Credit: iStock/pepifoto When we learn about the heart in school, it’s usually described as a pump: strong, steady and rhythmic. That’s true. But what fascinates me most, as a physiologist, is that the heart is also a communicator, constantly exchanging messages with your brain, kidneys, muscles and blood vessels to keep your body balanced, safe … Continue reading Not Just a Pump: How Your Heart Talks to the Rest of Your Body
Kidney Physiology
Salt and the Signals We Don’t Notice
Credit: iStock Salt is everywhere. It’s used as seasoning and preserves our food. Without enough salt, our muscles, nerves and cells wouldn’t work properly. At the same time, too much salt can be harmful. Many of us know it's linked to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney damage, obesity and … Continue reading Salt and the Signals We Don’t Notice
Peeking Inside the Kidney: What a Biopsy Can Tell Us About Your Health
Credit: iStock Your kidneys are like your body's personal clean-up crew. They work tirelessly to filter about 50 gallons of blood every day, getting rid of waste and extra water. An essential part of this filtering job happens in tiny structures inside your kidneys called glomeruli. Think of them as miniature strainers with delicate walls … Continue reading Peeking Inside the Kidney: What a Biopsy Can Tell Us About Your Health
The Eye Is a Window to the Kidney
Credit: Josselin Nespoux, created with Grok You may have heard the phrase "the eyes are windows to the soul”.Recent research has revealed that our eyes may also be windows to our kidneys. At Edinburgh Kidney, we are investigating how subtle changes in the tiny blood vessels of the eye, known as the retinal vasculature, can … Continue reading The Eye Is a Window to the Kidney
From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
American Physiology Summit attendees view scientific posters. Credit: Erica Roth From record-breaking running speeds set by a 91-year-old to how your body responds to climate shifts, the American Physiology Summit brought together researchers exploring the science of health and life itself. Here’s how their findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society could … Continue reading From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
Oh ‘NO’! How Too Much Salt Affects the Kidneys
Eating too much salt is a huge problem. Globally, high salt can be linked to 1.65 million annual deaths from cardiovascular disease. High salt is often linked to high blood pressure, also called hypertension. However, some people who eat a lot of salt and have cardiovascular issues, have no hypertension. So, salt must be doing … Continue reading Oh ‘NO’! How Too Much Salt Affects the Kidneys
Celebrating the Role of Kidneys in Health and Wellness
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
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