Nephrology services to support your kidney health

A nephrologist — sometimes called a kidney doctor — is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating kidney conditions. They manage various kidney-related problems, including chronic kidney disease, kidney stones and hypertension.

Nephrologists also perform procedures such as dialysis and kidney biopsies, and they work closely with patients to monitor kidney function and overall health.

If you experience symptoms related to kidney problems, you should consult a nephrologist for specialized care. 

Your kidneys are two organs about the size of your fist that are shaped like a bean. They’re located just below your rib cage in the back of your abdomen under your liver. Because the largest part of your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, your right kidney sits a little lower than your left kidney.

Kidneys perform many critical functions such as:

• Balancing the body’s fluids
• Controlling the production of red blood cells
• Producing an active form of vitamin D for bone health
• Regulating critical hormones that affect blood pressure
• Removing waste products from your body

Because we’re born with two kidneys, it’s possible to live a long, healthy life with only one kidney. It can depend on a variety of factors like:

• Age
• Any underlying conditions
• Overall health of your kidneys at the time one is lost

Kidney disease can refer to several conditions that affect the healthy functioning of the kidneys and can be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) or glomerular diseases (diseases that affect the filtering units of your kidney) as well as age and obesity. 

Kidney disease can also result from an acute injury to the kidney or use of some medications.

Symptoms of kidney disease include:

• Chest pain (if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart)
• Decreased mental sharpness
• Dry, itchy skin
• Fatigue and weakness
  
• Increase or decrease in urinating
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
  
• Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs
• Sleep problems
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Vomiting 

Many chronic health conditions, including hypertension and diabetes, are linked to kidney disease. Optum specialists are here to help you understand how your kidneys affect your overall health. 

Hypertension can be caused by the kidney’s inability to regulate blood pressure hormones. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, which is why it’s crucial to get your blood pressure tested regularly.

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salt that form in your urinary system and can impede its function. Kidney stones affect one in every 10 people nationwide. While they’re not life threatening, they can cause extreme pain and sometimes require surgery.

Symptoms of kidney stones include:

• Blood in your urine
• Fever or chills
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Pain in your lower back or side that can range from dull to severe
• Pain while urinating, frequent urination or an inability to urinate
• Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy

An electrolyte disorder means having too much or too little of essential electrolytes such sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Such imbalances can happen following the loss of fluids through prolonged vomiting, diarrhea or sweating. They can also be a sign of other underlying issues like kidney disease.

Symptoms of an electrolyte disorder include:

• Abdominal/muscle cramping or weakness
• Confusion
• Convulsions or seizures
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness and tingling

Yes, your primary care doctor can help you with kidney problems. Our primary care doctors are experts at diagnosing hundreds of conditions, including common kidney conditions.

If specialty care is recommended, your primary care doctor will help coordinate your care with a nephrologist.

Our experienced kidney doctors offer a range of services to manage and treat your kidney condition, including:

• Kidney stone prevention strategies
• Performing dialysis
• Administering complex fluid and electrolyte compounds

Because kidneys are part of the urinary tract, we also work closely with Optum urologists. Our experts in urinary tract surgery use advanced, minimally invasive procedures to treat kidney diseases, kidney cancer and prostate cancer.

State-of-the-art robotic technology creates improved outcomes such as:

• Faster recovery and return to normal activities
• Reduced blood loss, pain and scarring
• Shorter hospital stays
• Improved erectile function