Low Blood Potassium : Risk Factors

Alcohol is produced by fermenting the starch or sugar in fruits and grains. Alcoholic drinks have different amounts of alcohol in them -- beer is about 5% alcohol, wine is usually 12 - 15% alcohol, and hard liquor is about 45% alcohol. See also: Alcohol and diet Alcoholism Alcohol withdrawal state

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol) consumption has a social aspect to it, but it is often abused. The effect of alcohol consumption on the body depends on how often it is consumed, how much, and the alcohol content of the drinks.

Bartter's syndrome involves a group of symptoms and signs: Enlargement of certain kidney cells Alkalosis associated with reduced potassium (hypokalemic alkalosis) Increased production of the hormone aldosterone (see the aldosterone test) There is no elevation of blood pressure with Bartter's syndrome, which usually occurs with kidney disease .

Bulimia is an illness defined by food binges, or recurrent episodes of significant overeating, that are accompanied by a sense of loss of control. The affected person then uses various methods -- such as vomiting or laxative abuse -- to prevent weight gain. Many, but not all, people with bulimia may also suffer from anorexia nervosa , an eating disorder involving severe, chronic weight loss that proceeds to starvation.

An eating disorder marked by episodes of binge eating followed by one or more behaviors to control weight, most commonly self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, fasting, or excessive exercise. Bulimia tends to appear in late adolescence or early adulthood, and most cases occur among middle- and upper-class females.

Bulimia nervosa is a serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorder affecting mainly young women. People with bulimia, known as bulimics, consume large amounts of food (binge) and then try to rid themselves of the food and calories (purge) through fasting , excessive exercise, vomiting , or use of laxatives.

Bulimia nervosa is a disorder in which food intake gets out of control. Having this eating disorder is nothing to be ashamed of. Talk to your doctor or another person you trust. You may find it’s a relief just to tell someone.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and engaging in inappropriate ways of counteracting the bingeing (using laxatives, for example) in order to prevent weight gain. The word "bulimia" is the Latin form of the Greek word boulimia , which means "extreme hunger.

Bulimia nervosa is a serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorder affecting mainly young women. People with bulimia, known as bulimics, consume large amounts of food (binge) and then try to rid themselves of the food and calories (purge) by fasting, excessive exercise, vomiting , or using laxatives .

Bulimia nervosa is a serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorder affecting mainly young women. People with bulimia, known as bulimics, consume large amounts of food (binge) and then try to rid themselves of the food and calories (purge) by fasting , excessive exercise , vomiting, or using laxatives .

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating, which are followed by purging to prevent weight gain. During these incidents, unusually large portions of food are consumed in secret, followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or diuretic and laxative abuse.

Diuretics are medicines that help reduce the amount of water in the body. Purpose Diuretics are used to treat the buildup of excess fluid in the body that occurs with some medical conditions such as congestive heart failure , liver disease, and kidney disease.

The purpose of a diuretic, or “water pill” is to help your body get rid of excess water and salt. Diuretics can help you feel better and have more energy. They may also help lower blood pressure.

Diuretics are medicines that help reduce the amount of water in the body. Purpose Diuretics are used to treat the buildup of excess fluid in the body that occurs with some medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease.

Fanconi's syndrome is an impairment in the proximal tubular function of the kidney. This damage causes certain compounds -- which should be absorbed into the bloodstream by the kidneys -- to be excreted in the urine instead. Compounds that may be lost in the urine include glucose, amino acids, uric acid, and phosphate. Loss of these compounds can cause problems, such as growth failure, decreased bone mineralization (rickets), and abnormal bone mineralization (osteomalacia). Type 2 renal tubular acidosis (RTA) may occur when too much bicarbonate is excreted in the urine, causing excess acid in the blood (acidosis). Another problem that may result is dehydration caused by excess urination.

Fanconi ' s syndrome is a set of kidney malfunctions brought about by a variety of seemingly unrelated disorders. Kidney malfunction leads to excessive urine production and excessive thirst, resulting in deficits of water, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and other substances in the body.

Hypomagnesemia means low levels of magnesium in the blood. It may result from a number of conditions including chronic diarrhea , malabsorption, alcoholism, diuretic use, and other disorders.

Kidney disease is classified as any disease or disorder that affects the function of the kidneys. This may include: acute kidney failure acute nephritic syndrome analgesic nephropathy atheroembolic renal disease chronic kidney failure chronic nephritis congenital nephrotic syndrome end-stage renal disease Goodpasture's syndrome IgM mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis interstitial nephritis kidney cancer kidney damage kidney infection kidney injury kidney stones lupus nephritis membranoproliferative GN I membranoproliferative GN II membranous nephropathy minimal change disease necrotizing glomerulonephritis nephroblastoma nephrocalcinosis nephrogenic diabetes insipidus nephropathy - IgA nephrosis ( nephrotic syndrome ) polycystic kidney disease post-streptococcal GN reflux nephropathy renal artery embolism renal artery stenosis renal disorders renal papillary necrosis renal tubular acidosis type I renal tubular acidosis type II renal underperfusion renal vein thrombosis

Kidney ProblemsThe kidneys may fail due to problems with their blood vessels or filtering units. Such problems may be caused by an illness that affects the whole body.

A set of related cancers that form in the bone marrow and other blood-producing organs. Leukemia is named after the leukocytes, white blood cells which mutate before maturity and become cancerous.

Leukemia is a group of bone marrow diseases involving an uncontrolled increase in white blood cells (leukocytes). For information about a specific type of leukemia, see the following: Hairy cell leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) See also leukemia resources .

Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the organs that make blood, namely the bone marrow and the lymph system. Depending on specific characteristics, leukemia can be divided into two broad types: acute and chronic.

What Is Leukemia?Cancer occurs when cells in the body begin changing in ways that aren't normal.

Fasting is voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting is used as a medical therapy for many conditions.

Fasting is voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting is used as a medical therapy for many conditions.

The term fasting refers to voluntarily or involuntarily going without food. A person may fast voluntarily because of an eating disorder , as a dietary practice related to religious proscriptions , or for health reasons, such as weight loss or internal cleansing.

Diarrhea is loose, watery, and frequent stool. Diarrhea is considered chronic (long-term) when you have had loose or frequent stools for more than 4 weeks.

Vomiting is the forceful discharge of stomach contents through the mouth. Vomiting, also called emesis, is a symptomatic response to any number of harmful triggers.

Nausea and vomiting are recognized as two separate and distinct conditions. Nausea is the subjective, unpleasant feeling or urge to vomit, which may or may not result in vomiting.