- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAt first, Roger Gaultney thought the pain he was experiencing was acid reflux. It was a warm day last September, and Roger, 62, had just come back from a dermatologist’s appointment. He was working in the yard of his Eastern Shore home, and began to feel sick and sweaty. He drank a Coke — his usual remedy for acid reflux — but the pain began shooting up and down his arm. He began to sweat so badly, it was as if someone had dumped water over his head. He struggled to breathe. He was sick to his stomach. “I knew I was having a heart attack,” he says. Roger’s wife called 911, and when the ambulance arrived, he asked to be taken across the Bay Bridge to Anne Arundel Medical Center. He says he knew he would be in good hands there. Paramedics took him to AAMC’s Emergency Department where he was quickly taken to the cardiac catheterization lab. That’s where Cardiologist Scott Katzen, MD, the lab’s medical director, inserted a stent in the main artery behind Roger’s heart. It was 100 percent blocked. Dr. Katzen emphasizes the importance of “door to balloon” time – the amount of time it takes to unblock a cardiac patient’s artery after the patient arrives at the hospital. “The goal is to have the blockage relieved and blood flow restored to the heart muscle in 90 minutes or less,” Dr. Katzen says. “Around 70 to 80 percent of the time, door to balloon time is an hour or less.” Dr. Katzen performed Roger’s catheterization through the radial artery in his wrist, rather than the femoral artery in the groin. AAMC has been doing these types of catheterizations, which are less risky and more comfortable for the patient, since 2012. Six months after the radial procedure, the scar on Roger’s wrist is barely noticeable. A designated Chest Pain Center AAMC is a designated Chest Pain Center, meaning a team of cardiologists is on call 24/7. AAMC cardiologists perform 1,200 cardiac catheterizations each year. “We are seeing more and more cases of heart disease at the hospital,” says Cardiologist Jerome Segal, MD, medical director of AAMC’s Heart and Vascular services. Dr. Katzen urges patients to learn the potential signs of a heart attack, which can go beyond just chest pain. For instance, patients should pay attention to any type of abnormal sensation in the chest. Shortness of breath is also a possible warning sign. “If you feel something is just not right, seek medical attention,” Dr. Katzen says. He reminds people that living a heart-healthy lifestyle — including eating right, exercising and not smoking — will greatly reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Roger says the care he received from Dr. Katzen was unbelievable. “It was like we’d known each other for years,” Roger says. “I really don’t have words to explain what that means to me.” A new life By all accounts, Roger was a healthy man prior to his heart attack. He’s always been slender, and he keeps physically active in his job as a drywall finisher and by playing with his grandchildren. His main health challenge prior to the heart attack was high cholesterol, though he points out that heart disease runs on his mother’s side of the family. His maternal grandmother died of a heart attack, and his mother had high blood pressure, as well as high cholesterol. A month earlier, he’d gotten a physical that showed no signs of heart problems. After his heart attack, Roger knew he was going to have to change his lifestyle. He now avoids red meat and dairy completely. He’s also become more spiritual and says he is attending church more. “My life is beautiful,” he says. Roger urges others to make an appointment with the Heart Health Foundation’s Dare to C.A.R.E. About Vascular Disease heart health screening program. To get your screening at AAMC, call 410-573-9483, Ext. 200.0
- Orthopedics, Women's Health, Pediatrics, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOsteoporosis: It’s a disease that manifests later in life, but the foundation of healthy bones begins at a young age. Characterized by weak bones, osteoporosis can cause fractures and chronic pain. Here’s how it works: Your body is constantly breaking down and rebuilding your bones. For the first 25 to 30 years of your life, your body makes more than enough new bone to replace the bone it loses. Around this time, you reach what’s called “peak bone mass,” meaning your bones are at their strongest. But after age 30, the pendulum swings the other way and you start to lose more bone than you gain. This process continues for the rest of your life. For women, the most rapid bone loss is in the years around menopause. For those who haven’t built up their bones enough during those first 30 formative years, that’s when osteoporosis can set in. Known as the silent disease, osteoporosis can strike without warning. In fact, many people don’t know they have it until after they suffer a fracture. And while there’s no cure for the disease once you get it, there’s plenty you can do to prevent it in both yourself and your kids. A Parent’s Role to Prevent Osteoporosis in Kids As a parent, you can greatly reduce your child’s chance of developing this disease later in life. Christina Morganti, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), says, “The fact of the matter is, the exercise and dietary habits you instill in your children can either be a powerful mechanism to prevent osteoporosis or a perfect storm for the disease to develop.” There’s no surefire way to determine whether or not you or your children will develop osteoporosis later in life. The best solution? Do everything you can to prevent the disease early in life. If you’re a parent, make sure you’re helping your kids build strong, healthy bones. Your guide to building strong, healthy bones Luckily, preventing the disease isn’t complicated. But it does require some self-discipline and, depending on your current habits, shifts in your diet and exercise routine. Here’s what you can do for yourself and your children to help fend off the disease: Know your family history. “If you have a parent or sibling with osteoporosis, you’re at a higher risk of developing it yourself,” says Dr. Morganti. Knowing empowers you to take extra measures to ensure you’re keeping your bones as strong as possible. Exercise! The more you use your muscles, the stronger they become. Same goes for your bones. Weight-bearing exercises help improve your bone density to form stronger bones. This includes any exercise that uses resistance to make you exert effort. Resistance can come from dumbbells, your own body, fitness machines, etc. The result? New bone tissue forms as your muscles push and pull on the bones around them, strengthening both bone and muscle.Your action plan: Mix it up! Variety keeps exercise exciting and ensures you’re using a variety of muscles. Try a stair workout, hiking, running, walking, weight training or dancing to reduce your risk of osteoporosis. “While swimming and biking are great low-impact exercises, they don’t have the same effect on your bones as weight-bearing exercises do,” says Dr. Morganti. “Children should be active for at least 60 minutes a day. For adults, the recommendation is at least 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise like walking, supplemented with strength training two to three days a week and balance training one to two days per week.” Know what to avoid. While there’s plenty you can do to keep osteoporosis at bay, don’t forget about what not to do if you want strong, healthy bones. “Some studies have linked salt, caffeine, carbonated soda and alcohol consumption with accelerated bone loss,” says Dr. Morganti. “If your children have a diet heavy in salty, processed food or drink caffeinated or carbonated drinks, this could affect their bone density.” And add this to your list of reasons not to smoke: Multiple studies reveal that smoking can actually limit your body’s ability to absorb calcium. Calcium, calcium, calcium. We’ve heard it all before. Drink your daily glass of milk to nourish your body with adequate calcium. But did you know there are plenty of non-dairy sources of calcium? Or that your body needs a certain amount of vitamin D in order to absorb the calcium you consume? “To make the most of the calcium you eat, pair calcium-rich foods with foods high in vitamin D, like tuna, shrimp and eggs (yolk included),” explains Ann Caldwell, nutritionist and registered dietitian at AAMC. Sunlight can also help the body produce more vitamin D, which is why it’s not uncommon for people to be vitamin D deficient in the winter. If you have a desk job, try taking a walk or eating your lunch outside to soak up some rays. Just don’t forget the SPF. No Dairy, No Problem Besides the beloved trio of milk, cheese and yogurt, there are plenty of non-dairy sources of calcium out there, including: Canned salmon. Half a can contains 23 percent of your daily value of calcium. It’s important to note that other forms of salmon won’t reap the same calcium-rich benefits as canned salmon. Figs. Pick up a bag of dried figs for a sweet, fibrous snack to keep bones strong. Cut them up into small pieces and mix with nuts and other dried fruits for a homemade trail mix your children will love. Kale, spinach, bok choy and turnip greens. There’s a reason why leafy greens are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. But there’s no need to limit yourself to the same green salad. Sauté greens with some sea salt and olive oil, or add them to a stir-fry. If you’ve passed the 30-year mark of your body making plenty of new bone tissue, taking preventative measures against osteoporosis can still be effective, and are vital to maintaining healthy bones. But the reality is that calcium and weight-bearing exercises will have a more dramatic effect on the strength of children’s bones than those of older adults. “The lesson here is to make sure you’re helping your children develop habits that create strong bones to last a lifetime,” explains Dr. Morganti. Recipe: Salmon Pasta Salad This pasta salad includes a healthy dose of calcium from the canned salmon. Plus, it’s easy to pack up the leftovers for a healthy work-day lunch the next day. Dietitian’s tip: For added calcium and health benefits, serve this on a bed of baby spinach. It’s delicious! INGREDIENTS (8-oz.) package of farfalle or bow tie pasta heads broccoli, chopped into florets carrots, peeled and chopped teaspoons soy sauce tablespoons olive oil tablespoons red wine vinegar cloves of garlic, crushed/pressed ¼ cup fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste 10-oz. canned salmon, rinsed, drained and broken into small pieces INSTRUCTIONS Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Bring a separate large pot of water to boil. Add broccoli and carrots, cook in boiling water for 2 minutes and drain. Combine soy sauce, olive oil, vinegar, garlic and lemon juice in a sealable container and shake vigorously. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss together the drained pasta, vegetables, salmon and dressing in a large bowl. Store in the refrigerator. Want to eat healthier but not sure what to cook? Try more of these healthy, delicious recipes from our registered dietitians. Contributor Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center and has developed a dedicated osteoporosis program at her practice, Luminis Health Orthopedics, 410-268-8862. Contributor Recipe author Ann Caldwell is a registered dietitian and nutritionist. Originally published November 29, 2016. Last updated July 5, 2023.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBetween the backyard, soccer field and gym; your kids are active, and nothing slows them down. But no matter how invincible they seem, children are prone to injuries, especially during sports seasons. Even under the calmest of circumstances, it can be hard to figure out exactly what’s wrong. Especially when they’re writhing in pain. So, how do you know if it’s a sprain, strain or fracture? We’re here to help you tell the difference — and get your athlete back up and running.Learn to recognize the signsPrepare for your child’s sports season by knowing the most common injures, how they happen, and the signs and symptoms that can help you distinguish between them. It’s also important to pass along this knowledge to the young athletes in your family, so they can relay details to help you make good care decisions. Common sports injuries among student athletes include strains, sprains and breaks.StrainsA strain is a muscle injury and is most commonly a partial tear. One way to pinpoint a strain is recognizing that your child’s pain is in a muscle that does heavy lifting, like back muscles, a hamstring or a quad. The resulting symptoms, include muscle pain, weakness, spasms, cramps and swelling. Your child may have difficulty moving the affected muscle.SprainsSprains are an injury to ligaments and are found around joints. A sprain is a tear of a ligament. Common joints that are sprained include the ankle, knee, shoulder and fingers. Another tell-tale sign of a sprain is hearing a pop or tear when the injury happens. Your child may also experience pain around the affected area, with bruising and swelling.FracturesA fracture is just another term for a broken bone. Most breaks happen when kids fall awkwardly, like with outstretched arms. Of all these injuries, fractures are usually the easiest to spot. In more severe cases, the break will be visible, with the bone either appearing to be placed at an awkward angle or breaking through the skin. Milder fractures, on the other hand, may not be visible to the naked eye, but there could be bruising and swelling around the site.With any fracture, your child will likely also feel throbbing pain, tenderness around the site, numbness or tingling. It may also be difficult — or impossible — to put weight on the broken bone.Know when to get treatmentBehind every goal, touchdown and home run is rest — and lots of it. And that goes double when your student athlete is injured. Doctors recommend the “RICE” method (Rest; Ice, Compress and Elevate), as the best remedy for strains and sprains.When a broken bone is suspected, however, it’s time to see a doctor for an X-Ray and a cast or other type of brace. No matter the type of injury, an accident means no sports for a few weeks or months. And while it can be hard for your young athlete to allow the time they need to recover, it’s important to remind them the goal is total healing — and that they won’t be on the sidelines forever. Your one-stop shop for youth sports injuriesWhen pain takes your athlete out of the game, you may need help making the next move. Luminis Health experts diagnose and treat children in our same-day and next-day clinics, with appointments available seven days a week, including evenings. We also offer imaging and second opinions to give you peace of mind. Sudden injuries deserve immediate care, and to us, it’s about more than just treating injuries—it’s about getting your athlete back to scoring goals, hitting home runs, and, most importantly, being a kid. And that’s a win for everyone. Book an appointment today. Daniel Redziniak, MD is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine.0
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBy the time Joan MacLean met AAMC neurosurgeon Gary Dix, MD, she had been relying on a wheel chair for two years. The 74-year-old Annapolis resident has severe degenerative disc disease of the spine. She had already gone through a number of spinal fusions to stabilize her back, but as the disease progressed, her condition became debilitating. “The pain and weakness in my back and legs got so bad I couldn’t walk,” she says. “More than a block, and I just couldn’t do it.” Joan had developed sacroiliitis, an instability of the sacroiliac joint in the pelvis where the sacrum and the iliac bones meet. This joint is supposed be immobile, but Joan’s had been moving ever so slightly causing inflammation and severe pain. In the past, her only option for relief would have been another major back surgery. Doctors would have had to make a large incision, remove bone and tissue from the joint space. Then, after filling the space with graft material they would have had to install metal screws to immobilize the bones. Fortunately for Joan, Dr. Dix was able to offer her a minimally invasive, cutting edge procedure that very few hospitals in the country offer. The iFuse implant system relies on small titanium dowels inserted into the joint space to prevent the bones from moving. There is no need to cut into the bone, and there are no screws. “Once the joint is immobilized,” Dr. Dix says, “bone grows across the joint space which helps to further stabilize it and prevent painful motion.” The entire procedure is done through a small incision in the back. Last April, Joan had the iFuse procedure on her left side and it turned her life around. “It was the best thing I could have done,” she says. “We went on a cruise in January, and I walked ten miles around the ship.” This February, she repeated the procedure on the other side. “I couldn’t wait to get this done.” She says. “I’m so glad they do this here.” AAMC remains one of only a handful of hospitals in the area with the technology and experienced medical staff to offer this innovative procedure.0
- Community, Giving, OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter years of service as an AAMC volunteer, longtime AAMC Auxilian Buddy Sears wanted to make a difference for the hospital in another impactful way. Through his volunteer shifts assisting patient recovery and physical therapy at the Joint Center and Spine Center at AAMC, Buddy recognized the need for new recliner chairs to transport patients to and from joint camp and provide comfortable accommodations during recovery. Also a member of the Davidsonville Ruritan Club, a non-profit community service organization local to the Annapolis area, Buddy shared his request and interest in supporting AAMC with his fellow members. In October 2016, the Davidsonville Ruritan Club made a generous $50,000 charitable gift to purchase 28 brand-new recliner chairs to support patient- and family-centered care and comfort. We have the busiest joint replacement program in Maryland, and the new chairs will make an incredible difference for those we serve. Call the AAMC Foundation at 443-481-4747 or visit AAMCFoundation.org to learn how you can help.0
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