Our kidneys remove waste from our body and help balance our body's fluids. They also release hormones to help regulate our blood pressure, produce vitamin D and control the production of red blood cells. Kidney damage typically occurs slowly over many years and is often caused by diabetes or high blood pressure that is not properly controlled. This type of damage is called chronic kidney disease and it can worsen over time, causing kidney failure and resulting in the need for a kidney transplant.
More than 20 million Americans may have kidney disease, with African-Americans having a 3.5 times higher risk of developing it than other ethnicities. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 29 percent of all patients treated for kidney failure in the U.S. are African-American. The main risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and a family history of kidney failure.
Chronic kidney disease can be treated to prevent kidney failure if detected early. Nephrologists with Mercer Medicine seek to educate their patients about the importance of controlling blood pressure and blood sugar levels to reduce their risk of developing kidney disease from diabetes and hypertension. They also advise eating a low salt diet and stopping smoking as keys to slowing the progression of kidney disease.
As teachers of tomorrow's doctors, Mercer Medicine nephrologists are on a mission to deliver advanced, state-of-the-art health care to patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in the Central Georgia community. Mercer Medicine nephrologists are located at 657 Hemlock Street, Suite 200. For more information, please call (478) 301-2528.
Mercer Medicine nephrologists include:
Dr. Ajay Srivastava
Chief of the Division of Nephrology and Assistant Professor for the Mercer School of Medicine
Dr. Nnamdi K. Nwaohiri
Assistant Professor of Nephrology for the Mercer School of Medicine
Mercer Medicine is the multi-specialty physician practice and clinical component of the Mercer University School of Medicine through which faculty physicians provide advanced primary, as well as specialized care to patients throughout Central Georgia using the latest health care innovations, treatments and procedures while supporting a clinical learning environment for medical students and residents. Board Certified Internal and Family Medicine physicians specialize in cardiology, critical care medicine, endocrinology, infectious disease, nephrology, palliative care, psychiatry and behavioral science, pulmonology and rheumatology. Backed by the academic resources of Mercer University, Mercer Medicine physicians also conduct groundbreaking clinical research in the areas of cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, kidney and renal diseases and disorders, and pulmonology. Mercer Medicine currently employs more than 80 full-time faculty physicians, nurse clinicians, and support staff at clinic locations in Macon.
