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The Start Of Kidney Disease

Let me start by saying that if you have not read any of my other blogs you may not know but my husband and I have horrible luck; with the exception of adopting 3 amazing kids and marrying each other that is. In 2004 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, had the tumor removed and went through 33 days of radiation. In 2005 I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, I went through tumor removal, chemo therapy, radiation, prophylactic bilateral mastectomies and many reconstructive surgeries. The reason I mention our bad luck is because this past August my husband … Continue reading →

Preventing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can be painful — but there are some things you can do to prevent them. Small diet changes can make a big difference in your body’s development of kidney stones. Drink more water! Six to eight glasses of water every day can help dilute urine. When urine becomes too concentrated, minerals like calcium, phosphate, and oxalate can crystallize, forming stones. The pain comes when the stones pass from the kidneys. Diluting the urine can help prevent the crystallization in the first place. Good old water is best, but you can also drink fruit juices or drinks from mix. … 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 →

Definition of “Healthy Eating”

When I was in school, we were taught about the food pyramid, which provided clear instruction on foods to eat and their importance. Somehow, between then and now, the food pyramid has been ignored. Too bad – this tool remains valid. While we have seen a few minor adjustments, I recommend you go back and look at the food pyramid to get a better idea of what healthy meaning really means. Unfortunately, one fad diet after another has surfaced over the past 10 years. While some are better than others are, people have actually died from some of these so-called … Continue reading →

Diabetes Screening

Have your ever been screened for diabetes? Did you know that there are an estimated 7 million people in America with undiagnosed diabetes and 79 million people with pre-diabetes? This is according to the American Diabetes Association. Undiagnosed diabetes can have some serious consequences and complications including eye problems, skin infections, heart disease, kidney disease, hearing loss and even depression, among others. With adequate diagnosis and treatment, many of these issues could be lessened or even avoided altogether. So when should you get screened for diabetes and what is involved? Usually, all that is required is a simple urine or … Continue reading →

Chicken Jerky Treats Cause Canine Illness

Resist the begging, for chicken treats at least I always hate reporting sad stories, but when it comes to alerting pet owners to dangerous food contamination or anything similar, the facts are too important to ignore. According to MSN Vitals, the Food and Drug Administration has released a warning about the danger of chicken jerky dog treats. At first I thought this was yet another pet food recall, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Instead, it appears that chicken jerky treats for dogs, no matter the brand, might cause serious canine illness. The warning was issued after the … Continue reading →

Is the Atkins Diet Safe?

People go on a diet primarily because they want to lose some weight. Not everyone will take the time to find out if the diet they have selected is actually safe to try. What about the Atkins diet? Is is safe for most people to use? Or, is it just another fad diet? There are plenty of diets to choose from. Every year, in January, you will find displays of diet books in every book store you walk into. This is because a lot of people decide that their New Year’s Resolution will be that they are finally going to … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Phosphorus?

Phosphorus is a mineral that has many useful roles for the body. It is used in energy metabolism, to help the body use some B-complex vitamins, for muscle and nerve function, and for kidney function. But one of the most important roles of phosphorus is to help the body maintain its calcium balance. This mineral is essential to the formation of bones and teeth, and bone and tooth health throughout all stages of life. Cool phosphorus fact: approximately one percent of an adult’s total body weight is phosphorus. However, most of that phosphorus (about 85%) lives in your bones and … Continue reading →

Antibiotics: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

I’m currently taking two different types of antibiotics to treat an infected cat bite (ah the joys of working with animals). Here’s a fun fact: the doctor told me that eighty percent of cat bites end up infected. I guess I’ve been lucky so far — I’ve only had two bites get bad. Antibiotics come from two basic places: molds and bacteria. They work in one of two ways: by killing bacteria outright or by stopping their ability to reproduce (so they die out). Different antibiotics work against different types of bacteria — so taking one type of antibiotics for … 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 →