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THE BEAN:
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 Your demographic information is a vital part of your care. It is protected by HIPAA and therefore cannot be shared or altered without patient consent.
What is considered demographic information?
Why is it important? Demographic information is vital for medical billing, insurance, communications, and patient identification. Out-of-date demographic information can lead to:
How you can update your information:
We try to update this information on an annual basis. You can review our previous post on HIPAA (Be HIP(PA) and Know Your Rights) to learn how we protect your information. If you have questions, concerns, or any changes in the new year, please do not hesitate to call our office.  We believe in recognizing and acknowledging the growth and hard work our team has shown. To do this, we began a program within the office we call KUDOS+. Our team is able to give praise and acknowledge exemplary work by their teammates throughout the quarter. At the end, the teammate with the most KUDOS+ given by their team is appointed the teammate of the quarter. Samantha, our Remote Patient Monitoring Care Coordinator is our fourth quarter teammate of the Quarter for 2022. We had the opportunity to sit down and learn more about what makes her an outstanding employee.
What is your schooling, background and experience?
We are so thankful to have Samantha on our team, empowering our patients every day. Way to grow, Sam!  Did you know that your electrolytes play a vital role in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid balance?
What are electrolytes? Electrolytes are substances that hold a positive or negative charge and can thus conduct electricity when dissolved in water. Electrolytes (and their charges) found in the body are:
What do electrolytes do? Electrolytes assist in regulating the fluid balance in the body and muscle contraction through chemical reactions. What can cause changes in electrolytes?
How Dr. Munjal Helps: Dr. Munjal can order a Basic or Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (BMP/CMP) to measure the electrolytes’ levels present in the blood. From there, more specified tests can be ordered to determine a precise cause or imbalance. Supplements, infusions, or dietary recommendations can be ordered. Follow-up appointments will be necessary to monitor progress and changes. Munjal’s Musings: The electrolyte levels in your body are not necessarily a reflection of your nutrition or intake, but a measurement of their balance in your blood. In the next Kidney Korner installations, we will be going into more detail on sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. If you have any concerns about your electrolyte levels, contact your Primary Care provider or nephrologist. As always, stay safe and healthy! Resources: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7369961/ This website is for informational and educational purposes ONLY. While we strive for accurate, general medical information, this does not replace professional medical advice. Do not rely solely on this information. Please consult with your physician for more information regarding your specific needs. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.  “The best time to do something significant is between yesterday and tomorrow.” Zig Ziglar
With the start of the New Year comes the start of new personal and professional goals. We want to help you set and reach and exceed them. We have provided a list of goal ideas from all areas of life. We also have downloadable goal sheets on our website to help you kick-start your plans. Health Goals
Personal Goals
Professional Goals
Check out our previous post, New Years Preparations, to learn more about goal setting!  Having a strong support system is crucial for anyone living with a chronic illness. Kidney disease is no different. It is complex and can be potentially life altering. We’ve compiled some tried and true ways to support a loved one who is living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Learn about the kidneys and their disease.
The Jacksonville Nephrology Team is here to support you on your journey with CKD. Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our office. Resources: National Kidney Foundation National Kidney Foundation Renal Support Network  Diastolic vs. Systolic:
Systolic: This is the number on the top of the reading. It is the pressure inside your arteries when the heart is pumping/contracting, at the time of the heartbeat. Diastolic: This is the number on the bottom of the reading. It is the pressure inside your arteries when the heart is filling, between the heartbeats. For most people, the diastolic is normally ½ to ⅔ of the systolic. Blood Pressure Ranges Blood pressure ranges will vary from patient to patient based on their individual needs. Some patients may have a higher or lower range based on medications, other diagnoses, lifestyle factors, and/or family history. When to Retake a Reading If a reading is taken that is unusual or abnormal, it is advised to retake it in the following manner:
Finding Trends Every person is different. While a range may be a good general guide, what works for someone, may not work for others. We make adjustments based on trends over time. A singular reading may not accurately represent the average blood pressure. When blood pressure is taken consistently, trends over time are able to be identified. Before making any changes, Dr. Munjal searches for an explanation (i.e. new diet, fluid retention, weight changes, medication changes, stress, sleep, etc.). You can review our previous post “Kidney Korner: Introduction to Blood Pressure” to help identify why you may be experiencing changes in your blood pressure. How Dr. Munjal Helps: Based on individual diagnoses and needs, Dr. Munjal can:
Munjal’s Musings: Think of your blood pressure like a car. When you steer the front, the back end tends to follow. The same goes for blood pressure. When you focus on and adjust the systolic (top number), the diastolic (bottom number) tends to follow. This can be said for most people but is not applicable to all. If you have questions or concerns about your blood pressure readings, please do not hesitate to reach out to your primary care or nephrologist. We are here to help and guide you. As always, stay safe and healthy! This website is for informational and educational purposes ONLY. While we strive for accurate, general medical information, this does not replace professional medical advice. Do not rely solely on this information. Please consult with your physician for more information regarding your specific needs. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.  The start of the New Year means the start of a new year of insurance, goals, successes, and failures. We are here to help you prepare and gear up for the best year yet.
Insurance Reminders
Goals Having goals and something to work toward can be vital to your success. We believe in fostering growth in all areas of life. To facilitate this, we provide goal sheets for our staff and patients alike. The acronym “SMART” can help you with setting achievable goals this year. S- Specific M- Measurable A- Achievable R- Realistic T- Time Bound Cleaning The new year is a great time to evaluate your home, belongings, and diet. After taking down holiday decorations and cleaning up from celebrations, take time to go through different rooms and storage in your home. Donate clothes, linens, dishes, decorations, and other knick-knacks that no are no longer wanted, needed, or to make room for new gifts. The new year is also a great time to reevaluate your diet and exercise habits to help your body recover. Even small diet changes can make a world of difference. Including more vegetables and fruits is an easy way to increase nutrients. You can check out our Facebook page for renal-friendly recipes posted every other Tuesday to start the new year off right. Create a Vision Board A vision board can help you visualize and be reminded of the goal you have set for yourself. Vision boards have been shown to help:
The new year does not have to be intimidating. We are here to help empower you to make the best choices for yourself. Check back next month for a list of ideas to help you become the best version of yourself in 2023. Happy Holidays!  What are NSAIDs? Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are part of a medication class that works to reduce inflammation, redness, swelling, pain, and fever.
Why are NSAIDs bad for the kidneys? NSAIDs can cause the blood vessels to narrow as a result of reducing inflammation and swelling. This can cause an increase in blood pressure, damage the kidney tissue and structures, as well as reduce the flood flow to the kidneys. Over time, this can end up damaging the kidneys. Additionally, as you age, these drugs may have a stronger effect and doses may need to be reduced. I have chronic kidney disease. What pain medication can I take?
Please consult with your nephrologist before starting any new pain medications or if you have questions regarding your prescriptions. As always, stay safe! Resources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547742/ https://www.kidney.org/news/kidneyCare/winter10/MedicinesForPain This website is for informational and educational purposes ONLY. While we strive for accurate, general medical information, this does not replace professional medical advice. Do not rely solely on this information. Please consult with your provider for more information regarding your specific needs. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.  Jacksonville is among the largest cities in Florida with a large number of surrounding communities. It only makes sense that there would be long list of events to celebrate the holiday season. We have compiled a list of these events by area to help you make the most of this season!
Jacksonville: Source: https://www.visitjacksonville.com/events/holidays/christmas-holidays/
St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra Source: https://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/events/holidays/christmas/
Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island Source: https://www.ameliaisland.com/landing-pages/Amelia-Island-Christmas
As always, be safe and have fun! Happy Holidays from our families to yours!  Conservation is a passion of ours and we believe that every little thing adds up. Dr. Munjal believes in taking care of our environment and reducing our carbon footprint. Read more to learn how we work to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
How we work to conserve:
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