Nephrology

    Nephrology is the branch of  internal medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney-related diseases. Kidneys are responsible for removing waste products and excess fluid from the body. They are also critical for retaining fluid intake and maintaining electrolyte concentrations that may be subjected to change due to numerous conditions or medicines.

• Frequent swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet.
• Consistent headaches.
• Dry and itchiness in the skin.
• Nausea.
• Reduced sense of taste and appetite
• Less energy and trouble concentrating.
• Unexplained confusion, memory problems, or trouble focusing.
• Pain, fluid in the joints, or stiffness.
• Unexplained blood pressure problems
• Muscle cramps, numbness, or weakness
• Exhaustion during the day but problems sleeping at night
• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Reduced urine output not related to dehydration
• Abnormal weight loss

   Nephrology focuses on ensuring the normal functioning of kidneys by treating conditions that hinder its processes. The various conditions that fall under the scope of nephrology include:

• Urine abnormalities such as excess excretion of protein, sugar, blood, casts, and crystals
• Glomerular complications that affect the tiny filtering systems of the kidneys known the
  glomerulus
• Cancers of the kidneys, bladder, and urethra
• Acute, sudden, long-term or chronic Renal failure
• Reduced sense of taste and appetite
• Kidney infections
• Effects of diseases like diabetes and hypertension on the kidneys
• Acid-base fluctuations.
• Kidney and bladder stones
• Ill effects of toxins and drugs on the kidneys
• Nephrotic syndrome and nephritis
• Renal vascular diseases that disturb the blood vessel networks within the kidneys.
• Tubulointerstitial diseases affecting the kidneys tubules
• Autoimmune diseases including lupus and autoimmune vasculitis
• Hydronephrosis
• Dialysis and its associated long-term complications – hemodialysis as well as peritoneal dialysis
• Renal Transplantations
• Polycystic kidneys diseases in which large cysts or fluid-filled sacs grow within the kidney damaging its normal functioning – this may be congenital, inherited or genetic
• Anemia related to kidney disease.
• Bone disease related to kidney disease
• increase in blood pressure levels. This condition affects different body organs and results
• Renal insufficiency: This is a medical condition in which blood flow to kidneys reduces significantly due to renal artery diseases and leads to poor kidney functioning.