Chances are good that you know your blood pressure. After all, home BP monitors are inexpensive and widely available. You probably have a rough idea of your cholesterol levels, too, since your doctor has likely ordered a blood test. But do you know how well your kidneys are working? It is time to love your kidneys and give them the attention they deserve.
Have you ever been tested for albumin in your urine with a uACR (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio)? Do you know your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), which is usually calculated from your blood creatinine level?
More importantly, do you know what those numbers mean?
How Do You Know if You Love Your Kidneys Enough?
Watch Joe describe this week’s People’s Pharmacy interview in this super-short video:
Here is something that surprised us. Do you know which B vitamin researchers are studying for its potential beneficial effects on kidney function?
Here’s a hint: it is the same form of vitamin B3 that has been studied for preventing skin cancers and reducing the risk of additional basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers in people who have already had them.
Could this form of vitamin B3 also help protect the kidneys? Our guest, kidney specialist Dr. Samir Parikh, explains why researchers are so interested in nicotinamide and kidney metabolism.
In our latest radio show and podcast, Show 1482: Are Your Kidneys in Trouble? Two Tests Could Tell You, we also discuss:
- The two kidney tests you should know
- Why kidney disease can remain hidden for years
- How NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can affect the kidneys
- The possible kidney risks of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- Why SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 drugs are changing the treatment of kidney disease
- Hydration, diet and other practical ways to protect kidney function (how much water to drink?)
- The intriguing research on nicotinamide and kidney health
Listen to the full People’s Pharmacy radio show here:
You can also listen to The People’s Pharmacy podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, or subscribe through our RSS feed.
Your kidneys quietly filter your blood day after day, usually without demanding much attention. Perhaps it is time to return the favor.
Do you know your kidney numbers? Find out why you should keep track!
