Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Centers of Excellence
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder that can lead to chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and kidney failure. Affecting between 500,000 and 600,000 Americans, treatment targets symptom management with diet, medications, and, if needed, dialysis or a kidney transplant.
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What is Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)?
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) affects about 600,000 people in the United States, according to the PKD Foundation. It is one of the most common genetic kidney disorders, yet many people don’t even know they have it until later in life. Today, we’ll break down what PKD is, how it’s diagnosed, and how people can live well with it.
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Kidney Stones
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of Let’s Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Jayasree Grandhi of Dallas Nephrology Associates breaks down kidney stones—what they are, what causes them, and how to prevent and treat them. Affecting up to 1 in 5 men and 1 in 10 women, kidney stones are common but manageable with the right care.
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Pregnancy and Kidney Disease: What to expect?
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition that affects how the kidneys work over time. For women with CKD who are planning to have a family, there are important factors to consider to ensure the best possible outcomes. Can I have a baby if I have CKD?
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Kidney Disease: From Diagnosis, Staging and Common Lab Tests
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of Let's Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Lauren McDonald, a nephrologist with Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses the diagnosis, staging, and common tests for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dr. McDonald explains how kidney disease is diagnosed, common symptoms, and some of the key tests, including BUN, creatinine, GFR, hemoglobin A1C, kidney biopsies, and more. She also discusses the importance of being your own healthcare advocate, family histories, how to maintain health records, and the importance of monitoring your diabetes, and...
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What is New in Kidney Transplant?
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
This episode of Let's Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Saim, a nephrologist with Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses what is new in kidney transplant. The podcast discusses advancements in kidney transplantation, focusing on the benefits and risks of living and deceased donor transplant. Dr. Saim highlights that over 25,000 transplants were performed last year, with nearly 7,000 from living donors. Living donor transplants offer better survival rates and shorter waiting time. The waiting list has nearly 100,000 patients, with blood group O having the longest wait. ...
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Dialysis Patients and Their Diet
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Let's Talk About Kidneys Dialysis Patients and Their Diet In this episode of Let’s Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Rao, a nephrologist at Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses the importance of diet for all dialysis patients. She emphasizes the need for dietary modifications even before dialysis, focusing on reducing salt intake, managing potassium and phosphorus levels, and maintaining adequate protein consumption. Introduction Dr. Rao shares her background, mentioning that she joined Dallas Nephrology Associates fifteen years ago and sees patients mostly in Mesquite, Sunnyvale, and...
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New Treatment Therapies In Kidney Care
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dr. Roberto Collazo addresses the development of new treatments for kidney disease that are essential for slowing disease progression, improving patient outcomes, and preventing kidney failure. Throughout his discussion, he will examine various therapeutic options currently available, as well as those expected in the future. What types of treatments have there been in the past for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)? Dr. Collazo addressed the medications available during the 1990s and early 2000s. He also discussed newly...
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Weight Management Strategies with CKD
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dallas Nephrology Associates Dietitian, Nadiya Lakhani, RDN, CSR, LD, FNKF, explains why weight management is important to the general population and how it affects the kidneys. How does weight affect the kidneys? When the body carries more weight than it can handle, it increases the demand on the kidneys to hyper filtrate. In other words, it forces your kidneys to work harder, which will eventually cause them to be overworked. On the flip side, unintentional weight loss increases the risk of that person having increased...
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Kidney Transplant - Getting Started
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dr. Muhammad Qureshi talks about the benefits of a kidney transplant, why it’s a good choice after kidney failure, and what the process looks like before, during and after. Why should a CKD patient consider a kidney transplant? Dr. Qureshi talks about the fact that there are both mortality and morbidity benefits of a kidney transplant. In other words, not only do you live longer, but you live better. Who qualifies for a kidney transplant? Anyone who has a kidney function less than 20% or someone who has already...
info_outlineTake a behind-the-scenes look into the world of DNA with real examples of our values in daily life. In this episode, Dr. Ruben Velez reflects on DNA's growth and what it means to provide 50 years of kidney care and health.
How Has Healthcare and DNA Changed?
Dr. Velez has been with DNA for 38 years. DNA was founded in a different era of healthcare, in 1971, just before dialysis was approved by Congress in 1972. Dr. Velez describes the growth as impressive, having seen DNA be involved locally, state-wide, and nation-wide with almost every nephrology organization.
Dr. Velez reflects on the early days of DNA and how healthcare has changed since then. The increased availability and education of dialysis have transformed patients' lives and their families. Dr. Velez shares that his work as a physician is to open a door into his patients' lives, learn from them, and ultimately become a part of their families. A smile or a laugh from a patient is one of the most essential medicines. In Dr. Velez's opinion, the definition of a good physician is not the one who knows the most but who cares the most.
How Has DNA Influenced the Nephrology Field?
DNA has been involved with research from the beginning, including dialysis and modern medications and creating early dialysis software systems. In addition, DNA has collaborated with the Dallas County Medical Society, along with other county-level leaderships, where they were able to provide care to community members without insurance, as well as the National Kidney Foundation, which allowed them to evaluate patients with kidney problems they would have been unaware of.
Dr. Velez believes that we are entering a new era of healthcare, one where we can't yet see the full scope of the revolution on the horizon. Artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and other technological advancements will likely change the field of medicine in ways that can't be predicted. Telemedicine is one tool that Dr. Velez utilizes cautiously, as it can make healthcare more accessible but has specific limitations.
The History and Legacy of DNA
In the field of nephrology, organizations always turned to DNA to see what they were doing. In addition, Dr. Velez recalls that nephrologists from across the country would call to learn from others, which he believes to be the key to delivering better care: learning and working together.
In Velez's words, DNA has been there from day 1 and will continue to be there. In the future, he hopes that the need for dialysis will be delayed or even cured altogether but that everything is a work in progress. For himself, Dr. Velez continues to prioritize having fun, caring about his work, and building a bond with his patients every day.
DISCLAIMER
Dallas Nephrology Associates’ (DNA) podcast series, Let’s Talk About Kidneys, is provided for general information purposes only and does not replace the need to talk with a healthcare professional about your unique situation, care and options. Our goal is to provide you with as much information as possible so you can be as informed as possible. Reference to any specific product, service, entity or organization does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by DNA.
READ FULL DISCLAIMER (https://www.dneph.com/podcast-disclaimer/)