Dialysis is a machine that purifies the blood, explains Dr. Christian Suarez, Nephrologist with Baptist Health South Florida. After the blood is clean, it gets back to the patient. Filters remove extra fluids and extra electrolytes. Dialysis is needed for patients who get the stage 5 of kidney disease. Physicians evaluate the functioning of the…...

Can an infection of the urinary tract spread to the kidneys? Wilbert Fuerte, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist and Educator Specialist with Baptist Health South Florida, talks about the types of infections and what happens when the bacteria travels to the kidneys...

Dr. Jorge Busse, Nephrologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains kidneys are connected to the bladder by the ureters. "If you are lacking calcium, you will not excrete it properly and you will keep it in your body," he says. He also points out kidneys do a lot of filtering of the blood, and they…...

Kidney disease is rising, just like most chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure according to Dr. Samantha Taghva, Internal Medicine Physician with Baptist Health South Florida. More than 1 in 7 Americans are estimated to have CKD (Chronic kidney disease), but 30 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and most of them…...

Dr. Christian Suarez, Nephrologist with Baptist Health South Florida, describes the main risk factors for kidney disease: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and blood vessel disease, obesity, smoking, older age and abnormal kidney structure. Blood pressure higher than 140 over 90 can also lead to chronic kidney disease, he explains. The doctor says it is…...

Patients with low sodium can start to affect their neurological state. They may start to get a little bit confused, they might start to slur a little bit, they may have few regularities in their gait, the way they walk, seizures and, even, coma. Potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium are done mostly in the kidney.…...

With a digital imaging, Dr. Christian Suarez, Nephrologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains the stages of kidney disease and progression of chronic condition. The specialist explains there are 5 stages of kidney disease. In the last stage, the patient needs dialysis. Depending of the stages, physicians design the treatment for each patient...

Nephrologists are doctors who treat patients who have problems with the kidneys. Dr. Christian Suarez, Nephrologist with Baptist Health South Florida, also explains those physicians manage problems with hypertension and electrolytes disturbances. The doctor explains in normal conditions, the kidney measures around 10 to 12 cm long. With a digital imaging, he describes how the…...