Book 25+ of the best Nephrologists near me in Chicago, IL

Who are nephrologists?

Nephrologists are internal medicine specialists focusing on diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the kidneys. Kidneys play a significant role in bodily functions, such as removing waste from the blood, maintaining the body's electrolyte balance, and releasing hormones to manage blood pressure. If you suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease or have a family history of kidney diseases, then regular testing and consultation with nephrologists to monitor your kidney functions can ensure you do not develop severe issues.

Nephrologists go through extensive training before starting their practice. They complete medical school and earn a doctoral degree in medicine or osteopathic medicine (MD or DO). They then complete three years of residency and pursue two to three years of fellowship in nephrology. They may achieve an optional year-long fellowship in interventional or transplant nephrology. They can finally attempt a board certification exam accredited by the American Board of Internal Medicine. 

How are nephrologists different from urologists?

The differences between a nephrologist and a urologist might be confusing as there is some overlap in their areas of expertise. Nephrologists specialize in conditions affecting kidneys or kidney function. On the other hand, urologists specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders that impact the urinary system. Additionally, they treat conditions affecting the male and female reproductive systems. Another key difference between nephrologists and urologists is that the latter have surgical training, whereas the former does not perform surgery.

What are some conditions treated by nephrologists?

Nephrologists can treat several diseases that affect your kidneys. Some of them are:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD): Chronic kidney disease leads to irreversible kidney damage, causing them to lose their functionality. There are many risk factors for developing CKD, like diabetes, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, obesity, cirrhosis, and high cholesterol, which damage your nephrons. Some common symptoms are swelling around the eyes, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, mental cloudiness, numbness in the hands and feet, and weight loss.
• Kidney stones: Kidney stones are solid crystal masses that may develop in the urinary tract, including kidneys, ureters, bladders, and urethra. There can be several stones, such as calcium, uric acid, struvite, or cystine. Some symptoms of kidney stones are blood in the urine, vomiting, nausea, chills, fever, frequent need to urinate, and foul-smelling urine. There can be several reasons for a person to develop kidney stones, such as dehydration, obesity, high-protein diets, salt or glucose, and certain medications such as diuretics, antiseizure drugs, and calcium-based antacids. 
• Kidney infections: An infection in the urinary tract can even spread to the kidneys. Kidney infections can be sudden or chronic, are often painful, and cause severe implications if not treated early. A few common symptoms of an infected kidney are pain in your abdomen, nausea, frequent urination, pus or blood in the urine, foul smell, chills, and fever. There can be several causes of kidney infections, such as spreading diseases from other body parts into the bloodstream leading to the kidneys, post-surgery complications, or a blockage in urine flow due to conditions such as stones and tumors in the urinary tract.
• Kidney failure: Many factors can affect the kidneys' health and functioning, such as acute and chronic diseases, toxic exposure to pollutants, severe dehydration, insufficient blood flow, and trauma. There are several types of kidney failure, such as acute prerenal kidney failure, acute intrinsic kidney failure, chronic prerenal kidney failure, and chronic kidney failure. A few common symptoms of kidney failure are leg swelling, reduced urine, unexplained shortness of breath, persistent nausea, confusion, seizures, and even coma. 
• Glomerulonephritis: Glomerulonephritis is a disorder that damages tiny filters inside your kidneys, known as glomeruli. The condition can prevent your kidneys from removing fluid and waste from your body. Its symptoms include nausea, shortness of breath, blood in your urine, jaundice, and high blood pressure.
• Nephrotic syndrome: Nephrotic syndrome is an illness that causes the kidneys to release excessive protein (proteinuria) in the urine. The condition typically results from damaged glomeruli, which might allow blood proteins to leak into the urine. Its symptoms include loss of appetite, foamy urine, and swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.
• Hyponatremia: Hyponatremia is the term for having a lower-than-normal blood sodium level. Typically, this occurs due to too much water in your body, which dilutes the sodium levels. The severity of the symptoms of this illness depends on how low your sodium levels are in your bloodstream and how quickly they fall. Common symptoms include headache, muscle cramps, lethargy, and nausea. In severe cases, the hyponatremia can lead to seizures and coma.

What diagnostic tests can nephrologists order?

During the first consultation with a nephrologist near you, they will check your medical history, understand symptoms, and conduct a physical examination. Additionally, they will order specific tests to determine your condition and its severity accurately. Here are some standard kidney tests and their purpose: 

Urine tests: If your urine has large amounts of protein, it can indicate a kidney problem. You will provide a mid-stream urine sample for the following two tests:

• Dipstick urine test: The provider will put a dipstick (a plastic stick with chemicals) in the urine sample. If you have high levels of albumin, a protein your liver produces, the dipstick will change color. 
• Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR): If your dipstick urine test results are abnormal, your provider will perform this test to determine how much albumin is in your urine. If your ACR levels are slightly high, you probably have early-stage kidney disease, while if they are incredibly high, the condition has most likely reached a more severe level.

Blood tests: These tests can indicate how well your kidneys filter the blood to eliminate waste products. The provider will draw a blood sample from your arm to test the following: 

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): Urea nitrogen is a waste product. High blood urea nitrogen levels indicate the kidneys are not filtering it appropriately. 
• Serum creatinine: Serum creatinine is another waste product, and similar to BUN, high levels in the blood mean kidney dysfunction. 
• Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): For this test, they will use your serum creatinine level, age, and sex to determine your GFR number, indicating how well your kidneys are functioning. A lower GFR figure suggests kidney disease. 

Further testing: In addition to urine and blood tests, the kidney doctor may conduct additional tests to check for kidney problems. 

• Blood pressure: Hypertension puts you at a greater risk of kidney conditions, making blood pressure screening crucial. 
• Imaging tests: Ultrasounds, CT scans, and X-rays can give a clearer picture of your kidneys. 
• Kidney biopsy: Your doctor may collect a small sample of your kidney tissue to inspect for signs of disease or damage.

How should you prepare for your first visit with a nephrologist?

Seeing a specialist can initially seem overwhelming, but with the proper preparation, you can be more confident during your appointment. If your doctor has referred you to a nephrologist, you can follow the steps discussed below to maximize your first visit and get the care you need: 

• Prepare for initial formalities: During your first nephrologist appointment, you will likely need to complete paperwork and submit documentation. So, arrive at least 15-20 minutes early with your insurance card, photo ID, personal and emergency contact information, doctor's referral letter, medical history, and a payment method accepted at the provider's office. 
• Carry health information: The nephrologist will begin the consultation by discussing your reasons for visiting them. So, make a list of your symptoms and record relevant details. When did you first notice your symptoms? What makes them better or worse? Have you tried any treatments in the past? How are they affecting your quality of life? Writing everything down will help you communicate your concerns with the provider. You must also compile medical records with details of your overall health. It includes details of your health conditions, allergies, surgeries, hospitalizations, and medications. If you have undergone any lab or imaging tests recently, bring copies of your results for your provider's reference. 
• Write your questions: Your nephrologist is the best resource for all your questions about your diagnosis and treatment. Preparing a list beforehand will ensure you do not forget any discussion points in the exam room. You may ask questions such as: What are the likely causes of my symptoms? What lifestyle and diet changes should I make? How can I learn more about my condition? Will I need follow-up appointments?
• Bring a loved one: One of the best ways to manage appointment anxiety is to have a trusted family member, friend, or caregiver by your side. Besides providing emotional support, they can contribute to the discussion with the specialist if you forget anything. Moreover, they can take important notes and help you reflect on what the doctor said after the appointment. 

Finding the right nephrologist near you in Chicago, IL

Nephrologists have advanced training in kidney care and help patients maintain kidney function. They can diagnose and treat kidney-related issues, including high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalance, and fluid retention. They can also perform several procedures, such as blood and urine tests, to diagnose kidney problems. It is crucial to regularly visit the nephrologist if you have conditions that can adversely affect your kidneys, like diabetes or hypertension.

However, finding a qualified, experienced nephrologist who will be attentive to your issues can take time and effort. Zocdoc is a platform that provides access to an open directory of the best medical and healthcare providers for all your needs. You can find the best nephrologist in Chicago, Illinois, within minutes.

You can also pay through your health plan by including your insurance carrier's name in the search. Zocdoc's insurance detector helps you quickly identify in-network doctors. If you do not see your plan listed, try uploading an image of your medical insurance card and uploading it. 

The website will automatically detect it and show you your most likely plans. You can contact Zocdoc's service team if you face any problems uploading the image. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.

All the healthcare and medical providers associated with Zocdoc have unique profiles where you can read about their educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, expertise, experience, and language. You can also access the user ratings and verified reviews before deciding. Using Zocdoc, you can locate a kidney doctor near you by conducting an area-specific search. Once you have picked a nephrologist near you who matches your requirements, you may instantly schedule an in-person or virtual consultation based on their availability.

All the bookings with Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!

Prevalence of kidney diseases in Illinois and the USA

Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) are widely prevalent in the USA, affecting more than 1 in 7 adults in the country. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), around 37 million Americans suffer from CKD. Diabetic people are at a higher risk, and 1 in 3 people having diabetes suffer from kidney diseases. 

Despite being a common condition, almost 9 in 10 people suffering from CKD are unaware of it and, therefore, have not consulted any medical professional. The report also states that nearly 7,86,000 people in America suffer from end-stage kidney disease. With 14% of women suffering from them compared to 12% of men, chronic kidney disorders are more common in women than men.

The condition is equally prevalent among Illinois residents; according to the American Kidney Fund Organisation, 2021, around 34,458 people in Illinois suffered from End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The reports also state that 5,466 new cases of kidney failure were reported in 2018, among which only 154 were able to get a kidney transplant, and about 5,312 went for dialysis.

Sources

WebMD

Healthline[1]

Healthline[2]

Healthline[3]

Healthline[4]

American Kidney Fund

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Cleveland Clinic[1]

Cleveland Clinic[2]

Cleveland Clinic[3]

Cleveland Clinic[4]

Commonwealth Nephrology Associates

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.