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What are the kidneys and what do they do?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Every day, the two kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine, composed of wastes and extra fluid. The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through two thin tubes of muscle called ureters, one on each side of the bladder. The bladder stores urine. The muscles of the bladder wall remain relaxed while the bladder fills with urine. As the bladder fills to capacity, signals sent to the brain tell a person to find a toilet soon. When the bladder empties, urine flows out of the body through a tube called the urethra, located at the bottom of the bladder. In men the urethra is long, while in women it is short.

Why are the kidneys important?

The kidneys are important because they keep the makeup of the blood stable, which lets the body function. They
• prevent the buildup of wastes and extra fluid in the body
• keep sodium, potassium, and phosphate levels stable
• make hormones that help
• regulate blood pressure
• make red blood cells
• bones stay strong

How do the kidneys work?

The kidney is not one large filter. Each kidney is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron filters a small amount of blood. The nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule. The nephrons work through a two-step process. The glomerulus lets fluid and waste products pass through it; however, it prevents blood cells and large molecules, mostly proteins, from passing. The filtered fluid then passes through the tubule, which sends needed minerals back to the bloodstream and removes wastes. The final product becomes urine.

Information from: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/

The steps you take to keep your kidneys healthy help the rest of your body too. Talk to your health care provider to find out the steps that are right for you.
If you are at risk for kidney disease, the most important steps you can take to keep your kidneys healthy are:
• Get your blood and urine checked for kidney disease.
• Manage your diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Tips to help keep your kidneys healthy:
• Keep your blood pressure at the target set by your health care provider. For most people, the blood pressure target is less than 140/90 mm Hg. This can delay or prevent kidney failure.
• If you have diabetes, control your blood glucose level.
• Keep your cholesterol levels in the target range.
• Take medicines the way your provider tells you to. (Important! Certain blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs may protect your kidneys. Ask your health care provider for more information.)
• Cut back on salt. Aim for less than 2,300 milligrams of
sodium each day.
• Choose foods that are healthy for your heart: fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods.
• Limit your alcohol intake.
• Be more physically active.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• If you smoke, take steps to quit. Cigarette smoking can make kidney damage worse.

Information from: http://nkdep.nih.gov/learn/keep-kidneys-healthy.shtml

Some people are also at risk for developing certain diseases of the kidney. For more information on risk factors, please see: The National Kidney Foundation...https://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease