hypercalciuria, and thus prevent calcium stones, by prescribing certain diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide. These drugs decrease the amount of calcium released by the kidneys into the urine by favoring calcium retention in bone. They work best when sodium intake is low.

Very rarely, patients with hypercalciuria may be given the drug sodium cellulose phosphate, which binds calcium in the intestines and prevents it from leaking into the urine.

If cystine stones cannot be controlled by drinking more fluids, your doctor may prescribe drugs such as Thiola and Cuprimine, which help reduce the amount of cystine in the urine.

For struvite stones that have been totally removed, the first line of prevention is to keep the urine free of bacteria that can cause infection. Your urine will be tested regularly to be sure that no bacteria are present.

If struvite stones cannot be removed, your doctor may prescribe a drug called acetohydroxamic acid (AHA). AHA is used with long-term antibiotic drugs to prevent the infection that leads to stone growth.

People with hyperparathyroidism sometimes develop calcium stones. Treatment in these cases is usually surgery to remove the parathyroid glands (located in the neck). In most cases, only one of the glands is enlarged. Removing the glands cures the patient's problem with hyperparathyroidism and with kidney stones as well.

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

symptom of kidney stones : Urinary Tract

2006-07-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

The urinary tract, or system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove extra water and wastes from the blood, converting it to urine. They also keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood. The kidneys produce hormones that help build strong bones and help form red blood cells.

Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, an oval-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Like a balloon, the bladder's elastic walls stretch and expand to store urine. They flatten together when urine is emptied through the urethra to outside the body.

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

symptom of kidney stones : Epicurus

2006-07-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

Epicurus was born into an Athenian émigré family — his parents, Neocles and Chaerestrate, both Athenian citizens, were sent to an Athenian settlement on the Aegean island of Samos. According to Apollodorus (reported by Diogenes Laertius at X.14-15), he was born on the seventh day of the month Gamelion in the third year of the 109th Olympiad, in the archonship of Sosigenes (about February 341 BC). He returned to Athens at the age of 18 to serve in military training. The playwright Menander served in the same age-class of the ephebes as Epicurus.

He joined his father in Colophon after the Athenian settlers at Samos were expelled by Perdiccas after Alexander the Great died (c. 320 BC). He spent the next several years in Colophon, Lampsacus, and Mytilene, where he founded his school and gathered many disciples. In the archonship of Anaxicrates (307 BC-306 BC), he returned to Athens where he formed The Garden, a school named for the garden he owned about halfway between the Stoa and the Academy that served as the school's meeting place.

Epicurus died in the second year of the 127th Olympiad, in the archonship of Pytharatus, at the age of 72. He reportedly suffered from kidney stones, and despite the prolonged pain involved, he is reported as saying in a letter to Idomeneus:

"We have written this letter to you on a happy day to us, which is also the last day of our life. For strangury has attacked me, and also a dysentery, so violent that nothing can be added to the violence of my sufferings. But the cheerfulness of my mind, which arises from their collection of all my philosophical contemplation, counterbalances all these afflictions. And I beg you to take care of the children of Metrodorus, in a manner worth of the devotion shown by the youth to me, and to philosophy"

Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

symptom of kidney stones : Urinary retention

2006-07-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Urinary retention also known as ischuria is a lack of ability to urinate. It is a common complication of benign prostatic hypertrophy (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), although anticholinergics may also play a role, and requires a catheter. Various medications (e.g. some antidepressants) and recreational use of amphetamines are notorious for this.
Signs and Symptoms
Urinary retention is characterised by poor urinary stream with intermittance, straining, a sense of incomplete voiding and urgency. As the bladder remains full, it may lead to incontinence, nocturia (need to urinate at night) and high frequency.

In the longer term, obstruction of the urinary tract may cause:

Bladder stones
Loss of detrusor muscle tone (atonic bladder is an extreme form)
Hydronephrosis (congestion of the kidneys)
Hypertrophy of detrusor muscle
Diverticula in the bladder wall (leads to stones and infection)
Causes
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
Prostate cancer and other pelvic malignancies
Congenital urtheral valve abnormalities
Detrusor muscle dyssynergia

Diagnostic tests
Uroflowmetry may aid in establishing the type of micturition abnormality. A post-void residual scan may show the amount of urine retained. Determination of the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) may aid in diagnosing or ruling out prostate cancer. Urea and creatinine determinations may be necessary to rule out backflow kidney damage.

Treatment
In acute urinary retention, urinary catheterization or suprapubic catheterization instantly relieves the retention. In the longer term, treatment depends on the cause. Benign prostatic hypertrophy may respond to alpha blocker and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor therapy, or surgically with prostatectomy or transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

symptom of kidney stones : First Stone Episode

2006-07-04T02:22:00.000-07:00

Approximately 80 percent of kidney stones contain calcium. The majority of these stones are composed of calcium oxalate, with a minority containing calcium phosphate or admixtures of oxalate and phosphate salts. About 10 percent of stones are composed of uric acid (sometimes associated with a history of gout) or mixed uric acid and calcium. Another 10 percent are struvite stones, which develop exclusively in patients with urinary tract infections caused by urease-producing organisms, most typically Proteus species. Cystine accounts for no more than 1 percent of all stones. Cystine stones arise only in patients with cystinuria, an autosomal recessive disorder.1

Stone analysis is inexpensive (about $25) and is worth performing for first stones, those formed during preventive treatment and those occurring in conjunction with infection. If no stone is available for analysis, qualitative screening for urinary cystine should be performed at least once in younger patients.

Risk factors for nephrolithiasis are summarized in Table 2. Identifying a familial incidence of stones is useful because it indicates an increased risk of recurrence. Environmental or occupational factors and bowel surgeries such as ileostomy may be predisposing factors because of low urine volumes. Residents of the "stone belt" in the southeastern part of the United States also appear to be at higher risk for stone formation.3 In the stone belt, two mechanisms have been implicated: the hot climate causes increased perspiration and reduced urine volume, and exposure to sunlight activates vitamin D, stimulating the absorption of dietary calcium.

Drugs associated with stone formation include triamterene (Dyrenium) and the sulfonamides, which have low solubility. Calcium and vitamin D supplements cause hypercalciuria, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, which are used to treat glaucoma, increase the urinary pH and precipitate calcium phosphate. Indinavir (Crixivan), a protease inhibitor, can also crystallize and form stones in the urinary tract.4

Other important risk factors for calcium stones include hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria and hypocitraturia. The major risk factors for uric acid stones are a low urinary pH and hyperuricosuria. Several dietary factors may contribute to these abnormalities and should be sought in the history.5,6

Animal protein is a major dietary constituent responsible for the relatively high prevalence of stones in populations of developed countries. Several mechanisms have been identified. Protein ingestion increases renal acid excretion. This, in turn, increases renal reabsorption of potential base, such as citrate, which is an endogenous inhibitor of calcium stone formation. Acid loads may be buffered in part by bone, which releases calcium to be excreted by the kidney. Finally, acid loading directly inhibits renal calcium reabsorption.5

http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2269.html

symptom of kidney stones : Prevention of Recurrent Nephrolithiasis

2006-07-04T02:20:00.000-07:00

The first episode of nephrolithiasis provides an opportunity to advise patients about measures for preventing future stones. Low fluid intake and excessive intake of protein, salt and oxalate are important modifiable risk factors for kidney stones. Calcium restriction is not useful and may potentiate osteoporosis. Diseases such as hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis and renal tubular acidosis should be considered in patients with nephrolithiasis. A 24-hour urine collection with measurement of the important analytes is usually reserved for use in patients with recurrent stone formation. In these patients, the major urinary risk factors include hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hypocitraturia and hyperuricosuria. Effective preventive and treatment measures include thiazide therapy to lower the urinary calcium level, citrate supplementation to increase the urinary citrate level and, sometimes, allopurinol therapy to lower uric acid excretion. Uric acid stones are most often treated with citrate supplementation. Data now support the cost-effectiveness of evaluation and treatment of patients with recurrent stones (Am Fam Physician 1999;60:2269-76.)

After an episode of acute urolithiasis, patients are particularly motivated to learn about preventive strategies. Because kidney stones affect as many as 15 percent of men and 7 percent of women in the United States,1 family physicians have frequent opportunities to dispense preventive advice. Compared with urology practices, family practice settings are more conducive to and appropriate for the dissemination of requisite recommendations on the prevention of kidney stones.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2269.html

symptom of kidney stones : Health Tip: Avoid Kidney Stones

2006-07-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

(HealthDay News) -- A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney.

Normally, urine prevents these crystals from forming, but not in all people, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

If the stones are small enough, they may pass through the urinary tract. But larger stones may lodge in the urinary tract and cause significant pain.

While doctors do not know precisely what causes kidney stones, certain foods may promote the formation of stones in people who are susceptible.

An easy way to prevent stones is to drink more liquids, optimally water. If you tend to form stones, you should try to drink enough liquids to produce at least two quarts of urine in a 24-hour period, the agency says.

Copyright © 2006 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.

symptom of kidney stones : Secondary Prevention

2006-07-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Preventive strategies include dietary modifications and sometimes also taking drugs with the goal of reducing excretory load on the kidneys:[3]

Drinking enough water to make 2 to 2.5 litres of urine per day.
A diet low in protein, nitrogen and sodium intake.
Restriction of oxalate-rich foods and maintaining an adequate intake of dietary calcium is recommended. There is no convincing evidence that calcium supplements increase the risk of stone formation.
Taking drugs such as thiazides, potassium citrate and allopurinol depending on the cause of stone formation.
Certain foods may increase the risk of stones: spinach, chocolate, peanuts, cocoa, tomato juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice, soda (acidic and contains phosphorus), all types of tea, and coffee (high levels of oxalate). In the United States, the South has the highest incidence of kidney stones, a region where sweet tea consumption is very common. Other drinks are associated with decreased risk of stones, including wine, lemonade and orange juice. Although it has been said that the diuretic effects of alcohol can result in dehydration which is important for kidney stones sufferers to avoid, there are no data demonstrating an effect of it to increase the prevalence of stones. It is important to recognize that one of the recognized medical therapies for prevention of stones is thiazides, a class of drugs usually thought of as diuretic. These drugs prevent stones through an effect independent of their diuretic properties: they reduce urinary calcium. Nonetheless, their diuretic property does not preclude their successful use as stone preventive. Caffeine does acutely increase urinary calcium excretion, however coffee, with its high oxalate content, has been known to cause stones in some patients and should be used in extreme moderation.

A high protein diet may partly be to blame. Protein from meat and other animal products is broken down into acids. The most available alkaline base to balance the acid from protein is calcium from the bones. The kidney filters the blood and stores the calcium particles which have bonded with the acids. When more meat or dairy is eaten, more calcium is found in the kidneys. Over time, and when not properly removed, these particles bind together to form stones. One of the simplest fixes is to moderate animal protein consumption.

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symptom of kidney stones : Preventing the Formation of Kidney Stones

2006-06-26T00:54:00.000-07:00

If you are prone to kidney stones, or would like to avoid kidney stones in future, the most effective preventive measure is drinking a lot of fluids, especially water. Two to three liters of water a day is enough to flush your kidneys thoroughly of contaminants.

o It would help to learn the type of stones that are formed in the kidneys, and the cause of formation too. You could change your eating habits accordingly and adjust the intake of certain types of salts and minerals that help in the formation of kidney stones.

If you are prone to calcium stones, you could discuss the matter with your doctor, who may suggest you to lower your calcium intake. Foods that are rich in calcium are milk and milk products, and leafy vegetables.

If your kidneys have uric acid stones, then reducing your meat, poultry and fish intake will surely help. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to manage the uric acid level in the urine.

People, who get struvite stones, could be given antibiotics to help remove bacterial infection.

If you have had a kidney stone once, there is always a likelihood of its recurrence. Thus, it would be in your best interest to follow the advice on prevention.

Copyright Ashely Farrar

symptom of kidney stones : Types of Kidney Stones

2006-06-26T00:51:00.000-07:00

The crystals in the urine are responsible for kidney stones. When there is an imbalance in the minerals and salts found in the urine, it may lead to their formation. Different types of stones are formed depending on the salts present in the urine.

Calcium Stones: These are the most commonly occurring kidney stones. 75% to 85% of all kidney stone cases are calcium stone based. These stones comprise of calcium and oxalate, which are introduced to the body through the food we eat. Excessive intake of calcium and oxalate can help form calcium stones. Besides, excessive vitamin D intake, and hyperactive parathyroid glands can also cause kidney stones.

Struvite Stones: These stones are not very common and are found mostly in women. The bacteria that cause urinary tract infection are responsible for the production of ammonia. Struvite stones, also known as infection stones, are formed when there is excessive ammonia in the urine.

Uric Acid Stones: People who eat meat products in excess run the risk of forming uric acid stones, as meat ingestion leads to production of uric acid, a by-product of protein metabolism.

Cystine Stones: These are the least common of all stones and are made from cystine, an amino acid. Cystinuria, a hereditary disorder, is responsible for the formation of cystine stones.

by Ashely Farrar

symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Stones

2006-06-22T01:57:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones are hard stone-like substance that forms in the kidneys. They may not trouble you as long as they are settled in one or both the kidneys. It is only when a kidney stone moves out of the kidney and enters the ureter (the tube that carries urine) on its way to the bladder that the pain begins. The pain can be from mild to severe depending on the size and shape of the kidney stone. The stone can block the flow of urine, and may cause bleeding too.

Kidney stone formation is a common occurrence and the stones are so tiny that they pass out with the urine without any hindrance. The larger ones may cause pain and make things miserable before making their way out of the body. A large stone may get stuck in the ureter causing pressure and pain. Chances of infection rise if the stone remains stuck in the ureter for long. This may also lead to damage of the kidneys.

Types of Kidney Stones

The crystals in the urine are responsible for kidney stones. When there is an imbalance in the minerals and salts found in the urine, it may lead to their formation. Different types of stones are formed depending on the salts present in the urine.

Calcium Stones: These are the most commonly occurring kidney stones. 75% to 85% of all kidney stone cases are calcium stone based. These stones comprise of calcium and oxalate, which are introduced to the body through the food we eat. Excessive intake of calcium and oxalate can help form calcium stones. Besides, excessive vitamin D intake, and hyperactive parathyroid glands can also cause kidney stones.

Struvite Stones: These stones are not very common and are found mostly in women. The bacteria that cause urinary tract infection are responsible for the production of ammonia. Struvite stones, also known as infection stones, are formed when there is excessive ammonia in the urine.

Uric Acid Stones: People who eat meat products in excess run the risk of forming uric acid stones, as meat ingestion leads to production of uric acid, a by-product of protein metabolism.

Cystine Stones: These are the least common of all stones and are made from cystine, an amino acid. Cystinuria, a hereditary disorder, is responsible for the formation of cystine stones.

Preventing the Formation of Kidney Stones

o If you are prone to kidney stones, or would like to avoid kidney stones in future, the most effective preventive measure is drinking a lot of fluids, especially water. Two to three liters of water a day is enough to flush your kidneys thoroughly of contaminants.

o It would help to learn the type of stones that are formed in the kidneys, and the cause of formation too. You could change your eating habits accordingly and adjust the intake of certain types of salts and minerals that help in the formation of kidney stones.

o If you are prone to calcium stones, you could discuss the matter with your doctor, who may suggest you to lower your calcium intake. Foods that are rich in calcium are milk and milk products, and leafy vegetables.

o If your kidneys have uric acid stones, then reducing your meat, poultry and fish intake will surely help. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to manage the uric acid level in the urine.

o People, who get struvite stones, could be given antibiotics to help remove bacterial infection.

If you have had a kidney stone once, there is always a likelihood of its recurrence. Thus, it would be in your best interest to follow the advice on prevention.

by Ashely Farrar

symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Cleansing For Good Health

2006-06-22T01:52:00.000-07:00

Why is kidney cleansing important? Every day, your kidneys process the blood and helps to sift out waste products (like mercury, copper, arsenic-bound chemicals and other toxins) and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine. The urine then flows to your bladder through the ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom. When your kidneys become overloaded with toxins, diseases of the kidneys and bladder can happen as you are unable to discharge the waste and urine from your body.

When you do kidney cleansing, you help to cleanse the toxin built-up from the kidneys and the bladder. A cleansed kidney works optimally in its function to filter out pollutants, drugs, chemicals and other harmful materials. When you do a kidney cleanse, you also help to eliminate urinary tract infections and dissolves kidney stones.
What are some of the other functions of the kidneys? Other than being vital in the elimination of metabolic wastes, your kidneys also help to regulate your blood pressure, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, activates Vitamin D, helps in maintaining acid-base balance (excretes alkaline salts).

What are the signs and symptoms of an ailing kidney? Lower back pain, edema ("water holding") in the lungs, legs, abdomen, etc, pains that are manifested elsewhere due to poor kidney health.

How do you do a kidney cleanse? There are hundreds of herbal recipes, and many different homeopathic remedies used for cleansing kidney stones. One popular way to cleanse kidney is to a watermelon cleanse. Just purchase 20 - 100 kg of watermelon (which will make up a few huge melons) and sit in a bath filed with water. Eat all the watermelon throughout a day (as much as you can), while continually empting your urinary bladder into the water.

You will need a lot of liquid to cleanse the insides of your body. You can also choose to do water fast or a juice fast to help you produce a gallon of urine a day.

During fasting, avoid strenuous exercise. Light yoga, walking, gardening are all excellent means to stimulate your body metabolism.

However, do note that before you embark on any program, please first consult your health practitioner on how you can best do a kidney cleanse.

How to have good kidney health? It is possible to dissolve all your kidney stones in 3 weeks, but if you continue to drink tea, coffee, carbonated drinks and eat unhealthily on a consistent basis, you will begin to make new ones.

To maintain a healthy kidney, begin a regular exercise regime and also avoid alcohol, red meat, smoked meats, canned fish and canned pork. Continue to drink plenty of water and fluids everyday!

by Sandra Kim Leong

symptom of kidney stones : What Happens

2006-06-17T00:12:00.000-07:00

A kidney stone begins as a tiny piece of mineral in the kidney. When the urine leaves the kidney, it may carry the mineral out, or the mineral may stay in the kidney. If the piece of mineral stays in the kidney, over time more small pieces of mineral join it and form a larger kidney stone.

Most stones leave the kidney and travel through the urinary tract when they are still small enough to pass easily out of the body. No treatment is necessary for these stones. Larger stones, however, may become stuck in the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder (ureters). This can cause pain and possibly block the urine from flowing to the bladder and out of the body. The pain often becomes worse over 15 to 60 minutes until it is severe and constant. The pain may ease when the stone no longer blocks the flow of urine, and it often goes away when the stone passes into the bladder. Medical treatment is often necessary for larger stones.

The smaller a stone is, the more likely it is to exit the body (pass) on its own. About 90% of stones smaller than 5 mm(0.2 in.) and about half the stones 5 mm(0.2 in.) or larger pass on their own.1 You need more than home treatment for only 10% to 20% of stones.1
The average time a stone takes to pass ranges between 1 and 3 weeks, and two-thirds of stones that pass on their own pass within 4 weeks of the symptoms appearing.2, 1
Almost half of all people who get kidney stones will get more stones within 5 years unless they take preventive measures.3 When you have kidney stones several times over a period of years, the length of time between stones tends to get shorter. It is not possible to say who will have more stones in the future and who will not.

© 1995-2006, Healthwise, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1989, Boise, ID 83701. All Rights Reserved.

symptom of kidney stones :Kidney stones treatment

2006-06-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

Treatment depends on the type and cause of the stone. Most stones can be treated without surgery. Drinking lots of water (two and a half to three litres per day) and staying physically active are often enough to move a stone out of the body.

However, if there is infection, blockage, or a risk of kidney damage, a stone should always be removed. Any infection is treated with antibiotics first. Stones that are too large to pass can be removed in several ways:

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
This is the most common method and does not involve a surgical operation. Instead, shock waves are used to break the stones into crystals small enough to be passed in the urine. The shock waves do not hurt, although some people feel some discomfort at the time of the procedure and shortly afterwards.

Ureteroscopic stone removal
If a stone is lodged in the ureter, a flexible narrow instrument called a cystoscope can be passed up through the urethra and bladder. The stone is "caught" and removed, or shattered into tiny pieces with a shock wave. This procedure is usually done under a general anaesthetic.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
If ESWL doesn't work or a stone is particularly large, it may be surgically removed under general anaesthetic. The surgeon makes a small cut in the back and uses a telescopic instrument called a nephroscope to pull the stone out or break it up with shock waves.

Parathyroid surgery
A small benign tumour in the parathyroid glands (in the neck) can be the cause of the chemical imbalance resulting in kidney stones. If this is the case, the tumour can be surgically removed.

Prevention
Knowing the exact cause and type of stone enables people to make changes that can help prevent further stones.

To help prevent any type of stone, fluid intake should be two to three litres per day - water is best.

People who get calcium stones should cut down on foods that have high levels of calcium (dairy products and leafy green vegetables), and oxalate (chocolate, tea, rhubarb, cooked spinach and asparagus). It's important to discuss dietary changes with a doctor – not everyone finds them helpful.

People who get uric acid stones should eat less meat, fish and poultry. Also to help prevent uric acid stones, medicine may be prescribed to control the level of uric acid in the urine.

People who get struvite or "infection" stones need to keep the urine free of bacteria that can cause infection. This may mean taking long-term antibiotics.

National Kidney Federation (UK)

symptom of kidney stones ; What causes kidney stones?

2006-06-13T01:33:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones form when the salts and minerals that are normally found in the urine become out of balance. Different kinds of kidney stones are formed from salts in the urine.

Calcium stones
These are the most common type of kidney stones. They are made of calcium and oxalate, which are chemicals found naturally in certain foods (see "Prevention", below for examples of these foods). A diet with a high content of calcium and oxalate can increase the concentration of these chemicals in the urine and make it more likely for stones to form. Other factors include:

excess vitamin D,
overactive parathyroid glands,
medical conditions such as cancer, some kidney diseases, or a disease called sarcoidosis.
Uric acid stones
Excess amounts of uric acid can be caused by eating a lot of meat. Conditions such as gout and treatments such as chemotherapy can also increase the risk of getting uric acid stones.

Struvite stones (infection stones)
These are caused by too much ammonia in the urine. Ammonia is a chemical produced by the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. This kind of stone is most often found in women.

Cystine stones
These are caused by a hereditary disorder called cystinuria, which affects about one per cent of men and women.

National Kidney Federation (UK)
0845 6010209

symptom of kidney stones ; How kidney stones are diagnosed

2006-06-13T01:25:00.000-07:00

Doctors can usually diagnose kidney stones by asking about symptoms and doing a physical examination. Further tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis, reveal the size, location and identity of the stone. These include:

Blood tests: to identify excess amounts of certain chemicals related to the formation of stones.
Urine analysis: patients are asked to give a urine sample for testing, and may be asked to collect urine over 24 hours to analyse it for the chemicals that cause stones.
X-rays: stones that contain calcium show up white on the X-ray.
Intravenous urogram (IVU): an X-ray involving an injection of special dye to show up stones that can't be seen with X-rays alone.
Ultrasound scan: this uses high frequency sound waves to produce an image of the internal organs.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type and cause of the stone. Most stones can be treated without surgery. Drinking lots of water (two and a half to three litres per day) and staying physically active are often enough to move a stone out of the body.

However, if there is infection, blockage, or a risk of kidney damage, a stone should always be removed. Any infection is treated with antibiotics first. Stones that are too large to pass can be removed in several ways:

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
This is the most common method and does not involve a surgical operation. Instead, shock waves are used to break the stones into crystals small enough to be passed in the urine. The shock waves do not hurt, although some people feel some discomfort at the time of the procedure and shortly afterwards.

Ureteroscopic stone removal
If a stone is lodged in the ureter, a flexible narrow instrument called a cystoscope can be passed up through the urethra and bladder. The stone is "caught" and removed, or shattered into tiny pieces with a shock wave. This procedure is usually done under a general anaesthetic.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
If ESWL doesn't work or a stone is particularly large, it may be surgically removed under general anaesthetic. The surgeon makes a small cut in the back and uses a telescopic instrument called a nephroscope to pull the stone out or break it up with shock waves.

Parathyroid surgery
A small benign tumour in the parathyroid glands (in the neck) can be the cause of the chemical imbalance resulting in kidney stones. If this is the case, the tumour can be surgically removed.

Prevention
Knowing the exact cause and type of stone enables people to make changes that can help prevent further stones.

To help prevent any type of stone, fluid intake should be two to three litres per day - water is best.

People who get calcium stones should cut down on foods that have high levels of calcium (dairy products and leafy green vegetables), and oxalate (chocolate, tea, rhubarb, cooked spinach and asparagus). It's important to discuss dietary changes with a doctor – not everyone finds them helpful.

People who get uric acid stones should eat less meat, fish and poultry. Also to help prevent uric acid stones, medicine may be prescribed to control the level of uric acid in the urine.

People who get struvite or "infection" stones need to keep the urine free of bacteria that can cause infection. This may mean taking long-term antibiotics.

National Kidney Federation (UK)
0845 6010209

symptom of kidney stones : How can I avoid developing kidney stones?

2006-06-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

People who have had more than one kidney stone are likely to form another. Therefore, prevention is very important. To prevent stones from forming, their cause must be determined. The urologist will order laboratory tests, including urine and blood tests. He or she will also ask about the patient's medical history, occupation and dietary habits. If a stone has been removed, or if the patient has passed a stone and saved it, the lab can analyze the stone to determine its composition.

A simple and most important lifestyle change to prevent stones is to drink more liquids -- water is best. A recurrent stone former should try to drink enough liquids throughout the day to produce at least 2 quarts of urine in every 24-hour period.

Patients with too much calcium or oxalate in the urine may need to eat fewer foods containing calcium and oxalate. Patients may be told to avoid food with added vitamin D and certain types of antacids that have a calcium base. Not everyone will benefit from a low-calcium diet, however. Some patients who have high levels of oxalate in their urine may benefit from extra calcium in their diet.

Patients who have a very acid urine may need to eat less meat, fish, and poultry. These foods increase the amount of acid in the urine.

Certain medications prevent calcium and uric acid stones. Another way a doctor may try to control hypercalciuria, and thus prevent calcium stones, is by prescribing certain diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide. These drugs decrease the amount of calcium released by the kidneys into the urine.

Some type of surgery may be needed to remove a kidney stone if the stone:

does not pass after a reasonable period of time and causes constant pain,

is too large to pass on its own,

blocks the urine flow,

causes ongoing urinary tract infection,

damages the kidney tissue or causes constant bleeding, or

has grown larger (as seen on follow up x-ray studies).

Until recently, surgery to remove a stone was very painful and required a lengthy recovery time (4 to 6 weeks). Today, treatment for these stones is greatly improved. Many options exist that do not require major surgery, like lithotripsy, or sending shock waves to break up the stones.

Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

symptom of kidney stones : How do you know if you have a kidney stone?

2006-06-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

Usually, the first symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain. The pain often begins suddenly when a stone moves in the urinary tract, causing irritation or blockage. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur with this pain. Later, the pain may spread to the groin.

If the stone is too large to pass easily, the pain continues as the muscles in the wall of the tiny ureter try to squeeze the stone along into the bladder. As a stone grows or moves, blood may be found in the urine. As the stone moves down the ureter closer to the bladder, a person may feel the need to urinate more often or feel a burning sensation during urination.

If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms, an infection may be present. In this case, a doctor should be contacted immediately.

Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

symptom of kidney stones : What are kidney stones

2006-06-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

Most people have two kidneys which "clean" the blood. They filter out water and waste products, making urine.
Kidney stones are formed out of crystals found in the urine. In most cases, the crystals are too tiny to be noticed, and pass harmlessly out of the body. However, they can build up inside the kidney and form much larger stones.

If a stone becomes large enough to block the flow of urine out of the kidney, it can cause pressure, pain and infection. If a stone moves out of the kidney with the flow of urine, it can cause severe pain as it moves through the ureters ?the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder. If a stone gets stuck, an infection can occur. Depending on its size and position, an untreated kidney stone could cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

Depending on where they are located, kidney stones are also known as renal calculi, urinary calculi, urinary tract stone disease, nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, and ureterolithiasis.

What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones form when the salts and minerals that are normally found in the urine become out of balance. Different kinds of kidney stones are formed from salts in the urine.

Calcium stones
These are the most common type of kidney stones. They are made of calcium and oxalate, which are chemicals found naturally in certain foods (see "Prevention", below for examples of these foods). A diet with a high content of calcium and oxalate can increase the concentration of these chemicals in the urine and make it more likely for stones to form. Other factors include:

excess vitamin D,
overactive parathyroid glands,
medical conditions such as cancer, some kidney diseases, or a disease called sarcoidosis.
Uric acid stones
Excess amounts of uric acid can be caused by eating a lot of meat. Conditions such as gout and treatments such as chemotherapy can also increase the risk of getting uric acid stones.

Struvite stones (infection stones)
These are caused by too much ammonia in the urine. Ammonia is a chemical produced by the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. This kind of stone is most often found in women.

Cystine stones
These are caused by a hereditary disorder called cystinuria, which affects about one per cent of men and women.

National Kidney Federation (UK)
0845 6010209
http://www.kidney.org.uk

symptom of kidney stones :Kidney Stones

2006-06-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

A kidney stone is a solid mass, or crystal, that forms inside the urine. Kidney stones can be present in the ureters as well as the kidneys. They also vary in size from a spec of salt to the proportions of a golf ball. As long as the kidney stone is small enough, it is usually passed outside the body along with the urine stream. Kidney stones become extremely painful when the stone obstructs the flow of urine going out. In fact, passing a kidney stone can cause nausea, vomiting, and infection.

Kidney stone surgery is only done if the stone is too large and will not come out. The best way to treat a kidney stone is to never get one in the first place. To prevent a kidney stone from occurring, it is extremely important to watch your diet. First and foremost, you can avoid kidney stones by drinking plenty of water everyday. Additionally, a diet low in protein, salt, and nitrogen, and adequate in calcium will help to stop a kidney stone from appearing.

© 2005 MedicalHelpers.com

symptom of kidney stones : What is a kidney stone?

2006-06-02T02:39:00.000-07:00

A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Normally, urine contains chemicals that prevent or inhibit the crystals from forming. These inhibitors do not seem to work for everyone, however, so some people form stones. If the crystals remain tiny enough, they will travel through the urinary tract and pass out of the body in the urine without being noticed.

Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals. The most common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. These chemicals are part of a person's normal diet and make up important parts of the body, such as bones and muscles.

A less common type of stone is caused by infection in the urinary tract. This type of stone is called a struvite or infection stone. A bit less common is the uric acid stone. Cystine stones are rare
Urolithiasis is the medical term used to describe stones occurring in the urinary tract. Other frequently used terms are urinary tract stone disease and nephrolithiasis. Doctors also use terms that describe the location of the stone in the urinary tract. For example, a ureteral stone (or ureterolithiasis) is a kidney stone found in the ureter. To keep things simple, however, the term "kidney stones" is used throughout this fact sheet.

Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They form in different areas of the body. If you have a gallstone, you are not necessarily more likely to develop kidney stones.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=26609418

symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Stones in Adults

2006-06-02T02:27:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones, one of the most painful of the urologic disorders, are not a product of modern life. Scientists have found evidence of kidney stones in a 7,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. Unfortunately, kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. In 2000, patients made 2.7 million visits to health care providers and more than 600,000 patients went to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems. Men tend to be affected more frequently than women.

Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician. Stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve major surgery. Also, research advances have led to a better understanding of the many factors that promote stone formation.

Introduction to the Urinary Tract
The urinary tract, or system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove extra water and wastes from the blood, converting it to urine. They also keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood. The kidneys produce hormones that help build strong bones and help form red blood cells.

Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, an oval-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Like a balloon, the bladder's elastic walls stretch and expand to store urine. They flatten together when urine is emptied through the urethra to outside the body

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/index.htm

kidney stones: What Are the Symptoms?

2006-05-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

What Are the Symptoms?

Usually, the first symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain. The pain often begins suddenly when a stone moves in the urinary tract, causing irritation or blockage. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur with this pain. later, the pain may spread to the groin.

If the stone is too large to pass easily, die pain continues as the muscles in the wall of the tiny ureter try to squeeze the stone along into the bladder. As a stone grows or moves, blood may be found in the urine. As the stone moves down the ureter closer to the bladder, a person may feel the need to urinate more often or feel a burning sensation during urination.

If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms, an infection may be present. In this case, a doctor should be contacted immediately.

How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed?

Sometimes "silent" stones - those that do not cause symptoms - are found on x-rays taken during a general health exam. These stones would likely pass unnoticed.

More often, kidney stones are found on an x-ray or sonogram taken on someone who complains of blood in the urine or sudden pain. These diagnostic images give the doctor valuable information about the stone's size and location. Blood and urine tests help detect any abnormal substance that might promote stone formation.

The doctor may decide to scan the urinary system using a special x-ray test caused an IVP (intravenous pyelogram). Together, the results from these tests help determine the proper treatment.

How Are Kidney Stones Treated?

Fortunately, most stones can be treated without surgery. Most kidney stones can pass through the urinary system with plenty of water (2 to 3 quarts a day) to help move the stone along. In most cases, a person can stay home during this process, taking pain medicine as needed. The doctor usually asks the patient to save the passed stone(s) for testing.
Pamphlet by: National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, April, 1994

kidney stones: What Are the Symptoms?

2006-05-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones in adults [2]

2006-05-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Who Gets Kidney Stones?

For some unknown reason, the number of persons in the United States with kidney stones has been increasing over the past 20 years. White people are more prone to kidney stones than are black people. Although stones occur more frequently in men, the number of women who get kidney stones has been increasing over the past 10 years, causing the ratio to change. Kidney stones strike most people between the ages of 20 and 40. Once a person gets more than one stone, he or she is more likely to develop others.

What Causes Kidney Stones?

Doctors do not always know what causes a stone to form. While certain foods may promote stone formation in people who are susceptible, scientists do not believe that eating any specific food causes stones to form in people who are not susceptible.

A person with a family history of kidney stones may be more likely to develop stones. Urinary tract infections, kidney disorders such as cystic kidney diseases, and metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism are also linked to stone formation.

In addition, more than 70 percent of patients with a rare hereditary disease called renal tubular acidosis develop kidney stones.

Cystinuria and hyperoxaluria are two other rare inherited metabolic disorders that often cause kidney stones. In cystinuria, the kidneys produce too much of the amino acid cystine. Cystine does not dissolve in urine and can build up to form stones. With hyperoxaluria, the body produces too much of the salt, oxalate. When there is more oxalate than can be dissolved in the urine, the crystals settle out and form stones.

Absorptive hypercalciuria occurs when the body absorbs too much calcium from food and empties the extra calcium into the urine. This high level of calcium in the urine causes crystals of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate to form in the kidneys or urinary tract.

Other causes of kidney stones are hyperuricosuria (a disorder of uric acid metabolism), gout, excess intake of vitamin D, and blockage of the urinary tract. Certain diuretics (water pills) or calcium-based antacids may increase the risk of forming kidney stones by increasing the amount of calcium in the urine.

Calcium oxalate stones may also form in people who have a chronic inflammation of the bowel or who have had an intestinal by-pass operation, or ostomy surgery. As mentioned above, strived stones can form in people who have had a urinary tract infection.

continue...

Kidney stones in adults

2006-05-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Overview

Kidney stones are one of the most painful disorders to afflict humans. This ancient health problem has tormented people throughout history. Scientists have even found evidence of kidney stones in an Egyptian mummy estimated to be more than 7,000 years old.

Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. More than I million cases of kidney stones were diagnosed in 1985. It is estimated that 10 percent of all people in the United States mill have a kidney stone at some point in time. Men tend to be affected more frequently than women.

Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician. Cases that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve major surgery. Research advances also have led to a better understanding of the many factors that promote stone formation.

An Introduction to the Urinary Tract

The urinary tract, or system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the ribs toward the middle of die back. The kidneys remove extra water and wastes from the blood, converting it to urine. They also keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood. The kidneys produce hormones that help build strong bones and help form red blood cells.

Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a triangle-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Like a balloon, the bladder's elastic walls stretch and expand to store urine. They flatten together when urine is emptied through the urethra to outside the body.

What Is a Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone develops from crystals that separate from urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Normally, urine contains chemicals that prevent or inhibit the crystals from forming. These inhibitors do not seem to work for everyone, however, and some people form stones. If the crystals remain tiny enough, they will travel through the urinary tract and pass out of the body in the urine without even being noticed.

Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals. The most common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. These chemicals are part of a person's normal diet and make up important parts of the body, such as bones and muscles.

A less common type of stone is caused by infection in the urinary tract. This type of stone is called a strived or infection stone. Much less common are the uric acid stone and the rare cystine stone.

Urolithiasis is the medical term used to describe stones occurring in the urinary tract. Other frequently used terms are urinary tract stone disease and nephrolithiasis. Doctors also use terms that describe the location of the stone in the urinary tract For example, a ureteral stone for (or ureterolithiasis) is a kidney stone found in the ureter. To keep things simple, the term "kidney stones" is used throughout this booklet.

Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They form in different areas of the body. If a person has a gallstone, he or she is not necessarily more likely to develop kidney stones.
Pamphlet by: National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, April, 1994

Walkman History 101

2006-05-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

Discussing the beginnings of the walkman probably requires a brief look at the audio scene in the '70s. The audio industry was enjoying success in the growing home stereo market, and the implementation of the transistor for a portable AM band receiver created a pocket radio "boom" in the '60s which continued well into the '70s. "Boomboxes" or battery-powered one-piece stereo systems were growing in popularity near the turn of the decade, with sound eminating through two or more loudspeakers. Consumers appreciated the ability to listen to high fidelity sound without being confined to sitting near a home stereo system. Pocket-sized micro and mini-cassette players were also successfully sold by companies like Panasonic, Toshiba and Olympus.

So, was the development of a "personal" stereo system an obvious step in the evolution of audio? Shu Ueyama of Sony cites that this invention was purely accidental. Organizational changes were taking place at Sony in 1979 and the tape recorder division was pressed to market something soon, or risk consolidation. They came up with a small cassette player capable of stereo playback. The invention was born from a tweaked Pressman (Sony's monaural portable cassette recorder) and a pair of headphones.

Sony chairman and founder Akio Morita heard of the invention and was eager to market it. The final design of the TPS-L2, the personal stereo cassette player was completed on March 24, 1979. Sony then formulated a unique marketing campaign to sell the contraption. But first, what to call it?
The name needed to present the idea of portability, so they considered Stereo Walky. Unfortunately, Toshiba was already using the "Walky" name for their portable radio line. The new product was a descendant of the Pressman so Walkman was proposed next. Senior staff responded to this name with doubts, as it sounded like a Japanse phrase clumsily made English. The name would fly in Japan but the product would be marketed in the US as the Sound-About and in the UK as the Stowaway.

Again, senior staff thought twice about the naming conventions--globally marketing a product with regional labels would prove costly, so Walkman was ambivalently accepted as the name of this new personal stereo system.

© 2002 Pocket Calculator.

BELKIN TUNESTAGE FOR IPOD

2006-05-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

Using Bluetooth technology, TuneStage can transmit from up to 33 feet away from your stereo, free of the barriers that limit traditional remotes-such as walls, ceilings, or windows.

TuneStage delivers the pristine high-quality sound that iPod users desire, through a high-end, home stereo environment. Using Bluetooth technology, TuneStage can transmit from up to 33 feet* away from your stereo, free of the barriers that limit traditional remotes-such as walls, ceilings, or windows. This great new innovation from Belkin lets you roam and play your tunes, from virtually anywhere in your home.

Wirelessly connected through TuneStage, your iPod becomes the ultimate remote, putting absolute control at your fingertips. Since the unit draws power directly from the iPod, it needs no batteries or extra cables.

Advantages
• Requires no batteries and automatically powers on or off with the iPod
• Works at distances of up to 33 ft.
• Requires no software installation-ready to use right out of the box
• Manually power on or off the TuneStage Receiver
• Indicates proper connection and activity
• Includes a Gold Series 3.5mm-to-2 RCA Stereo Cable for easy Plug-and-Play convenience
• Uses advanced Bluetooth?v1.2 wireless technology
• Turns your iPod into a premier wireless remote
• Streams digital music wirelessly
• Connects to your home stereo via 3.5mm audio or RCA stereo outputs

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=26609418

Why the World Doesn't Need Hi-Def DVDs

2006-05-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

When did you first become cynical about the electronics industry?

Was it when VHS went out of style, and you had to buy all your movies again on DVD? Was it the time(s) you never got the rebate you mailed away for? Or was it when your computer's 90-day warranty expired, and the thing croaked two days later?

Doesn't matter. As it turns out, you didn't even know the meaning of the word cynical. This month, Toshiba's HD-A1 high-definition DVD player hit store shelves. It's the first marketplace volley in an absurd and pointless format war among the titans of the movie, electronics and computer industries.

Just contemplating the rise of a new DVD format is enough to make you feel played. What's wrong with the original DVD format, anyway? It offers brilliant picture, thundering surround sound and bonus material. The catalog of DVD movies is immense and reasonably priced. And DVD players are so cheap, they practically fall out of magazines; 82 percent of American homes have at least one DVD player.

To electronics executives, all of this can mean only one thing: It's time to junk that format and start over.

Of course, the executives don't explain this decision by saying, "Because we've saturated the market for regular DVD players."

Instead, they talk about video and picture quality. A DVD picture offers much better color and clarity than regular TV, but not as good as high-definition TV. The new discs hold far more information, enough to display Hollywood's masterpieces in true high definition (if you have a high-definition TV, of course).

UNFORTUNATELY, this idea occurred simultaneously to both Sony and Toshiba. Each dreamed up its own format for a high-def DVD. Each then assembled an army of partners. Toshiba's format, called HD-DVD, has attracted Microsoft, Sanyo, NEC and movie studios like New Line and Universal. Sony's format, called Blu-ray, has in its camp Apple, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Pioneer, Dell and movie studios like Sony, 20th Century Fox and Disney. (Some companies, like HP, LG, Warner Brothers and Paramount, intend to create products for both formats.)

The new DVD players will play standard DVD's, but that's as far as the compatibility good news goes. Movies in Toshiba's format won't play in DVD players from Sony's side, and vice versa.

At first, pundits guessed that Sony's Blu-ray format might win, because it had signed up so many more movie studios, its discs have greater capacity, and the PlayStation 3, expected to top best-seller lists this fall, will double as a Blu-ray player.

But Toshiba has two aces up its sleeve. First, its first HD-DVD player is available now, giving it a head start; Blu-ray players aren't expected until the end of June. Second, this new player, the HD-A1, costs $500 — half the price of the cheapest Blu-ray deck.

The HD-A1 is a pretty big box: 17.7 by 13.3 by 4.3 inches, more like an early VCR than a sleek modern DVD player.

The $500 isn't the only price you pay for being an insanely early adopter; this baby is slow — really slow. It takes over a minute just to turn on; menus are sometimes slow to respond; and a newly inserted DVD takes 45 seconds just to get to the F.B.I. warning. (And no, even the brave new DVD format doesn't let you skip over that tiresome warning.)

The remote is a disaster; its buttons are identically shaped and illogically placed. Not only are they not illuminated, but their labels are painted on faintly and in what must be 4-point type. (A sibling model, the HD-XA1, adds minor goodies like a backlit remote — for $300 more.)

Finally, though, the movie begins — and your shield of cynicism begins to waver. As you watch the brilliant colors, super-black blacks and ridiculously sharp detail — up to six times the resolution of a standard DVD — you realize that you've never seen anything quite this cinematic-looking in your home before.

Even high-definition TV doesn't look this good; the amount of information HD-DVD pumps to your screen dwarfs what you get from high-def satellite or cable (36 megabits a second maximum, versus 19 or less).

You need a big screen to benefit from all this picture data, however. The impact of the extra detail begins to evaporate at screen sizes below, say, 35 inches.

Even on a small screen, though, you don't have to interrupt the movie to open the DVD menu (to get access to settings and extras); on a high-def DVD, the menu appears at the bottom or side of the screen as the movie continues to play.

That feature makes it quick and easy to turn on subtitles during a mumbled scene, for example, or to tune in the director's commentary track without losing your place. I watched six beautifully made HD-DVD movies from Warner and Universal, including the gut-churning "Training Day" and a spectacular "Apollo 13." (It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.) I quickly concluded that the new on-screen menu system makes the old DVD-menu system look confusing and crude in comparison.

The new DVD generation is supposed to offer several other sophisticated features. For example, director and actor commentaries can now include video, not just audio (the director appears in a small picture-in-picture window). Similarly, the A1's built-in Ethernet jack is supposed to let you connect to the Internet for interactive features.

No movies in the first wave include any of these goodies, however. (Shades of the Camera Angle feature that was supposed to be available on movies in the original DVD format? You decide.)

On the videophile blogs, you can find several cautionary notes regarding the HD-A1's audio and video signal outputs — details that will cause average people's eyes to glaze over, but may alarm high-end movie buffs.

For example, don't buy this player if you're hoping to future-proof your home theater. As any geek can tell you, HDTV comes in several degrees of resolution: 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Weirdly, the Toshiba can't send out 1080p, which is the holy grail. (To be sure, this standard is still rare among TV sets, but it's the wave of the future.)

You should know, too, that you're guaranteed the sensational high-resolution HD-DVD picture only if your TV set has an HDMI connector (a slim, recently developed, all-digital jack that carries both sound and picture). If you use S-video or component cables instead, you may see only 25 percent of the resolution you're supposed to get — a maddening antipiracy feature that the studios can invoke at their option. (Most studios have said that they won't "down-res" those jacks, at least at first; they can begin doing so at any time, however.)

The fine print also includes cautions that the A1 contains a fan (though it's mercifully quiet), that your TV may require tweaking to tame the more intense HD-DVD colors, and that the DVD extras are not, generally speaking, in high definition.

Over all, though, the A1 does deliver the spectacular picture and sound promised by Toshiba. Should you buy one, then?

Not unless you're an early-adopter masochist with money to burn.

Reason 1: The average person can see the difference in picture quality, but only on a big, high-def screen, preferably side by side with a standard DVD signal. The leap forward is nowhere as great as it was from, say, VHS to DVD.

Reason 2: For a brand-new technology, the A1 is a reasonably priced razor — but it's got a serious blade shortage. Only 20 will be available by the end of this month, priced at $20 to $40, and only a couple of hundred are expected by year's end. (Tens of thousands are available in the traditional DVD format.)

Reason 3 (and this is the big one): You could be placing a very big bet on the wrong horse.

In fact, this might even be a race that neither horse wins; the public may well decide that regular DVD's are just fine as they are. (Remember SACD and DVD-Audio, two rival "high-definition audio" formats that also required new players and new discs? Didn't think so. Both are well on their way to the great eBay in the sky.)

You, and everyone else, have everything to gain by waiting until prices fall, the movie catalog grows and a single standard emerges. After all, how will you feel if you buy a player and a bunch of movies — and the one you picked turns out to be the Betamax of the new millennium?

Probably more cynical than ever.

By David Pogue

On WINNING ROULETTE

2006-05-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm Lucky Ned! That "lucky" handle is what we gamblers call a misnomer, meaning that I'm not lucky. I'm smart! Smart as the smartest rocket scientist, only my science isn't rockets, it's what the casinos naïvely call "gambling." When I walk into a casino, the owners tremble and hold emergency meetings to figure out how they can stop me before I drain their bank accounts. I'm that smart.

Thanks to my smartness, I have created "systems" for winning at games. I've mastered all kinds of games, from whupping my niece at "Go Fish" to walking away from a blackjack table with every chip in the joint. Because I am not only smart but also very nice I am going to let you in on a few of my secrets for roulette.

Roulette is French for "gentleman's wagering wheel game" and it was used in ancient times when the great Monarch of France would play the game against slaves for their lives. The ball was originally a pebble and the roulette wheel was a square until Jesus Christ finally invented the circle. In those days, the number zero did not exist, neither did any numbers higher than 16. I'm not trying to show off my smarts with this information, I'm just giving a little background that will help you better understand the subtle ins and outs of the "gentleman's wagering wheel game".

The Feeling

Many of you are already aware of my incredible skills of intuition. I sense a good situation and I pounce. I sense a bad situation and I skedaddle. But for the challenging game of roulette, you don't need intuitive abilities as powerful as mine.

Ask any of these so-called mathemeticians about the "feeling" and they will laugh at you? Why? Because they are too busy in their ivory towers to understand that there are forces beyond our small minds. I understand, and you probably do too. I do not need to tell you what the "feeling" is because you will know it when you feel it. You will feel it in your nose. Walk up to any table, get as close as you can, and see what you feel. Trust your nose. If your nose says you'll win, sit down. If your nose says you'll lose, walk away. NOTE TO ADVANCED PLAYERS: You can still play even when you feel you are going to be unlucky. Just bet the opposite of everything you would have otherwise bet.

Some casinos are kind of touchy about letting you get near their roulette wheel. I have been dragged out of a few casinos and the security always says I am not allowed to tamper with gaming equipment, but the truth is THEY'RE AFRAID OF ME and my WINNING METHODS!

So, if the casino keeps you from feeling up the game, and you can't otherwise get a sense of the action, use this 100% ACCURATE METHOD: before betting any of your hard earned money, pick a number and watch to see if it comes up. If it did, this is your lucky wheel. If it didn't, ask yourself if the ball WANTED to land in that hole. Did it feel like it did? If the ball was leaning toward your number it is still a good sign. Let's face it, you won't win every time, YOU'LL ONLY WIN ALMOST EVERY TIME. Put your money on the table and get to work! Can't think of a number? Go here for a suggestion.

by Lucky Ned IndrediSystem

WORLD FOOD

2006-05-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

From the freezing mountains and desert in Mongolia to the steamy, sticky jungles of Vietnam to the beautiful beaches of Thailand, Asian food has an incredible range of flavors and styles. Asian food has become familiar in the Western world, with Asian restaurants on virtually every corner. Now it's easier than ever to bring that Asian flavor into your own kitchen, even if it's 9000 miles away from China

Copyright 2006 © Melting Pot Foods, LLC

A Place in the Sun

2006-05-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

Looking to beat cold weather at home, snowbirds flock to the warmer confines of the Sun Belt

ALABAMA

The roads radiate out from Birmingham like spokes in a wheel, allowing snowbirds to arrive from Huntsville, Decatur and Gadsden to the north, fill their days in Birmingham, and head south toTuscaloosa or Montgomery - before continuing on to Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico. But before they splay their toes in the fine sands of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, RVers should explore Birmingham's Civil Rights District, where the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame gets toes tapping in the historic Carver Theater. The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame appeals to fans of athletic pursuits, particularly if they happen to be partial to native sons such as baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays and/or luminary trackand-field star Jesse Owens.

As they make their way south through the state, golfers may think they've died and gone to heaven, since time and again they'll come across signs for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail - an extensive series of courses designed by one of the game's foremost designers. The general public can play these challenging, varied courses for less cash than they might expect; the readers of no less than Golf Digest have declared the trail the best value among the world's golfing destinations.

Whether golf is addiction or anathema to them, snowbirds can find other ways to enjoy the great outdoors once down at the Gulf. The Bon secour National Wildlife Refuge is a fine way to begin a Gulf exploration. But then again, so is wandering through the back bay by kayak. (800-ALABAMA)

Arley

Hidden Cove Outdoor Resort

Facilities: Good gravel interior roads. Restrooms and showers; dump station; security; public phone; laundry. Sites: 86 total, 20 available, full hookups (30/50 amps), gravel, some shaded; 10 pull-through (30 × 70); back-in (30 × 70). Recreation: Lewis Smith Lake; freshwater fishing; boating; ramp, dock. Pool; recreation hall; recreation field; game room; horseshoes; playground; planned activities. Contact 687 County Road 3916, Arley, Alabama 35541; (205) 221-7042; bullek.com. A Good Sam Park.

Copyright T L Enterprises, Inc. Oct 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved

Learn From This Conversation

2006-04-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

This is a phone conversation I have with Paul Counsel
to interview him about creating wealth. The words are
not edited to remain the original conversation transcript.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Patric: Yeah, Paul why do you think that it is
possible for any ordinary people to actually be a
millionaire? It sounds you know kind of silly but the
fact is a lot of people think that they will never,
never be a millionaire in their life, yeah.

Paul: Well see if they think that that is true.

Patric: Right.

Paul: And that is the sad thing about it. It doesn't
have to be true but it is true for them. Because you
know the only thing that can expand in your mind are
the thoughts that you actually give it. Now when I
drew the line in 1994, I didn't actually know how to
go out there and create a million dollars, because I
had never done it before.

But what I did was have a absolute belief in my
ability to learn, and to put into place whatever it
was that I was actually learning. So I had a absolute
belief in myself that it was only just a matter of
time. It wasn't a matter of if. It was just a matter
of when.

And so from that day forward I made myself a promise
that I was not going to do the things that I had done
in the previous forty years of my life what I was
actually going to do was everything that I needed to do.

And that meant that I had to learn new ways of
thinking. I had to learn new ways of behaving. I had
to learn new attitudes. I had to put different
thoughts in my mind that I had been putting in my mind
you know previously.

And that is why I say everybody on this call actually
has the capacity it is just a matter of some you know
pretty steady guidance over time and learning a few
skills along the way. But you know doing that in a
sort of a low risk high probability environment.

Patric: How does a millionaire really think?

That is why they continue to be richer you know
because they have certain pattern of thinking there.
And you know that people can say stuff about thinking
and things like that. And think that it is not true
there is a certain pattern involved that all
millionaires, 99% share the same thought.

Paul: In actual fact there is just one thought really.
Basically successful people think in ever expanding
circles and other people think in ever decreasing or
contracting circles. So this is how my mind started to
work when I started off.

In actual fact, I went out and got a job wrecking
houses, I actually worked four part times jobs. One of
those jobs allowed me to buy some hand tools and you
know like a saw and a drill and stuff like that.

Now the promise that I made myself is, let's say that
I bought a electric drill and let's say that I paid a
$100.00 for that.

Then the promise that I made was that the drill
actually owed me a $100.00, and so I was going to go
and knock on everybody's door and basically hold up my
drill and say look have you got a job, because I have
got a drill. You know it did not happen as simply as
that but I am trying to make it pretty simply.

Now I made that drill earn me a $100.00. Now if I end
with $101.00, then that means that I was $1.00 in
front. If I buy a book and read it, if I buy that book
for $30.00, that books owes me $30.00. If I buy a
course, if I spend $10,000.00 on a course that course
owes me you know $10,000.00.

The way that most people think is they think, oh I
can't afford that. Now the way that you know
millionaires think, is look I actually want that
information I need that information and I have got to
get that information in my head but I have to make the
information pay for itself.

Now as soon as it pays for itself the information is
free the knowledge is free. And so they are always
looking for ways to find out how they can apply their
information. Where as most people are looking for ways
that allow them not to actually access the information
in the first place.

Does it make sense?

Patric: Makes sense yeah, yeah, true, yep.

Paul: So the way that they think is ever-expanding
modes, but the way the other people think is in ever
contracting modes. You can either move toward
something or you move further away from something.
There is no other possibilities on this planet. You
are either moving closer to your goals ...

Patric: Yep, yep.

Paul: And closer to your dreams or you are actually
moving further away from them. Unfortunately most
people think in ways that deny them access. The
successful people think in terms of how can I crack
the code to this dream of mine.

Patric: How can the drill give you the dollars right.

Paul: Yeah, how can a drill give me… you know.

Patric: All right.

Paul: It is like you know people don't buy a drill bit
they actually buy a hole. Most people think that they
drill but they don't they actually buy the hole. The
drill is just the means of getting the hole.

Patric: Yeah the tool is the medium of getting a hole.

Paul: Yeah.

Patric: Yeah. Ok, all right in the Infinite Wealth
Trilogy Part One, I read this valuable information and
I want you to share, because this is coming from you
and I really love this piece of information.

Who are the people that will become rich and it is not
the scientists, farmers, and you know the whole story
I would love to hear it from you again?

Paul: It is really interesting; you know what is going
on. Cause it actually ties in with what I have just
said. You are either busy moving away from something
or you are actually moving toward something.

Now when I actually started to think about you know
who I wanted to become. One of the things I tried to
find as an identifiable group, if you search the world
over you say now as an identifiable group, who are the
highest paid people on planet earth.

And I started looking at well maybe it is the soldiers
who go and sort of sacrifice their lives to defend our
freedom. And then you look at their pay and I say no,
they are not paid at all.

And then you look at maybe the teachers who you know
teach our children and then you say no they are not
highly paid. And then maybe it is the nurses, well
they are not highly paid. Well maybe it is the people
who grow all of our food, no they are not paid well ...
you know it is not a identifiable group. Then you say
will maybe it is the great spiritual leaders and then
you say no look they have go and struggle for money
and maybe it is the great politicians who run the
country and you know pretty much I earn more in a week
and than our prime minister earns in a year. So it is
not the politicians.

So it is not the politicians and so I kept on you know
searching and searching and searching until I actually
discovered that as an identifiable group the people
that are the most highly paid people on the planet are
the entertainers or the group of the people that I
call the entertainers.

I mean you've only got to be able to run faster, jump
faster, or throw a ball more quickly, more accurately
or hit a white ball further faster and more accurate than
anybody else is and you are pretty much worth a fortune.

You know if you can sing and dance you are worth a
fortune. If you can make movies you are worth a
fortune. You know I think there is a baseball of it
just on a ten-year contract for something like $289
million dollars US.

I mean what is actually going on, and so I discovered
that if you have got a talent for distracting people
from their discomfort, you are actually worth millions
and so society says well look if you loose your good
looks, if your loose your voice, then by reading the
fine print because you have no value to society.

So it is the entertainers that actually keep us
distracted from you know pretty much the sadness that
we have actually created in our lives. As soon as I
actually learned that, then I learned what people will
actually pay money for and how much they will actually
pay for it.

Patric: Right, yep.

Paul: And you know again it about way this spending
power goes.

Patric: When I read that chapter I mean that paragraph
when you share about that I was really smiling all the
way when I was reading it, you know. It is so true.

Just look at people that kick the balls better, maybe
David Beckham can kick the ball better. Or you know
someone has better looks like Tom Cruise and things
like that. This will make fortune. It is not...

Paul: It what skills can you now develop that help
people move away from their discomfort. That is really
what you are saying.

Patric: Yep, yep. True.

Paul: And as an educator, what I do is I help people
move away from the discomfort of their lack of
financial resources and I help people move toward
abundance of financial resources.

-- End of the conversation --

My Personal Note:I highly recommend you to read
The Infinite Wealth Trilogy. These 3 books will show you how to
create wealth for yourself. Get it by clicking here.

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motivation