- Community, Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHow can you keep your high-energy child occupied when you can’t leave the house? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine things you can do to keep your child entertained: Play games The first few days – or maybe even hours – might seem easy. But your child will eventually say the famous words, “I’m bored!” Games can become your go-to solution. Puzzles are great to keep kids—and adults—entertained for hours. Puzzles stimulate problem-solving skills and boost memory. You should also consider science kits. These are fun and a great way for kids to learn about how things work. Get creative with play dough This one never fails. Play dough is actually easy to make at home. You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. It’s a great way to get kids’ imaginations going. You can challenge them to make something specific or let them get creative on their own. Create your own coloring books You can’t go wrong with coloring books. If you need a last minute coloring book, you can download and print images from home. Coloring reduces stress and anxiety, improves motor skills, helps with better sleep and increases focus. Read books Staying home for long periods of time is a great opportunity to grab a book and get reading. Revisit your book library and choose a couple of books together with your child. To make it more fun, you can set aside time each day to go over what your child has learned during their reading time. Build toys LEGO, of course, is the classic go-to. But consider other safe things around your home that kids can use to build structures for a few hours of fun. Building activities help kids with critical thinking and can teach important lessons about engineering. Use a tablet Whether you like to admit it, there will be a lot of screen time happening during your child’s time off. Instead of cringing at the thought of your child spending a large amount of time with their tablet, think of ways you can leverage this. You can download Amazon FreeTime Unlimited or other educational apps so that you don’t have to feel guilty about letting your kids zone out in front of a screen. Bring out the art supplies This is a good time to bring out the markers, crayons and other art supplies to keep a child busy for long stretches of time. Art supplies can spark creativity and get them excited about completing an activity. Pair the supplies with a couple of white sheets and watch the magic happen. Do activities together Cooking is a great opportunity to teach kids a new skill and get them involved. Give them their own tools, ask them to help you find the right ingredients and let them do some kitchen experimenting for delicious creations. Like cooking, cleaning as a group can also become a fun task when done together. Get active At some point, you will all want to get moving. It’s easy to feel frustrated or bored if you’re not being physically active. Try some creative exercise ideas, like setting up an obstacle course in the backyard or in your living room. You can also try some micro-exercises, such as jumping jacks, running up and down the stairs or dancing around to music. Making the Most of Time Indoors For whatever reason you might be stuck indoors, it can be challenging for individuals and families. But this time can also be an opportunity to find new ways of enjoying the simple things in life — for both you and your child.0
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer means freedom from your socks and shoes, but what happens when your feet don’t look “sandal ready?” It may be that you have athlete’s foot or toenail fungus. These infections commonly follow the cooler seasons due to the lack of air circulation in socks and boots. Signs of an infection may include cracking of the skin, redness, itching, burning and discoloring of the toenails. If you think you have a fungal or bacterial infection, make an appointment to see your primary care provider or dermatologist because often these infections don’t go away on their own. It’s important to identify what the cause is, because there are a variety of diseases, including melanoma, that can cause changes in the toenails. Your doctor can recommend strategies such as over-the-counter antifungal creams, prescription drugs or other remedies. Not seeking treatment may allow the infection to spread to other parts of your body, like the hands and groin. Practicing good foot hygiene is crucial for the treatment and prevention of any foot or toe infection. This includes keeping your feet clean and dry on a daily basis. Always wear flip-flops or shower shoes in a moist environment, and especially avoid being barefoot in public areas, such as locker rooms, public pools and showers. Try an At-Home Pedicure Step 1: Soak feet in lukewarm water. This softens up your nails, as well as calluses and dead skin. Step 2: Scrub feet to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. Step 3: Use a pumice stone or foot file to smooth out calluses. Step 4: Cut your toenails with sanitized nail scissors or clippers, making sure to cut them straight across. Avoid cutting them too short. Gently using a nail file on any sharp edges is fine. Step 5: Apply cuticle oil. The cuticles help keep germs away from your skin and nails. Step 6: Massage feet with a rich moisturizing lotion. Step 7: Add polish if desired, but apply a base coat to prevent the yellowing of nails and to extend the polish’s wear. Originally published Aug. 9, 2016. Last updated May 31, 2019.0
- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLast updated Jan. 27, 2020. For more recent updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, see our list of FAQs. If you’ve been reading or watching the news recently, you have learned that a newly identified coronavirus strain has been spreading in China and has made its way to several other countries through travelers. As a result, this has prompted the U.S. to quarantine travelers returning from the epidemic zones in China to reduce the risk of further transmission in the country. The Wuhan coronavirus, or coronavirus (COVID-19), was named after Wuhan City, China, where this strain originated. This is the newest example of an emerging infectious disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses can be as mild as the common cold or can be as deadly as the SARS coronavirus strain. If you were not in China during the initial outbreak period or you have not had close exposure to someone who has been infected with the new virus, be assured that you are highly unlikely to have this particular strain of coronavirus. At this point, there has been no sustained human-to-human secondary transmission in the U.S. Other coronavirus strains occur in the U.S. year-round. Most people will get infected with one or more of the common human coronaviruses in their lifetime. There is no FDA-approved drug treatment for this virus. What are the symptoms? Most people with a coronavirus infection do not become seriously ill. The coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes mild to moderate upper-respiratory infections. Like other respiratory viruses, strains of coronavirus increase transmission during the winter season. Similar to the common cold, coronaviruses last for a short period and symptoms are typically not severe but include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever and malaise. Those at highest risk of complications are children, the elderly, those with significant cardiac or pulmonary disease and those with a compromised immune system. How does it spread? Because the coronavirus is a respiratory virus, the most common method of transmission is through respiratory droplets and contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. Contagion happens from person-to-person through coughing, sneezing, close personal contact or through touching contaminated surfaces. How can I protect myself? Although there are currently no vaccines available against the coronavirus infection, an important preventative step is to always get your annual flu vaccine. It’s not too late to get the flu vaccine given that the flu season typically extends into April or May each year in this area. It’s helpful when we can prevent other known viruses (like the flu) that can present symptoms similar to coronavirus strains. There is no commercially available test for the Wuhan strain of coronavirus at this time. Testing of hospitalized patients at highest risk is done through the state lab and CDC. According to CDC recommendations, you may be able to reduce your risk of infection by avoiding unnecessary travel; washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer; avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and avoiding contact with people who are ill. If your symptoms are similar to those of the cold, you can reduce the chance of spread to others by staying home during the duration of your symptoms, avoiding close contact with others, covering your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing and frequently disinfecting nearby objects and surfaces. Both the CDC and WHO recommend against non-essential travel to China at this time. A 14-day mandatory quarantine for travelers returning from China to the U.S. was imposed on February 3. According to the CDC, the immediate health risk from Wuhan coronavirus to the general American public is considered very low at this time. Visit the CDC website for up-to-date information on the Wuhan coronavirus.0
- 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
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen Nakeya Johnson had her third child in 2010 she knew something had to change. With three small children at home, her health and wellness had taken a back seat to family and work responsibilities. But, on January 1, 2013 Nakeya decided to make a serious commitment to getting healthier. I gave up soda,” said Nakeya, a medical secretary with AAMC Oncology and Hematology. “I started drinking water, eating a healthy breakfast and I got moving!” Nakeya made it a priority to visit the AAMC Employee Gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays when her schedule permitted, and when she couldn’t make it, she began getting up at 5 am to walk. “I realized that I could get up that early and fit in a work out,” Nakeya said. She still follows that routine – adding jogging and strength training to her routine – and to date she has lost more than 70 pounds! Nakeya credits technology with helping her get and stay fit. “I find so many workout routines on YouTube,” she said. “I have walking videos and weight lifting routines to help me strength train.” Nakeya also uses her FitBit to track the number of steps she takes every day and the My Fitness Pal app on her phone to help her keep track of the calories she eats. She participates in AAMC’s Weight Watchers at Work and focuses on portion control when it comes to eating. “I am a stress eater,” Nakeya said, “but now, when I feel stressed, I excuse myself from my kids and I go to my basement and do a five minute workout instead of eating a cookie. It’s amazing how much exercise helps reduce stress!” Staying active and making healthy choices is a family affair with the Johnsons. After seeing Nakeya’s progress, her husband started exercising regularly. Nakeya has become a role model for her children who are also more active and aware of the importance of making healthy choices. “My kids are always pointing out things that aren’t on our ‘healthy eating’ list,” laughs Nakeya. Asked what advice she has for others looking to improve their health and fitness, Nakeya stressed having faith in yourself. “You will get discouraged because it does take time to see results, but you have to have faith that you can do it. I kept telling myself I wasn’t turning back once I started and I didn’t.”0
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