Dr Mark Kennedy - Private Internal Medicine Specialist

Postal Address

Dr Mark Kennedy
Western Hills Clinic
74 Western Hills Drive
Kensington
Whangarei 0112

Contact Details

Phone (09) 435 4627, or if URGENT, Linda Clinical Nurse Specialist 021 689 447 outside of clinic hours
Mobile Emergency Phone (021) 702 395
Email admin@westernhillsclinic.co.nz
Healthlink EDI: west74hc

For any urgent Echocardiogram, Exercise Stress Echocardiogram or Exercise Tolerance Test, contact  Clinical Nurse Specialist (Linda) on (09) 435 4627 on Tuesday and Thursday (or 021 689 447 outside those days).  If she is unavailable and it is URGENT, call Mark Kennedy on (021) 702 395. We can undertake Transthoracic Echocardiograms most weekdays. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Patient information:
In RA the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joints. This results in inflamed (red, hot, swollen), stiff and painful joints and eventually the destruction of the cartilage and bone of joints. RA can occur at any age. The cause is unknown.
 
Symptoms do not only involve the joints but you may suffer from tiredness, low energy, fevers, poor appetite with weight loss and poor sleep.
 
Diagnosis is made on the basis of your history and examination of your joints. X-rays may be normal in the early stages of the disease. MRI can be more sensitive at picking up early changes but can also be normal. Blood tests are done looking for an antibody that is present in about 75% of people with RA. This is called the rheumatoid factor. Unfortunately people who don’t have RA can have a positive rheumatoid factor test. Other blood tests can also help make the diagnosis.
 
Treatment includes medications to relieve pain and inflammation. It also involves medication aiming at modifying the immune system to stop it from damaging the joints further. There are several medications in this group and your specialist will discuss side effects and benefits with you so you can work out which suit you best.  

https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/private/internal-medicine/dr-mark-kennedy-private-internal-medicine/