How is kidney disease diagnosed?

When experiencing troubling medical symptoms, you visit a doctor with the belief that you will receive a timely and accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, this is not the experience that all patients have. Some doctors inadvertently misdiagnose kidney disease or fail to provide the diagnosis in a reasonable time frame.  

According to the Mayo Clinic, kidney disease diagnosis involves the use of certain tests. Through these tests, doctors hopefully identify the underlying issue and provide prompt treatment.  

Methods for diagnosing kidney disease

Upon experiencing symptoms and visiting your doctor, you will receive a physical examination. The doctor will discuss your symptoms, as well as your family health history. 

From there, you will undergo a series of tests. Blood tests look for certain substances in your blood indicating kidney malfunction, while urine tests look signs of kidney failure. Diagnostic imaging creates images of your kidney to determine size. A procedure called a biopsy takes a sample of the kidney tissue for lab testing.  

Treatment options

While there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, there are treatments that can control symptoms. Because chronic kidney disease often causes blood pressure to spike, your doctor can give you medication to maintain normal levels. If fluid retention is an issue, diuretics are prescribed. Supplements, such as vitamin D, help prevent loss of bone tissue, while cholesterol medications keep bad cholesterol in check.  

In the event of end-stage kidney disease, you may undergo dialysis. This process removes toxins from your blood caused by kidney malfunction. A kidney transplant is another option for kidney failure. This involves taking a kidney from a donor and transplanting it into your body.  

Chronic kidney disease will continue to progress, which is why prompt diagnosis is so crucial. The sooner you get to the bottom of health issues, the faster you receive the appropriate treatment.