- Behavioral Health, Pediatrics, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe heroin epidemic in Maryland continues to make headlines, with both Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Anne Arundel County officials having declared it a “public health emergency.” But as any parent would tell you, it’s not just heroin they worry about but a whole host of temptations that seem to be impacting kids at even younger ages. Parents are still the primary influence on their teens. According to research done by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 93 percent of teens reported their parents would be disappointed if they used alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs. Education is definitely one of the biggest keys in the fight against adolescent drug use. The earlier we can teach them about the importance of decision making and what drugs and other substances can do to their body, the better chance we have of them not wanting to try them. Information changes every day. It will be hard to combat something you know very little about. Educate yourself and make sure that you are really listening to your child and talking to them without bias and judgement. Our children are informed of many things and it is our job to make sure that the information they get is valid. The Academy of Pediatrics calls it Purposeful Parenting. The National Institute on Drug Abuse cites the importance of family bonding saying it is the bedrock of the relationship between parents and children. Some tips to keep in mind: Be a parent to your child, not a friend. Educate yourself about what’s happening in your child’s school, in the community and about resources available to help. Be a positive role model and promote positive behaviors. Communicate effectively. Good communication helps reassure family members that they care about each other and appreciate each other’s efforts. Good everyday communication can also make it easier to bring up issues, make requests when needed and resolve conflict when it arises. Every family needs ongoing communication about shared interests and concerns, such as running the household, recreational activities and solving problems, to name just a few. Family members also need to be able to express feelings to each other and talk about motions such as happiness, anger, sadness, concern and anxiety. Learn more about the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, a 16-bed mental health hospital for adults opening in March. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation offers these tips on things to remember for effective communication with your child: Expressing Positive Feelings We all feel good when our efforts are acknowledged. Try deliberately expressing positive feelings using these steps: Look at the person. Tell the person what he or she did that pleased you. Tell him or her how it made you feel. Expressing Negative Feelings To air negative feelings in a way that will help resolve them, try these steps: Look at the person and talk with a serious tone of voice. Tell the person what he or she did that displeased you. Tell him or her how you feel as a result and be specific. Make a request for change, if possible. Express Feelings Clearly with “I” Statements Describe your own feelings and avoid putting others on the defensive. For example, instead of saying “you really ticked me off when you were late for dinner last night,” try saying “I was angry when you came home late for dinner last night. I’d appreciate it if you’d be on time or call if you’re going to be late.” You will be surprised how comfortable a child is about talking about drugs, especially if it is something that is so prominent in their environment. A parent’s knowledge of drugs, positive influence and productive conversations with children can carry their child a long way in having a healthy and productive drug-free life. Author Keshia Brooks, BSPH, MBA, is supervisor of Prevention Education and Family Wellness at Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility. You can reach her office at 410-573-5422. Originally published Jan. 15, 2016. Last updated Feb. 11, 2020.0
- Cancer Care, Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWeight loss surgery has many health benefits for the obese, including lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. But many don’t realize lowering cancer risk is another reason to consider the procedure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is linked to 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S., including: Breast (in women past menopause) Colorectal Endometrial (lining of the uterus) Esophageal Gallbladder Kidney Liver Meningioma Multiple myeloma Ovarian Pancreatic Stomach Thyroid Uterine An important distinction the National Cancer Institute (NCI) makes is that obese people who have weight loss surgery appear to have lower risks of obesity-related cancers than obese people who don’t have the operation. NCI bases this off of a 2013 study on weight loss surgery, but more research continues to emerge. The Annals of Surgery published a study on bariatric surgery and cancer risk. Researchers followed 89,000 severely obese patients, including about 22,000 who had weight loss surgery, for an average follow-up of three and a half years. The patients who had weight loss surgery were 33 percent less likely to develop any cancer during the study, which ran from 2005 through 2014. When they looked specifically at obesity-related cancers, the numbers increased. Patients who had weight loss surgery were 41 percent less likely to develop obesity-related cancers, and 40 percent less likely to be diagnosed with tumors linked to obesity. There are a few types of weight loss surgery. The majority of the patients in this study had gastric bypass surgery in which a small stomach pouch is created and the small intestines are rerouted. Twenty-seven percent of people in the study had sleeve gastrectomy in which a portion of your stomach is removed. In this particular study, more than 80 percent of the participants were women. It’s important to note that researchers found a link between bariatric surgery and cancer risk in women, not men. Since many cancers take years to develop, the researchers noted it’s possible their research underestimates the impact of weight loss surgery on cancer risk. Research will continue, and we’ll get a better understanding of the link between obesity, weight loss and cancer risk. Until then, the reality is that there are nearly 15 million adults in the U.S. who are severely obese. Cancer prevention is just one of the many reasons to consider bariatric surgery. To learn more about weight loss surgery, attend a free seminar at AAMC. To learn more or register, visit luminishealth.org/weight-loss-surgery. Author Alex Gandsas, MD, is a bariatric surgeon at the LHAAMC Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program. To reach his practice, call 443-481-6699. Originally published Jan. 22, 2018. Last updated July 5, 2023.0
- Super Specialty Parent*Luminis Health uses a third party seminar registration service. Please note that EventBrite will be facilitating the seminar registration process and will handle any personal information collected in accordance with the EventBrite Privacy Policy. When you're overweight, it's easy to think about what you have to lose. At Luminis Health Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery, we put the focus on what you have to gain: better health, a more active lifestyle and greater self confidence. Are you a candidate? Could surgery be right for you? Take this short assessment to find out and view our on-demand webinar. What are the benefits of weight loss surgery? Research shows that bariatric surgery can be an effective way to lose weight, manage chronic conditions and live longer. Benefits include: Bariatric surgery reduces the risk of premature death by 30-40%. Weight loss surgery helps prevent or improve more than 40 obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and certain cancers. Patients lose as much as 77% of excess weight 12 months after surgery. This is a long-term solution. On average, patients maintain 50% of their weight loss five years after surgery. Many patients can stop taking certain medications. Patients can gain improvements to overall health every day through our program. We call this freedom! Why choose Luminis Health for weight loss surgery? Obesity is complicated and requires support on many different levels. We've helped thousands of patients find a path to a healthier life. Our expert care changes lives. When you visit us, you'll find: Convenient locations for your comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. Personalized, confidential and compassionate care tailored to your unique needs and lifestyle. Ongoing support from physicians, nutritionists and RNs to encourage healthy, long-term weight loss. Education about the many factors that influence weight loss and what you can do now to improve your health. Convenient access to all the other health care professionals in the Luminis Health family. Why do we use the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System? Luminis Health is an early adopter of robotic surgery and we continue to advance minimally invasive techniques to improve outcomes for our patients. To be clear: A robot doesn't perform the surgery. Rather, this revolutionary method allows us to perform precise surgery by using instruments we guide through a console. It's minimally invasive surgery, meaning our surgeons can perform procedures through tiny incisions. The miniature instruments move like the human hand, but with greater range of motion. The advantages of the da Vinci Robotic surgical system include: A shorter hospital stay. Less pain. Less blood loss. Lower risk of infection. Less scarring. To learn more about Da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery, please view the FAQ. Want to learn more from our team of dedicated and experienced providers? To learn more about the process and potential outcomes of weight loss surgery, register to attend an upcoming webinar.0
- Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDid you know that eating more often could help you in your weight loss journey? Now, please notice, we said eating more often, not more in quantity. Losing weight and keeping it off is by no means an easy task. By some estimates, 20 percent of overweight individuals are successful in keeping off at least 10 percent of their initial body weight for a year or longer. What is their secret? We looked at initiatives like the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) and have some tips to share with you to help you along your weight loss efforts. The NWCR identifies and investigates the characteristics of individuals who have succeeded at long-term weight loss. Here are a few key behaviors reported that led to their ongoing success: Follow a low calorie diet. Participants consume a low calorie (1,300 to 1,700 per day), low fat diet. They also successfully lose weight and maintain the loss by being consistent. This means they don’t start and stop a diet, like many dieters do. Eat more often. Participants eat four to five small meals daily. Their food intake is also consistent day to day. By making consistent food choices, this encourages self-control, minimizes unplanned food temptations, fosters self-discipline and increases your ability to keep with your diet routine. Do not skip breakfast. Participants consistently eat breakfast. Including this meal in the daily routine suppresses midmorning hunger, promotes better glucose control and reduces excessive eating later in the day. Even if it’s a piece of fruit or a small bowl of oatmeal, don’t skip your first meal of the day! Being active is a must. Participants who are successful with long-term weight loss make physical activity mandatory. The average person in the NWCR database exercises anywhere between 60 and 90 minutes per day at a moderate intensity. Daily physical activity is important for both weight management and health improvement. Finding a sustainable activity that fits your lifestyle, and making it a priority, is essential for long-term success. Track your progress. Participants weigh themselves frequently. This provides a form of accountability and self-monitoring. Limit sedentary activities. Research has connected successful weight loss over an extended period with minimal amounts of time spent watching TV. The national average time for watching TV is 28 hours per week or four hours per day. This is too much sedentary time. Ideally, try to limit TV viewing to less than 10 hours per week. Take corrective action when weight is regained. Participants did not allow even a small amount of weight gain to occur without corrective action. Obesity research shows that preventing people from regaining weight is one of the most difficult dilemmas that dieters face. Health improvement that results from weight loss and maintenance is a commendable goal that is worth the effort required to accomplish it. Don’t know where to begin? If you’re ready to start your diet plan but don’t know where to begin, we have a few suggestions that might help you kick off your weight loss journey with a few quick, easy and healthy meals. Breakfast Oatmeal toppings without the added sugar. Fruited buckwheat pancakes. Baked apples with oat toppings. Lunch Veggie stir-fry. Avocado feta salad. Lentil soup. Dinner Alaska salmon cakes with yogurt dill sauce. Stuffed acorn squash. Ginger carrots with golden raisins and lemon. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published Dec. 7, 2018. Last updated Nov. 4, 2019.0
- Behavioral Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhile heart attacks are physical health problems, many people don’t realize they can create mental health issues as well. Feeling depressed after a heart attack isn’t uncommon. According to the American Heart Association, up to 33 percent of heart attack patients experience depression. When someone has a heart attack they’re typically doing something, such as running or walking up stairs. After the heart attack they may be afraid their heart is delicate and hesitate to complete common activities. Most heart attack patients experience feelings of shock or sadness after a heart attack, but some people can slip into a deeper depression. If these emotions continue for several weeks, it’s time to seek help. Because depression can affect physical health, addressing symptoms quickly can help avoid other problems down the road. I tell patients, “You’re going to go back to your usual life, as long as you take the right steps.” These steps include faithfully taking prescribed medications, eating a healthy diet and exercising. And cardiac rehabilitation can help. Cardiac rehab provides a safe environment to start increasing physical fitness. AAMC’s Outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program includes counseling to help patients improve their health and reduce the risk of future heart problems. Oftentimes, patients who choose to participate in cardiac rehab have better outcomes than those who don’t. Family members and loved ones also play an important role in helping heart attack patients recover. If you think you know someone experiencing post-heart-attack depression, look for these warning signs: -Extreme changes in appetite -Extreme changes in sleeping patterns -Avoiding previously enjoyable activities -Insomnia -Restlessness -Fatigue -Feelings of worthlessness -Feelings of excessive or inappropriate guilt -Trouble concentrating Encourage people who show these signs to seek help. For some, support groups are a healthy environment to cope with depression after a heart attack. AAMC’s healthy hearts cardiac support group is available for those who have experienced heart issues. Call 410-507-3766 for more information. Heart attack patients can experience the same quality of life as they did before their heart attack, but sometimes they need to take extra steps to get there. Author Baran Kilical, MD, is a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Feb. 23, 2016. Last updated March 27, 2019.0
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