If you have not come across a nephrologist before, do not be startled. Numerous folks have no idea who a nephrologist is unless they have had a medical concern with their kidneys. Your kidneys play a vital role in your body; they remove waste and excess fluid from your body. Unfortunately, if they do not function properly, it could result in renal disease, kidney damage, or life-threatening concerns such as kidney failure. For this reason, it is best to consult Ghayyath Sultan, M.D., an internal medicine and nephrologist in the North Houston area and Cypress, TX. As a certified nephrologist, Dr. Sultan can provide you with an accurate diagnosis and treatment for your kidney problems. Read on to discover some of the most common kidney-related concerns your nephrologist can address.
Acute Kidney Damage
Acute kidney damage is a life-threatening disorder that necessitates prompt health care. This condition develops whenever an individual suffers kidney damage or failure in hours or days of the onset of the injury.
Renal failure occurs due to progressive kidney damage. However, acute kidney damage occurs rapidly and might be irreversible if not treated promptly. While acute kidney damage can affect anybody, patients in the intensive care unit, particularly the elderly, are more susceptible. Similarly, patients above 65 years with chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney issues are vulnerable to acute kidney damage.
Chronic Renal Failure
Chronic renal failure is a disorder wherein your kidneys eventually stop eliminating toxins and excess fluids from your bloodstream. Considering that this condition does not exhibit symptoms right away, you should consult a nephrologist immediately when you contemplate an issue with your kidney. This illness could be lethal in the progressed stages, necessitating long-term maintenance dialysis. Dialysis is the process of filtering blood artificially. Dialysis is required for the rest of one’s life until a kidney transplant is performed.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones develop whenever there is a buildup of minerals and salts within the kidneys because of a metabolic disorder or inadequate water intake. Typically, this condition causes no lasting harm, but it could cause excruciating discomfort, particularly when urinating. The degree of the discomfort may change over time, making you feel uneasy.
Common risk factors for kidney stones include not taking enough water, having a family history, or a specific medical condition. Based on the seriousness of your condition, your nephrologist may recommend a care plan. While mitigating the manageable risk factors is often the first step in therapy, sometimes surgery might be necessary, especially if the stones become lodged in a patient’s urinary tract. In addition to proper hydration, amazon potassium citrate supplements can be an effective preventive measure to help reduce the formation of kidney stones and support kidney health.
Kidney Infections
Kidney infection is a urinary tract infection that occurs whenever bacteria spreads from the bladder or urethra to the kidneys. Your condition could be quite debilitating, and you might observe blood in your urine, loss of appetite, and experience chills and fever. Even worse, if left unchecked, this condition could be fatal. Your nephrologist often employs medications to address a kidney infection.
Early kidney illness symptoms can be hard to detect. Thus, it is best to see a nephrologist if you experience any potential red flags for kidney disease, including burning in the urine, back discomfort, or are suffering chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. For the best in nephrology care across Texas, look no further than Houston Kidney Specialists Center. Dr. Ghayyath Sultan is well equipped to provide individualized care to address virtually any kidney-related issue you might have. Call the office near you or use the online scheduling tool to request an appointment to talk about your condition and explore your treatment options.