Urine can tell us a lot about your health, like hydration levels and kidney function. It is important to monitor your output to catch any significant changes, especially if you have pre-existing conditions known to potentially affect your kidneys and urine.
Appearance, Smell, and More: Foamy= Proteinuria, due to differences in the surface tension Red= Hematuria, blood in the urine, can indicate kidney stones, urinary tract infections (UTI), or other conditions Cloudy= Change in pH to alkaline indicating a number of potential causes like diabetes, infection, kidney disease or stones, vaginal discharge, or dehydration Dark= Dehydration Clear/no color= Over-hydrated Frequent urination= Urinary tract infection (UTI), overhydration, presence of waste in urine like sugars or protein Odd smell= Diabetes, urinary tract infection (UTI), dehydration, metabolic disorders Pain with urination= Kidney stones, urinary tract infection (UTI) Urine Tests: Lab tests can be ordered to examine the urine and begin to determine or monitor symptoms. These tests can include: Protein Total, 24-hour collections, Urinalysis with Culture, and more. Urine tests can monitor the levels of protein, bacteria, red/white blood cells, glucose, crystals, and hormones. According to Dr. Munjal, your urine should look like lemonade. This color comes from the waste the kidneys filter out. The concentration, or intensity of the color, is based on the water content of the urine. If you have any concerns about your urine or kidney function, speak with your care team for further evaluation. 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. Resources: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21894-cloudy-urine https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/urine-odor/basics/causes/sym-20050704 We Don't Just Mean WaterFluid intake is a complicated topic as each patient has unique and individual needs. This can change overtime due to medication changes, new diagnoses, or lifestyle changes. When we talk about fluids, we do not mean just water. It is important to be aware of the amount of fluids you intake daily from a variety of sources and how that may impact your health and hydration. There are foods with higher water contents that may impact your hydration depending on the amount consumed on a regular basis. These are called insensible fluids. It is advised that we be aware of what they are, but are often not included in the total fluid intake. Common Fluids Beyond Water
Munjal’s Musings: Eight 8oz (64oz) cups of water a day does not apply to everyone. Each person requires different fluid intake daily based on unique and individual needs. Those with sedentary lifestyles, like office staff, do not require as much fluid as those exerting themselves, like construction workers. A fluid can be easily classified as something that you put in a cup. However, many foods have high water contents, making that an additional source of fluid, called an insensible fluid. However, for simplicity, focus on the actual fluid that you drink, not the water content in foods. How much fluid is too much? Tune back in for the next Kidney Korner to find out. If you have concerns about your fluid intake, do not hesitate to contact your care team(s) to discuss your individual needs. 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. We often hear that we need to relax, calm down, and rest, but often find ourselves feeling guilty about tasks we could or should be doing, wasting time, or feeling as though we are neglecting others by taking time for ourselves. However, self care and relaxation are vital in helping to reduce anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and chronic pain, among other things. So how, exactly, can one truly relax? Listed below are a variety of ways to focus on yourself and your wellbeing.
Apps
Yoga is a great way to begin to focus attention on your body and breathing. Yoga can help to create mindfulness and clarity.
Breathing Exercises and Meditation More often than not, relaxation starts with focusing on breathing. Walking and Exercise Fresh air and a change of scenery can work wonders for a person. Moving the body also releases endorphins, a “feel-good” chemical in your brain. Exercise can also improve one's mood and reduce the harmful effects of stress. Hobbies Engaging in a new hobby can help to bring our focus and attention to something other than stressors or our daily tasks. These can include: reading, crochet/knitting, painting, writing poetry, listening to calming music. Which of these methods will you try to help you relax? Share your thoughts on our facebook pages! As always, stay safe and healthy! *This post is not sponsored by any of the above listed apps, websites, or companies.* 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. Resources: Exercise and Stress- Mayo Clinic. For older adults and adults with mobility limitations, getting exercise can be a daunting task. The fear of falling, getting injured, or needing assistance can create barriers to achieving better health. It’s important to focus on form and building strength and flexibility slowly and safely. By beginning with exercises that focus on flexibility and increasing mobility, injury becomes less likely.
Exercise and its benefits can look different for everyone, so it is important to know your limitations. Gentle exercises can have a wide variety of benefits. These can include:
The following sites provide simple, safe exercises: Sitting Exercises- NHS 5 Easy Chair Exercises- British Heart Foundation 9 Chair Exercises- GoodRx Virtual Fitness and Wellness Events- Senior Planet Consult with your doctors before implementing new exercises into your routine to reduce risk of injury. 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. Labs and imaging are a vital part of care for our patients. Given that we can’t physically examine a patient’s kidneys, labs are how we judge how well a patient is doing and our next steps in the care plan. These tests influence the productivity of appointments and the timeliness of care delivered to the patient.
Comprehensive Care at Appointments When it comes to the kidneys, it is all about the trend. Dr. Munjal will need to analyze changes over time to determine the stability of the kidneys. The more labs we have to review and track, the better we can connect the dots. When current lab results are provided, we are more equipped to make accurate and precise changes and plan for the future. In the early stages of kidney disease, changes in kidney function aren’t noticeable and the patient may be completely asymptomatic. Additionally, when imaging is ordered, Dr. Munjal is usually looking for something specific or following up on a particular condition. These images are vital to tracking any physical changes and can lead to referrals to other providers or facilities. Timely Care When labs are done on a regular basis, we are able to make sure that our patients can be taken care of in a timely manner. This can include rescheduling patients based on significant changes, both positively or negatively. Labs can also influence the timeliness in beginning transplant evaluations and making arrangements for dialysis. Imaging specifically can be useful and important in the referral process. For example, if we find cysts or kidney stones, we will need to refer the patient to urology.* If these tests aren’t completed in a timely manner, care can be delayed and more damage can be done to the kidneys. Munjal’s Musings:
*Nephrology and urology work together to keep the kidneys functioning. Think of the kidneys like a computer. There is hardware and software. Nephrology is concerned with the “software” (electrolytes, filtration rate, hypertension, etc.). Urology is concerned with the “hardware” (cysts, stones, frequent UTI, etc.). Nephrology and urology tend to refer to one another for total kidney care. 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. 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. Kayla, our Patient Educator and Administrator-in-Training is our first quarter teammate of the Quarter for 2023. 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 Kayla on our team, empowering our patients every day. Way to grow, Kayla! What is potassium?
According to MedlinePlus, “Potassium is a mineral that your body needs to work properly. It is a type of electrolyte. It helps your nerves to function and muscles to contract. It helps your heartbeat stay regular. It also helps move nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells.” What does potassium affect?
Hypo- vs. Hyperkalemia Hypo= low Hyper= high -kalemia= the medical suffix for potassium Therefore, hypokalemia means low potassium in the blood and hyperkalemia means high potassium in the blood. Examples of High Potassium Foods Leafy Greens (spinach, collard greens, swiss chard, bok choy, beet greens, etc.) Beans Potatoes Broccoli Avocado Bananas Orange Coconut water Tomatoes Yogurt Chicken Salmon How Dr. Munjal Helps: Potassium levels in the body are handled predominantly by the kidneys. With additional testing, we can determine the cause of the electrolyte abnormalities and work to correct it. Munjal’s Musings: Everything has potassium in it. You can have one serving of high potassium food for two servings of a lower potassium food. You don’t need to cut these foods out completely, but enjoy them in moderation. Resources Medline: Potassium Harvard: The Nutrition Source- Potassium How many times have you found yourself at a doctor’s office and noticed that you forgot your medication list, lab results, or notes from another doctor? With the Healow app, those problems can virtually disappear! The Healow App gives you secure access to your medical records at your fingertips.
Benefits of the Healow App: Instant Access to Records
You can download the Healow App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Use Code ACHFAA to link your account to Jacksonville Nephrology. You will need an active patient portal account with Jacksonville Nephrology to access the portal. Should you experience any log-in issues, do not hesitate to contact our office. Our team connects with our community and walks annually to raise awareness for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). In the month prior to the event, our office has some fun events to raise money and educate our patients. Here is how we celebrate to rais funds and awareness:
Kidney disease is known as the silent killer. It is so important for us to help raise awareness to empower others to keep up with their health. Here are some kidney disease facts from the National Kidney Foundation to kick-start our mission this year:
Join us this year on Sunday, May 7, 2023 for the Kidney Walk or walk with us virtually should you wish to avoid crowds. You can create a fundraising page or donate to our team page here. You can also donate online on the National Kidney Foundation website here. Resources: https://www.kidney.org/ Sleep is a vital part of the human body’s recovery and healing process. Without proper sleep, our bodies may experience a myriad of symptoms and chronic issues that can affect our quality of life.
Symptoms associated with lack of sleep: Each person’s symptoms of sleep deprivation can vary depending on genetics, the type of sleep deprivation, and use of stimulants (like caffeine). Common symptoms of sleep deprivation are:
How sleep helps the body: Sleep works to support your physical and mental wellbeing. During sleep, our bodies do a variety of important tasks.
How to improve your sleep:
Some changes to sleep won’t happen overnight. Dedicate yourself to a nighttime routine to see improvement over time. If you still have concerns, talk to your primary care physician. Do not make significant changes without speaking to your providers first. Resources: The Sleep Foundation: Sleep Deprivation University of Michigan: Why Sleep is so Important 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. |
About The BeanThe Bean is a blog on a mission to share valuable information in the world of Nephrology. We believe in empowering through education and The Bean is a great place to find resources and information on topics related to high blood pressure, kidney disease, dialysis, and topics that enhance the kidney minded lifestyle. Enjoy and be sure to subscribe! Archives
March 2024
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