Blog
Top 10 Causes for Blood Pressure Spikes
With about 32% of Americans living with high blood pressure, it’s no wonder why blood pressure checks are administered at every doctor’s appointment. So many high blood pressure cases are not realized because high blood pressure doesn’t exhibit any symptoms. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your […]
How to Tell if its Kidney Pain or Back Pain
Your kidneys are located just below the ribcage, with each kidney positioned on either side of your spine. Kidneys help to filter toxins and extra fluids from the body to ensure the rest of your body works normally. Common causes of kidney pain include UTIs, kidney infections, and kidney stones. Because your kidneys rest against […]
Is it High Blood Pressure or White Coat Hypertension?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels is consistently too high. When high blood pressure is not addressed in a timely fashion it can lead to serious health risks such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. In order to control high blood […]
How Alcohol Affects Your Kidneys
With the holiday season in full swing, there are bound to be parties, get-togethers, and celebrations in the upcoming weeks, with many of them involving alcohol. While a drink or two at an occasional party will likely not have any serious effects on your kidneys, heavy drinking (four or more drinks daily) can have more […]
4 Ways to Help Manage Diabetic Kidney Disease
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and at Durham Nephrology, we want to take time to focus on preventing the damage that diabetes can have on the kidneys. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney disease, with one in every four diabetic adults developing kidney disease in their lifetime. The chances of developing […]
Why High Blood Pressure is Known as the “Silent Killer”
In the month of October is filled with scary stories and movies, and maybe one of the scariest thoughts of all is that of a silent killer: one that strikes seemingly with or warning or indication. Outside of the realm of horror movies and novels, high blood pressure is known as the silent killer because […]
How to Know When to See a Nephrologist
Staying in tune with your body means recognizing certain symptoms that prompt you to schedule an appointment with a nephrologist. Nephrology is a specialty of internal medicine that focuses on the treatment of diseases that affects the kidneys. Your kidneys are extremely important and serve several vital functions: waste and excess fluid removal from the […]
10 Mental Health Self-Care Tips for Kidney Patients
Dealing with kidney disease can be stressful and take a toll on people’s daily life. So it makes sense that kidney patients may be more likely to experience depression than the general population. Because Mental Health Awareness Week is coming up on October 4th – 10th, now is a good time to look at some […]
Is Kidney Disease One of the Risks of High Cholesterol?
September Cholesterol Education Month, which makes now the perfect time to explore how the risks of high cholesterol may impact kidney health. About High Cholesterol Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in your blood. The body produces cholesterol on its own but it can also come from eating animal food products like meat. While your […]
Safe Fitness Tips for Kidney Patients
If you are a kidney patient, you are probably aware of the different things you need to do to take care of yourself. You have most likely already made several changes to your lifestyle including your diet and your activity level. Kidney patients need to get exercise to stay healthy and staying active might even […]
