Nephrologist

A nephrologist is a doctor whose work is directly related to nephrology (from the ancient Greek “nephros” - “kidney”, “logos” - “study”) - a field of medicine that studies the functional characteristics of the kidneys, as well as various diseases that arise as a result of the malfunction of these vital organs.

In addition, the nephrologist's competence includes diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of kidney diseases, as well as monitoring patients who, for one reason or another, have received a kidney transplant.

It should be noted that due to the development of diseases affecting the kidneys, general disorders of the body appear. Modern medicine has proven that due to chronic kidney diseases, the work of other vital organs deteriorates, for example, cardiovascular diseases progress.

Who is a nephrologist?

A nephrologist as a medical specialist is directly involved in the examination and treatment of patients suffering from various kidney diseases – unique organs whose work is difficult to overestimate. The kidneys perform a vital function in the human body: they remove water and substances dissolved in it – the so-called slags and end products of metabolism. It is hard to imagine, but about 180 liters of blood pass through such a powerful “filter” per day! This figure indicates a titanic load on the kidneys, so it is not surprising what a decrease in their function can lead to.

So, the answer to the question "Who is a nephrologist?" is obvious: this is a doctor who diagnoses, treats (including outpatient) various kidney diseases and prescribes preventive measures aimed at preventing recurrent manifestations of a particular disease. Basically, a nephrologist prescribes drug treatment and herbal prophylaxis to patients. In acute and chronic exacerbations of kidney diseases, the doctor effectively treats patients in a hospital, and also selects an adequate dietary regimen on an individual basis for patients with metabolic disorders and reduced kidney function. Useful tips and recommendations from an experienced nephrologist will help patients adhere to an optimal diet that maintains normal kidney function in a stable mode.

When should you see a nephrologist?

A nephrologist will help patients who have various problems with kidney function. In order for the treatment of kidney diseases to give effective results, it is important for the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis based on laboratory tests and diagnostic studies. There are a number of symptoms that occur with the development of a particular kidney disease. If they are detected, an urgent consultation with a specialist is required.

When should you see a nephrologist? First of all, you should pay attention to the following symptoms and signs indicating the development of kidney disease:

• frequent/rare urges and sharp pains when urinating;
• pain in the lumbar region (lower back);
• change in the color and smell of urine (presence of blood impurities);
• swelling in certain areas of the body (arms and legs, face);
• a sharp increase in blood pressure;
• urinary incontinence (uncontrolled urination);
• an increase in temperature, which is accompanied by an asymptomatic course of the disease.

Even one of the above symptoms should be a reason to visit a nephrologist. It is important to remember the seriousness of the situation, so in no case should you delay going to the doctor, as this is fraught with aggravating consequences that are dangerous to human life.

Consultation with a nephrologist is also appropriate when a person experiences:

• lipid metabolism disorder;
• obvious deviations from the norm in the general urine analysis (in particular, an increased level of protein in the urine);
• high blood pressure;
• development of diabetes.

A child needs a nephrologist if he complains of painful urination (this may be indicated by the baby crying every time he urinates). You should also pay attention to the nature of the stream during urination (especially in boys), which can be intermittent or unpressured. Parents should be alerted by a decrease in the child's daily urine output, or, conversely, its significant excess. The reason for consultation with a pediatric nephrologist should be night urination of a child who has reached the age of 4, as well as any changes in urine (color, transparency, odor).

What tests should you take when visiting a nephrologist?

During the patient's appointment, the nephrologist prescribes an examination that will help to establish the diagnosis of the disease, its course and severity with maximum accuracy. This is necessary in order to prescribe the optimal treatment based on the examination results, which will help to get rid of problems associated with various disorders and failures in the kidneys.

Often, before visiting a nephrologist, many people are interested in the question: "What tests should I take when visiting a nephrologist?" Of course, to establish the main causes of kidney disease, in addition to the medical history, test results are needed. Laboratory tests are assessed based on the level of urea, ESR, creatinine, electrolytes, urinolysis results, C-reactive protein (CRP) analysis, and urine analysis. By collecting daily urine samples, you can obtain reliable information about the level of kidney functionality, their filtering capabilities, and protein loss, which is observed during the development of some kidney diseases.

Other medical tests and analyses often ordered by a nephrologist include:

• biochemical analysis of blood/urine;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys, urinary tract and abdominal organs;
• computed tomography of the kidneys (CT);
• X-ray examination of the kidneys;
• kidney biopsy;
• magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys (MRI);
• ophthalmoscopy (examination of the fundus of the eye);
• scintigraphy (radionuclide medicine);
• angiographic examination for vascular lesions;
• excretory urography and urine culture;
• radioisotope study of the kidneys.

The nephrologist himself determines the need for the patient to undergo laboratory tests depending on the expressed symptoms and characteristics of the course of the kidney disease. That is, in each individual case, the doctor will select the most optimal tests and analyses for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.

What diagnostic methods does a nephrologist use?

The nephrologist's task is to accurately diagnose kidney disease for subsequent prescription of drug treatment using effective methods. In addition to laboratory blood and urine tests, the doctor prescribes additional testing procedures for patients that will help in establishing a diagnosis.

What diagnostic methods does a nephrologist use? Basically, this is an internal examination of the kidneys, which helps to determine the level of their functioning, the causes of existing disorders and the nature of the disease. For these purposes, ultrasound of the abdominal organs and kidneys, kidney biopsy (if it is impossible to establish a diagnosis), CT (computer tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the kidneys are used. In addition to these studies, the patient may need a radionuclide examination (scintigraphy) and an X-ray examination (angiography) of the kidneys. The appointment of a particular diagnostic procedure is carried out by a nephrologist on an individual basis.

It should be noted that it is important to detect kidney disease in a timely manner in order to prevent irreversible processes leading to complete dysfunction of the kidneys as vital organs of the human body. Thus, when the disease progresses to chronic renal failure, dialysis and even kidney transplantation are often necessary. Therefore, timely diagnosis of the disease for the purpose of treatment plays a crucial role in the examination of the patient. Modern equipment used in medical centers allows for high quality of such diagnostic methods as excretory urography, ultrasound, CT and MRI of the kidneys.

A nephrologist as a medical specialist must have up-to-date knowledge and have a sufficiently rich experience in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with a variety of pathologies and disorders in the functioning of the kidneys. The final result of the patient's treatment depends on the professional skills of the nephrologist.

What does a nephrologist do?

A nephrologist is a doctor whose patients most often include people suffering from urolithiasis, pyelonephritis, nephroptosis, renal failure and other diseases that pose a danger to the entire body.

What does a nephrologist do? First of all, he diagnoses and treats kidney diseases at various stages of development of a particular disease. Of course, it is better to contact a doctor for qualified help at the early stages of the disease as soon as possible, rather than fight for life on the operating table due to irreversible processes.

Often among the patients of a nephrologist there are patients with hydronephrosis, glomerulonephritis, and also those with a kidney cyst. In any case, it is very important for the doctor to make a correct diagnosis and then prescribe the most effective treatment depending on the patient's condition and the results of the tests. Thus, in kidney diseases, an accurate diagnosis is key, since not only the final outcome of treatment, but also the person's life may depend on this stage.

At the appointment, the doctor will examine the patient, listen to his complaints, and compile an anamnesis, including a question about hereditary predispositions. The next stage will be an examination and testing, the results of which the nephrologist must carefully review in order to diagnose the disease. After this, the patient will be prescribed treatment at home or on an outpatient basis, depending on the severity of the kidney disease. In addition, the doctor is obliged to prescribe the correct diet for patients, which is especially important in cases of kidney dysfunction or the presence of kidney stones.

What diseases does a nephrologist treat?

A nephrologist deals exclusively with the diagnosis and drug treatment of kidney diseases, unlike a urologist, whose responsibilities most often include surgical treatment of diseases of all organs of the human urinary system, as well as the male reproductive system.

What diseases does a nephrologist treat? Nowadays, among the patients of this medical specialist, you can increasingly find people suffering from:

• drug-induced kidney damage;
• urolithiasis (urolithiasis);
• nephritis (kidney diseases of an inflammatory nature);
• pyelonephritis (damage to the kidney parenchyma as a result of an infectious and inflammatory process);
• chronic renal failure;
• glomerulonephritis (immune damage to the glomeruli of the kidney);
• renal amyloidosis (a metabolic disorder that results in the development of the so-called “amyloid” – a substance that affects internal organs);
• hypertension accompanied by kidney damage, etc.

The nephrologist's competence does not include diseases that require surgical intervention: for example, tuberculosis and various kidney tumors, the formation of large stones in the kidneys, the presence of an abnormal structure or incorrect anatomical location of the kidneys. In such cases, patients are referred to a urologist.

Kidney diseases are often accompanied by symptoms such as a sharp increase in temperature, fever, chills, pain in the lower back or pelvic organs, as well as various changes in the urine. These symptoms may arise as a result of a viral or cold disease, or taking medications and poisoning. Be that as it may, pain signals the development of the disease, so it is important to consult a nephrologist in time so as not to delay this very dangerous process.

Advice from a nephrologist

A nephrologist as a medical specialist is obliged not only to diagnose and treat kidney diseases, but also to take an active part in their prevention, giving patients valuable recommendations and advice.

The advice of a nephrologist is primarily related to proper nutrition. It is known that excessive salt consumption leads to thirst, which in turn requires drinking more water. As a result, edema occurs, and blood pressure may also increase. It is advisable to salt food directly on the plate, having previously measured out the daily dose, which for people with kidney problems is 7 grams.

For patients suffering from renal failure, it is necessary to develop a special diet that excludes the consumption of canned food, fried foods, fish, rich meat broths, as well as legumes and dried fruits. Dairy products and fresh fruits should be consumed in limited quantities. It is preferable to eat poultry, lamb, and various steamed dishes. You can replenish the caloric content of food with fats and carbohydrates by adding olive oil, pasta, porridge, kissels, and honey to your diet.

After a surgical intervention to remove a kidney, the patient must reconsider his lifestyle. Thus, he will have to give up bad habits and follow a special diet, limiting the consumption of protein-rich foods, as well as smoked foods, fried foods, and hot spices. Plant foods should predominate in the diet. For some time after the operation, the volume of daily fluid should not exceed 2-2.5 liters.

It is advisable for each person to have blood and urine tests done once every six months or quarter to promptly detect any problems with the functioning of internal organs, including the kidneys. It is advisable to visit a nephrologist as often as possible, especially if a person has already encountered problems related to the functioning of the kidneys.

A nephrologist will definitely help in the case when a person has any deviations in the functioning of the kidneys. It is important to contact an experienced doctor in time to prevent the development of a dangerous disease, because then the treatment will be more complicated and longer.

[ 1 ]