- 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, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is in full swing! With school out for the year and summer vacations on the calendar, there’s a lot to look forward to this time of year. But summertime also means an increased risk of sun damage, heat-related illnesses and other seasonal ailments. Here are some of the most common summer safety concerns and what you can do to address them. Stay safe in the sun As we expose more of our skin during the summer, we are also exposing ourselves to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which damages skin cells. Sunburns significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer. In fact, more than five sunburns as a child can double your risk of developing skin cancer later in life. A suntan also increases your risk of skin cancer, the most serious of which is melanoma. It’s important to protect your skin and eyes all year long, but especially in the summer, when UV rays tend to be stronger. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes and the sensitive skin around them. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protector factor (SPF) of at least 30, which will screen out 97 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as well as protect against ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Apply approximately two tablespoons of sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, especially if swimming or sweating. Consider limiting your time in direct sunlight, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, when UV light is strongest. For more summer safety tips, visit www.askAAMC.org/sunsafety. Enter our Instagram contest, and help us spread the word about the importance of sun safety! Beware of heat exhaustion and heat stroke Outdoor activity can lead to heat exhaustion, one of the most common conditions kids experience in the summer. The signs include severe thirst, nausea, fast and shallow breathing, headaches, muscle pain and cool, clammy skin. If your child is showing signs of these symptoms, immediately bring them somewhere cooler, remove excess clothing, encourage them to drink cool fluids and call your doctor. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke, which is extremely serious. Symptoms include a pounding headache, dizziness and light-headedness, red, hot, dry skin, cramps or muscle weakness, rapid, shallow breathing, nausea, vomiting, confusion and unconsciousness. If you think someone has heat stroke, call 911 immediately. While you wait for medics to arrive, work to cool the person down by moving them to a shaded area, fanning them and cooling their skin with water. You can prevent heat exhaustion by making sure your child is drinking water early and often, especially if they are playing outside in the heat. Be prepared when traveling Nothing can spoil your vacation like getting sick or injured. But if this does happen, it helps to be prepared. If you’re older or have chronic health issues, see your doctor four to six weeks before your trip to make sure it’s safe for you to travel. Check to make sure your vaccinations are up to date, and make a list of your current medications and allergies. Include the names and phone numbers of your doctors and your pharmacy. Remember to bring a note on your doctor’s letterhead if you are taking controlled substances or injectable medications. You should also program health information, including medical conditions and emergency contacts, into your phone (both Apple and Android products have built-in apps for this). If you have a history of heart disease, ask your cardiologist to give you a wallet-sized version of your latest electrocardiogram (EKG). Over-the-counter medicines, including ibuprofen and a thermometer, should also be a part of your travel kit. Don’t let illness put a damper on your summer activities. Following these safety tips will help you have a relaxing, fun and, most importantly, healthy summer. Authors Joanne Ebner is a cancer prevention program manager at Anne Arundel Medical Center. You can reach her office at 443-481-5366. David Afzal, DO, is a family medicine physician with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Waugh Chapel Family Medicine. To find an AAMG doctor in your area, visit MyAAMG.org. Mike Remoll, MD, is the medical director of the Emergency Department at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- Surgery, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs February marks Heart Health Month, show your heart some love by eating a nutritious diet comprised of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking. Taking these steps can decrease the chance that you may need heart surgery one day, but if you do need heart surgery, medical advancements have improved options and outcomes for surgery patients. Here are five things you should know about heart surgery: If Your Arteries Are Blocked, Surgery Can Help. A blocked blood vessel can lead to a heart attack, stroke and other problems. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common type of open heart surgery performed on adults today. The surgeon uses a blood vessel taken from another part of the body to provide an alternate route for blood to go around the blockage. When You Have A Valve That Doesn’t Work, Doctors Can Replace it Without Surgery. Conditions like aortic stenosis can keep the heart valve from opening fully and make it difficult for blood to flow. Left untreated, aortic stenosis can damage the heart muscle and lead to severe complications. The good news is that aortic stenosis can be fixed without surgery. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a game-changer. It is a minimally invasive alternative to a traditional surgical valve replacement, deploying artificial heart valves using small catheters. This avoids the need for open-heart surgery and can lead to less pain and faster recovery. TAVR demonstrates outstanding results, providing a viable treatment option for patients who previously had limited choices, ultimately extending their lives and enhancing their overall quality of life. Traditional Surgery Can Work for A Valve Replacement, Too. Certainly, open heart surgery remains a viable method for replacing a damaged heart valve. Surgeons have performed the procedure for more than 50 years, yet Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) is still considered major surgery since it involves opening the chest to perform the procedure. Nevertheless, it has a high success rate, with a low likelihood of significant complications. You Should Treat A Bulge In Your Blood Vessel Before It Becomes an Emergency. An aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of the aorta, which is the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. When an aneurysm gets too large, it can tear or rupture which may be life-threatening. There is a lot at stake, so it’s important to know the warning signs, which can include: Chest pain Coughing up blood Dizziness Hoarseness or trouble swallowing Pulsing near the belly button Shortness of breath Sudden and intense abdominal or back pain If you or a loved one have an aortic aneurysm, treatment often starts with medication and keeping a close eye on it. However, if it’s large or fast-growing, surgery may be the best option to replace the weak section of the aorta with a graft, or tube. Surgery Can Correct Heart Rhythm Problems. Today, doctors can help arrhythmia issues. But when medications and catheter ablations don’t work, surgical ablations can be performed with improved success. If you are concerned about your heart health, schedule an appointment with a primary care provider or cardiologist. If heart surgery is recommended, we provide skilled, compassionate surgical care for all heart conditions at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. Consultations are available in Lanham, Annapolis, and Kent Island. Author Murtaza Dawood, MD is an experienced cardiothoracic surgeon who is recognized for performing operations for complex valve disease and atrial fibrillation. He is known for treating mitral valve regurgitation as well as aortic valve disease.0
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