Blog
How to Prepare for Your Nephrology Appointment
If you’ve been referred to a nephrologist for the first time, it’s normal to have some questions. Nephrology is a specialty branch of medicine that focuses on the kidneys, specifically studying kidney function and kidney disease. There are several reasons why your primary care physician may refer you to a nephrologist. Those with diabetes, high […]
3 Fad Diets and Their Effect on Your Kidneys
Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a lot of talk about health, wellness, and New Years Resolutions. Whenever health and weight loss becomes top of mind, so do various diets and nutrition plans. While many of these diets claim to be based on science and advertise numerous health benefits, it’s always recommended […]
How to Monitor Your Blood Pressure From Home
Depending on your blood pressure, your doctor may suggest that you begin to monitor your blood pressure from home. While there are specific reasons as to why you may benefit from at-home blood pressure readings, the American Heart Association recommends at-home monitoring as a general rule of thumb for anyone with high blood pressure. While […]
7 Signs of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a condition that affects more than 37 million American adults, and yet only 10% of those with chronic kidney disease know they have it. Like many other diseases, kidney disease exhibits physical indications, but these symptoms usually become evident in the later stages of kidney disease. While it’s important for those with […]
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 […]
