- Men's Health, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAbout one in four men and women in the United States have the human papilloma virus, or HPV, which causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. It can also lead to several other types of cancers, including cancers of the mouth, throat and anus. Fortunately, there is a vaccine that can prevent it. The HPV vaccine has been available since 2006. Because there is no screening for most of the types of cancers that HPV causes, it’s important to prevent HPV before it becomes deadly. As the medical community learns more about how the vaccine works, we have learned that the immune system responds better when children receive it at a young age. We are also aware that many parents have concerns about the safety of the HPV vaccine. We want to reassure you that the HPV vaccine is safe. All vaccines used in the United States are required to go through extensive safety testing before the Food and Drug Administration licenses them. After they are in use, the FDA continually monitors these drugs for safety and effectiveness. There have been many studies to make sure the two vaccines that protect against HPV are safe. These studies have not uncovered any major safety concerns. Like any vaccine, the HPV vaccine can cause side effects, though many who receive the vaccine experience no side effects at all. Some of the most common side effects are soreness or redness at the site of the injection, fever and headache. Other vaccines for adolescents can cause the same side effects. Fainting can happen after many medical procedures, including vaccination. Fainting after getting a shot is more common among adolescents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tell the doctor or nurse if your child feels dizzy or light-headed. You may have seen stories circulate online that link the vaccine to infertility, seizures and chronic conditions. The data about the vaccine doesn’t support these claims. About 14 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year. We recommend that all boys and girls who are 11 or 12 years old get two shots of HPV vaccine six to 12 months apart. Kids who receive their two shots less than five months apart will require a third dose of the vaccine. If your child is older than 14, he or she will need to receive three shots over a six-month period. The benefits of the HPV vaccination far outweigh any potential risks. Immunizing your child against HPV is a significant way to prevent multiple cancers later in life. Please talk to your pediatric provider about questions you have regarding effectiveness, safety, or timing of this important immunization.0
- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLung cancer remains the most common cancer in the world. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women — about one out of four cancer deaths are from lung cancer. While a small number of people who have lung cancer have never smoked, the biggest risk factor is smoking. Other risk factors are having an immediate family member with lung cancer, and exposure to radon, asbestos, and other chemicals that are harmful to your lungs. If lung cancer is found early, before a person has any symptoms such as coughing up blood, chest pain, difficulty breathing or unexplained weight loss, there is a better chance of curing the disease. In the past, only 16 percent of lung cancers were found early and often by accident. That is changing quickly, thanks to the results of the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). Take our pledge to love your lungs, and be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card! The NLST showed that having a low dose chest CT scan every year was more helpful than a chest x-ray in finding early lung cancers. Because of this, men and women between the ages of 55 and 80 who have a heavy smoking history, and currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years, are recommended to have a low dose chest CT scan. It is important to have the CT scan every year because lung cancer can develop at any time. We began our lung cancer screening program here at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) in 2012. For the past several years, we have worked hard to educate the public and medical providers on the importance of lung cancer screening. The biggest difficulty has been spreading the word about how important screening is for high risk people. As with any new test or treatment, it can take a while for both healthcare providers and community members to get used to the idea. To decrease your risk of lung cancer, the most important decision is to try to quit smoking. Those who have already quit have overcome a major hurdle. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to come together and stand up to the leading cancer killer. Join us in preventing a death by spreading the word to those who may be at risk. Lung cancer doesn’t have to claim so many lives. If you think you are at risk or know someone who is, talk to your doctor. You can also contact the AAMC Lung Screening Program at 443-481-5838. If you are making the decision to quit smoking, help is readily available. Contact AAMC’s smoking cessation program at 443-481-5366. Author Stephen Cattaneo, MD is a thoracic surgeon and medical director of thoracic oncology at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Nov. 6, 2017. Last updated Nov. 18, 2019.0
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you’re reading this at 3 am, scrolling for help on your phone while cradling a hungry babe in the other arm — you aren’t alone. First-time moms and seasoned pros alike can run into unfamiliar issues while breastfeeding and pumping. Here are some terms you might run into along the way. Talking about breastfeeding Clogged ducts A clogged milk duct — which develops as a small, tender lump on your breast — can result from a change in feeding schedule, a breast not draining fully or wearing tight clothing. Continuing to breastfeed will help it drain. Changing feeding positions, applying a warm washcloth and massaging can also help. Cluster feeding When your baby’s feeding sessions start to happen almost back-to-back, it’s called cluster feeding. Some babies seem to cluster feed before a growth spurt or in the evenings before a longer stretch of sleep at night. Colostrum When your baby is born, your breasts produce colostrum. This thick fluid is a kind of newborn “superfood” that contains the nutrients your baby needs and helps prevent infection. Over time, your breastmilk continues to adapt to your baby’s nutritional needs. Engorged Breasts As your milk comes in, you can quickly find yourself with too much of a good thing. If your milk production changes suddenly or you miss feedings, your breasts can become engorged or overfilled — sometimes painfully so. Warm showers and warm washcloths can reduce pressure before feedings. Foremilk and hindmilk Foremilk flows from your breast as your baby begins feeding, and it’s usually thinner than the higher-fat-content hindmilk that follows. Certain factors can affect the amount of foremilk vs. hindmilk your baby gets. But if your baby seems comfortable and has normal stools, they’re likely getting the right combination. Latch At the beginning of each feeding, it’s important to carefully line your baby’s jaw up to your breast to make a good connection. A proper latch helps your little one draw milk out safely and effectively, but it’s not always intuitive. Ask a lactation consultant for pointers if needed. Mastitis If your breast isn’t draining well enough, you can develop an infection called mastitis. If you notice swelling, burning or redness, or you have a fever or achy, flu-like symptoms, let your doctor, nurse or midwife know. You’ll need to take antibiotics, rest and keep breastfeeding to clear it up. Milk bleb Tiny, whitish spots on your nipple might be milk blebs or blisters caused by a latch that’s not quite right. These blisters usually go away on their own but can be painful. Keep the area clean and try to keep breastfeeding with good technique. A warm washcloth or gentle pressure can also help. If the area does not heal on its own, follow up with your provider. Thrush Thrush is a yeast fungus that often flares up in babies. A possible sign is white patches in your baby’s mouth and fussiness that makes feeding difficult. You and your baby will likely both need to be treated with antifungal medication for thrush since you can pass it back and forth. Pumping and bottle-feeding terms Duckbill Breast pump valves vary by shape. A duckbill valve — you guessed it — resembles a flat, wide duck bill. Some moms notice better suction or output from certain types of valves, so it’s worth experimenting if you’re looking for better results. Flange Flanges are a key part of your breast pump. Similar in shape to a funnel, flanges make a vacuum-style seal with your breasts so the pump can draw out milk. Choosing the right size flange for your nipple can help you avoid injury and get good results. Hand express Did you know you can express your breastmilk by hand, no pump needed? Hand expressing can help relieve engorged breasts, stimulate production or produce milk to feed your baby. It’s not a complicated process but it can feel tricky to get the hang of on your first go. How-to videos can help you perfect your technique. Paced bottle feeding Babies taking breastmilk or formula from a bottle sometimes eat too quickly or too much. Paced bottle feeding mimics the way your baby would feed from your breast. You can help your baby control the milk flow by using a small bottle with a slow-flow nipple and by holding it horizontally. Taking breaks every few swallows will also help your baby learn to eat at a slower, steadier pace. Supplementing The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding exclusively for your baby’s first four to six months. During this time, your provider will stay in close contact with you to offer support and help with any challenges you face. If your baby isn’t gaining enough weight, your provider might refer you to a lactation consultant. These highly trained professionals can help you resolve any milk supply or latch issues. In some cases, they might also recommend supplementing your breast milk with formula. Breastfeeding and pumping are a wonderful — and sometimes messy — affair. It’s normal to have questions, and when you do, we’re here to help with all the support and resources you need. Author Mary “Ginny” Bowers, CNM, IBCLC, is a certified nurse-midwife and lactation consultant with Luminis Health Ob-Gyn. To make an appointment, call 410-820-0038.0
- Physical Therapy, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHave you ever experienced leakage after having a baby? Does it happen when you are hiking with family? Or when your cough or sneeze? Have felt embarrassed to go out with your girlfriends because you fear laughing with them will cause you to pee? Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe there’s something you can do to prevent this from happening? These are a lot of questions, I know. But many women feel these things are an inevitable part of aging, or something that’s normal after you have a child. Leakage — also called incontinence — is not something you have to live with. It’s one of many pelvic floor disorders that can strip women of their confidence in doing normal, everyday things they like to do. But I have good news for you. There is a solution — preventative pelvic floor therapy. What is it? Pelvic floor physical therapy involves the pelvic floor muscle group. A person might consider this type of therapy to help treat incontinence, difficulty with urination or bowel movements, constipation, chronic pelvic pain and painful intercourse. Pelvic floor disorders are very common, affecting nearly 25 percent of women in the United States, according to research. Women’s bodies go through many changes in their life from puberty to menopause. These changes come with a torrent of hormonal and physical imbalances that can wreak havoc on the pelvic floor. Many women endure urinary and fecal incontinence as well as acute pelvic pain, back pain, muscle tears, tailbone fractures and other fractures, prolapsed bladders and rectum, painful sexual intercourse and abdominal separation. Some experience this at some point in their lives, most commonly after childbirth. READ MORE: The importance of good pelvic health Can you prevent a pelvic floor disorder? There are many things you can do to prevent or lessen pelvic floor damage. You don’t have to wait to have signs or symptoms — such as incontinence — to work on strengthening your pelvic floor. Here are a few tips to reduce incontinence and other issues and to help prevent future problems: Do your Kegels. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine and rectum. These exercises can help you prevent or better control incontinence and other pelvic floor problems. Check for organ prolapse. Bladder, rectal and/or uterine prolapse can cause bowel and bladder control issues, feeling of heaviness/bulging in vagina, incomplete emptying, and pain with intercourse among other things. Work with your urogynecologist and a pelvic floor rehab specialist to help alleviate and prevent future problems. Small changes count. Take control of constipation to prevent undue stress on the pelvic floor and strain on these muscles by drinking more water, eating fiber rich foods and using a squatty potty to relax the muscles during bowel movements. Take care of your diet. Decreasing bladder irritants such as coffee, soda, carbonated beverages, spicy foods and artificial sugars can slow down an overactive bladder and urgency that can lead to leakage. Check your bathroom schedule. Avoid going to bathroom less than every two hours but do not hold more than four hours. The ideal range is between two and four hours to avoid creating any future problems related to overactive bladder or retention. You shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed if you’re experiencing a pelvic floor issue. In fact, I encourage you to be open and reach out to a specialist with any questions or concerns you might have related to your pelvic health. At Anne Arundel Medical Center, we have specialists who can review with you all the above tips to alleviate any question and decrease or prevent any problems to help you improve your quality of life. Just remember, it’s completely normal and there are ways to help. We’re here to help you get back to leading a more confident life! Author Kinnariben Patel is a physical therapist at AAMG Physical Therapy. To reach her, call 443-481-1140. Originally published Oct. 2, 2018. Last updated Feb. 4, 2020.0
- Why Choose The Lifecare Institute?The Lifecare Institute’s team of experts in primary care provides comprehensive health assessments, health care management and coordination of care, with 24/7 phone access to the medical team. In addition to medical care, we provide emotional, social and volunteer support, which can include check-in phone calls, one-on-one companionship, respite breaks for caregivers, and veteran salutes to service. All volunteers are thoroughly screened and go through extensive training. We can help you anticipate the concerns likely to arise as your illness progresses and offer guidance on advance care planning and navigating the health care system. We are here to offer you the resources and support you and your family need to maintain the best quality of life.ServiceConditions/Services/Treatments PageThe Lifecare Institute Elder Care Program Our program is for individuals with serious illness who need coordinated care and guidance. Older individuals living with serious illnesses often find themselves in an unending cycle of health crises that lead from home to the hospital to rehabilitation and back home again. Our team of physicians, nurse practitioners and social workers are experts in providing coordinated geriatric and comfort care, and guidance to improve quality of life. We care for individuals and families throughout Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County, Maryland. We help ensure that those who often “fall through the cracks” of the health care system—those who have difficulty traveling to office appointments and for whom treatment is becoming less effective—receive the care and attention they need when and where they need it.0
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