High blood pressure can have a major impact on both your heart and kidneys—but understanding your risk can help you take steps to protect your health. In this episode, we break down the connection between blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart disease, including the key tests that can help detect problems early. You’ll also learn practical ways to support your kidney and cardiovascular health and how to prepare for more informed conversations with your healthcare team.
This episode is supported by Boehringer Ingelheim and developed in collaboration with The Mended Hearts.
In this episode we heard from:
Daniel Edmonston, MD, MHS, is a board-certified nephrologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, where he is also a faculty member at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. He cares for adults with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and related cardiovascular conditions, and his research focuses on the close connection between kidney and heart health. Dr. Edmonston leads clinical trials and large real-world studies aimed at detecting kidney disease earlier and helping patients receive evidence-based treatments that protect both the kidneys and heart. His work has examined gaps in kidney disease screening, the use of newer kidney-protective medications, and the cardiovascular complications of kidney disease.
Rory Pace has dedicated her career to nephrology nutrition, a field in which she is a leader, educator, and patient advocate. Rory earned a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the University of California, Davis and a Master’s in Public Health from UCLA. She has been a board-certified specialist in renal nutrition for 20 years, providing expert nutrition care for people with kidney disease. Rory has published and presented on numerous nephrology nutrition topics and is a strong advocate for the role of nutrition in the care of people with kidney disease.
Bob Sheridan is a 55 year old heart attack survivor from Michigan. He is passionate about sharing his journey to encourage and support others living with heart disease. Following his heart attack in 2016, Bob was diagnosed with heart failure with an ejection fraction of 26% and received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in 2017. He also has a history of hypertension. Through his experience, Bob offers a personal perspective on navigating recovery, adapting to life and living well with heart disease.
Additional Resources
Learn more about high blood pressure and your kidneys
Learn more about our collaborating partner, The Mended Hearts.
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