-Discuss each PARTS separately.Do Not compare or link part 1 with part 2
-The assignment should be discuss in paragraph form using complete sentences and avoiding bullet points and numbered list.
-Discuss if you agree or disagree
Topic that was given:How do diseases of the urinary system affect other body systems?
PART 1
The urinary system performs different tasks such as “filtering blood, separating the toxins you don’t need from the nutrients you do need and storing and caring urine out of your body” (Cleveland Clinic, 2019). Diseases of the urinary system affect other body systems because of the functions it does. If the urinary system does not function properly, it can cause other problems. The urinary system helps maintain good control of our body’s fluid levels making sure it remains in homeostasis. A big important organ in the urinary system is the kidneys and I will focus on what they do and how diseases affect the rest of the body.
The kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin which is extremely important in the production of red blood cells (Dirks, J., et al., 2006). If that hormone is not produced or there is a lack of production it will affect the formation of red blood cells depriving the body form red blood cells themselves and oxygen which can result in tissue death and in anemia along with other issues (Dirks, J., et al., 2006). Those who have chronic kidney disease tend to have cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease as well (Dirks, J., et al., 2006). It is rare for kidney disease to be inherited but it can happen. Many kidney diseases tend to come from infectious diseases such as hepatitis B virus along with many others (Dirks, J., et al., 2006). We must try to be healthy and drink a lot of water to try to prevent urinary system diseases and avoid issues in our bodies (Cleveland Clinic, 2019).
References
Cleveland Clinic (2019). Urinary System. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21197-urinary-system
Dirks J, Remuzzi G, Horton S, Schieppati A, Adibul Hasan Rizvi S (2006). Diseases of the Kidney and the Urinary System. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11791/
PART 2
The urinary system is composed of two kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The primary functions of urinary systems are filtering toxins from the blood, regulating blood volume and blood pressure, removing waste and excess water as urine. The wastes pass through tubes connected to the digestive system and blood vessels. The diseases that affect the urinary system are kidney stones, kidney disease, urinary tract infections, cancerous tumours, interstitial cystitis and urinary incontinence. Each part of the urinary system plays a role in the body and therefore, when it is affected, the other body systems are affected.
When kidneys are affected, waste products and fluids accumulate in the body. Proteinuria arises in kidney disease due to glomeruli destruction allowing the passage of large amounts of proteins causing edema (Reddi, 2020). The elevated proteins levels in urine are linked to nephrotic syndrome. The kidneys also regulate the blood pressure, during kidney disease the blood vessels constrict due to a reduction in renin enzyme production. In this way, high blood pressure arises due to an imbalance of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone hormone system.
The kidneys secrete hormones such as erythropoietin, cortisol, aldosterone, calcitriol, prostaglandins and calcitonin (Hamid et al., 2018). Erythropoietin is essential for red blood cells production in the body. In the case of kidney disease, these hormones levels decrease. Low erythropoietin leads to low red blood cells counts resulting in anaemia and the development of heart problems. Calcitriol levels reduction in kidney disease leads to metabolic bone diseases such as osteomalacia. The urinary system regulates the levels of potassium in the body. Potassium helps regulate the heartbeat and impulse transmission. A urinary system infection may cause high potassium levels resulting in heart failure or paralysis.
If left untreated, urinary tract infection spreads to the kidneys and even cause sepsis and affect the immune system of the body due to the production of toxins by the bacteria or fungi causing the infection. Urinary tract infection also causes mental disorientation by affecting the nerve cells and brain cells (Klein & Hultgren, 2020). High urea in the body due to urinary system diseases causes cognitive dysfunction, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
References
Hamid, A. A., Issa, M. B., & Nizar, N. N. A. (2018). Hormones. In Preparation and processing of religious and cultural foods (pp. 253-277). Woodhead Publishing. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-101892-7.00013-4
Klein, R. D., & Hultgren, S. J. (2020). Urinary tract infections: microbial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions and new treatment strategies. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 18(4), 211-226. doi:10.1038/s41579-020-0324-0
Reddi, A. S. (2020). Kidney function in health and disease. In Nutrition in Kidney Disease (pp. 39-50). Humana, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-44858-5_3
