Credit: iStock March is National Kidney Month. While you may not think about your kidneys on a daily basis, these organs are working around the clock to keep you healthy, hydrated and free of toxins. A wide variety of factors can affect kidney function, including heat stress and water pollution. However, the kidneys have an … Continue reading Celebrating the Role of Kidneys in Health and Wellness
Kidney Physiology
Exercise and Water: Responsible Drinking in the Summer Heat
Wayne State University football players huddle on a hot day. Credit: Tamara Hew-Butler I’ve studied hydration for almost 20 years, mostly from the lens of overhydration. So, every time a coach or trainer instructs athletes to “stay hydrated” or “drink more water,” my heart sinks. Drinking too much water can cause brain swelling, which … Continue reading Exercise and Water: Responsible Drinking in the Summer Heat
Can Intermittent Fasting Prevent Kidney Damage in Obesity?
Claudia Edell presents her research at the American Physiology Summit. Credit: Claudia Edell Obesity is extremely prevalent in the U.S. population and can lead to a variety of health complications, such as high blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and even chronic kidney disease. Intermittent fasting—referred to as “time-restricted feeding” in research—is a popular diet in … Continue reading Can Intermittent Fasting Prevent Kidney Damage in Obesity?
Thinking about Spring
Credit: iStock According to the calendar, it’s spring—and depending on where you live, the trees may already be blooming as the temperatures begin to climb. If you live in a colder climate, don’t worry, your time will come for warmer days and balmy evenings. “What does spring have to do with physiology?” you may ask. … Continue reading Thinking about Spring
Stay Hydrated to Keep Your Muscles Happy
Credit: iStock Water balance is one of the most important functions of the body. The cells in the body require a stable environment to survive and work like they should. As originally put by the 19th century French physiologist Claude BernardMD: “La fixité du milieu intérieur est la condition de la vie libre, independante” (The … Continue reading Stay Hydrated to Keep Your Muscles Happy
Antihistamines: Beyond Allergy Relief?
Credit: iStock Allergies are one of the most common chronic conditions in the world—in the U.S., as many as 50 million people have them. Many people regularly take antihistamine medications to relieve allergy symptoms that may include itching, skin rashes, runny nose and wheezing. Antihistamines block the effects of histamine, which is a very strong … Continue reading Antihistamines: Beyond Allergy Relief?
Photoblog: Control of Renal Function in Health and Disease Conference 2022
Kidney Camp attendees, 2022. Credit: Michael Hultström Earlier this summer, the American Physiological Society, in conjunction with the American Society for Nephrology, hosted the Control of Renal Function in Health and Disease Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia. APS member Michael Hultström, MD, PhD, traveled from Sweden to attend “Kidney Camp,” as the meeting is affectionately nicknamed. … Continue reading Photoblog: Control of Renal Function in Health and Disease Conference 2022
Too Much Salt? Try Some Fiber
New research in rats finds a diet high in the prebiotic fiber inulin offered a protective effect against the damage of a high-salt diet.
How a Virtual Model May Help Prevent and Stop Kidney Damage in Black Adults
Credit: iStock Scientists who study physiology and in other biomedical research fields—including anatomy, biochemistry, pathology and pharmacology—network, collaborate and communicate about the latest research at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology (EB). This week’s post explores how a virtual model may help prevent kidney damage in Black adults in the U.S. Thousands of physiologists from … Continue reading How a Virtual Model May Help Prevent and Stop Kidney Damage in Black Adults
Are You Thirsty? Here’s Why.
Credit: iStock Water makes up about 70% of body weight in a typical adult. Humans can’t easily adapt to a lack of water, and you may begin to experience the effects of dehydration with as little water loss as 1% of your body weight. Humans are unique because, unlike other animals, we respond not only … Continue reading Are You Thirsty? Here’s Why.