Our kidneys are made of millions of functional units called nephrons. Each nephron has a tiny glomerulus filter that filters the waste and excess fluid from your body.
Sometimes, these tiny filters of the kidneys become inflamed, possibly due to an underlying condition like diabetes, infection and lupus, genetics, or an unknown reason. This condition is known as glomerulonephritis.
Let’s talk about different types of glomerulonephritis, their symptoms, why treatment is important, and where you can go for glomerulonephritis treatment in Brockton & Taunton, MA.
Different Types of Glomerulonephritis
The inflammation of the glomeruli can be acute or chronic. Acute inflammation starts suddenly and can be severe, leading to the loss of kidney functions within weeks or months. On the other hand, chronic inflammation of the glomeruli occurs gradually over time, leading to a gradual loss of kidney functions.
Common Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis
It is not uncommon for people to not experience the symptoms of glomerulonephritis. This is because symptoms become only apparent when kidneys are badly damaged.
When symptoms occur, these may include:
- Blood in urine, causing urine to look pink or cola color
- Foam or bubbles in the urine due to excess accumulation of protein
- High blood pressure
- Pain in the abdomen or joints
- Fatigue
- Swelling in legs, hands, face, and abdomen due to fluid retention
- Nausea and vomiting
- Altered frequency of urination, meaning you pee more often or less often than normal
Why Treatment is Necessary?
Mild inflammation of the glomeruli doesn’t always require treatment. However, treatment is necessary for severely damaged and inflamed glomeruli because untreated glomerulonephritis can lead to long-term health problems related to the kidney.
So, it’s best to get glomerulonephritis treatment to:
Preserve Your Kidney Functions
Glomerulonephritis affects the ability of the nephrons to filter the blood effectively. The inability of the glomerulus to filter the blood can result in the accumulation of toxins and waste in the bloodstream, poor regulation of essential nutrients and minerals, loss of red blood cells, and loss of blood proteins.
Glomerulonephritis treatment can significantly help preserve kidney function in addition to managing symptoms.
Prevent Complications of Glomerulonephritis
Untreated glomerulonephritis can lead to complications like acute kidney failure (sudden and rapid loss of kidney function), chronic kidney disease (declined kidney function for three or more months), nephrotic syndrome (a condition in which there is too much protein in the blood and too little in the blood), and high blood pressure.
Some complications, like kidney failure, can be life-threatening and may require dialysis or a kidney transplant. So, it’s best to get treatment for glomerulonephritis to prevent these complications from developing
Glomerulonephritis Treatment in Brockton & Taunton, MA
If you or your loved one have one or more of the aforementioned signs of glomerulonephritis or have some other kidney problems and seek a lasting solution, visit us here at Associates in Nephrology for thorough evaluation and treatment.
Our board-certified and highly experienced nephrologists are experts in diagnosing, treating, and managing a comprehensive range of kidney problems, including glomerulonephritis and other related problems.
If you would like to make an appointment with one of our exceptional kidney specialists, call our office today at (508) 587-0700 or simply fill out our easy-to-fill form.
