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What Kidneys Do!

by Samuel Snyder, D. O.

T

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About The Author
 
ANESTAMED TOPICS  
Created by Christopher Green R.N. B.A.

NEPHROLOGY
What do kidneys do?
Kidney stones
Kidneys and salt
Kidneys and bones
Chronic Kidney Disease
Dialysis
Diabetes
Transplant
Nephrology team
Protein in the diet
Kidneys disease and the heart
Kidney disease and sex
Hypertension
Anemia
Acute Renal Failure
Polycystic disease

ENDOCRINOLOGY
Diabetes Type I
Diabetes Type II
Diabetes treatment

PSYCHIATRY
Stress

UROLOGY
 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Erectile Dysfunction

CARDIOLOGY
Myocardia Infarction
Congestive Heart Failure
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Cholesterol
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Peptic Ulcer Disease

Dr. Samuel Snyder is Associate Professor and Chair of Internal Medicine at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Nephrology, and the American College of Osteopathic Internists. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He writes scientific and popular articles and lectures widely on a wide range of medical subjects.
Real Health. Real Simple .
Kidneys
he kidneys are a pair of organs, mirror images of each other, located deep in the abdomen, just under the diaphragm. We all know the main function of the kidneys is to make urine—but for what purpose? Urine is the kidneys’ way of keeping the rest of the body in a normal metabolic condition, which we call homeostasis.
Kidneys
We drink fluids, and any excess has to be excreted—if not, we become overloaded, with swelling and fluid congestion in the lungs and heart. This excess fluid is removed by the kidneys.

We eat food, in particular proteins. Much of the waste material from protein in our diet ends up in the urine.

These two functions—keeping water balance and excreting waste products—are the two most important functions of the kidneys.
But the kidneys are involved in many other aspects of metabolism. They are key to maintaining the balance of several important minerals in the body. These include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
In particular, excess of potassium can be fatal, causing the heart to come to a dead stop. The kidneys are able to prevent this from happening.

Because of their ability to regulate calcium and phosphorus, the kidneys have a role in keeping bones strong.

Our daily metabolism produces acid. It is one the jobs of kidneys to get rid of this excess acid, and maintain the body’s acid/alkali balance.

Finally, the kidneys are crucial in detoxifying the body, metabolizing drugs, and getting rid of non-solid wastes.

So when kidneys become diseased or fail, it can set off a cascade of events affecting many aspects of the body, like the ripples in a pond from a dropped rock.
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