Chronic Kidney Disease

WHAT IS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE?

The kidneys function as blood filters that drain waste products while retaining other valuable blood contents like proteins. If these filters are damaged, they initially may become “leaky,” and substances like proteins can seep from blood into urine. At later stages, these filters slowly shut down and lose their ability to filter. When kidney impairment lasts for more than 3 months, it is called chronic kidney disease. This process ultimately results in decreased urine production and kidney failure, with buildup of waste products in the blood and body tissues. One common reason for kidney failure in the United States is diabetes.

Sometimes chronic kidney disease is accompanied by high blood pressure, which not only can be caused by kidney damage but also further accelerates kidney injury and is a major reason for the negative effects of chronic kidney disease on other organs, including increased risk of heart disease and stroke, collection of excess body fluids, anemia, weakening of bones, and impairment of the way the body eliminates medications.

Read more: Chronic Kidney Disease

It is estimated that 1 in 10 US adults has chronic kidney disease, and many who have
he disease are not aware of it.

Source: jamanetwork

Heart Attack Patients Are Getting Younger and More Obese.

Young people tend to feel invincible to danger, but they're not, especially when it comes to their heart health. One of the most common misconceptions about heart health is that older people are the only ones who need to worry. 

Patients who suffer from the most severe and deadly type of heart attack, STEMI, are getting younger and more obese, according to Dr. Samir Kapadia, professor of medicine and section head for interventional cardiology at Cleveland Clinic.

"On the whole, the medical community has done an outstanding job of improving treatments for heart disease, but this study shows that we have to do better on the prevention side," said Kapadia in a statement. "When people come for routine checkups, it is critical to stress the importance of reducing risk factors through weight reduction, eating a healthy diet, and being physically active." He presented his research at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

Read more: Heart Attack Patients Are Getting Younger and More Obese.

Video link: Younger obese people are at risk of getting heart attacks!

Source: HealthDay

Global epidemiology of gout: prevalence, incidence and risk factors.

Gout is a crystal-deposition disease that results from chronic elevation of uric acid levels above the saturation point for monosodium urate (MSU) crystal formation. Initial presentation is mainly severely painful episodes of peripheral joint synovitis (acute self-limiting 'attacks') but joint damage and deformity, chronic usage-related pain and subcutaneous tophus deposition can eventually develop. The global burden of gout is substantial and seems to be increasing in many parts of the world over the past 50 years. However, methodological differences impair the comparison of gout epidemiology between countries. In this comprehensive Review, data from epidemiological studies from diverse regions of the world are synthesized to depict the geographic variation in gout prevalence and incidence. Key advances in the understanding of factors associated with increased risk of gout are also summarized. The collected data indicate that the distribution of gout is uneven across the globe, with prevalence being highest in Pacific countries. Developed countries tend to have a higher burden of gout than developing countries, and seem to have increasing prevalence and incidence of the disease. Some ethnic groups are particularly susceptible to gout, supporting the importance of genetic predisposition. Socioeconomic and dietary factors, as well as comorbidities and medications that can influence uric acid levels and/or facilitate MSU crystal formation, are also important in determining the risk of developing clinically evident gout.

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is caused by chronic elevation of serum uric acid (SUA) levels above the saturation point for monosodium urate (MSU) crystal formation. The deposition of MSU crystals, which occurs predominantly in peripheral joints and surrounding tissues, defines gout. The characteristic presentation is of rapidly developing monoarticular synovitis in peripheral joints (an acute 'attack') that is extremely painful but self-limiting, with resolution within several days or 1–2 weeks. However, long-term deposition of MSU crystals can result in joint damage and disfiguring subcutaneous tophi. In addition, gout is also associated with many conditions that affect longevity and well-being,1 such as metabolic syndrome,2 cardiovascular diseases3, 4, 5, 6 and renal diseases. In particular, gout is increasingly recognised as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.

Read more: Global epidemiology of gout: prevalence, incidence and risk factors.

Figure 1: The estimated prevalence of gout across the world.

Source: NatureReviewsRheumatology