- Men's Health, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogJust because you know your risk for a heart attack, doesn’t mean you know your risk for heart failure. Oftentimes people use the terms heart attack and cardiac arrest interchangeably, even though they are two distinct conditions. Heart Attack = Plumbing Issue You can think of a heart attack as a plumbing issue—when your pipes get clogged it’s going to cause some big problems. A blockage of the coronary arteries causes a heart attack. The blockage prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching a part of the heart muscle and, if not quickly resolved, can cause parts of the heart muscle to begin to die. With a heart attack your heart generally continues to beat, despite the blockage. Cardiac Arrest = Electrical Issue On the other hand, a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. The electrical circuit to your heart goes out–it’s like a black out. It starts when the electrical signals that control the timing and the organization of the heartbeat become chaotic and then the heart suddenly stops pumping. Without blood pumping to the brain, loss of consciousness and death occurs. Sometimes cardiac arrest can be triggered by another traumatic event, like drowning, electrocution, drug abuse, and even a heart attack. You are at higher risk if you have coronary heart disease, weakened heart (cardiomyopathy), or if you or a family member have history of certain heart conditions like arrhythmias, cardiac genetic disorders, or thickened heart muscle. Warning Signs There are varying warning signs you may experience before a heart attack—including chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, palpitations, and nausea—but the warning signs for cardiac arrest are pretty clear: Loss of consciousness No breathing No pulse Death will occur if treatment is not provided in the first few minutes. What You Can Do So what should you do if you’re with someone who goes into cardiac arrest? First, you should dial 911 to get help on the way. You should immediately begin CPR. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is nearby, use it. These are becoming more common in public places like malls, airports and community swimming pools. Prepare yourself now by signing up to learn CPR and how to use an AED through community classes, like Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Heartsavers Class. Nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital deaths occur from cardiac arrest each year. Acting fast and knowing what to do can save lives. Learn CPR and how to use an AED at one our upcoming Heartsavers classes. Plus, find out your “heart age” and risk of heart disease by taking our quick, free heart profiler at www.AAMCYoungAtHeart.org. Author By Baran Kilical, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach his office, call 410-897–0822.0
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogVirtual Urgent Care: A Fast and Convenient Alternative No one likes to wait, especially when you’re home sick, feeling miserable, and the last thing you want to do is leave the house for a doctor’s appointment. While traditional urgent care can be convenient, long wait times are often the norm. Why wait when there’s a faster option? Luminis Health is proud to introduce CareConnectNow, a virtual urgent care service that lets you receive high-quality care from the comfort of your home. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer to connect with a skilled Luminis Health provider in real-time. Since this is relatively a new service, you may have questions. Here are some answers to help you make the right decision for you and your family. What kinds of things can CareConnectNow providers diagnose and treat? For true emergencies, such as life-threatening injuries or conditions, call 911 or visit the nearest Emergency Department. Virtual urgent care is ideal for addressing many other health concerns, including: Acid reflux Constipation Cough, cold or sore throat COVID screenings Eye problems, such as pink eye Fever or flu Headaches or migraines Insect bites or poison ivy Seasonal allergies Shingles Sinus problems Skin rashes and infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Vertigo They can also prescribe medications or refer you to a specialist when needed. Is CareConnectNow available to everyone? Our CareConnectNow providers are ready to see patients 13 and older—and you don’t have to be an established Luminis Health patient to get virtual urgent care. Keep in mind, you must be in the state of Maryland at the time of service. Most insurance providers cover virtual urgent care appointments, but it is a good idea to confirm with your provider first. Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham also partners with Children’s National Hospital for emergency pediatric needs should your child require additional or complex care. The urgent care you need in the palm of your hands With CareConnectNow, accessing urgent care has never been easier. You can schedule an appointment with our providers weekdays from 8 am–9 pm ET and weekends from 9 am–4 pm ET. The best part? You can often see a provider in under an hour, often times within minutes. Get a diagnosis, personalized care plan, and prescription, all from the comfort of your home. Schedule a live visit today. Visit LuminisHealth.org and click “Find Care”, go directly to LuminisHealth.org/CareConnectNow or call us at 443-951-4270 from your smartphone. Authors Waseem Hussain, MD, is Associate Regional Director of Primary Care at Luminis Health with expertise in all areas of family medicine. He specializes in the management of neurologic, pulmonary, and cardiac diseases, as well as diabetes and gynecologic care.0
- Why Trust Luminis Health With Your Cardiac Catheterization?We win awards for emergency heart attack care, but we've also prevented thousands of heart attacks with cardiac catheterization. You can trust us to manage coronary artery disease and keep you healthy with:A dedicated heart center. Our Zazulia Heart and Vascular Center is an inpatient unit just for heart patients. It features cardiac catheterization labs, a critical care unit and a cardiac rehab center.Heart treatments recognized by the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association recognizes us as one of only 25% of hospitals in the U.S. qualified to perform emergency cardiac catheterization.Nationally recognized care. We're proud to appear on the 2022 U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Hospitals." The American College of Cardiology recognizes Luminis Health for our commitment to hospital care for heart patients.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageYour heart is in good hands at Luminis Health. Our skilled cardiac and vascular specialists diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of heart diseases. And cardiac catheterization is one of our specialties.What Is Cardiac Catheterization?Cardiac catheterization is a procedure that lets us see inside your heart's blood vessels using a hollow tube called a "catheter." We thread the catheter from an artery in your arm or groin to your heart.Your doctor may order a cardiac catheterization if you have a cardiac condition or symptoms of heart disease. This procedure can:Check how well your heart works.Determine if you have blockages in any coronary (heart) arteries.Evaluate how your heart's valves work.Diagnose problems with your heart and figure out the best way to fix them.If needed, we can perform life-saving procedures during cardiac catheterization. These include:Angioplasty, in which we open a blocked artery with a tiny balloon.Stenting, in which we insert a device to keep the artery open for longer.Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure. About 90% of the time, we use radial catheterization — the latest approach, in which the catheter goes into an artery in your arm. This method reduces your risk of bleeding and speeds up your recovery time.0
- Cancer Care, Men's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSeptember is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and there’s good reason to take note. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men. And, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with the disease in his lifetime. This year alone, nearly a quarter-million American men will get it and, sadly, more than 34,000 will die from it. These are scary numbers — and they underscore the importance of screening and finding prostate cancer early when successful treatment is more likely. About Screening Tests Prostate screening involves looking for prostate cancer before symptoms are present. We use two main screening tests: Digital rectal exam: In this test, a doctor feels the prostate gland for bumps or suspicious areas by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: A PSA test is a blood test that measures levels of a particular protein produced by normal and cancerous prostate cells. The higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely prostate cancer is present. The problem with prostate cancer screening tests is they aren’t entirely accurate. Results might suggest you have cancer even when you don’t. On the other hand, a screening test could appear normal when cancer does exist. When there’s concern about prostate cancer, doctors do a biopsy, which involves removing cells from the gland and looking at them under a microscope to see if they appear abnormal. Unfortunately, biopsies can cause pain, bleeding and infection. They also sometimes lead to: Overdiagnosis: There are times when a man might never know he had cancer if he hadn’t had a screening test. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and don’t cause symptoms or threaten a man’s life. Rather than dying of cancer, he’s more likely to die with it. However, once he gets a cancer diagnosis, it can cause stress, anxiety and possibly, overtreatment. Overtreatment: When a man knows he has prostate cancer, he wants it treated, even if it’s likely the cancer would never cause problems. Unfortunately, treatment can cause bowel and bladder toxicity and erectile dysfunction, which can negatively — and unnecessarily — affect his quality of life. Prostate cancer screening recommendations Different medical organizations, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the American Urological Association and the American Cancer Society, make recommendations regarding who should be screened and when. And while their recommendations vary slightly, they all generally suggest that men take these steps to safeguard their prostate health: Regardless of your age, medical history or risk factors, you should talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of screening and treatment before deciding. From roughly the age of 50 to 69, you should make a personal decision about getting screened with a PSA test. If you’re younger than 50 with increased risk factors — such as being African American or having a strong family history of prostate cancer — you should start conversations with your physician, and screenings, sooner. It’s okay to stop routine prostate cancer screenings at age 70. In general, most experts also agree that your PSA value can help support your decisions about screening frequency, and that your overall health and life expectancy should be considered as well. Making your decision So where does this leave you? Possibly, uncertain. But when in doubt, always speak to a medical expert. Your doctor can help you learn more about your risk for prostate cancer and weigh what’s most important to you when making screening decisions. In the meantime, it’s helpful to know the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer and to tell your doctor if you have them. When signs and symptoms, such as these, are present, looking for cancer may become more important: Blood in urine or semen Erectile dysfunction Pain the hips, back, or chest or other areas Urination difficulties, including a weak stream or frequent urination, especially at night Loss of bowel or bladder control Numbness or weakness in your legs or feet While all of these symptoms can be related to problems other than cancer, it’s crucial you get them evaluated to be sure. The team at Luminis Health is here to help. Schedule your consultation or screening appointment today. Authors Amar Rewari, MD, MBA is the Chief of Radiation Oncology for Luminis Health. Dr. Rewari is a board-certified radiation oncologist trained to treat all types of cancer with the latest radiation therapy techniques.0
- Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAmy Turpin, a Harwood resident, is unusual in some ways. At 50 years old, this grandmother of four is exceptionally fit, working as a strength and conditioning coach, and competing in marathons and triathlons. “I’m physical all day long, and then running or cycling is what I choose to do for fun,” she says. But there is one way in which Amy is not unusual. Just like almost a quarter of American women, she experienced a pelvic floor disorder. Pelvic floor disorders occur when the muscles or connective tissues that support a woman’s pelvic organs weaken or are injured. This is commonly a result of pregnancy and childbirth. But obesity, smoking and genetic predisposition are also risk factors. The most common problems are incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. In prolapse, organs such as the uterus, bladder or bowel collapse into the vagina. For many women with prolapse, there are no symptoms, other than some pressure or a vague feeling that something is different, until an organ begins to protrude out of the vagina. Physical and Mental Changes “For me, the changes were fairly subtle over a period of time,” says Amy. She began to feel pelvic pressure while jumping rope. On long runs she would feel the same pressure, plus numbness in her legs. Then, one day, the change became dramatic. “I was out for a run, and I just felt like, literally, the bottom fell out.” At this point, Amy had to change her training routine and avoid some activities she enjoyed. “It affected every aspect of my life physically,” she says. “Then there’s the mental pain when you can’t do the things that you’re used to doing.” Tips for a Stronger Pelvic Floor AAMC Urologist Mara Holton, MD, says it’s important for women to remember that pelvic health corresponds to overall health and wellness. This includes good nutrition, physical fitness and maintaining a proper body weight. Pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, and help these organs function. The best way to maintain pelvic floor fitness is to do Kegel exercises. “Everyone has heard of them, but most women do them incorrectly,” she says. “Kegels are a dedicated exercise that need to be done properly to get the benefit. There are online resources, as well as physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor strengthening.” Dr. Holton advises women to do Kegels twice a day and says women who follow this regimen can see improvement in urinary continence and sexual comfort in six to 12 weeks. She says exercises that strengthen the core muscles, such as jumping jacks, crunches, wall squats and the bridge pose in yoga, can help strengthen the pelvic floor, too. Seeking Treatment Studies suggest that a woman has an 11 to 19 percent chance of needing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in her lifetime. While lifestyle changes or pelvic floor exercises (called Kegels) can help some women with early prolapse, often the degree of muscle damage or tissue relaxation requires other treatments. One option includes trying a pessary—an insertable device that supports the pelvic organs. But Amy’s active lifestyle demanded a more permanent solution. “For me, surgery was a very clear answer, because I just couldn’t perform at the level that I was used to performing,” she says. She ended up undergoing a minimally-invasive robotic procedure. This involved having small incisions put in her abdomen no wider than her pinky. The operation involved controlled robotic arms that worked through the incisions to move Amy’s pelvic organs back into place and secure them. Amy also had a mesh sling inserted under the urethra, the tube through which urine comes out, to prevent urine leakage. Back to Full Speed “With the great technology that we have, you don’t end up with huge scars, but that doesn’t mean the surgery should be minimized,” says Amy. After her surgery in May 2015, she was careful to follow instructions to avoid stairs and not drive or bend over for at least two weeks, then begin returning to regular activities slowly. Recovery time is typically about six weeks. “I think being compliant and not moving around as much as I’m used to was the most challenging part,” she says. “I feel amazing. I got my life back,” says Amy. “In fact, I recently did a triathlon.” Through her work, Amy meets a lot of women. “I know I’m not unusual,” she says. So she made a conscious decision to be open about the personal nature of her surgery, and she often hears, “Oh my goodness, I have the same thing.” Her advice to the millions of women experiencing a pelvic floor disorder is, “We can’t be quite so proud. If you have symptoms, you need to find out what your options are, because you don’t have to live that way.” Have a sensitive health question you’d like an answer to? Call The Smart Woman Connection, your new go-to health resource focused on one thing—your needs as a woman. Call 443-481-5995. Author Mara Holton, MD, is a urologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
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