Kidney Care

Nephrology

Nephrology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the kidneys. Healthcare providers who specialize in kidney disease are called nephrologists. Other health providers who treat kidney problems include primary care providers, pediatricians, transplant specialists, and urologists.

What causes problems with the kidneys?

Problems with the kidneys may include health conditions, such as kidney failure, kidney stones, and kidney cancer. These problems with the kidneys may be caused by:

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 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.

What are the symptoms of kidney disease?

Each person may have different symptoms. But these are the most common symptoms of kidney disease:

• Frequent headaches
• Fatigue
• Itchiness all over the body
• Blood in the urine
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Puffiness around eyes, swelling of hands and feet
• Skin may darken
• Muscle cramps or pain in small of back just below the ribs (not aggravated by movement)
• High blood pressure

Dr. Brandy's sees patients at the Orange City Area Health System Specialty Clinic (MB1) one day a month for high blood pressure and kidney diseases.

You can schedule an appointment by calling the Orange City Area Health System Specialty Clinic or by consulting with your family physician.

OCAHS Specialty Clinic (MB1)
1000 Lincoln Circle SE
Orange City, IA 51041