Blog Articles

Surviving and Thriving with Dialysis: Tips to Care for Your Access Site

Your dialysis access site plays a critical role in your treatment. Here’s what you can do to help prevent infection, protect blood flow, recognize potential problems, and support safer, more effective care for your long-term health.

Jul 9th, 2026

All About Fluid Overload: Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Critical Next Steps

Fluid overload might not sound too serious, but it’s actually a critical problem that can lead to life-threatening complications. Here, learn the symptoms to watch for and how we can help you manage them and protect your health.

Jun 4th, 2026

Why Blood Pressure Control Is an Essential Part of CKD Management

High blood pressure doesn’t just go hand-in-hand with CKD — it can speed up kidney damage. Here, learn why blood pressure control is so important for protecting your kidneys and improving your overall health and well-being.

May 1st, 2026

Spring Clean Your Diet: 5 Foods that Support Kidney Health

Spring is a time of renewal, and that means it’s a great time to refresh your eating routine to support better kidney health. Here, learn about five delicious foods that can protect your kidneys while enhancing overall health, too.

Apr 3rd, 2026

National Kidney Month: 3 Surprising Signs of Kidney Problems

Kidney problems are more common than many people realize — but they don’t always cause obvious symptoms in their early stages. Here, learn three less-common symptoms that could mean it’s time to schedule a kidney health evaluation.

Mar 11th, 2026

A Perfect Match: How Your Heart and Kidneys Work Together

Your heart and kidneys depend on each other more than you may realize. When one struggles, the other often follows. Learn how these vital organs work together, what can disrupt the balance, and why protecting both is key to long-term health.

Feb 18th, 2026

Feeling Fatigued? The Link Between Anemia and Kidney Disease

Your kidneys play an important role in producing the red blood cells that carry oxygen to every part of your body. If you have kidney disease, that process can be compromised, leading to another condition called anemia. Here’s what you should know.

Jan 16th, 2026

What to Eat and Not Eat When Living with Kidney Disease

When you’re living with kidney disease, what you eat can make a real difference in how you feel and how well your kidneys function. These simple tips can help you support your kidneys and your overall wellness, too.

Dec 10th, 2025

Understanding Nephrotic Range Proteinuria

Protein in your urine isn’t normal, especially when those levels are high. Nephrotic-range proteinuria is a sign that your kidneys need special care. Here’s what to know about this condition and how we can help.

Nov 6th, 2025

What Causes an Electrolyte Deficiency?

Electrolytes keep your muscles, nerves, and heart running smoothly — and even small imbalances can affect your health. Learn what causes electrolyte deficiency and we can help restore balance for lasting energy and wellbeing.

Oct 13th, 2025

7 Tips to Keep Kidneys Healthy

Your kidneys play a vital role in keeping you healthy, yet when problems develop, it’s not always easy to spot them. These seven tips help prevent kidney issues so you can maintain your health and avoid serious complications.

Sep 25th, 2025

Dehydration and Proteinuria: Understanding the Link

High protein levels in your urine can signal kidney problems — or they could mean you’re dehydrated. Here’s how dehydration can lead to protein buildup and how to recognize the signs of dehydration.

Jun 17th, 2024

5 Signs of an Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolytes play critical roles in our health and wellness. Here, learn how to recognize an electrolyte imbalance before it causes serious problems.

May 14th, 2024

Diagnosed with Vasculitis? What to Expect Next

Vasculitis is a serious medical condition causing inflamed blood vessels. Fortunately, there are treatments to prevent complications and improve blood vessel health. Here’s how we can help.

Apr 2nd, 2024

4 Ways to Lower Your Risk of Kidney Disease

Millions of Americans have kidney disease, and that number is increasing. The good news is that kidney disease can be prevented with a few simple lifestyle changes, including the four listed here.

Mar 1st, 2024

What's Causing My Recurring Kidney Stones?

For many people, kidney stones are a one-time event. For others, stones form — and cause symptoms — on a regular basis. Here’s why kidney stones happen and what you can do to prevent them from recurring.

Jan 26th, 2024

Problems That Can Occur if You Have an Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolytes are minerals that carry tiny electrical charges to help your body function. An electrolyte imbalance can lead to serious health issues. Here’s how electrolytes work and what can happen if you have an imbalance.

Jan 1st, 2024

Try These Supplements to Improve Your Bone Health

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important for optimizing your nutrition. But if you have kidney problems, you can still wind up with deficiencies. These supplements could help.

Dec 7th, 2023

6 Reasons That May Be Causing Protein in Your Urine

Your urine contains lots of components, but excess protein shouldn’t be one of them. In fact, high levels of protein can be a sign of serious medical issues. Here are six reasons why protein can show up in urine and what we can do to help.

Nov 1st, 2023

How Various Foods Affect Your Kidneys

As filters for your blood, your kidneys can be directly affected by the foods you eat. Here’s how to adjust your diet to help your kidneys stay healthy and prevent complications that could damage these organs.

Oct 3rd, 2023

What Is Hemodialysis and When Would I Need It?

Hemodialysis plays a critical role in managing serious kidney problems, yet many people don’t know what it is or how it works. Here, learn the basics about hemodialysis and when our team prescribes it.

Sep 12th, 2023

Do You Have These Symptoms of Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease affects millions of Americans, and it can sometimes cause serious and even life-threatening complications. Knowing what symptoms to look for can help you get treatment as early as possible, before complications occur.

Aug 4th, 2023

7 Telltale Signs of Vasculitis

Vasculitis is a serious medical problem that can affect the veins in any part of your body — or your entire body. In this post, learn what symptoms to look for, so you can seek medical care as soon as possible.

Jul 5th, 2023

How to Protect Your Kidneys With Your Diet

Like any organ, your kidneys depend on the right nutrients to perform their best. Making these few simple changes to your diet can help protect your kidneys and prevent serious complications, such as kidney failure.

Jun 5th, 2023

The Link Between Edema and Nephrology

Edema is a type of swelling that happens when fluid builds up in your body, usually under your skin. If you have edema, here’s why your kidneys could be to blame.

May 5th, 2023

4 Types of Treatment for Kidney Disease

Kidney disease affects millions of people, and while there’s no cure, there are treatments that can help you manage your disease and lead a more comfortable life. In this post, you’ll learn about the four most common treatments.

Apr 10th, 2023

The Dangers of Hypertension

Hypertension affects millions of Americans, and although it rarely causes symptoms on its own, it can cause serious complications. In this post, learn about the serious dangers of hypertension and how we can help you manage your blood pressure.

Mar 6th, 2023

Health Conditions That Can Lead to an Electrolyte Disorder

Electrolytes are chemicals that help your body function. If your levels of electrolytes are out of balance, it can affect your health in serious ways. Here’s why electrolyte disorders happen and what we can do to help.

Feb 2nd, 2023

What Your Bone Pain May Mean

Chronic kidney disease is a surprisingly common cause of bone pain, occurring when the kidneys are no longer able to filter minerals and hormones effectively. Here’s how kidney-related bone pain is diagnosed and treated.

Jan 2nd, 2023

Are You Eating Foods that Are Too High in Sodium?

Sodium plays a pivotal role in staying healthy. And while consuming a small amount is necessary, taking in too much can be very bad. Here’s how to tell if your diet could be too high in sodium and what you can do to correct it.

Dec 5th, 2022

6 Causes of Proteinuria

It’s not unusual to have a little protein in your urine, but too much protein can be a sign of a medical problem that needs treatment. Here are six possible causes of proteinuria that you should know about.

Nov 1st, 2022

The Link Between Pregnancy and Proteinuria

Pregnancy is a time of great changes for your body, and sometimes, those changes can cause serious problems. Proteinuria — extra protein in your urine — is one symptom you should pay attention to. Here’s why.

Oct 4th, 2022

What Lifestyle Changes Can I Make to Reduce My Hypertension?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a contributing factor to both heart disease and strokes, which are two leading causes of death and disability. Medication can help you manage your hypertension, and so can simple lifestyle changes.

Sep 1st, 2022

3 Ways to Manage Your Vasculitis

Vasculitis, which is a condition that affects blood vessels, can have serious effects on your health. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help you manage your condition. Read on to learn about them here.

Aug 2nd, 2022

Why Does My Body Need Electrolytes?

Plenty of sports drinks advertise their electrolyte content. But what are electrolytes, and why do we need them? More importantly, what can we do if we develop an electrolyte imbalance? Read on to learn the answers.

Jul 1st, 2022

Does My Kidney Disease Require Dialysis?

Dialysis plays an essential role in the treatment of chronic kidney disease, but not every patient needs it. Here’s when our team typically recommends dialysis, along with a brief overview of dialysis options.

Jun 1st, 2022

The Link Between Dehydration and Proteinuria

Protein in your urine isn’t normal. In fact, sometimes it can be a sign of a serious medical problem. Other times, it can be caused by something more benign, such as dehydration. Here’s how the two can be linked.

May 1st, 2022

How Can I Get My Hypertension Under Control?

Hypertension affects millions of Americans, increasing their risk of developing serious health problems. The good news is that there are plenty of simple things you can do to lower your blood pressure — starting today.

Apr 1st, 2022

Understanding Your Treatment Options for Vasculitis

Vasculitis causes widespread inflammation inside your blood vessels, hampering circulation that your tissues and organs need to function. The good news: It can be treated. Here’s how our team can help.

Mar 6th, 2022

The Link Between Vasculitis and Shortness of Breath

Vasculitis is an uncommon cause of shortness of breath, but it’s an important one to know about. Here’s how this blood vessel condition can affect your lungs and how we can help treat it.

Feb 1st, 2022

Understanding Common Causes of Edema

Edema is a kind of swelling that’s associated with a host of underlying medical problems, including kidney disease and kidney failure. If you have swelling in your feet or hands, here’s what you need to know about edema.

Jan 1st, 2022

The Importance of Dialysis

Dialysis helps replace essential functions of the kidneys when they’re too damaged or diseased to function fully on their own. If your kidneys are damaged, here’s why having regular dialysis treatments is so important.

Dec 1st, 2021

Does Blood in My Urine Mean I Have Kidney Disease?

Seeing blood in your urine can be pretty scary. Plenty of people worry it’s a clear sign of underlying kidney disease. However, that’s just one possible cause. There are plenty of others. Read on to learn what they are.

Nov 7th, 2021

Life After a Kidney Transplant

If a kidney transplant is in your future, it’s natural to be excited — and a little anxious about what to expect. This post gives a quick overview of some of the most important things you should know about life after a transplant.

Oct 1st, 2021

Tips for Living With Lupus

Dealing with the widespread symptoms of lupus can be frustrating. And while medications can help relieve symptoms, so can simple lifestyle changes. Here are seven changes you can make today.

Sep 1st, 2021

What Every Diabetic Should Know About Their Kidney Health

Diabetes affects millions of Americans, and every one has an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes, here’s what you should know about your kidneys — and what you can do to keep them healthy.

Aug 2nd, 2021

Blood in Your Urine? Here's What it Could Mean

Having blood if your urine can be alarming, but it’s actually more common than you may think. Still, it’s a sign of a problem, and it could be serious. If you have blood in your urine, here’s what could be causing it.

Jul 15th, 2021

Treatments for Your Kidney Disease

Millions of Americans are affected by kidney disease, including both acute and chronic disease. Getting early treatment is critical for preventing more serious organ damage. Here’s a quick review of four treatments our team offers.

Jun 8th, 2021

The Importance of Managing Your Hypertension

Most people know high blood pressure is a major cause of heart disease. But, did you know it can cause kidney disease, too? Here’s why managing your blood pressure is important for the health of your kidneys.

May 23rd, 2021

How Nephrology Can Help With Edema

Edema is a common symptom that’s associated with different medical problems. When it’s caused by kidney problems, nephrology care is the first line of defense against more serious complications. Here’s what you should know about edema and nephrology.

Apr 16th, 2021

The Link Between Kidney and Heart Health

As two interconnected systems, your heart health and kidney health are closely linked. Find out how they work together and how problems with one can affect the other.

Mar 16th, 2021

How Obesity Increases Your Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease

Obesity is one of the most prominent risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease. Read on to learn what your kidneys do and how obesity can affect them.

Feb 9th, 2021

Kidney Disease and Dialysis Patients: Here's What You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine

If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease, you may have some questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what you need to know.

Jan 27th, 2021

Recognizing Signs of Vasculitis

Vasculitis refers to an inflammation of blood vessels that can occur in a number of areas. While vasculitis can sometimes be hard to diagnose, here are some signs to watch out for.

Dec 8th, 2020

Dialysis 101: What to Know Before Starting Treatment

If you’ve been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, dialysis can be a life-saving process. Here’s what you need to know before starting treatment.

Nov 30th, 2020

5 Things You Can Do to Help Prevent Kidney Stones

Anyone with a history of kidney stones wants to do everything possible to prevent these debilitatingly painful stones from forming. Find out five practical steps you can take to reduce the chances of kidney stones.

Oct 1st, 2020

New Physician Announcement: Dr. Pankow To join HKSC In July 2020

The entire HKSC team is excited to announce that Dr. Jonathan Pankow will be joining our practice in June 2020. Dr. Jonathan Pankow was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas by two parent physicians.

May 2nd, 2020

Helpful Tips For Telehealth

As the Covid 19 pandemic continues to affect the United States, many physicians including our doctors at HKSC have begun offering telemedicine. It has not only allowed our practice to do our part in flattening the curve, by taking precautions to limit ...

Apr 28th, 2020