Orlando M. Gutiérrez, M.D., M.M.Sc., obtained his medical degree from the University of Toledo College of Medicine in 2002. He then completed internship and residency training at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from 2002 to 2005, and a clinical and research fellowship in nephrology from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital Joint Nephrology Training Program in 2008.
With the support of an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellowship award, he completed a Masters in Medical Science degree in human clinical investigation from Harvard Medical School during his fellowship, graduating as the valedictorian of his class. Dr. Gutiérrez joined the faculty of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in 2008.
Gutierrez is now an Associate Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine and the section head for outcomes and epidemiology research in the Division of Nephrology at UAB. His focus on kidney disease making him one of the leading doctors in the field.
What are the signs that your kidneys are not working properly?
Swelling, tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, high blood pressure.
Does drinking 8 glasses daily help your kidneys?
Not necessarily; there is no good evidence that everyone needs to drink that much per day.
What is a nephrotic kidney?
This refers to a kidney that is spilling a lot of protein in the urine.
Can you reverse kidney damage?
In certain cases, kidney damage can be reversed, but not in all cases.
Does hepatitis affect kidney functions?
Certain forms of hepatitis like hepatitis C or B can certainly damage the kidney.
Can you get rid of high blood pressure?
Yes! In many cases, exercise, weight loss, and reducing sodium (salt) in the diet can lower blood pressure.
What would be the earliest signs of possible kidney problems?
Unfortunately, early kidney problems do not have signs or symptoms; that is why screening with blood or urine tests is important in high risk individuals (those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or strong family history).
What can I do about proteinuria?
This depends on the cause of proteinuria; different medications may be effective depending on the cause.
Is frequent urination a sign of kidney disease?
Not necessarily; many things can cause frequent urination.
How do diabetes and alcohol effect kidneys?
Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney disease in the US; poor blood sugar control can damage the kidneys. Alcohol normally does not cause kidney problems.
How much water would you recommend on a daily basis to help prevent kidney disease?
This depends on the person; in general, I advocate letting your body tell you– if you are thirsty, drink water; if not, don’t.
Hey, Doctor, I’m a whey protein drinker as I’m a weight lifter. Is it necessary to cycle off of it for a period of time?
From a kidney perspective, this is not necessary.
Hey doctor, I think I might have a prostate problem because I bleed a lot.
This may be a serious problem that should be evaluated by a urologist.
Can a person who does not have hypertension or diabetes be considered at risk for kidney failure or disease?
If you have a strong family history of kidney disease, are overweight, or have heart disease, you may be at increased risk of kidney disease.
How do you test kidney function? Blood test?
Yes; simple blood and urine tests available at any medical laboratory or through your primary care physician’s office.
What A1C # is considered diabetic?
Generally, greater than 6.
Are little dry bumpy patches, little bumps on your skin associated with maybe a kidney issue?
Not necessarily; there many different causes of this, usually not due to kidney disease.
Doctor, what foods or drinks can we consume to help our kidneys?
The same foods and drinks for a heart-healthy diet– lots of fruits and vegetables, moderate intake of red meat, low sodium, water instead of soft drinks or sugary drinks.
I have high levels of protein in my urine. What does that mean?
It means that there some sort of damage in your kidneys that is calling them to spill out protein; this should be evaluated by a doctor.
Can drinking Diet Coke as a diabetic harm your kidneys?
There is not good evidence that his harms the kidneys, but I always recommend people substitute water for soft drinks in general.
Dr. Orlando, Can diet and exercise modifications alone manage diabetes without insulin if your pancreas is the culprit?
If you have type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, you have to have insulin to survive; if you have type 2 diabetes (adult onset), diet and exercise can be effective for managing without insulin.
Hello Doc, my mom was just told yesterday that her kidneys have gotten a little worse. She’s hypertensive with thyroid disorder. What can she do to stop or slow down the progression?
Often times, certain medications can help to slow progression of kidney problems depending on the cause.
What steps, if any, can be taken to lower the creatine level? I know someone whose levels have been high for a few years.
It depends on the cause of the high creatinine levels; sometimes, certain medications or lifestyle changes can help lower creatinine.
Does high blood pressure medication damage my kidneys?
Get Well Wednesday: Dr. Gutierrez Answers Your Kidney Questions was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
