E153: Dr. Raeeda Gheewala on Sports Nephrology—Hydration, NSAIDs, Protein & Kidneys

Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast with Dr. Kerry Reller! This week, I am joined by Dr. Raeeda Gheewala—“the Kidney Queen”—a double board-certified internist and nephrologist pioneering the field of sports nephrology, where kidney health meets athletic performance. In this episode, we explore how hydration, heat illness, pain medications like NSAIDs, high-protein diets, creatine, caffeine, and electrolyte drinks can impact kidney function. Dr. Gheewala shares warning signs athletes shouldn’t ignore (like blood in the urine and foamy urine), practical hydration strategies, how to avoid heat-related kidney injury, and when primary care should screen and refer for silent kidney disease. Tune in to learn how to protect your kidneys while supporting peak performance and long-term health.Dr. Raeeda Gheewala is a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Nephrology with over two decades of clinical experience. She has dedicated her career to advancing kidney health and exploring its vital connection to physical performance. As one of the few specialists in Sports Nephrology, Dr. Gheewala blends her expertise in kidney medicine with her passion for sports and wellness—helping athletes optimize hydration, recovery, and kidney function for peak performance.Beyond her clinical work, she advocates for prevention and proactive health, empowering individuals to protect their kidneys through informed lifestyle choices. Her patient-centered, holistic approach has earned her respect among colleagues and athletes alike.Dr. Gheewala continues to educate and inspire through her practice, speaking engagements, and online platform, where she shares evidence-based insights on how balanced living supports kidney and overall health.00:28 – Intro to Dr. Raeeda Gheewala + “sports nephrology”01:12 – The former NFL player story that sparked her mission04:29 – Why kidney health is overlooked + what labs matter (GFR)07:27 – Heat illness spectrum: heat exhaustion → heat stroke09:42 – Dehydration + low blood flow: how kidneys get injured11:31 – NSAIDs after workouts: the “worst time” to take ibuprofen13:39 – High-protein intake: performance needs vs kidney strain16:03 – Creatine: what’s safe, what’s misunderstood, what to monitor21:00 – Overhydration + hyponatremia: why electrolytes matter36:33 – When to screen/ refer: silent kidney disease + ACR + kidney functionConnect with Dr. GheewalaWebsite: sportsnephrology.comInstagram: @thekidneyqueenmdYouTube: TheKidneyQueenMDTikTok: @sportskidneycoachConnect with Dr. RellerPodcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryrellermd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFamilyMedicineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearwaterfamilymedicine/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kerryrellermdClearwater Family Medicine and Allergy website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwa...Podcast: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou...Subscribe to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon music, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Pandora.