Does High Blood Pressure Affect My Kidneys?

We often refer to hypertension (high blood pressure) as a “silent disease” because it does not always cause symptoms, and could go unchecked for years.

Diagnosing High Blood Pressure

When you get your blood pressure checked at your medical provider’s office, hypertension is diagnosed with two blood pressure readings of 140/90 or higher.

• The first (top) number is the systolic pressure inside your arteries when your heart is contracting.

• The second (bottom) number is the diastolic pressure when your arteries are relaxed.

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Do Kidney Stones Mean Kidney Failure?

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis) are not an uncommon health issue. Approximately 12% of men and 5% of women are affected by age 70. A kidney stone forms when patients have high levels of calcium, oxalate, cystine or uric acid in the urine. However, stones can also form when these substances are at normal levels if the amount of urine a patient produces each day is low. These substances form crystals, which become lodged in the kidney and gradually build in size, creating a kidney stone. Symptoms include flank (side between rib and hip) pain, blood in the urine, “gravel” or small stones in the urine, vomiting and pain with urination. (more…)

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