Tag Archives: kidneys

Gary Coleman Dead at 42

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News broke this morning that child actor Gary Coleman had suffered a brain hemorrhage after a fall in his home and was on life support. I had planned to blog about that, along with the passing of Art Linkletter, but before I could get the blog done, Coleman passed away at the age of 42. I’d like to say this is a tragic story, but most of Coleman’s life seemed tragic. He rose to stardom at an early age when he played the lovable Arnold Jackson, one of the adopted sons on “Diff’rent Strokes.” Just one line, “Whatchoo talkin’ ‘bout … Continue reading →

Be Kind to Your Kidneys and Liver

The human body is pretty amazing. Despite all the wear and tear the body gets on a daily basis — inside AND out — it still keeps going. Your liver and kidneys play a huge role in keeping the body clean on the inside. The liver has hundreds of functions, but one big one is filtering bad stuff (like bacteria) out of the blood. It’s also essential for digestion — the liver produces bile, which breaks down fat so the body can digest it. It’s a multitasking marvel! Your kidneys are waste and water processors. On a daily basis, they … Continue reading →

Total Serum Protein Test

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Why would you want to measure the total amount of protein in your blood? A total serum protein test can check liver and kidney function, help doctors determine the causes of swelling in the abdomen or ankles, and test for rare blood diseases. Your blood contains two major types of protein: albumin and globulin. Albumin is made in the liver and helps keep the blood from leaking out of blood vessels. It also helps carry medicines and other substances through the blood. Globulin is made in the liver and in the immune system, and has many different functions. Some globulin … Continue reading →

Kidney Disease: Eating Right

If your doctor tells you that you are in the early stages of kidney disease, it’s time for you to make some changes! Other health considerations — like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure — may take priority in your diet choices. Incorporate the following tips into your diet if you are in the early stages of kidney disease: Choose smaller portions of meats. Men should eat six ounces or less of meat every day; women should eat four ounces or less. Restricting protein in your diet can help slow the progress of kidney function loss. Limit dairy foods, … Continue reading →

Kidney Disease: The Basics

Your kidneys have a pretty important job: they remove waste products and extra water from your body. And they work pretty hard, too. In a minute, a healthy kidney filters about a half a cup of fluid (between 88 and 137 milliliters) — that makes for some 200 quarts of liquid filtered every day. Kidney disease means that your kidneys have been damaged and can no longer perform their usual functions. It can develop for a variety of reasons, and may be mild or severe. There are several stages of kidney disease; the early stages may have few or no … Continue reading →