- Orthopedics, Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRaking leaves is a chore many homeowners dread every fall. Not only is it hard work, it can also be a literal pain. The repetitive motions involved in raking can stress your body, leading to a musculoskeletal injury, or injuries that affect your ability to move. It can be especially risky for anyone who has a history of problems related to the heart, lungs, bones, joints or spine. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), doctors treated more than 42,000 raking-related injuries in 2014. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says herniated discs in the neck or low back are common, as are muscle strains in the back, arms and legs. Most of these injuries are from poor technique or overdoing it – especially if you aren’t used to strenuous exercise. Follow these tips to help prevent injuries while raking leaves this fall: Use a comfortable rake. Wear sturdy, slip-resistant shoes. Stand up straight as you rake. Bend from your knees. Switch your arm and leg positions, trading sides every few minutes. Be careful on slippery, wet leaves. Lift only as much as you can comfortably carry. Don’t wrench or twist too severely. Go slowly. Take several breaks as you work. Stretch for 10 minutes after you’re done. If you’re using a leaf blower instead of a rake, check the equipment before you use it for the first time, and get any necessary repairs. You should also be careful if you’re planning to clean out your gutters this fall. There were more than 500,000 ladder-related injuries in 2014, the CPSC says. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has these safety tips for gutter cleaning: Inspect the ladder for loose screws, hinges or rungs and clean off any mud or liquids. Place the ladder on a firm and level surface. Look out for spots that are soft or muddy. Follow the 1-to-4 rule. Keep the bottom of the ladder one foot away from the wall for every four feet that the ladder rises. Wear the right clothes and shoes. Avoid shoes with leather soles, because they can be slippery. Don’t wear pants with legs that are too wide or too long. Avoid using a ladder outside if it’s rainy, windy or there are other weather conditions that could increase the risk of slipping and falling. Stay in the center of the ladder as you climb up, and be careful not to lean too far to one side when you are working. By following these tips, you can help avoid injuries and accidents and make sure your fall season remains full of happy memories instead of painful ones.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhile many people associate heart issues such as heart attacks and cardiac arrest with older adults, young athletes can also be at risk. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating. The risk is three times greater in competitive athletes. In young adults, it’s most common among high-school and college-aged athletes who play high-intensity sports such as soccer, football and basketball. It seems illogical. Why would young, healthy and active athletes be at a higher risk for heart issues than the average young adult? Sudden cardiac arrest has to do with the heart’s electrical circuitry or a structural problem in the heart. Unlike a heart attack where arteries are blocked, cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. If there’s an electrical short circuit, the heart is “quivering” instead of “squeezing.” This means it isn’t pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs. Death can result from this. One of the most common of these electrical or structural problems is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), where the heart muscle is abnormally thickened. HCM is the most common cause of cardiac arrest found in athletes in the United States (approximately one-third of cases). In competitive athletes, there are often structural changes to the heart from intense exercise. When coupled with the sudden physical demands placed on the heart, the risk of sudden cardiac death increases. It’s very difficult to prevent, but recognizing cardiac arrest is the first step. The warning signs–dizziness and shortness of breath–don’t always happen. Furthermore, athletes are goal-oriented and often ignore warning signs as they push their bodies to the point of exhaustion. If you see someone collapse, you should always call 911 immediately. Cardiac arrest is time-crucial. Giving chest compressions and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) while you wait for help to arrive can make the difference between life and death. While imaging tests like electrocardiograms (EKG) and echocardiograms can detect heart problems that may lead to cardiac arrest, the American Heart Association doesn’t routinely recommend these tests for everyone. Athletes should get their blood pressure and heartbeat checked at their yearly physical exam and let their doctor know about family medical history. If anything raises a red flag, more advanced tests may be necessary. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that are unusual for them, it’s worth asking your doctor about it. Author Baran Kilical, MD, is a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Aug. 2, 2016. Last updated March 7, 2019.0
- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBarefoot and minimalist running became a popular trend over the last several years. The barefoot running technique, as its name implies, involves wearing little to no footwear while you run. The developers and advocates of this technique believe the human foot is evolutionarily designed to run barefoot, and shoes only hinder our performance and cause us injuries. David J. Keblish, MD, an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at AAMC, disagrees. “There is a romanticized notion that somehow the world would be a happier place if we didn’t wear shoes,” he says. “I think that’s nonsense. The human foot is not evolutionarily designed well for running, and I don’t think shoes are causing the problem.” Dr. Keblish believes it is our modern lifestyle that ruins our feet, not our choice of running shoes. “We’ve turned the earth flat, and most of us spend all day long in shoes without ever exercising the many muscles in our feet” he says. While early humans had a variety of terrains under their feet, we have mostly flat surfaces. Running on sidewalks, roads and gym floors is tough on our feet—the repetitive motion of feet hitting hard, flat pavement adds stress on our joints and prevents us from adapting to other surfaces.” “People who don’t have shoes don’t have better feet,” he says. “You don’t see marathon runners running barefoot or in minimalist shoes.” There is one aspect of barefoot running that Dr. Keblish does agree with—the forefoot strike technique. This running technique involves landing on the balls of your feet each time you take a step rather than heel striking, or landing on your heels first. Proponents of barefoot running suggest that forefoot striking is more intuitive when running barefoot, while shoes with thick soles and heels cause us to heel strike. “We shouldn’t be heel striking heavily, if at all, when we run,” Dr. Keblish agrees. Training ourselves to forefoot strike is hard to do, he adds, but is better for our feet in the long run. Dr. Keblish also advises that we take time to exercise our feet. “We wake up and immediately stuff our feet into slippers or shoes and most of us keep them there all day, which is not good,” he says. “Feet are like hands; we need to get those joints moving.” To do this, Dr. Keblish says, take the time to wiggle your toes, rotate your ankles and massage the soles of your feet before you get out of bed. He also advocates going barefoot or in minimalist shoes when doing balance drills and resistance training, such as squats and lunges to develop strong feet. Return to Finding the Right Running Shoes for Your Feet Contributor David J. Keblish, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at AAMC Orthopedics with offices on the AAMC campus in Annapolis and in Pasadena. Prior to joining AAMC, Dr. Keblish deployed with Marines in Afghanistan where he led a military medical unit in caring for severely wounded US troops and coalition forces injured in battle. In addition to serving our nation, he has extensive experience covering NCAA division 1 intercollegiate sporting events and caring for athletes at every level. He can be reached at 410-268-8862. Originally published November 17, 2015. Last updated May 23, 2018.0
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogShould you stress about stress? Stress is part of life, but its impact on your health can be more serious than you might think. While eliminating stress entirely may not be realistic, managing it effectively could be life-saving. It’s important to understand how stress affects your body—and what you can do to take control. Stress and your body’s systems Your body is equipped to handle stress in small doses. But heavy stress—especially over long periods of time—can take a toll on every aspect of your health, from your mental and emotional wellbeing to your physical condition. And physiologically speaking, stress can affect every one of your body’s systems in one way or another. Stress and your heart health When you become stressed, your heart rate increases and your heart muscle contracts—which means your blood vessels pump more blood to different parts of your body, temporarily raising your blood pressure. When your heart rate is consistently higher, and stress hormones increase your blood pressure on a regular basis, it can significantly multiply your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Stress and your gastrointestinal (GI) tract The neurons in your gut constantly communicate with your brain. Stress can affect this communication and trigger bloating, pain and other discomfort. And high levels of stress over time can often lead to chronic GI conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Stress and your musculoskeletal system When your body becomes stressed, your muscles tense up. Chronic (constant) stress causes your muscles to be in a continuous state of guardedness, which can cause stress-related disorders. For example, chronic muscle tension in your shoulders can lead to migraines and tension headaches. For many people who have chronic pain conditions related to musculoskeletal disorders though, stress-relieving activities can bring significant relief. Stress and your respiratory system Stress can manifest itself as shortness of breath and rapid breathing. While this isn’t typically a problem for people without respiratory disease, it can harm those who have conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In fact, some studies suggest that high amounts of stress can trigger asthma attacks. Stress and your nervous system Stress triggers your body’s “fight or flight” response, which signals your adrenal glands to release hormones. When the crisis is over, your body usually returns to its normal state. But chronic stress can cause a long-term drain on your body. Stress and your reproductive system For men, chronic stress can affect testosterone production, leading to a decreased sex drive and sometimes causing erectile dysfunction. It can also reduce sperm production. For women, stress can cause missing or delayed periods, which in turn affects their ability to conceive. In addition, it can make premenstrual syndrome (PMS) much worse. Managing your stress Stress management can be challenging, but it’s a necessity. The good news is that making small, incremental changes can pack a big punch. Consider trying these strategies: Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Sleep has remarkable restorative power, and you’re more likely to be able to manage stress when you’re well-rested. Connect with others. Spending time with family and friends can be a pleasant distraction from life’s struggles. Loved ones can lend a listening ear and laughter is always good medicine. Eat a well-balanced diet. A healthy diet that’s heavy on fruits, vegetables and whole grains will go a long way toward helping you feel your best. Food is fuel for the mind and body. Exercise regularly. Physical activity releases endorphins, which are your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Aim for 30-minutes of exercise a day at a minimum. Try proven relaxation techniques. Whether it’s yoga, meditation, music, art or journaling, relaxation techniques can help your mind—and body—find much-needed balance. Meet with a therapist. A therapist, counselor or other professional can help you understand the root of your stress and come up with long-term plans for stress relief. Support when you need it A Luminis Health Behavioral Health provider can help you figure out the cause of your stress and offer additional ways to manage it. If stress is disrupting your life or putting your health at risk, make an appointment with someone from our team today. Authors Crystal Osuchukwu, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor. To make an appointment with Crystal, please call 301-623-4352.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe start of a new school year means fall sports season is here as well. It’s important to be smart about returning to sports to help your child prevent injuries. Here are 12 tips to prevent problems when your child is back on the field: Stay active. If your child is not participating in organized sports over the summer, help them stay active to maintain some cardiovascular fitness. This way, it will be easier for them to get back into shape for the fall season. Build slowly. Sports can be demanding. Kids should not go from doing nothing to doing high demand exercise without some prep work. One week is not enough to “get into shape.” It’s best to build slowly over several weeks to prepare. Eat well. It’s easy to slip into bad eating habits over the summer. But that makes it hard for your child to get back to a good fitness level needed for sports. Sticking with good eating habits all year will give them the building blocks for a healthy body and excellent sports performance. Diversify. In today’s sports landscape, youth athletes have far more options for participating in their favorite sport all year round. Single-sport youth athletes have a much higher rate of overuse injury and burnout. Studies show that participating in different sports throughout the year can improve performance in the primary sport more than practicing in one sport all year. Your child can learn multiple skills from other sports that can contribute to their primary sport. Sports should be fun. Approximately 6 percent of youth athletes participate in collegiate level sports. But the chance of your child having a career playing sports is less than one in 1,000. The other 999 kids will use their education for their livelihood. So focus on the fun of sports, teaching teamwork and other excellent life skills. Be supportive. Winning is fun but it’s not everything. It’s important to be a supportive parent and cheer for the great plays. Enjoyment and participation are far more important to your child in the long run. Emphasize the good efforts and improvements over the season. Encourage participation regardless of athletic ability. Incorporate injury prevention routines into the warm up. This includes proper hydration, stretching and light cardio. You can find more sport specific recommendations at www.stopsportsinjuries.org. Don’t push through pain. Youth athletes should not have chronic pain. A sore muscle or bruise is normal, but routine pain is not. You should talk to a doctor if your child develops an overuse injury. Get an annual sports physical. Serious injury or sports-related death is extremely rare but often recognizable to a trained medical professional. An annual sports physical is an important part of getting your child ready to play. Check your equipment. Kids grow between seasons. Equipment wears out in time. Using improperly fitting or broken equipment is a recipe for injury. Stretch both before and after participation. A good warm up and a good cool down are equally important. Hydrate! The start of fall sports is often at the end of the summer, when the weather is still very hot. Proper hydration and temperature control is crucial for prevention of heat exhaustion and muscle fatigue. Injury prevention and knowledge about what precautions kids should take is just as important for coaches as it is for parents and young athletes. If you notice a change in your child’s technique, such as limping when running, rubbing a leg during activity or grasping a wrist, you should pull the athlete out of play. If you see that the problem continues, consider getting an assessment for your child before returning to play. Make sure your young athlete is feeling good and not suffering through an injury. Kids should enjoy sports. So go out there, play and have fun! Author Ben Petre, MD, is a sports medicine doctor and surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Orthopedics. He can be reached at 410-268-8862. For more information visit aamcortho.com. Originally published July 23, 2018. Last updated Aug. 26, 2019.0
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
Go to MyChart
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?