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Bio
i grew up in northern NJ, USA and have 6 brothers and sisters.
I went to school at US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and USU School of Medicine in Bethesda, MD. I trained in internal Medicine at Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA and in Nephrology in Hypertension at UC San Diego School of Medicine. I am board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.
I have special training in diving/hyperbaric/undersea medicine.
I live in San Diego, CA with my beautiful wife and children.
I believe a healthy lifestyle (proper diet, lots of physical activity) is the best way to health and try to live this every day/set a good example for my patients.
I really like HealthTap and i hope that i am able to help complete strangers understand their illnesses and stay well. Knowledge is power and sharing is good!
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Nephrology and Dialysis
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
61 Answers
8 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 32-year-old member asked:
My sister says she has chronic kidney failure. are family members more likely to get the same thing?
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Sometimes: There are many causes of chronic kidney disease. Some of those causes are genetic/familial and so family members may get the same condition. Others ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Maybe: Chief symptoms would be blood in urine and irritative voiding symptoms (burning, frequent urination, pain on urination). Generally, patients with ear... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Probably: Ilicit drug use is very common in america. Many companies (from supermarkets to it companies to government to airlines) are concerned about health, oc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Unlikely: Lyrica (aka pregabalin) is not usually associated with liver/kidney damage. In case of kidneys, many drugs can cause idiosyncratic /allergic reaction... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Probably not: Dialysis is difficult. Patient may have low levels of import substance like glutamine or carnitine. Unfortunately we do not have evidence that supplem... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
No: Ondansetron was originally studied and approved for cancer patients. Like many drugs, its use has been greatly expanded over the years. It is probabl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Fatigue, low hr, ED: All BP meds can cause side effects. Atenolol is a good drug for BP but may cause low heart rate, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, erectile dysfunc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Yes you are.: If father has pkd, 50% chance that he passed it on to you;if not, very unlikely you have it. Uncertain that you have to get tested, as little effecti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Bubble may be protei: Bubbles in urine may be normal or may be a sign of protein in urine. If you have swelling, high bp, or other symptoms, should have urinalysis (dipsti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Avoid cold : Do you get hives when you go out in cold weather or in cold water? (you can also leave an ice cube on your skin and see if a hive develops) treatment... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Many conditions: - diverticulitis, colon cancer, gall bladder disease, hepatitis, pneumonia, constipation, urinary tract infection, aneurysm, urinary stones, cancer of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Exercise: Lift weights. Eat adequate (1gram /kg body weight) protein. No need for supplements. Testosterone and derivatives will build muscle but have harmful s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
How much protein?: Small amt protein in urine may not be dangerous. The larger the amount the greater the chance of kidney damage and eventual kidney failure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Many causes: Swelling = retaining salt/sodium + water. Could be kidneys retaining, could be medicines (such as Nifedipine or amlodipine or nsaids). Could be hear... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
We don't (usually): Most kidney cysts are benign (not harmful). No treatment is needed. For many cysts (polycystic kidney disease) they sometimes cause kidney failure. N... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Possibly: If patient is on dialysis, we assume there is little functional kidney left, but kidneys, ureters, and bladder may still develop cancer, especially if... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Sometimes: The dash diet (google it) (it should be a lifestyle, not a diet, because diets are temporary) may reduce BP by 5-8 mm hg (points). Some drastic improv... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Yes and no: Creatinine = 5 suggests fairly advanced kidney insufficiency. CRP is a marker or measure of inflammation (many things including insuffisance reinale ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Dexa?iodide saturate: Not sure 'bout DEXA (?Bone density scan?); ki is elemental iodine which is taken up by thyroid. Thyroid needs iodide to make thyroid hormone, but taki... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Depends on test: Is 24h urine for protein? - I am not aware of interference on this. For 24h urine for creatinine, drugs which block renal tubular secretion of creati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Kidney death: If the blood supply to the kidney is blocked or damaged (by clot or trauma), kidney tissue dies. Renal infarction can involve some or all of 1 or bot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Sick Support: You can think of collagen as sort of the glue and supporting tissue that holds our bodies together. There is collagen holding our eye lens in place a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
You are lucky: - we have some understanding why some gain weight/get high BP (genes, lifestyle) but not completely. You are lucky, but it is also possible that thin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Multiple: Furosemide is used to reduce salt/water in body and thus treat edema, heart failure or high bp. Chief side effects include low potassium levels, gout... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Yes: Nephrectomies are done for many reasons (most common is probably kidney cancer) and are done on a daily basis in nearly all large hospitals in the us.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Depends on the cause: Swelling can be caused by many things (liver, kidney , heart diseases, and blood clots are the serious ones). Everyday, reversible non-serious causes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Temporal wasting: Loss of fat around temples, sunken cheeks, loss of muscle mass. Stretch marks can be a sign.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Possibly: Ck level usually goes up when muscle is damaged but virus can cause this esp if a lot of vomiting.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Several mechanisms: - damages blood vessels by harming cells lining them. - causes increased work/strain for heart muscle, causing it to enlarge (like any muscle that ge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
No: Urinalysis looks for protein+blood, sugar, specific gravity, ph. These things may predict kidney damage or kidney disease, but are not sensitive to de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Probably not: If you have severe trauma (enough to break rib) you could also have a contused (bruised) kidney, which could then bleed. But a broken rib alone (espe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Maybe: You are unlikely to need more than 1g protein/kg body wt/day. The extra protein and glutamine (an amino acid) above and beyond dietary intake are unli... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Rarely: If blood pressure is really high, it could cause a stroke (very serious) and some strokes can cause abrupt loss of consciousness (fainting); generally... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Through the back: Sonogram of kidneys is usually done with probe on back, so see kidneys thru back, not thru belly. Since uterus is low and in front, it should not get... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Yes.: Allegra (fexofenadine) and Ibuprofen together do not normally cause adverse drug reactions. Allegra (fexofenadine) can be taken regularly safely for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Probably not: This drug is closely related to diphenydramine (benadryl); it is available over the counter in canada and probably of low potential for abuse. I woul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Yes.: Chest=pectoral muscles over chest wall. Breast=fat+glandular tissue over pecs. Extra fat/wt gain may increase breast size a little, but not a lot. Tr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Living donor: Sounds like you need kidney transplant. Important to have good center (data on survival at srtr.Org) ; best kidney is living related, then living unr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Maybe: What is cause of cramps? Ibuprofen may make BP harder to control. It should be taken occasionally, but not on a regular basis (more than once/twice d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Multiple things: Kidney disease, fibromuscular dysplasia inarrowing of blood vessel to kidney) and abnormal hormone levels. Obesity and sleep apnea are also increasin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Swelling: Dropsy is an older term for swelling, which represents salt and water retention and which may occur in the lungs and/or legs. It is most commonly a r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Can be serious: - 2nd degree goes thru epidermis and may cause blistering - can be serious if large surface area or if gets infected- requires careful wound manageme... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Probably not: High potassium may cause life threatening heart rhythm. Best not to mess around with it. If it is high, standard treatments are: reduce dietary inta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Type 2 Diabetes???: Initial management of all type 2 diabetes is lifestyle: walk a lot (1hour/day). Lose weight if you are over weight. Reduce total calorie intake. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
DASH diet: (google dash diet for hypertension). The specific dietary restrictions depend on how severe your kidney disease and what your labs look like. Gener... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
+ for pregnancy?: - if so, tests for hiv, hepatitis, stds, other conditions which could be passed to baby
- don't smoke
- take multivitamin with iron
- ultrasound to ch... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Probably: I am not familiar with that particular drug, but it sounds like an anabolic steroid like one would use to build muscle mass. There is no medical reas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Yes, if take too muc: Magnesium oxide 420mg once/twice daily should not make muscles weak but if you take large amounts and have kidney failure, your magnesium level may ge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
ORS: -ensure c diff is treated properly (flagyl or vancocin); o/w replace stool losses with oral rehydration solution (like gatorade) clear liquids, broth ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Hammesanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 30 years experience
Rogue warrior: Your immune system is supposed to fight infection and leave your body alone. For various reasons, sometimes, your immune system runs amok and damages ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
212
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Hammes is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Hammes is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thanks. Will check out the Dash diet.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! is polysystic kidney disease life threatening?
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! What cause both feet to swell
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, MD
Graduated 1993MD
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