Urology Cancers: All about bladder, kidney, prostate, and Cancers

Whether kidney disease can be reversed depends on the cause, the stage of the disease, and how early it is detected. In general, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered a long-term condition that tends to get worse over time. While it may not be fully reversible, its progress can often be slowed or even stopped with the right treatment. In the early stages, lifestyle changes and medications can help protect your remaining kidney function. This includes: Controlling blood pressure Managing blood sugar in people with diabetes Reducing salt and protein intake Staying well-hydrated Avoiding medications that may harm the kidneys, such as certain painkillers If CKD is caught early, these steps can prevent further damage and help you maintain good kidney function for many years. In contrast, acute kidney injury (AKI)—a sudden loss of kidney function due to illness, dehydration, or medications—is often reversible. With quick treatment, such as IV fluids, stopping harmful medications, or tre...

Your kidneys do much more than make urine. They filter your blood, balance your fluids, control blood pressure, and support bone and red blood cell health. But how exactly do they do all this? This page is your one-stop resource for understanding how the kidneys work—one question at a time. Whether you are curious about how much urine is normal, what kidneys remove from the blood, or what happens with only one kidney, you will find simple, science-backed answers here. Each topic below links to a short article that explains one key question in plain language. These articles are designed for anyone to understand—no medical background needed. As new articles are published, they will be added to the list below. Bookmark this page and check back often for the latest updates. What do the kidneys do in the human body? How do the kidneys filter blood? Where are the kidneys located in the body? Can you live a normal life with one kidney? How much urine do healthy kidneys produce in a day? What ...

Your kidneys and heart may seem like they do very different jobs, but they are deeply connected. When one is not working well, the other is often affected too. That is why doctors often talk about kidney health and heart health together—because damage to one organ can increase the risk of disease in the other. The heart pumps blood through the body, sending it to the kidneys, which filter out waste, extra fluid, and toxins. The kidneys also help regulate blood pressure, control fluid levels, and keep the balance of key minerals like sodium and potassium. To do all this, the kidneys rely on steady blood flow from a healthy heart. When the heart is not pumping well—due to heart failure or poor circulation—the kidneys may not receive enough blood to function properly. This can lead to a decline in kidney function. On the flip side, if the kidneys are damaged, they may not remove fluid effectively, causing fluid overload. This puts extra pressure on the heart and raises the risk of high bl...

Serum creatinine is a blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product produced by your muscles. It is one of the most widely used markers of kidney function, because your kidneys are responsible for removing creatinine from the blood and excreting it through urine. When your kidneys are working properly, they keep the level of creatinine in your blood within a healthy range. If your serum creatinine level is higher than normal, it may mean that your kidneys are not filtering waste efficiently. Typical normal ranges for serum creatinine are: 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL for men 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women These values can vary slightly depending on age, body size, muscle mass, and the laboratory performing the test. People with more muscle may naturally have higher levels, while elderly individuals or those with less muscle mass may have lower levels. Serum creatinine is often used to calculate your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which provides a more precise assessm...

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a common blood test used to evaluate how well your kidneys are working. It measures the amount of urea nitrogen, a waste product that forms in the liver when your body breaks down protein. This waste is normally filtered out by the kidneys and passed out in urine. When kidney function slows down, urea builds up in the blood, leading to a higher BUN level. That is why the BUN test is often used to check for signs of kidney damage or dehydration. The normal range for BUN in healthy adults is usually: 7 to 20 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) However, the ideal range can vary slightly depending on your age, overall health, and the lab doing the test. A high BUN level may suggest: Kidney problems Dehydration High protein intake Heart failure Certain medications On the other hand, a low BUN level is less common but may happen with: Liver disease Malnutrition Overhydration It is important to note that BUN is not a stand-alone test. Doctors usually look at it along...

Hematuria is the medical term for blood in the urine. It can be alarming to see, but in many cases, the cause is not serious. Still, it is important to find out why it is happening, because sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious problem with the kidneys, bladder, or urinary tract. There are two types of hematuria: Gross hematuria means the blood is visible—you may notice pink, red, or cola-colored urine. Microscopic hematuria means the blood is not visible to the eye but is found under a microscope during a urine test. Blood in the urine can come from anywhere in the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate (in men), or urethra. Common causes include: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Kidney stones Strenuous exercise Injury to the kidneys or bladder Enlarged prostate Kidney or bladder disease Sometimes no cause is found, especially when the bleeding is mild or short-lived. However, blood in the urine should always be evaluated, even if it goes away on its ow...

Proteinuria is the medical term for protein in the urine. Normally, urine contains only small amounts of protein—so when higher levels are found, it may be a sign that the kidneys are not working properly. Proteins like albumin belong in the blood, not in the urine. In healthy kidneys, tiny filters called glomeruli prevent large molecules like protein from leaking into the urine. If these filters are damaged—due to high blood pressure, diabetes, inflammation, or kidney disease—protein can slip through and end up in the urine. Proteinuria is often one of the earliest signs of kidney damage, even when you feel completely fine. That is why routine urine tests are important, especially for people at higher risk of kidney problems. Doctors usually detect protein in the urine using a urine dipstick test or a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). The ACR test compares the amount of albumin (a type of protein) to creatinine in your urine. A higher-than-normal ratio may suggest early kidney ...