Mariah Carey's hubby, Nick Cannon, the famous comedian and master of improv, was recently rushed to a hospital after reportedly suffering from a kidney failure while they were enjoying their vacation in Aspen. With different people speculating buzzing on the matter, essentially: what is kidney failure?

Amidst what had happened to Cannon, speculation shave arisen regarding his kidney failure. According to Celebrity Health Fitness, unless the condition is genetic, renal failure at his age of 31, is unusual, that kidney failure is a symptom of drug use or excessive alcohol consumption or ingesting a toxin. While EOnline.com reported that Cannon is suffering from flu and that kidney failure was likely an extension of the sickness.

But with all of this going around, it is important to understand what the kidneys are. The kidneys' role in the body is to filter the blood and at the same time get rid of waste products. In addition to this role, it also balances the levels of electrolyte in the body, thus controlling a person's blood pressure, and stimulating the production of red blood cells, according to MedicineNet.com.

Now, when it comes to a kidney failure, it is actually the final step of a kidney disease, occurring when the kidneys can no longer process fluid normally. But with the comedian's condition being only a "mild kidney failure," the symptoms might not be so extreme.

Having said that, what are the symptoms of kidney failure? Being known as the "silent disease," the beginnings of a kidney failure may have no symptoms. But as the kidney function decreases, symptoms like inability to regulate water and to clear waste from the body start. Lethargy, weakness, shortness of breath, and generalized swelling may then occur.

Some other symptoms of kidney failure are change in frequency and quantity of urine passed; blood in the urine; foaming urine; pain in the back; pain and burning when passing urine, according to BetterHealth.vic.gov.

Since no one is safe from this disease, not even celebrities, a few lifestyle changes are in order. Changes such as eating fruits, vegetables and legumes; eating lean meat, like chick and fish; eating only small amounts of salty or fatty foods; drinking plenty of water; not smoking and limiting alcohol intake; and having one's blood pressure checked regularly.