- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBetween the backyard, soccer field and gym; your kids are active, and nothing slows them down. But no matter how invincible they seem, children are prone to injuries, especially during sports seasons. Even under the calmest of circumstances, it can be hard to figure out exactly what’s wrong. Especially when they’re writhing in pain. So, how do you know if it’s a sprain, strain or fracture? We’re here to help you tell the difference — and get your athlete back up and running.Learn to recognize the signsPrepare for your child’s sports season by knowing the most common injures, how they happen, and the signs and symptoms that can help you distinguish between them. It’s also important to pass along this knowledge to the young athletes in your family, so they can relay details to help you make good care decisions. Common sports injuries among student athletes include strains, sprains and breaks.StrainsA strain is a muscle injury and is most commonly a partial tear. One way to pinpoint a strain is recognizing that your child’s pain is in a muscle that does heavy lifting, like back muscles, a hamstring or a quad. The resulting symptoms, include muscle pain, weakness, spasms, cramps and swelling. Your child may have difficulty moving the affected muscle.SprainsSprains are an injury to ligaments and are found around joints. A sprain is a tear of a ligament. Common joints that are sprained include the ankle, knee, shoulder and fingers. Another tell-tale sign of a sprain is hearing a pop or tear when the injury happens. Your child may also experience pain around the affected area, with bruising and swelling.FracturesA fracture is just another term for a broken bone. Most breaks happen when kids fall awkwardly, like with outstretched arms. Of all these injuries, fractures are usually the easiest to spot. In more severe cases, the break will be visible, with the bone either appearing to be placed at an awkward angle or breaking through the skin. Milder fractures, on the other hand, may not be visible to the naked eye, but there could be bruising and swelling around the site.With any fracture, your child will likely also feel throbbing pain, tenderness around the site, numbness or tingling. It may also be difficult — or impossible — to put weight on the broken bone.Know when to get treatmentBehind every goal, touchdown and home run is rest — and lots of it. And that goes double when your student athlete is injured. Doctors recommend the “RICE” method (Rest; Ice, Compress and Elevate), as the best remedy for strains and sprains.When a broken bone is suspected, however, it’s time to see a doctor for an X-Ray and a cast or other type of brace. No matter the type of injury, an accident means no sports for a few weeks or months. And while it can be hard for your young athlete to allow the time they need to recover, it’s important to remind them the goal is total healing — and that they won’t be on the sidelines forever. Your one-stop shop for youth sports injuriesWhen pain takes your athlete out of the game, you may need help making the next move. Luminis Health experts diagnose and treat children in our same-day and next-day clinics, with appointments available seven days a week, including evenings. We also offer imaging and second opinions to give you peace of mind. Sudden injuries deserve immediate care, and to us, it’s about more than just treating injuries—it’s about getting your athlete back to scoring goals, hitting home runs, and, most importantly, being a kid. And that’s a win for everyone. Book an appointment today. Daniel Redziniak, MD is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCoughing. Fever. Trouble breathing. These are some of the potential symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). If you or someone in your family exhibits these symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend you call your health care provider. Most people will have mild illness and will be asked to recover at home. If this applies to you, here are the steps you should take. Stay home Unless you are seeking medical care, please stay home. Self-isolate in a room away from other people in your home as much as you can. Use a different bathroom if you have one. Clean “high-touch” surfaces in those rooms, but let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas. Such surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Don’t share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels/wash cloths, bar soap or bedding with other people in your home. Wash these items thoroughly after using them. Wash your hands Hand washing is the single most important step in preventing infection from COVID-19. Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to wash your hands, and have every member of your family do the same. Wash your hands after you touch surfaces, use the bathroom, cough, sneeze and before you eat or prepare meals. Monitor your symptoms If you are experiencing more serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or bluish lips, call 911 and say you may have COVID-19. This will allow health care providers to take steps to protect themselves and other patients. Wear a cloth covering, scarf or face mask if you have one. If you don’t, cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue. The CDC advises that you practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from others. When it’s okay to stop home isolation You can stop isolating when you’ve had no fever (without taking fever-reducing medications) for at least 72 hours, your other symptoms have improved and it has been a least seven days since your symptoms first appeared, the CDC says. After your fever has subsided, we recommend you follow these prevention steps for 10 days: Stay home except to get medical care. Don’t go to work or any public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride sharing or taxis. Ask a friend or family member who is healthy to help you with errands including buying groceries or picking up medications. Avoid people who are at high-risk of developing severe infections from COVID-19, including elderly people, people who are immunocompromised and people who have chronic health conditions such as chronic heart, lung or kidney problems. Author Jean Murray is Anne Arundel Medical Center’s director of Infection Control.0
- Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs women move beyond the child-bearing years, their responsibilities and sources of stress can shift and even increase. But the transition from mommy to midlife shouldn’t be a crisis. Women in their forties and fifties are often called the sandwich generation for a reason. We’re still parenting, yet may find ourselves caring for aging parents. In that squeeze women must remember to put their oxygen mask on first because women who take the time to care for their own physical and emotional well being are better equipped to handle everything else on their plate. Midlife is the time to tackle those issues our younger selves may have been too busy to address or too embarrassed to talk about. What are some of the top uncomfortable conversations to have with your doctor? Intimacy Issues A lot of intimacy issues I see with midlife women stem from loss of libido, or sexual desire. There’s no little blue pill to prescribe, but your doctor can help you can help you get to the heart of the problem, uncovering possible medical reasons for the issue. Bladder Control Problems Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is common for women as they age—whether it’s the strong sudden urge to go out of nowhere or the type that come on when you sneeze, laugh or cough. But it is not something you have to live with. There are exercises and diet changes that can help, as well as procedures that can be done. Perimenopause/Menopause As an OB-GYN I help many women manage the symptoms of menopause. Things that help include exercise, controlling your weight and, in some cases, hormone replacement therapy. New therapies have emerged, too. Healthy Habits Your doctor can help you make those necessary lifestyle changes you’ve been meaning to do, like quitting smoking, eating healthier, getting enough sleep, and exercising. In some cases, these changes may go hand in hand with helping a medical issue you’ve been having. Abuse Your conversations with your doctor are confidential, yet crucial if you don’t know what to do about your situation. Stress/Depression Talk to your doctor to better understand the chaos hormones may be inserting into your life, plus to help you navigate your stresses. Stress and/or depression could be tied to some of the other issues above, so taking care of one may help the other. Your doctor can help you navigate these midlife matters, allowing you to put down the supermom cape and realize you’re not alone on your health journey. Author By Karen Hardart, MD, an OB-GYN at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She can be reached at 410-573-9530. Originally published May 4, 2015. Last updated Aug. 6, 2018.0
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYour child’s sinuses are not fully developed until late in the teen years, but the child can still develop a sinus infection. Although small, the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. Childhood sinus problems may be difficult to diagnose, because symptoms may be caused by other problems, such as a viral illness or allergy. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, these symptoms may indicate a sinus infection: Cold-like symptoms lasting more than 14 days, sometimes with a low-grade fever. Thick nasal drainage, which may be yellow or green. Post-nasal drip, sometimes leading to a sore throat, cough, bad breath, nausea or upset stomach. Headache, usually in children 6 years or older. Irritability or exhaustion. Inflammation near the eyes. Which children are at risk for sinus infection? A sinus infection sometimes happens after an upper respiratory infection or common cold. The cold causes swelling that can block the opening of the sinuses. This can cause a sinus infection. Allergies can also lead to sinusitis because of swelling and increased mucus. Other possible conditions that can lead to sinusitis include: Abnormal shape of the nose. Infection from a tooth. Nose injury. Foreign object in the nose. Birth defect with abnormality of the roof of the mouth (cleft palate). Problem with stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD). What can I do to prevent sinusitis in my child? There are things that can help your child avoid sinusitis. They include: Have your child use saline sprays, washes, or both. Use these often to keep the nose as moist as possible. Use a humidifier in dry indoor environments. Keep your child away from cigarette and cigar smoke. Keep your child away from things that cause allergy symptoms. Don’t force water into the sinuses. For example, your child should not jump into water. Limit time in chlorinated pools. The chlorine can irritate the nose and sinuses. Practice good hand hygiene. Keep you and your child up to date with immunizations. Avoid close contact with people who have colds or others upper respiratory infections. Are you looking for a primary care doctor? Search our Find A Doc directory. Originally published Jan. 29, 2018. Last updated Nov. 14, 2019.0
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health has reached a major milestone. The health system has given more than 100,000 vaccines in our communities. Luminis Health can now provide more shots in arms, thanks to a $2.2 million state grant. The funding will be used to expand efforts to bring COVID-19 vaccinations to vulnerable residents in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. The Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) provided the funding to increase Maryland’s statewide vaccination rate. The new program awarded $12 million to hospital systems to expand and improve existing mobile and community-based vaccination programs. Luminis Health will use the funds to expand its mobile vaccination program. Since January, our Health & Wellness Team has administered shots at businesses, homeless shelters, senior centers, low-income housing communities, barber shops, churches, and community events. Through our mobile program, the health system will provide more than 41,000 additional vaccinations in 14 target zip codes across Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. “We need to meet people where they are,” said Christine Crabbs, director of Community Health at Luminis Health. “This additional funding will allow us to help our vulnerable residents who face challenges such as poverty and lack of access to health care, technology, and transportation. We will go door-to-door if necessary to get shots in arms.” Luminis Health will work with more than one hundred community partners on this project. “Consistent with our new 10-year strategic plan, Vision 2030, Living Healthier Together, we are focused on partnerships, public health, and care beyond the walls of the hospitals,” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “Since our mission is to enhance the health of the people we serve, it is our honor and duty to vaccinate as many as we can, to bring this pandemic to an end. Keitarree Smith of Annapolis received the 100,000 vaccine during a clinic at Mt. Olive AME Church. He was presented with a $100 Visa gift card and a special sign.0
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