Nephrology Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nephrologist?
Anephrologistis a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect your kidney. Nephrologists are experts in kidney function who also study how kidney disease can harm other areas of your body.
Your kidneys are involved in several important bodily functions, including:
- high-blood pressure management through the release of certain hormones
- 浪费和从血液中清除过多的液体
- mineral, water, and electrolyte balancing
肾脏科医师diagnose and treat several conditions that affect your kidneys. They also get involved when other health factors contribute to kidney disease and dysfunction, such as:
- 自身免疫性疾病：一组免疫系统攻击身体的疾病
- blood in urine: an indication that you may have an infection, kidney disease, or cancer
- chronic kidney disease: the gradual and irreversible damage to your kidneys
- 糖尿病: a disease that can damage your kidneys, nerves, and other organs
- glomerulonephritis: a life threatening inflammation of your kidneys’ internal structures
- 心脏病: a group of serious diseases that includes hardening or clogged arteries, weakened muscles, and more
- 高血压（HBP）: blood pressure that increases to unhealthy levels and can cause damage to your kidneys and other organs
- kidney cancer：一种起源于肾脏或传播到肾脏的癌症
- kidney failure: loss of kidney functionality, which allows toxins to build up in your blood
- kidney stones: solid masses made of crystals form inside your kidneys and urinary tract
- polycystic kidney disease: an inherited disorder that causes fluid-filled cysts to develop in your kidneys
- renal artery stenosis：向肾脏提供血液的动脉变窄
- nephrotic syndrome: excess protein in the urine due to kidney damage
肾脏科医生将根据您访问的原因执行不同的程序。对于初次访问，您的肾脏科医生可能会执行诊断测试，例如blood testsandurinalysis. Depending on your lab results, a nephrologist may also perform the following procedures:
Usually, your primary care physician will refer you to a nephrologist when they suspect you have kidney-related symptoms that a specialist knows how to treat. Some of the most common reasons for a visit to a nephrologist include chronic urinary tract infections or recurring kidney stones. However, you may need to visit a nephrologist more often if you have:
- a family history of kidney disease
- chronic kidney disease
- 糖尿病
- 心脏病
- 高血压