When should I visit the Nephrologist?
Most of my patients visit me on the recommendation of their treating doctor when their kidneys are already very deteriorated. Although it is always possible to treat them and improve their quality of life, my recommendation is that they share with everyone they know the importance of visiting the doctor with the appropriate specialty for their condition from the beginning.
Diabetes, obesity and excessive smoking are one of the main risks for our kidneys since, being damaged, they cannot filter the blood as they should and little by little they affect our entire body.
Kidney diseases occur without symptoms or with specific symptoms that are difficult to detect. Some of them include fatigue, changes in the amount of urine and problems sleeping, symptoms that are very common in many conditions.
Therefore, people who are at higher risk for kidney disease should have regular tests to monitor the health and function of their kidneys. People with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a family history of kidney problems should be careful.
Regular testing will help you detect any signs of deteriorating kidney function, such as an increased level of albumin in the urine or a decreased glomerural filtration rate (GFR) value. If tests show that your kidney functions show some slight impairment or in the worst case are deteriorating rapidly or continuously, it is time to consult a Nephrologist.
Treated Diseases
Kidney Stones
They are hard deposits converted into minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. Kidney stones can affect any part of the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the bladder.
Lupus Nephritis
Lupus nephritis occurs when lupus antibodies affect the parts of the kidneys responsible for filtering waste, causing the kidneys to malfunction up to kidney failure.
Dyslipidemia
It refers to the concentration of lipids in the blood, this means that cholesterol levels in the blood rise excessively. Obesity is one of the most common conditions.
Obesity
Obesity can cause chronic kidney disease by overtaxing the kidneys and causing harmful metabolic changes such as inflammation and oxidation, which impact the kidneys.
Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney failure occurs when the kidneys suddenly lose the ability to filter waste from the blood. Acute kidney injury can be fatal and requires intensive treatment.
Polycystic Kidneys
Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder in which groups of cysts develop primarily within the kidneys, causing them to enlarge and lose function over time.
Uremia
It is a disorder of kidney function that occurs when the kidneys cannot properly remove urea from the body, so waste in the urine builds up in the blood.
Diabetes
If diabetes is not well treated, it can trigger Diabetic Nephropathy that completely damages the glomeruli, the blood vessels that filter waste from the blood in the kidneys.
Glomerular Diseases
Glomerular diseases affect the blood vessels that filter blood in the kidneys, disrupting the balance of proteins, wastes, and acids in the blood.
catheter for
Dialysis and Hemodialysis
When kidney failure is already in a very advanced stage, it is necessary to start Dialysis or Hemodialysis according to the results of the patient's clinical studies.
Diabetes and chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often occurs slowly and with few symptoms. Many people do not realize they have chronic kidney disease until it is very advanced and they need dialysis (a treatment that filters the blood) or a kidney transplant.
Each kidney is made up of millions of small filters called nephrons. Over time, high blood sugar levels caused by diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys and nephrons, causing them to malfunction. Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure , which can also damage the kidneys.
Chronic kidney disease occurs over a long time and usually does not cause signs or symptoms in its early stages. Unless your doctor tests for it, you won't know you have it.
Obesity and our kidneys
The harmful effects of obesity extend to other diseases such as the development of nephrolithiasis and malignant renal neoplasms, particularly renal cancer.
Obesity also increases the risk of developing high blood pressure and hyperaldosteronism; a hormonal disease due to an excess of aldosterone such as adipocytokines, a hormone produced in the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are glands located in the upper pole of the kidneys, and aldosterone is produced there.
Obese patients need a higher blood pressure to excrete the same amount of sodium, developing significant arterial hypertension.
It is very important to visit a Nephrologist if we suffer from obesity since it is very possible that our kidneys are affected and in addition to needing a diet, we probably also need to cure our kidneys.
Tobacco consumption and kidney diseases
Tobacco has a very harmful effect on almost all organs in the body, including the kidneys. When you suffer from kidney disease, it is important to take control of your health by being informed about the harmful effects of tobacco use.
Quitting smoking can be a very difficult decision, but it is a decision that can reduce major health risks and your kidneys may benefit.
According to the World Health Organization, smoking tobacco decreases blood flow to the kidneys and other organs, which can alter the effect of medications that treat high blood pressure, which is one of the main causes of kidney disease.