Introduction
Although there are hundreds of diseases or conditions that can cause a problem with the kidneys, they can usually be grouped into a dozen or so types of problems or disorders. The following common kidney problems or disorders often result in a visit to the kidney doctor or some sort of workup up.
Common Kidney Disorders
- Acid-Base Disorders: Refers to disorders where there is a tendency to have too much acid (low pH) or too little acid (high pH) in the body.
- Blood in the Urine: There is normally very little blood in the urine. Although blood can come from any where in the urinary tract system, there is always a concern that certain serious kidney diseases could be causing it.
- Electrolyte Disorders: Refers to disorders involving molecules with an electrical charge such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Although sodium is also an electrolyte, abnormalities involving it usually result in a fluid disorder.
- Fluid Disorders: Refers to disorders where the kidney is having problems keeping the body’s fluid level at the right amount or there is an imbalance between water and salt concentrations. Usually referred to as a fluid disorder when it is caused by something other than kidney failure.
- High Blood Pressure: This is any blood pressure that increases the risk of damage to your organs. High blood pressure cannot exist for long unless the kidneys are causing it or letting it happen.
- Kidney Cancer: There are dozens of different types of tumors involving the kidney and not all are cancerous. The most common kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma.
- Kidney Cysts: Many people have simple cysts that are often found when undergoing a radiology procedure for another reason. Occasionally, it is causes part of a serious genetic disorder or a cancer.
- Kidney Failure: This means that the kidneys are having a hard time cleaning the blood of toxins. It is usually diagnosed by an elevated level of creatinine in the blood and can be caused by hundreds of different conditions.
- Kidney Stones: There are several different types of kidney stones, each with a different composition. The most common form of stones involves calcium binding with something else.
- Protein in the Urine: There is normally very little protein lost in the urine. There are a number of kidney diseases (many serious) that can cause significant protein to be lost in the urine.
- Urinary Tract Infections: There are different types of infections depending on their location, the organism causing them, and if there are any complications. Most simple infections on the urinary tract involve the bladder or the urethra.