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Every drug you put into your body passes through your kidneys. If the drug is not taken following your healthcare provider's instructions, or if it is an illegal substance, it can cause injury to the kidneys.

Your kidneys could be damaged if you take large amounts of over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. None of these medicines should be taken daily or regularly without first talking...

Many people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or kidney failure work full time or part time. Some go to school or take care of their homes and families. Others do volunteer work, have hobbies, or have regular exercise routines. If you have kidney disease or kidney failure, you may have questions about working. 

Many people who start dialysis or have a...

Diabetic kidney disease is a decrease in kidney function that occurs in some people who have diabetes. It means that your kidneys are not doing their job as well as they once did to remove waste products and excess fluid from your body. These wastes can build up in your body and cause damage to other organs.

When a family member develops kidney failure, the whole family is affected, even if they don't all show it. Everyone has questions about how kidney failure will affect their own and the patient's life and future plans. If a parent develops kidney failure, children have questions too. Some children are outspoken and ask lots of questions, while others may be quieter and afraid of the answers. The goal of this brochure is to open lines of...

Thin basement membrane disease (TBMD) is an inherited disorder that mainly affects the glomeruli, which are tiny tufts of capillaries (small blood vessels) in the kidneys that filter wastes from the blood. It is a rare disorder that has been diagnosed in less than 1 percent of the population.

The main symptom of TBMD is blood in the urine (hematuria). Another common symptom is protein in the urine (proteinuria). In most cases, there...

According to the National Institutes of Health:

• Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the U.S.
• Smoking is responsible for one out of every five deaths in the U.S.

According to the World Health Organization, smokers have a higher risk for:

• Lung cancer
• Bladder cancer...

Fertility (the ability to have a child) tends to increase in both men and woman after a transplant. Are you thinking about pregnancy? If so, you should discuss it beforehand with your transplant team and other healthcare providers. There are many things to consider. You and your healthcare provider should discuss them all very carefully.

Here are a few brief answers to some common questions about kidney disease and pregnancy.