Kidney Disease & Nephrology

All You Need to Know About Kidney Diseases

Kidneys are bean-shaped organs that are found at the bottom of our rib cage. There is one on either side of your spine. The kidneys filter waste and excess fluids from your blood. These waste and excess fluids are then excreted from your body in the form of urine.

Kidney diseases are very common and affect a large population of the world. These can be chronic or acute and can be caused by different conditions.

What do we need to know about kidney diseases?

The kidneys are very important body organs. Their main function is to filter blood, so that waste doesn’t accumulate in your body along with electrolytes. They regulate the pH of your body as well as salt and potassium levels. They also produce hormones that help in maintaining red blood cells.

When the functioning of the kidneys starts deteriorating, it is referred to as kidney disease. Damage to the kidneys might be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic diseases. For further information, you can search online for a kidney disease specialist near me.

What are the types of kidney diseases?

• Chronic Kidney Disease
  Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD is also known as Chronic Kidney Failure. In this case, the kidneys gradually stop functioning and are unable to filter your blood. Chronic Kidney Disease is extremely common across the world. There is no particular cure for Chronic Kidney Disease but proper treatment can help in containing the progress of the disease.
• Kidney Stones
  Kidney Stones are also very common. This occurs when minerals or substances present in the blood crystallize in the kidneys to form stones. These stones are usually passed out of the body during urination. Though they can be painful, they don’t cause many problems.
• Glomerulonephritis
  Glomerulonephritis refers to the inflammation of glomeruli. These glomeruli are extremely small structures inside the kidney that filter blood. This can be caused by infection or by certain drugs. It often fixes itself.
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
  UTIs are bacterial infections that occur in the urinary system. These infections are more common in the urethra or the urinary bladder. These infections are easily treatable but if left unchecked can cause damage to the kidney or even kidney failure.

What are the symptoms?

Some common symptoms of kidney diseases include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue or weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Lack of concentration
• Troubled sleep or insomnia
• Need to urinate more often, especially at night
• Itchy or dry skin
• Muscle stiffness and cramps
• Anemia

When do you need to see the doctor?

If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should contact your doctor. Also, if you have diabetes and high blood pressure, the doctor will examine your kidney function with routine blood and urine tests. You can look for kidney disease doctors in Bangalore.

You can request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Koramangala, Bangalore.

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

How are kidney diseases diagnosed?

You can get several different tests done to examine the proper functioning of your kidneys.

• Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
  This test checks the functioning of your kidneys and detects the stage of your kidney disease.
• Ultrasound or CT Scan
  These tests produce images of your urinary tract and kidneys. These tests help a doctor to ensure that there are no tumors or cysts in your kidneys

What are the treatment options?

At the earlier stages of kidney disease, you will be suggested,

• Medication and drugs: Your doctor will provide you with medication to control your diabetes or blood pressure. These will help in maintaining your kidney functioning.
• Lifestyle changes: The doctor might also recommend changes in lifestyle and food habits, including cutting down on certain food groups. You will also be suggested to stop smoking if you are a smoker.

You can search for a kidney disease hospital near me for more information about the treatment.

Conclusion

Kidney diseases are exceedingly common and most of them are not chronic, and hence can be cured by mild treatments. The best way to detect them early is by getting yourself checked in case you experience some of the symptoms mentioned above.

You can search online for kidney disease doctors near me.