- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFibroids are benign tumors in the uterus that affects 20 percent to 80 percent of women by the time they reach age 50. Symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, and pelvic pain. In some cases, there are no symptoms. Some women experience unmanageable pain, as well as swelling of the abdomen or pelvic area. While doctors still don’t know what causes fibroids, we now have minimally invasive treatments, eliminating the need for large incisions that were common just a few decades ago. Here’s what you need to know: During minimally invasive surgeries, smaller incisions and precise surgical tools are used, sometimes with robotic assistance like the da Vinci surgical system. Compared to traditional open surgery, there are numerous benefits, including: Less pain Less stress on your immune system Quicker healing Decreased need for pain medications, especially narcotic medication Lower risk of post-surgery complications Shorter recovery time Shorter hospital stays – many times, patients can go home the same day Shorter operating time with less time under anesthesia Smaller incisions with smaller, more subtle scars What are the options? Minimally invasive techniques can treat various gynecologic conditions, such as fibroids, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, heavy and painful menstrual periods, and ovarian cysts. Based on your condition, health history, and other unique factors, your gynecologist may recommend one of the following types of minimally invasive surgery: Advanced laparoscopic surgery and robotics Laparoscopic surgery could be an alternative to a traditional hysterectomy (removal of uterus) or myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids). small incisions are made in the surgical area to accommodate surgical tools and a camera for precision during the surgery. It can be used for complex cases, including large fibroids, advanced stage endometriosis, or certain gynecologic cancers. The Acessa® procedure, a laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of uterine fibroids, is an advanced uterine-sparing treatment option. Heat is delivered directly to the fibroid tumor, causing it to shrink. It is an outpatient, same day procedure that allows you to return to work in four to five days and return to your normal activities quicker. Robotic surgery, most commonly using the DaVinci® system, enhances precision and allows access to small or hard-to-reach areas. With laparoscopic surgery (with or without robotics), patients typically return to light activity and driving within two weeks. Hysteroscopic surgery During a hysteroscopic procedure, your surgeon uses a camera (called a hysteroscope) to get a view of the lining of the uterus (endometrium). It requires no incisions, as this surgery is performed through the natural orifices of the vagina and cervix. This type of surgery is often used to treat abnormalities inside the lining of the uterus like fibroids. Hysteroscopic surgery can often be performed in an office setting without the need for sedation. The recovery time is about 24-48 hours. Vaginal surgery By inserting surgical tools through your vagina to the area where the surgery is being performed, surgeons can perform many procedures without making any incisions. And, depending on the exact minimally invasive procedure you undergo, it’s possible you could even return home the same day. How do I know which is right for me? Having open conversations with your doctor is essential in developing the best treatment plan for you. By sharing your health and wellness goals and getting answers to all your questions, you can make an informed decision and improve your quality of life. Authors Dr. Jonelle Samuel and Dr. Jessica Ton specialize in many types of gynecologic surgery at Luminis Health.0
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health partners with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) system, providing healthcare learning opportunities and career counseling to students as they train for their future careers. Both the Center of Applied Technology (CAT) North in Severn and CAT South in Edgewater are part of AACPS and prepare students for career pathways by offering experiential learning, post-secondary credits and industry certifications. In addition to providing CAT students with opportunities to practice clinical skills, Luminis Health hires them as interns and both temporary and permanent team members. Bennett Chateauneuf shares how he has benefited from this partnership. Bennett Chateauneuf is a senior who recently graduated from Broadneck High School in Annapolis. He worked a summer job at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) in 2022 in Food and Nutrition where his role included delivering meals to patients throughout the hospital, returning used dinnerware to the kitchen and washing and sanitizing dishes. “My job in Food and Nutrition helped me come out of my shell a little bit,” Bennett says. “I became more comfortable with introducing myself to patients and making sure they knew who I was.” His summer position with LHAAMC’s Food and Nutrition team helped him ease his way into the next step he had mapped out for his future: a degree as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). In this role, he would have the opportunity to provide basic bedside patient care—such as checking vitals — and other patient-centered tasks under the supervision of licensed nursing staff. Bennett applied and was accepted into CAT South’s Academy of Health Profession, a 2-year program offered to 11th and 12th grade students. This program empowers students to become multi-skilled health care providers. “I have always loved talking to people, helping them and being in an environment where I’m communicating with a team,” Bennett says. Luminis Health’s partnership with CAT South means that Bennett and his classmates were able to complete 20 hours of hands-on clinical training at LHAAMC. Having worked in Food and Nutrition the previous summer, Bennett felt right at home—his classmates relied on his familiarity with the facility to help them navigate. “I knew my way around the entire hospital and my peers were able to rely on me for directions,” he recalls. “I knew where everything was.” After graduation, Bennett knew that he wanted to apply the skills he had learned as a student at CAT South to a job as a CNA at LHAAMC: “The people who work at LHAAMC are super nice,” he says. “It’s a great community and it’s the largest hospital in the Annapolis area, so they’ve got cool high-tech equipment that you just don’t see at other facilities. There’s nothing else like Luminis Health in Maryland.” Bennett’s dedication and focus paid off when he was hired as a CNA at LHAAMC. He officially started his role at the hospital this month. For Bennett, this is just the beginning of a well-considered career plan: his ultimate goal is medical school, where he would like to earn a degree in anesthesiology. CAT South and Luminis Health’s collaboration has played an important role in helping him achieve his dream of helping others through a healthcare career. AACPS students can get involved in this program by speaking with their instructors about the CAT Academy of Health. Beyond this partnership, Luminis Health has a variety of job shadow, student volunteer and internship opportunities for any student who may be interested in the healthcare field.0
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCue the shocking emoji: A staggering 90 percent of teens aged 13 to 17 are using social media. When used correctly, there are benefits to social media, but the negative impacts are contributing to this country’s historic mental health crisis. Excessive use can lead to cyberbullying, low self-esteem, addictive behavior, peer pressure and unrealistic expectations of how their body should look. Dr. Rakesh Goyal—a psychiatrist at Luminis Health—estimates that nearly 70 percent of his young patients have experienced a negative impact to their mental health because of social media. It’s become such a problem several Maryland school districts are now suing social media companies alleging their addictive platforms are contributing to mental health problems among teens. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy even issued a warning recently, calling the impacts of social media on children an “urgent crisis.” It should be a wake-up call for all of us. That’s why we’re here to help. Pros of Youth Social Media Use Let’s first begin with the positive aspects of social media. Teens can stay connected with friends, meet new ones with shared interests, find a sense of community and feel more accepted, as well as explore and express themselves. Of course, each child is different, and you know your child better than anyone. It’s important to realize the impacts of social media can depend on what they do and see online, their preexisting strengths or vulnerabilities, and their living environment. Those between the ages of 10 to 15 years old are especially vulnerable to the influence of social media because their brains and emotions are still developing. Growing Brains and Evolving Emotions The brains of preteens, typically between the ages of 10 to 12 years, undergo changes that make social rewards start to feel much more satisfying. Receptors for oxytocin and dopamine—our “happy hormones”—increase, making young teens extra sensitive to attention and admiration from others. At the same time, adolescents are passing through a stage of psychological development in which they give a lot of importance to acceptance and validation from their peers. The number of views, likes and shares are often important to social media users. It can cause small bursts of dopamine in our brains. Young people especially crave more and more of the “happy hormone” release. At the same time, a hurtful comment or being ignored by others can cause negative self-esteem and extreme sadness. Protecting Your Child There are steps you can take with your child to encourage responsible use of social media and limit some of its negative effects. Consider these tips: Delay the age at which your child can use social media to 13 and above. Educate your child about the risks, pitfalls and red flags of social media use, especially about sharing personal information online. Monitor your child’s social media accounts and let them know beforehand that you’ll be doing so. You can mute accounts that are inappropriate. Set reasonable limits on how much time your child can spend on social media each day; include parameters about what time of day they are allowed to use it. Remind them to treat others on social media the same way they would treat others in person. If they wouldn’t say something out loud, they shouldn’t say it online. Be an example of healthy social media use for your child and report problematic content. Social media is here to stay. But we must ensure teenagers enjoy the its benefits while protecting their mental health. If your teen is feeling depressed and needs immediate help, Luminis Health has a dedicated Behavioral Health Urgent Walk-In Care at our Lanham campus. It’s open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. No appointment necessary. Learn more about our services here. Author Rakesh Goyal, MD, is a psychiatrist at Luminis Health specializing in children and adolescents.0
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