Nephrology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the kidneys. Nephrologists are healthcare providers who specialize in kidney disease. Other health providers at Halifax Health who treat kidney problems include our primary care providers, pediatricians, transplant specialists and urologists.
Kidney failure, kidney stones and kidney cancer all can be results of kidney problems. The three main reasons are:
Aging – As we age, changes in the structure of the kidneys can cause them to lose some of their ability to remove wastes from the blood. The muscles in the ureters, bladder and urethra also tend to lose some of their strength. But this alone does not cause chronic kidney diseases.
Illness or Injury – Damage to the kidneys caused by illness, inflammation, immune responses, or an injury can also prevent them from filtering the blood completely or block the passage of urine. Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) are 2 leading causes of kidney disease.
Toxicity – The kidneys may be damaged by substances, such as certain medicines, a buildup of some substances in the body, or toxic substances such as poisons.
The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has used all the food components that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and the blood.
The kidneys and urinary system help to excrete the waste products. They also keep chemicals, such as potassium and sodium, and water in balance. Kidneys filter and remove several toxic materials from the body that are the products of food metabolism. These waste materials can cause problems in the body if they build up. The kidneys also control the fluid and acid-base balance in the body
The kidneys are 2 bean-shaped organs. They are located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. Their function is to:
Remove liquid waste from the blood in the form of urine
Keep a stable balance of chemicals, such as salts and other substances in the blood
Along with filtering waste from the blood and helping in the balance of fluids and other substances in the body, the kidneys do other vital functions. The kidneys:
Release hormones, such as renin, that help to regulate blood pressure
Make erythropoietin, a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells
Convert vitamin D into a form that can be used by the body’s tissues
Interact with corticosteroids (made by the adrenal glands that sit on top of each kidney) that help to regulate kidney function and the body’s inflammatory response system
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