Uncategorized

March Newsletter

March Kidney Month. Kidney Health for All.

Living well on dialysis.

Dialysis for kidney disease is life-saving, but it’s also life-changing. Still, by taking charge of your emotional health—and accepting help when you need it—you can live a rewarding life on dialysis.

Take charge of your emotions.

If you receive dialysis treatments for kidney disease, you probably spend a lot of time focused on your physical health. That’s important—but so, too, is your mental and emotional well-being.

Uncategorized

February Newsletter

Dialysis or kidney transplantation – which is right for me?

Dialysis and kidney transplantation are treatments for severe kidney failure, also called kidney (or renal) failure, stage 5 chronic kidney disease, and end-stage kidney (or renal) disease. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

When the kidneys are no longer working effectively, waste products, electrolytes (such as potassium, phosphorus, and acids), and fluid build-up in the blood. Dialysis takes over a portion of the function of the failing kidneys to remove the fluid and waste products. Kidney transplantation can even more completely take over the function of the failing kidneys.

This article discusses these therapies, including the advantages, disadvantages, and care required for kidney transplantation and dialysis. You and your family should discuss all the options with your healthcare provider to make an informed decision.

January Newsletter

Anemia and Kidney Disease.

What is anemia?

Anemia is a condition in which your blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the iron rich protein that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. With fewer red blood cells or less hemoglobin, your tissues, and organs—such as your heart and brain—may not get enough oxygen to work properly.

Uncategorized

December Newsletter

Diabetes and Kidney Disease.

Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It’s also called diabetic kidney disease.

Diabetic nephropathy affects the kidneys’ ability to do their usual work of removing waste products and extra fluid from your body. The best way to prevent or delay diabetic nephropathy is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and adequately managing your diabetes and high blood pressure.

November Newsletter

5 stages of kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is divided into 5 stages based on levels of kidney function. Your CKD stage is determined by calculating your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)—which is a measurement of how well your kidneys are cleaning your blood. The goal at each of the CKD stages is to take the best care and control of your health, so you can help slow the progression of CKD and keep your kidneys working as long as possible.

Uncategorized

October Newsletter

Kidney Failure in Pregnancy.

Pregnancy often does not worsen renal disorders; it seems to exacerbate noninfectious renal disorders only when uncontrolled hypertension coexists. However, significant renal insufficiency (serum creatinine > 3 mg/dL [> 270 micromol/L] or blood urea nitrogen [BUN] > 30 mg/dL [> 10.5 mmol urea/L]) before pregnancy usually prevents women from maintaining a pregnancy to term.

Uncategorized

September Newsletter

High Blood Pressure and the Kidneys.

There are usually no signs or symptoms that your blood pressure is too high. That’s why it’s important to monitor it regularly, especially if you have a family history of the disease or are at risk for other reasons.

It is known as “the silent killer” because you can have it for years without knowing it.

It is one of the leading causes of heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney disease. Controlling high blood pressure reduces the risk of these complications. High blood pressure can be controlled by losing weight, exercising more, quitting smoking, and lowering salt intake.

Uncategorized

August Newsletter

Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a common hereditary disease and is responsible for 10% of chronic renal failure in patients with dialysis. Renal failure may occur from 2 to 80 years of age. The kidneys in autosomal dominant polycystic disease are almost always enlarged, can exceed 40 cm in height and weigh up to 8 kg. The cysts can vary in size: from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter and their contents may be clear, cloudy or chocolate, in case of bleeding.

The main symptoms that make the patients consult the doctor are hypertension, flank pain, urinary infection, hematuria (blood in the urine) and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). Each of these manifestations appear in 20 to 30% of the cases.

Uncategorized

July Newsletter

Your Amazing Kidneys.

The kidneys are complicated and amazing organs that do many essential tasks to keep us healthy.

The main job of your kidneys is to remove toxins and excess water from your blood. Kidneys also help to control your blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and to keep your bones healthy.

Each roughly the size of your fist, kidneys are located deep in the abdomen, beneath the rib cage.

Your kidneys control blood stream levels of many minerals and molecules including sodium and potassium and help to control blood acidity. Every day your kidneys carefully control the salt and water in your body so that your blood pressure remains the same.

Uncategorized

June Newsletter

Kidney disease and male fertility.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may have alterations in testicular function due to a hormonal imbalance that affects the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis.

The testicles have two main functions: testosterone production and sperm production. Both functions are essential for male fertility.

Hormones are chemicals compounds that are produced in one part of the body and can trigger a function where they were formed, near where they were formed, or in a distant place in the body.