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- Wellness, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNothing says Valentine’s Day like a box of chocolate. But this Feb. 14, treat your loved one to the rich, health-boosting benefits of dark chocolate. Chew on this: chocolate—specifically dark chocolate—has gained attention in recent years for its impressive health benefits. A new study backs this up, revealing that eating just a few servings of dark chocolate each week can help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Specifically, the study found that people who ate at least five servings of dark chocolate a week had a 21 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely or never ate dark chocolate. What’s more, the more dark chocolate they consumed, the better the outcome, with each additional serving reducing the risk by another 3 percent. But it’s not all good news. The study found no similar benefits for milk chocolate. In fact, it linked milk chocolate consumption to long-term weight gain—a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. So, what makes dark chocolate stand out from its milk counterpart? In a word: a lot. Big benefits of dark chocolate According to the American Heart Association, a standard bar of dark chocolate with 70 percent to 85 percent cacao (cocoa in its raw, less-processed form) contains about 600 calories and 24 grams of sugar. Milk chocolate, on the other hand, packs roughly the same calories, but double the sugar content. Most dark chocolate is also rich in flavonoids—especially a subtype called flavanols, which have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Cocoa beans are naturally high in flavanols, and since dark chocolate contains more cocoa than other types of chocolate, it also packs more flavanols (Flavanols can also be found in tea, red wine, apples and berries.) As antioxidants, flavanols play a key role in producing nitric oxide, which helps relax blood vessels, improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. They also support a balanced immune system and have a positive impact on brain function, boosting reaction time and memory. Dark chocolate’s lesser-known health benefits While heart health, brain function, and immune support grab the spotlight, dark chocolate also offers other surprising health benefits, such as: Enhanced mood Dark chocolate may increase feelings of pleasure and enjoyment. A 2022 study found that people who ate 85 percent dark chocolate daily maintained a better overall mood than those who ate chocolate with less or no cocoa. Improved workouts Because flavanols promote the production of nitric oxide in the blood, eating dark chocolate can reduce the amount of oxygen you use while exercising, meaning you can work out for longer. Sun protection Eating dark chocolate may protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) ray damage. Reduced stress Eating dark chocolate can reduce levels of stress hormones like cortisol. Dark chocolate is also rich in fiber and packed with important minerals like copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc, which among other things, help boost immunity, support bone health, improve sleep quality and help maintain energy levels. Facts to remember Still, there are a few things to keep in mind about dark chocolate, such as: The higher the cocoa content, the better. Aim for dark chocolate that’s at least 70 percent cacao. Always check the nutrition label. You can counteract the benefits if the chocolate is high in calories, fat and sugar. Type 2 diabetes affects millions of Americans. According to the latest data, more than 38 million people, about 1 in 10, have diabetes, with 90 to 95 percent of them having type 2 diabetes. Even more concerning about 98 million Americans, or 1 in 3—have prediabetes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes if left untreated. The good news is prediabetes is reversible, and with lifestyle changes, like maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active, you can delay or even prevent most cases of type 2 diabetes. And maybe, by eating more dark chocolate. Author Colleen Kiley, MS, RD, is a lead diabetes educator for Luminis Health Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists. To make an appointment, please call 443-481-6700.0
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs we close out Pride Month, AAMC President Sherry Perkins discusses the significance of this year’s celebration. As you walk the halls of Anne Arundel Medical Center, the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center and Pathways, you’ll see rainbow flags big and small decorating in celebration of Pride Month. These symbols of our commitment to equity and inclusion remind me not only of our solidarity this month, but most importantly of our actions to be inclusive, equitable, and stand with our LGBTQIA+ community every day. This Pride month, many efforts sponsored by our Department of Diversity Equity and Inclusion have been underway and our LGBTQIA+ Business Resource Group (BRG) has been working hard to bring events that bring us together to celebrate Pride – many of you already have participated. I want to recognize the significance of this particular Pride month as we also challenge ourselves to learn, grow, and act to fight racial injustice. We will continue to actively recognize oppression or exclusion of many forms and work to dismantle it and empower the diversity of our health care system. Thank you all for your care to patients, families, and each other.0
- News & Press Releases, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG), a multi-specialty physician group that is part of Anne Arundel Medical Center, today announced the merge of its two cardiology practices, AAMG Cardiology Specialists and AAMG Annapolis Cardiology Consultants. The two practices will now operate under the name AAMG Cardiology Specialists in one location, AAMC’s new Specialty Physicians Suite–Annapolis. “This past summer, we were pleased to announce the partnership between AAMG Annapolis Cardiology Consultants and AAMG Cardiology Specialists,” said Dr. Jerry Segal, senior cardiologist at AAMG Cardiology Specialists and medical director of Cardiovascular Services at AAMC. “The merger of the two practices provides patients with nine cardiac specialists in one central, convenient location. This expanded practice provides patients with the entire array of cardiac testing and cardiac care.” Specialists cover the fields of general cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology and vascular medicine. In addition to AAMG Cardiology Specialists, the new Specialty Physicians Suite–Annapolis, located on the fifth floor of AAMC Belcher Pavilion (2000 Medical Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401), will also house AAMG Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists, AAMG Neurology Specialists, AAMG Neuropsychology Specialists and AAMG Palliative Medicine Specialists. Mitch Schwartz, MD, chief medical officer at AAMC, says bringing these multispecialty doctors, nurses and skilled care teams under one roof is part of AAMC’s continuous efforts to better integrate and coordinate patient care. “Patients will have the benefit of better communication between doctors, easy appointment scheduling, and seamless medical record sharing between specialties. Our focus is on our patients and creating the best healthcare experience possible,” he said. For more information or to schedule an appointment with AAMG Cardiology Specialists, call 443-481-67000
- Women's Health, Uncategorized, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOn March 14, 2016, Kelly Huber suddenly felt strange. She had spent the day doing yard work when her symptoms hit: sore, tired arms and tight shoulders. “It wasn’t a normal hurt. It felt like I’d been hit by a truck,” says Kelly, who was just three days away from her 51st birthday. “My arms were exhausted. I could barely move them.” At first, Kelly tried to ignore the symptoms. She went inside and got her 8-year-old twin boys ready for bed. But she couldn’t get rid of the heavy feeling in her arms and shoulders, and began to feel extremely hot. She didn’t understand what was happening and became confused and concerned. Kelly’s husband insisted they go to AAMC’s emergency room near her home in Grasonville, Md. There, tests showed the last thing Kelly expected at her age: She was having a heart attack. Women and Heart Disease Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths every year. Source: The American Heart Association Heart Attack in the Making Kelly was no stranger to AAMC. When her twins were born three months early, she was by the boys’ side for seven long weeks in AAMC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Teddy’s Place. Now it was her turn to be the patient. “The artery to the front of Kelly’s heart had a major blockage, which was causing her symptoms,” says Elizabeth Reineck, MD, interventional cardiologist with AAMC. Dr. Reineck reopened Kelly’s artery with a stent. To Kelly, the heart attack felt like it came out of nowhere. But in reality, it was years in the making. “If you looked at her 10-year risk of heart problems one month before she had her heart attack, it would have been very high,” says Kelley Sullivan, MD, Kelly’s post-operative cardiologist with AAMC. Kelly had high cholesterol and a family history of heart problems. Her father had triple bypass surgery before age 50, and her mother was diagnosed with severe heart disease. On top of that, in the span of seven years, Kelly gave birth to her boys prematurely, which left one of them blind; lost her mother; and became separated from her husband. “It was a lot to handle,” she says. A New Lease on Life Kelly’s heart attack was the icing on a bitter cake. “I was scared to death. I prayed, ‘I have little boys. Please let me make it so I can be here for them,’” she says. Her prayers were answered when she left the hospital three days later on her birthday. That was just the beginning of Kelly’s recovery story. Post-operative care would be a partnership between Kelly and her doctors. “Even if we can open up the blocked artery, you have to take medications for the rest of your life and follow up with a cardiologist regularly,” says Dr. Reineck. “As doctors, we can only do so much. To be successful moving forward, patients need to make positive lifestyle changes, too.” Kelly was determined to do whatever it took to succeed. For her, that meant taking prescribed medications, improving her diet and exercising more often. Because she was terrified of another heart attack, exercising was especially hard. “You worry,” she says. “Every little ping and pain feels like it’s your heart.” Fortunately, three months of cardiac rehab at AAMC helped her recover physically and emotionally. “Kelly came to us scared and nervous. She was afraid for her kids,” says cardiac nurse Shannon Adkins. Her therapy with Kelly included nutritional counseling and supervised exercise, such as walking on a treadmill while connected to a heart monitor. “Our goal was to make her feel better about doing things so that when she went back into the real world, she would feel more confident.” Kelly’s twins were by her side at most of her appointments. They supported her a few steps away from where she’d first supported them at their birth. “My boys are my little advocates. They are my biggest motivation for getting healthy,” Kelly says. “I’ve changed everything so I can be here to watch them grow up.” Find out how you can help bring cardiac surgery to AAMC. Contributors Elizabeth Reineck, MD, is an interventional cardiologist with AAMC. Kelley Sullivan, MD, is a cardiologist with AAMC.0
- Why Choose Luminis Health's Speech Pathology Team?We'll work hard to lessen the toll that speech, language or voice problems can take on your life by:Working closely with your entire care team. We'll consult with your radiation oncologist or other referring doctor to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. But that's not all. We also work shoulder-to-shoulder with dietitians, occupational therapists and physical therapists to tackle your symptoms from many directions.Coordinating your care. Juggling appointments with several different types of health professionals is time-consuming. We handle those arrangements if your doctor recommends physical therapy, occupational therapy or cancer rehabilitation.Making access to care as painless as possible. With early morning, evening and weekend hours, you can choose appointments that fit your schedule. For some types of therapy, virtual visits are a convenient option. And you can connect with any of our locations and services through a single, dedicated phone number.Offering therapists with specialized skills. Our speech therapists hone their expertise by treating many people who have the same specific problem. For example, if you lose your voice after treatment for throat cancer, we can match you with a therapist who specializes in this.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageWe treat adults and children with voice, speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders. We also treat children with feeding disorders, ADHD and autism.Specialized Help for Speech, Language, Voice, Swallowing and Thinking IssuesDifficulty swallowing doesn't just rob you of the pleasure of eating. It can pose serious risks, including choking. Problems speaking or communicating your thoughts to others can be frustrating and exhausting. Living day to day with these issues can lead to emotional distress, like anxiety.In kids, feeding disorders can slow normal growth. And a speech or language disorder can impair a child's ability to learn and succeed in school.Our speech-language pathologists can help you or your child manage a speech, voice or swallowing disorder. We deliver outpatient rehabilitation care that helps you or your loved one achieve life-changing results. No matter where you are in your experience or recovery process, we can help.0