Innovative Renal Care Kidney Center of Plant City

02/13/2026

Love Your Kidneys Day (Valentine’s Day) is a reminder to focus on practical habits that support your health during dialysis.
• Move a little. Be active in ways that fit your care plan. The latest IRC blog encourages aiming for 30 minutes of exercise a day.
• Track what matters between visits. Know your blood pressure and take your medications as prescribed.
• If you manage diabetes, check your blood sugars regularly as part of your care plan.

As always, check with your care team before making any changes.
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Living with kidney disease means taking extra steps to protect your heart. People on dialysis are at higher risk for heart disease, and understanding the connection between kidney disease and heart health is important. The good news is that many risk factors can be managed. Small, everyday choices ....

02/09/2026

Potassium helps your muscles work and supports how nerves send signals. Healthy kidneys help keep potassium in the right range so your heart can beat at a steady pace. On hemodialysis, potassium levels can rise between sessions and affect your heartbeat, which is why your nutrition plan often includes guidance on potassium.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains why potassium matters for patients on hemodialysis and notes that your IRC clinic has a renal dietitian who can help you plan meals that fit your needs:

Explains in an easy-to-read format how food affects hemodialysis patients and describes the role of fluids, potassium, phosphorus, protein, sodium, calories, and vitamins and minerals.

02/06/2026

National Wear Red Day helps raise awareness of the importance of heart health, especially for patients managing ongoing care. Your heart supports every treatment and the routines that help you keep moving through your day. Taking time to learn about heart health and paying attention to how your body feels can help you stay engaged in your care and speak up when something feels different.
American Heart Association shares more about National Wear Red Day and why wearing red matters

On the first Friday of every February, which is designated as American Heart Month, the nation comes together, igniting a wave of red from coast to coast. Wear red to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and save lives. Because when we come together, there’s nothing we can’t do.

02/05/2026

Your dialysis access is the connection your care team uses to reach your bloodstream during treatment. Depending on your plan, that access may be a fistula, a graft, or a catheter.
If your access looks different or feels painful, warm, swollen, or has drainage, let your dialysis care team know immediately. For a clear, practical walkthrough of day-to-day access care and when to alert your provider, MedlinePlus is a helpful reference.

You have a vascular access for hemodialysis. Taking good care of your access helps make it last longer.

02/02/2026

Heart health is closely connected to dialysis care. Your heart and your kidneys affect each other, and blood pressure sits right in the middle of that connection. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) explains how kidney disease and high blood pressure can reinforce each other, and why blood pressure goals matter for protecting your heart. February, American Heart Month, is a good time to revisit heart health tips and information, then bring any questions to your care team.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. But you can do a lot to protect your heart.

01/27/2026

Himalayan sea salt is often marketed as a "healthier" option, but Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Regis Fernandes explains that salt is salt. Himalayan salt and other sea salts are still sodium chloride, so they can still add up quickly. Mayo Clinic notes that 1 teaspoon of rock salt, sea salt, or Himalayan salt has about 2,000 milligrams, and the best choice is to limit sodium intake overall. Follow the salt limits in your care plan and use any “health halo” claims as a reminder to check the label and measure carefully. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-is-himalayan-sea-salt-a-healthy-alternative-video/

01/23/2026

What is an emergency diet or meal plan? Emergency diets or meal plans are stricter than your everyday renal diet and help slow down the build up of toxins (potassium, phosphorus, fluid, etc.) in an emergency situation.

01/23/2026

01/23/2026

Winter Storm Alert: A significant winter storm is forecast to bring potentially crippling impacts to parts of the Southern U.S. Friday through this weekend, expanding up the East Coast Saturday night into Sunday. If you receive dialysis, please prepare now. For clinics in the storm’s path, call your local IRC center today to confirm appointments or reschedule early. Review your meal plan for power‑outage days and assemble an emergency kit with water, non‑perishable food, batteries, and written or printed medication lists. Our Emergency Hotline (1‑888‑880‑6867) is available to answer questions and help with scheduling. Dial 911 if you need urgent medical care or emergency assistance.
Please stay safe. Your health and safety are our priority.

01/23/2026

When you have kidney disease, extra phosphorus can build up in your blood. High phosphorus weakens your bones and harms your heart and blood vessels. You can protect your health by limiting phosphorus in your diet, taking medications as prescribed and working closely with your Innovative Renal Care team to keep phosphorus under control.

01/22/2026

Doing dialysis at home involves learning new skills and setting up a space that supports your treatment while staying closely connected with your care team. For some patients, home dialysis can offer more flexibility and reduce the need for frequent trips to a clinic. If you’re wondering whether home dialysis could be right for you, this link walks through what it involves, the training and ongoing support provided, and the questions you can explore with your care team as you consider the option together.

Home Dialysis Explained Home dialysis is a convenient and flexible alternative to in-center dialysis treatments, eliminating the need to travel to and from the dialysis center several times weekly. This approach empowers patients to manage their health more independently, with support from the Innov...