|
THE BEAN:
|
 Last month, we shared some hurricane preparedness tips like shelf-stable foods and some helpful tips for preparation. Now, we want to talk about all things safety. Storms can be unpredictable, changing speed, size, and direction on a dime. They can also cause a great deal of damage, fast. Let’s discuss ways you can prepare to stay safe when a storm hits.
Prepare a First Aid Kit
Have an Emergency Plan
Stock Safety Supplies
Verify Your Insurance
Other Safety Tips
Resources by County:
We encourage you to prepare in advance for storms as this season is projected to be an active one. As always, please stay safe and healthy!  Summer has arrived! Summer in Florida comes with relaxation and a plethora of fun activities and events. However, it also comes with many risks to be aware of and proactive in avoiding. Listed below are 6 summer safety tips.
We hope you have a fun-filled summer! As always, stay safe!  Have you ever wondered why Dr. Munjal requests labs within a certain time frame, why labs need to be drawn on a regular basis, or why a particular lab was ordered? You’re not alone! The ‘why’ is just as (if not more) important than the ‘what.’ Let’s talk about all things lab orders.
Why do these labs need to be drawn within a certain time frame? There are a number of reasons why Dr. Munjal requests that labs be drawn within a certain time frame or with specific instructions. Some of these include:
Why do labs need to be done on a regular basis? Regular labs give Dr. Munjal a ‘big picture’ view of your kidney health over time to help track trends. Additionally, regular labs can:
Why was this particular lab ordered? All patients require different care and different tests to adequately follow-up and maintain their health. Both blood and urine tests can be included to measure different aspects of the kidney function. Listed below are a few of the most common tests that Dr. Munjal orders:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your tests, results, or kidney function, give our office a call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Munjal. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Starting dialysis is a huge lifestyle change that can come with a lot of loaded questions. Let’s explore some frequently asked questions with answers from our wonderful team at DialySuites Bartram Park!
Q: What are my treatment options? A: Patients needing renal replacement therapy have 4 options: in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and transplantation. Each option has its pros, cons, requirements, and limitations. Take time to discuss your options with your nephrologist and dialysis care team. Q: What are some symptoms I’ll experience from having dialysis? A: After receiving dialysis, you should begin to feel better. Some patients report fatigue on treatment days. Additionally, some side effects you may experience from having dialysis include, but are not limited to: low blood pressure, shortness of breath, muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, and nausea or vomiting. If you feel ill or experience these symptoms, notify your nephrologist and dialysis care team so your treatment can be adjusted. Q: Can I work while on dialysis? A: You can certainly work while on dialysis, so long as you are feeling well enough to do so. There are programs available to assist with time off needed for treatments and appointments. Your social worker can assist in providing resources to you. Q: How often do I need appointments with my doctor(s) now? Is my Nephrologist my Primary Care Physician since I see them so often? A: Your nephrologist is just that: your nephrologist. They only specialize in your kidneys. It is imperative that you maintain regular follow-up appointments with your other specialists as this contributes to your overall health status. You will need to see your nephrologist on a monthly basis, at a minimum. They may request additional appointments as needed to check on you and your progress. Q: Dr. Munjal isn’t my nephrologist. Can I be a patient at DialySuites and still see my current nephrologist? A: Your current nephrologist can apply for privileges at DialySuites if they have not done so already. These privileges will allow you to transfer to DialySuites (based on availability) and keep your current nephrologist. Q: Can I travel while on dialysis? A: Traveling while on dialysis takes some planning ahead and coordination between your home facility and the temporary facility. Be sure to notify your team at your clinic so arrangements can be made in a timely manner. We request a minimum of 2 weeks notice. Q: Can I shorten or miss treatments? A: You must follow the treatment as prescribed by your Nephrologist. Your dialysis prescription is written specifically to your needs and your kidney function. If you shorten or miss a treatment, toxins and fluid will build up in your body which can significantly impact your health. However, there is room for flexibility. If you are a home dialysis patient, you can dialyze at any time that works for you, so long as you do your treatment daily. For in-center hemodialysis, there is less flexibility due to limited chairs and shifts. If you have a change in schedule, please notify your facility coordinator as soon as possible so arrangements can be made in a timely manner. If you have any questions or concerns regarding dialysis and your treatment path, please feel free to contact our office or DialySuites Bartram for more information. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Preparing meals and snacks ahead of time not only saves time, but can save money and lead to healthier choices and habits. The beauty of meal prepping is that it is completely customizable to your specific dietary needs and preferences and can be designed to fit into your schedule. Listed below are some helpful tips and tricks to setting yourself up for successful meal prepping.
Meal Prepping
Cooking Gadgets There are a plethora of devices that can assist in making the meal prepping process smooth and easy, while also saving time.
We have other blog posts that may be helpful when planning your meals and grocery trips: Getting Healthy for Your Kidneys Sodi-YUM: Replacing Salt While Cooking Eating Healthy on a Budget Share your meal prepping tips and tricks with us on our Facebook page! As always, stay safe and healthy!  June 1st marks the start of hurricane season and preparing is vital for Floridians. Preparations when the storm is upon us can include filling sandbags, boarding up windows, checking insurance coverage, refilling medications, and the oh-so-stressful grocery store run. But did you know that there are things you can do to prepare at the start of the season? Creating a stock of shelf-stable foods and emergency supplies can help to reduce the stress around storm season.
Listed below are common food items that are generally shelf-stable and require little to no cooking. Keep in mind any dietary restrictions or specifications that must be followed, like reduced sodium, fat, or sugar. Canned and shelf-stable foods generally have preservatives in them that increase the sodium content. Additionally, we have listed tools and supplies to consider keeping on hand for cooking and food preparation and other items for general preparedness. Dry Food/snacks:
Helpful tips:
Remember to stay up-to-date on weather and disaster updates as we enter this 5-6 month storm season. This hurricane season is projected to be a busy one, so follow us on Facebook @JaxNephrology for any updates on office closures and other pertinent information. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Your blood pressure plays a vital role in your overall health. However, it can become pretty complicated, leading to a lot of questions. Listed below are some frequently asked questions about blood pressure!
I had a high blood pressure reading. Do I have hypertension now? When we look at your blood pressure, we are looking for a trend over time. One reading may be an outlier or an anomaly. We want to see what your home readings look like on a daily basis, rather than just once in the doctor’s office. Many patients experience “White Coat Syndrome” or higher blood pressure and/or pulse due to being at the doctor’s office or in a medical setting. However, if this high reading is accompanied by symptoms like headache, irregular/fast heart rate, or nosebleeds, please seek medical attention. I only have high blood pressure. What do my kidneys have to do with that? The kidneys play an integral role in the balance of sodium and fluids in the body. If the kidneys begin to not work properly and these levels become unbalanced, then we can see changes in the blood pressure. They also manage and balance the other electrolytes and some hormones that can contribute to blood pressure. What is a “normal” blood pressure reading? “Normal” can look different for everyone based on their unique circumstances. Generally, a systolic blood pressure of 120-140 and a diastolic of ½ to ⅔ of that reading is considered normal. However, there are cases where a patient may not be able to get a reading like that without feeling ill. Why do I have to take my blood pressure multiple times? Blood pressure is constantly changing from minute to minute and there are a variety of factors that can contribute to those changes. We always recommend taking a moment to breathe and relax before taking a reading. If your reading comes back high, take a few minutes to take deep breaths and think happy thoughts. Take the reading again. It will most likely be lower than the first. If it is not, then we can assess and that’s when an emergency hypertension medication could be taken. The original reading could be affected by things like recent activity before sitting down to take your blood pressure or stress. We will generally go by the second reading rather than the first. When is the best time to take my blood pressure? The best time to take your blood pressure is 1-2 hours after taking your medication, when you are calm, relaxed, and comfortable. The time of day may vary for each person based on your personal schedule. When possible, take your blood pressure around the same time of day. This practice gives the most accurate results and lets us see how well your medications are working. What are the symptoms of high or low blood pressure? High Blood Pressure: headache, irregular or fast heart rate, nose bleeds, nausea (with or without vomiting), anxiety, chest pain, vision changes Low Blood Pressure: dizziness, lightheadedness, vision changes, fainting, weakness, nausea (with or without vomiting), confusion Why is my bottom number (diastolic) high? Your diastolic blood pressure is the number on the bottom of the reading. It is the pressure inside your arteries when the heart is filling, between the heartbeats.Your diastolic blood pressure will generally follow the systolic blood pressure. Your diastolic should be about ½ to ⅔ of the systolic number. 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 are concerned about your blood pressure, track your readings on a regular basis and call to make an appointment today! As always, stay safe and healthy!  Did you know that 1 in 5 adults with Hypertension have Chronic Kidney Disease? More often than not, patients are surprised to learn about the relationship between blood pressure and the kidneys and how closely they are intertwined with one another. Let’s learn more about the two-way relationship between blood pressure and the kidneys to understand this concept a little better.
What is blood pressure? Blood pressure measures the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels. This is the measurement of the amount of force the body is using to get the blood through the arteries. What happens when you have high blood pressure? High blood pressure, or hypertension, can put a strain on the body over a long period of time. Overtime, uncontrolled or chronic hypertension can cause the arteries around the kidneys to weaken, narrow, or harden. Hypertension can also lead to other complications, like heart diseases or stroke. How does this affect my kidneys? Your kidneys are located in the back, just below the ribcage. The kidneys filter blood to remove toxins, keep in good nutrients, and balance fluids.When the blood vessels that supply the kidneys with blood are compromised, the kidneys cannot function properly and become damaged. This damage further hinders the kidney’s ability to filter and function properly, which leads to this vicious cycle. High blood pressure causes kidney damage and kidney damage causes high blood pressure. What can be done to stop it? Bodily functions are all connected, so it is important to remember to maintain your overall health and manage other chronic conditions. There are a number of things that can reduce the progression or risk of hypertension and Chronic Kidney Disease.
Munjal’s Musings: “What came first: the chicken or the egg? Generally, Chronic Kidney Disease causes hypertension. Hypertension is also liable to come back and worsen the kidney disease. When you help the blood pressure, you help the kidney disease. When you help the kidney disease, you also help the blood pressure. It’s a two way-relationship.” If you have any questions or concerns regarding your kidney function or blood pressure, call our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Munjal. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Taking your blood pressure and keeping track of the readings is vital to your health if you have hypertension or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). However, this task can get daunting or become overwhelming for some. For current patients, we have a few tools that may help alleviate the stress around tracking your blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Logs: We provide blood pressure log sheets that assist with keeping your blood pressure information neat and organized. Additionally, there is a reference sheet with instructions and tips for taking the most accurate readings. Be sure to bring this sheet back in at your appointments so we can see your trends! Trackers: Our patient portal has a feature that allows patients to link a blood pressure monitor to their account to track readings so it is more readily available to your care team. This information is not regularly monitored, so be sure to call in when you notice a change or have concerns that need to be addressed by your care team. By using the trackers feature in the patient portal, you can show your other healthcare providers your history of readings by simply logging into your portal on your phone or other smart device. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Our remote patient monitoring program allows you and your healthcare provider to manage your health from the comfort of your own home via bluetooth or 4G enabled health tracking devices. You will be assigned a Care Coordinator that will reach out on a monthly basis and will work with you to maintain consistent communication regarding your vital readings. You will receive additional communication for readings that are out of the designated range to ensure you are doing well. This program comes with an app that stores all of your readings for you with a wide range of other features that can help your overall health. Putting these tools to use is only as helpful and effective as the habits associated with them. Staying on top of taking your blood pressure on a regular basis is the most important part of tracking it. You can find more information on habits and blood pressure on our blog as well. As always, stay safe and healthy! Helpful Links: Habits Blog Post: The Dynamic Duo: Setting Goals and Building Habits Connect a Health Tracker: https://www.jaxnephrology.com/connect-health-tracker.html Blood Pressure Blog Posts: How to take Your Blood Pressure, Understanding Your Blood Pressure Readings  In 2021, Dr. Munjal seized the opportunity to incorporate a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program into his practice when it became available to Medicare patients. Dr. Munjal’s passion for this type of program has only grown since its implementation. “For twenty years, I have said that if I ran an insurance company, I would give all patients a blood pressure monitor and scale as they are two of the most effective tools to take care of one’s health. I have always asked patients to log all readings to review at appointments rather than relying on the one reading taken in-office. This may be wrong or an outlier (which happens more often than not) which can greatly affect decision making. If we can see a trend of regular readings in a consistent environment, then we are making better decisions for the patient. These devices are capable of transmitting readings in real time so patients no longer have to maintain a log themselves. Because of this, the care team and I are able to monitor and make decisions as we go along, thus fine-tuning the care plan.”
Our RPM program allows our patients’ blood pressure and weight readings to be monitored remotely by their care team. Patients are able to remain in the comfort of their own home and receive personalized and comprehensive care. By identifying trends and out-of-range readings, we are able to alter a patient’s care plan with more precision in a timely manner to help improve overall health and wellbeing without frequent office visits. Our office provides all of the necessities to get started. This includes:
Remote Patient Monitoring has become an important part of how we care for our patients. We have seen a wide range of benefits from this program for our patients since we began in early 2021. We have been able to identify trends and intervene faster by altering care plans when we have noticed a change in health status. This has reduced potential hospitalizations, prolonged in-office follow-up appointments, and helped to improve care plans for other providers within the patient’s care team. If you are interested in the RPM program, call our office at (904) 260-9898 to get more information. As always, stay safe and healthy! |
