Nephrology

803-395-2570

Comprehensive Kidney Care

Regional Medical Center’s (RMC) Nephrology Department diagnoses and treats kidney diseases. The kidneys are responsible for cleaning the blood and removing waste from the water. Kidney diseases interrupt this process and can lead to serious health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and end-stage renal failure. Our experienced nephrology team helps patients manage kidney disease, slow down the progress of chronic kidney disease, and provides state-of-the-art dialysis services to patients who have already experienced kidney failure.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease

It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible when you exhibit symptoms of kidney disease. A kidney disease, left untreated, can progress into chronic kidney disease which will continue to disable kidney function until end-stage renal failure occurs. End-stage renal failure is the medical term for total kidney failure. Patients with kidney failure will need continuous dialysis treatments for the rest of their lives or until they can receive a kidney transplant.

Symptoms of kidney disease often appear slowly and may include:

• More frequent urination (this is often the most noticeable early symptom)
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in the feet or ankles
• Shortness of breath
• High blood pressure that is difficult to regulate
• Sleeping problems
• Nausea and vomiting

Many of these symptoms can be signs of unrelated medical problems which makes kidney disease more difficult to diagnose in the early stages. In many cases, increased urination serves as the telltale sign of kidney disease. The average person urinates four to six times a day. If you regularly find yourself going above this number, you should discuss it with your primary care physician.