What do the kidneys do?
You have two kidneys that are bean-shaped organs about the size of your fist. They are located at either side of your spine near the middle of your back.
Most people think the kidneys are only responsible for producing urine, but they have many important functions in your body:
- They remove waste products from the body
- They balance the body’s fluids and electrolytes
- They release hormones that regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism
- They stimulate and control the production of red blood cells
- They produce an active form of Vitamin D that promotes healthy bones
- They provide critical regulation of the body’s salt, potassium and acid content
When functioning normally, the kidneys accumulate urine and dispose of it through the urinary tract. Excess water and toxins from metabolic processes, along with the urine, are removed from the body as if through a filter.
What is Nephrology?
Nephrology is a specialty of medicine and pediatrics that concerns itself with the kidneys: the study of normal kidney function and kidney disease, the preservation of kidney health, and the treatment of kidney disease, from diet and medication to renal replacement therapy (dialysis and kidney transplantation).
What is the role of Nephrologist?
Nephrologists diagnose causes and levels of kidney failure and prescribe appropriate treatment such as medication, diet changes, or dialysis. If none of these treatments work, a kidney transplant would be performed by a transplant surgeon.
What kind of Conditions and Patients we Treat?
- The kidney is affected by many chronic and systematic diseases as well as acute injury, infections, and kidney stones. There is a growing need for renal medicine due to the prevalence of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
- Patients should refer us if there are any signs of kidney disease, including blood or protein in the urine, disturbances of electrolyte and acid/base balance, kidney stones, acute kidney failure, and chronic kidney disease.
- We care patients for a long period of time, managing their kidney problems through end-state renal failure.
Below are the Kidney Care Services in Pune at Star Multispeciality Hospital
- Kidney Stone
- Renal Biopsies
- Kidney Dialysis
- Acute Kidney Failure
- Kidney Pancreas Transplantation
Our Best Nephrologist Doctors in Pune
Frequently Asked Questions
The kidneys are the master chemists of the body. They filter and remove waste products from the blood, remove extra water from the body, adjust levels of minerals and chemicals in your body and produce hormones that help control your blood pressure and help make red blood cells.
There are a number of ways you can protect your kidneys and slow the progression of CKD. Good blood pressure control, diet modifications, smoking cessation and if you are a diabetic, keeping your blood sugar in a safe range are all ways you can positively affect your kidney function.
A nephrologist is a doctor who treats patients with kidney problems and related hypertension or high blood pressure. Once you have been diagnosed with kidney disease, early referral to a nephrologist is important in preserving and protecting your kidney function.
Blood Tests - Zerum creatinine, Electrolytes, & BUN
Urine Tests - Microalbumin, Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Imaging Tests - A renal ultrasound may be recommended to assess the size, shape and anatomy of your kidney. In addition, a CT scan, MRI or MRA may be recommended to determine possible reasons for your kidney disease.
Kidney Biopsy - A kidney biopsy is a test where a small piece of kidney tissue is removed by a needle. The tissue is examined under a microscope to determine the cause of kidney disease.
High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and affect the filtering ability of the kidney. Controlling your blood sugar can help slow the progress of your kidney disease.
Proper nutrition can reduce the workload of the kidneys and preserve or delay further progression of your kidney disease.
Dialysis is a process that cleans and filters your blood. There are two types of dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
- Hemodialysis - Hemodialysis cleans your blood using a machine with a special filter called a dialyzer.
- Peritoneal Dialysis - Peritoneal dialysis removes wastes and extra water from your body using the lining of your abdomen (peritoneum) to filter your blood.
