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Evidence-based writing on kidney health, cardiovascular risk, hypertension and prevention.
Does Creatine Damage the Kidneys? What the Evidence Really Says
Mark is 34 years old, strength trains three times a week, and started taking creatine a few months ago. At his most recent blood test, his creatinine level had increased slightly. Nothing dramatic, but enough to worry him and send him searching online: “Does creatine damage the kidneys?” He found everything from people who condemned it outright to others who defended it unconditionally, but nowhere did he find a clear explanation of what that number actually meant. This scenario is common in clinical practice. And it deserves an answer based on scientific evidence, not on who you ask.
The treatment of hypertension has changed: what you should know to protect your heart and kidneys
The latest international hypertension guidelines have reinforced an important shift in the way high blood pressure is prevented and treated. Rather than focusing solely on reaching a target number, the goal today is to protect the heart, kidneys, and brain before damage occurs. “Doctor, I’ve always had slightly high blood pressure. Everyone in my family is like that.” It’s a phrase I hear frequently in clinic. The people who say it usually feel perfectly well. They have no pain, dizziness, or other symptoms. High blood pressure has become part of their everyday life and no longer worries them. And that is precisely where the problem lies.
Do you Really Know How Chronic Kidney Disease Is Detected?
When we have a blood test, we usually pay attention to our cholesterol or blood sugar levels. Far fewer people know how to interpret the two measurements that best reflect the health of their kidneys. That gap in knowledge has consequences: chronic kidney disease (CKD) can progress silently for years, and by the time it is finally detected, some of the damage is already irreversible. Detecting chronic kidney disease requires looking beyond a single number. Different indicators of kidney health need to be assessed together. That is why it is important to understand how this disease is diagnosed.
The Future of Nephrology: Protecting Kidney Health Before Disease Develops
Discover why protecting your kidneys before damage occurs could transform healthcare. Traditionally, nephrology has focused on treating kidney disease once it has already reached an advanced stage. However, a new perspective advocates acting much earlier: protecting kidney health before damage occurs. This shift could improve not only kidney health but also cardiovascular health.