This week Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Rachel Sturdivant about what we can do to keep our kidneys healthy. Dr. Sturdivant is a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and a kidney specialist at MUSC.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Your kidneys perform a variety of important jobs to help keep your body in balance. Doctor Rachel Sturdivant is here to talk about what we can do to keep our kidneys healthy. Doctor Sturdivant is a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology, and she's a kidney specialist at MUSC. Doctor Sturdivant, tell us about the many functions that our kidneys actually do to help us maintain good health.
Dr. Sturdivant: The kidneys are organs that get rid of waste that is produced by the body. They also keep things that are necessary for your body to function optimally. They maintain our electrolytes. They regulate the hydration of the body. And they're also a source of hormones that participate in the control of blood pressure, red blood cell production, and bone health.
Conner: What can we do to help keep our kidneys healthy?
Dr. Sturdivant: In general, taking care of your overall health and your body. Also limiting smoking and alcohol. Maintaining a healthy weight. Drinking water and limiting salt are also great things to do. And if you're diabetic or have high blood pressure, make sure these are under really good control with your primary care provider to limit the damage to your kidneys that these disorders can cause. Keeping regular checkups, and of course, knowing your family history and whether kidney disease is a part of it, this might help your doctor direct further screening and treatment if necessary.
Conner: Any additional kidney health precautions for people who do have kidney disease?
Dr. Sturdivant: If you are somebody who has kidney disease or at risk for it, avoiding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are over-the-counter pain medicines, would be important. Or if you are taking these, let your doctor know how often you take them so you can have your risk assessed.
Conner: When someone has a test for kidney function, what can they find out from that test?
Dr. Sturdivant: The recommended tests for kidney function include a blood test that can generally give an estimate of how well the kidneys are working, or how much kidney function you have. In addition, the urine test, which looks for protein or albumin, evaluates the filter of the kidney, and both of these are important for determining next steps.
Conner: Doctor Sturdivant, what are some of the common causes of kidney disease.
Dr. Sturdivant: In our country, diabetes and hypertension are the most common causes of kidney disease. In addition, being overweight or older age may predispose you as well. There's a long list of other causes of kidney disease, and keeping up your appointments with your primary care provider can help assess your risk.
Conner: What can someone do if tests show that their kidney function is declining over time.
Dr. Sturdivant: Patients with declining function will be referred to a nephrologist or a kidney specialist for more specific evaluation and treatments for their kidneys. There are new medications that exist to help slow the progression of kidney disease, and a kidney doctor can help determine if these are right for you. The kidney doctor will also guide you through the complexity of declining kidney function, and offer recommendations on how best to slow down the decline. If you have advanced kidney disease or very low functioning kidneys, you may be referred for kidney replacement therapy, which includes kidney transplant and dialysis. The goal is always to get back to your life and live it well.
Conner: Doctor Sturdivant, thanks for this information about kidney health.
Dr. Sturdivant: You're welcome.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
