Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Chronic Kidney Failure - Chronic Renal Failure
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Chronic renal failure, called CRF, is a disease in which the kidneys gradually stop working. As a rule, this process takes place over a period of a few years.
What is going on in the body?
In a healthy body, the kidneys filter waste and other impurities from the blood. These wastes are then excreted from the body in the urine. In people with CRF, toxins that the kidneys fail to get rid of build up slowly in the body. Two of the most common toxins are urea, a nitrogen waste product, and creatinine. The amount of toxins that remains in the blood is a rough measure of how well the kidneys are working at any given time.
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
A primary kidney disease may cause CRF. But it may also be due to other diseases that affect kidneys, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Other common causes include:
Everyone is at risk for chronic renal failure as they age. But some people are at greater risk, such as: