Yesterday in church I was educated not only spiritually but also naturally. One of my church members gave her testimony about suffering with kidney disease and her three times weekly dialysis treatment. She went on to challenge all of us to learn about our kidney's and kidney disease as March is Kidney Awareness Month. Now y'all know that whenever I learn something I have to share it with you! So here we go.
What do kidneys do? (Source: WebMD)
- The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the back of the abdomen. Each kidney is about 4 or 5 inches long -- about the size of a fist.
- The kidneys' function are to filter the blood. All the blood in our bodies passes through the kidneys several times a day. The kidneys remove wastes, control the body's fluid balance, and regulate the balance of electrolytes. As the kidneys filter blood, they create urine, which collects in the kidneys' pelvis -- funnel-shaped structures that drain down tubes called ureters to the bladder.
- Each kidney contains around a million units called nephrons, each of which is a microscopic filter for blood. It's possible to lose as much as 90% of kidney function without experiencing any symptoms or problems.
