13.3 - Health Issues Related to the Urinary System

The kidneys can become damaged due to diseases, drugs or injury. Kidney failure is the last stage of chronic kidney disease. The main cause of renal failure is diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure. The kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from the blood due to damaged glomerulus. Besides, some people suffer from other problem such as kidney stone. Kidney stones or renal calculi are hard deposits made of minerals and salts like uric acid, calcium oxalate or crystalline calcium phosphate.

Figure 9 - Kidney stones can be prevented by drinking more water. Water helps to dilute the substances in the urine which can lead to the formation of stones.