Kidney Failure Center - Olympia, WA
Olympia Nephrologist Doctors for Kidney FailureType of Physician: Nephrologist What is a Nephrologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat disorders of the kidney, high blood pressure, fluid and mineral imbalance, dialysis of body wastes when the kidneys do not function, and consultation with surgeons about kidney transplantation. Specialty: Nephrology Common Name: Kidney Doctor Nephrologist Doctors in Olympia * Memorial Nephrology Associates  Memorial Nephrology Associates  Memorial Nephrology Associates  Memorial Nephrology Associates  Memorial Nephrology Associates  Virginia R Cannon MD  Pacific Nephrology Associates PS  Pacific Nephrology Associates PS  Pacific Nephrology Associates PS  Pacific Nephrology Associates PS  Evergreen Nephrology Associates  Cogen Eady & Evanoff MDs  Cogen Eady & Evanoff MDs  Dmitri Vasin MD  John S Wendt MD  Razan Al Kudsi MD  Valley Nephrology & Hypertension  Valley Nephrology & Hypertension  Valley Nephrology & Hypertension  Valley Nephrology & Hypertension  Harborview Medical Center Senior Care Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Renal Clinic  Virginia Mason Clinic Nephrology  Virginia Mason Clinic Nephrology  Virginia Mason Clinic Nephrology  Pacific Medical Centers  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  MD Squared  Pacific Medical Centers  S Smiley Thakur MD  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  The Polyclinic Nephrology  The Polyclinic Nephrology  The Polyclinic Nephrology  UWMC Renal Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Renal Clinic  UWMC Renal Clinic  UWMC Renal Clinic  UWMC Renal Clinic  UWMC Renal Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  Scribner Kidney Center  Seattle Nephrology PLLC  Childrens Hospital Nephrology  PeaceHealth Medical Group Internal Medicine B  PeaceHealth Medical Group Internal Medicine B  Eastside Nephrology & Hypertension  Drs King & Tung  Eastside Nephrology & Hypertension  Western Washington Medical Group Nephrology  Western Washington Medical Group Nephrology  Western Washington Medical Group Nephrology Olympia, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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Kidney FailureRead the Kidney Failure article » What are the kidneys?The kidneys play key roles in body function, not only by filtering the blood and getting rid of waste products, but also by balancing levels of electrolyte levels in the body, controlling blood pressure, and stimulating the production of red blood cells. The kidneys are located in the abdomen toward the back, normally one on each side of the spine. They get their blood supply through the renal arteries directly from the aorta and send blood back to the heart via the renal veins to the vena cava. (The term "renal" is derived from the Latin name for kidney.) The kidneys have the ability to monitor the amount of body fluid, the concentrations of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and the acid-base balance of the body. They filter waste products of body metabolism, like urea from protein metabolism and uric acid from DNA breakdown. Two waste products in the blood can be measured: blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). When blood flows to the kidney, sensors within the kidney decide how much water to excrete as urine, along with what concentration of electrolytes. For example, if a person is dehydrated from exercise or from an illness, the kidneys will hold onto as much water as possible and the urine becomes very concentrated. When adequate water is present in the body, the urine is much more dilute, and the urine becomes clear. This system is controlled by renin, a hormone produced in the kidney that is part of the fluid and blood pressure regulation systems of the body. Kidneys are also the source of erythropoietin in the body, a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Special cells in the kidney monitor the oxygen concentration in blood. If oxygen levels fall, erythropoietin levels rise and the body starts to manufacture more red blood cells. After the kidneys filter blood, the urine is excreted through... Recommended Reading Related to Kidney FailureWhat is creatinine?Creatinine is a chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism. Creatinine is produced from creatine, a molecule of major importance for energy production in muscles. Approximately 2% of the body's creatine is converted to creatinine every day. Creatinine is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys. The kidneys filter out most of the creatinine and dispose of it in the urine. Because the muscle mass in the body is relatively constant from day to day, the creatinine production normally remains essentially unchanged on a daily basis. Why is it important to check blood creatinine levels?The kidneys maintain the blood creatinine in a normal range. Creatinine has been found to be a fairly reliable indicator of kidney function. Elevated creatinine level signifies impaired kidney function or kidney disease. As the kidneys become impaired for any reason, the creatinine level in the blo... Emergency Contact for Olympia
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