Medical Specialties
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Nephrology
Nephrology is the specialty in charge of studying and treating kidney disease, hypertension and electrolyte disturbances in the body. This medical specialty is clearly differentiated from Urology, which deals with kidney diseases that require surgical treatment.
Although, generally, it is a little known specialty, everyone has heard of chronic kidney failure, diabetic nephropathy and, especially, high blood pressure: nephrologists deal with all these diseases, among others, even though many of these conditions require a multidisciplinary approach.
One typical disease that requires a nephrologist's attention is diabetic nephropathy. The Canary Islands has a higher incidence of diabetes than any other region in Spain. Meanwhile, kidney disease resulting from diabetes is the most common reason for undergoing renal replacement therapy (dialysis). Early diagnosis and treatment of this condition is the best hope for curing or slowing the rate of kidney damage.
It's interesting to note that in recent years, there has been a so-called "epidemic" in Chronic Kidney Failure. It is estimated that up to 9% of the population unwittingly suffers from this disease. It's what we call "hidden kidney disease". Because it causes very few symptoms, a person can be afflicted with this conditions without realizing it. The nephrologist's work focuses on determining the initial cause and stopping the disease from progressing in order to preserve kidney function.
Another of the strong points of our specialty is high blood pressure. Everyone knows that this condition is very common, affecting about 50% of middle aged people. Without adequate diagnosis and treatment, these patients risk cardiovascular disorders and kidney damage. In other lesser known fields, nephrologists also treat patients suffering from Terminal Chronic Kidney Failure with dialysis or kidney transplants.
In short: Nephrology, like other specialties, works to prevent kidney disease or, if disease is already present, to stop it from progressing or treat it by substituting the kidney's function with dialysis or performing a kidney transplant.
Although, generally, it is a little known specialty, everyone has heard of chronic kidney failure, diabetic nephropathy and, especially, high blood pressure: nephrologists deal with all these diseases, among others, even though many of these conditions require a multidisciplinary approach.
One typical disease that requires a nephrologist's attention is diabetic nephropathy. The Canary Islands has a higher incidence of diabetes than any other region in Spain. Meanwhile, kidney disease resulting from diabetes is the most common reason for undergoing renal replacement therapy (dialysis). Early diagnosis and treatment of this condition is the best hope for curing or slowing the rate of kidney damage.
It's interesting to note that in recent years, there has been a so-called "epidemic" in Chronic Kidney Failure. It is estimated that up to 9% of the population unwittingly suffers from this disease. It's what we call "hidden kidney disease". Because it causes very few symptoms, a person can be afflicted with this conditions without realizing it. The nephrologist's work focuses on determining the initial cause and stopping the disease from progressing in order to preserve kidney function.
Another of the strong points of our specialty is high blood pressure. Everyone knows that this condition is very common, affecting about 50% of middle aged people. Without adequate diagnosis and treatment, these patients risk cardiovascular disorders and kidney damage. In other lesser known fields, nephrologists also treat patients suffering from Terminal Chronic Kidney Failure with dialysis or kidney transplants.
In short: Nephrology, like other specialties, works to prevent kidney disease or, if disease is already present, to stop it from progressing or treat it by substituting the kidney's function with dialysis or performing a kidney transplant.
