- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCertain people are at a higher risk of getting very sick from the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), including older adults and people with chronic medical conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include: People aged 65 years and older People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma People who have serious heart conditions People who are immunocompromised, including patients who are being treated for cancer People of any age with severe obesity (Body Mass Index of 40 or higher) People of any age with certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well-controlled, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness, though to date, data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk This is an evolving situation, and we encourage you to check back with the CDC regularly for updates. If I am a high-risk individual, how should I protect myself? In order to reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19, we recommend taking the following precautions: Practice social distancing and remain in your home Consider working from home, if you are able Arrange to have your groceries delivered Stock up on necessities, including medicine Avoid crowds as much as you can Keep away from others who are sick Wash your hands frequently READ MORE: Coronavirus: What you need to know0
- 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
- Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you have seasonal allergies, it’s likely you’re allergic to pollen, the fine powder that comes from flowering plants. Pollen can travel great distances through the air and is easily inhaled through your nose and mouth. One way to plan your outdoor activities to avoid high pollen days is to monitor local weather reports. Many weather reports include allergy forecasts as a way to alert you to the amount of pollen, mold or other particles in the air on a given day. Pollen count is expressed in grains of pollen per square meter of air collected over 24 hours. It is usually highest early in the morning and on warm, windy days. It’s lowest during chilly, wet periods. Summer thunderstorms can also affect pollen count, because wind scatters the pollen and heavy rain breaks it up into smaller pieces that are easier to inhale. On days with particularly high pollen counts, there are several steps you can take to reduce the severity of allergy symptoms, such as: Remaining indoors in the morning, when pollen counts are highest. Using air conditioning and filters in your car and home, instead of opening windows. Wearing a face mask designed to filter pollen when working outside. Wearing sunglasses to reduce the amount of pollen that gets in your eyes. Showering before bed, to avoid bringing pollen into your bed. Asking your doctor about over-the-counter or prescription medications to treat seasonal allergies. Need a primary care doctor? Search with Find a Doc, or call 443-481-5555. Originally published Aug. 9, 2016. Last updated March 10, 2020.0
- Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSitting in a dim-lit room – where the only lights are the neon wire lights fading in and out along the black walls and under the desk – Sam, sitting with his back towards Sara’s back, asks, “Are you online?” Sara replies with an attentive ‘yes’ as she, too, prepares to embark on an online-gaming session that can last hours. For Sam Mitchell, 37, and Sara Hays, 31, this is not a new scene in their Bowie residence. They’ve been dating for eight years and continue to perfect their gaming skills together. They spend many evenings and weekends doing this because they play on a team. “We have a hard time getting out of the house sometimes,” says Sara, 31. “Sometimes we want to go out to eat, but other online gamers are depending on us to come online so they can also play.” Although Sara had a very active childhood – playing sports like soccer, basketball and softball all the way through high school – she struggled with her weight, asserting she was always a heavy person. “I grew up with parents who would have meat, a potato and a vegetable for dinner and encouraged me to always clean up my plate,” she says. “That resonated with me for the rest of my life and I think that was part of the problem.” Sara tried countless diets to no avail, describing the results as a yo-yo effect, where she would lose about 50 pounds and regain 70 pounds soon after. Sara tried the gym, but didn’t feel comfortable working out in front of others. “I always feel like I’m being looked at or judged,” she says. In an attempt to look for a different alternative, the couple purchased an elliptical to workout at home. The solution lasted for merely a week before the piece of equipment was put away. The turning point Weight and self-image is something that has always been on Sara’s and Sam’s mind. But despite their many efforts, nothing seemed to work. They had thought about potentially undergoing surgery, but felt there was a negative stigma attached to this option because others claimed it was ‘cheating’. Their perception changed when one day an opportunity to look at things differently came knocking at their door, literally. The woman who I met weighing over 300 pounds was now 120 pounds. “One of our friends came over to talk to us about his wife who had done weight loss surgery,” Sam says, jokingly adding that his friend felt a little jealous because his wife was now getting more attention from others. “We had seen her before and didn’t think it could be that big of a deal. She came to our door two weeks later and when I opened the door, the woman who I met weighing over 300 pounds was now 120 pounds.” Shocked with the results, Sara and Sam decided to look more into weight loss surgery. “I didn’t even recognize her; she was like a whole new person,” Sara recalls. “I thought to myself, ‘You were my size, how did you do this? What happened?’ She went through the process with us and her feedback was that she wished she had done it 20 years ago. That was the turning point for us.” The couple started looking up the doctor their neighbor had used after the raving review, but were not fully sold on the idea until they came across Courtney Doyle, MD, general and bariatric surgeon with AAMG Surgical Specialists in Annapolis. After talking to other people who had done the surgery and meeting with Dr. Doyle personally, the couple was ready to move to the next step. The surgery The AAMC Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program performs more than 700 bariatric surgeries every year, a steady increase over the last few years. Recent research by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery found that 90 percent of patients were successful in maintaining 50 percent or more of their weight loss after their bariatric surgery. There are also health benefits that result from this, with data showing remission of Type 2 diabetes in more than 80 percent of patients after undergoing a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. After a gastric sleeve surgery, most patients can expect to lose up to 33 percent of excess weight by three months, 50 percent of excess weight by six months, and up to 70 percent of excess weight after the first year following the procedure. LEARN MORE: Dr. Courtney Doyle discusses bariatric surgery at AAMC’s Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery program, and how it can change patients’ lives. Dr. Doyle first met the couple a few months ago. She recalls Sam was the first one to come in to the office and said he wanted to do this together with Sara. “They felt like they were in a position where they were ready to do well and support each other through the process,” she says. After attending AAMC’s free bariatric seminar, where Sara and Sam learned about the types of weight loss surgery, program requirements, insurance specifics, and other details to start their weight loss journey, they put a date on their calendar for an official consultation. For Sara, the best option was to opt in for the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. “This surgery is performed laparoscopically, which is the way most bariatric surgeries are performed these days,” says Dr. Doyle. “This means that we make a few very small incisions as opposed to one very large incision, the way we used to do bariatric surgery.” The smaller stomach pouch limits how much food a person can eat at one time and in turn, will help Sara to feel full more quickly and for a longer period. They’re looking for a way to do that and this surgery is a really nice way to help them get to a healthy lifestyle without having to feel every day like they’re constantly on a diet. “They want to be active and healthy for the rest of their lives together,” says Dr. Doyle. “They’re looking for a way to do that and this surgery is a really nice way to help them get to a healthy lifestyle without having to feel every day like they’re constantly on a diet.” Sara underwent surgery in January. While she continues on her successful recovery, Sam has yet to schedule his surgery due to a fractured arm. However, his excitement of being by her side while she recovers is adding to the anticipation. Stay tuned in to the Weigh Beyond series for part 2 as we continue to follow their journey in real-time. Take the first step on your journey to weight loss. Register today for one of our free seminars to learn more about weight loss surgery (also called bariatric surgery). Courtney Doyle, MD Dr. Doyle is a board-certified, fellowship-trained laparoscopic general and bariatric surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She is an expert in both primary bariatric surgeries and bariatric revision surgery. To schedule a visit with her and explore your personal bariatric journey, call 443-481-6699. Originally published March 18, 2019. Last updated March 9, 2020.0
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSpring has sprung, even if nature hasn’t quite caught up. Saying goodbye to winter in part means shedding any leftover holiday eating habits. Spring cleaning is about doing away with eating habits that ultimately don’t make you feel healthy and happy. Here are some tips to redirect your eating habits: Skip the juice cleanses, detoxes, and fad diets Quick fixes won’t result in any lasting weight loss. Depriving yourself isn’t healthy and is actually counterproductive, setting yourself up for a diet ‘merry go round.’ For long-lasting, sustainable changes, slow and steady wins the race. Overly restrictive diets often exclude entire food groups, which can cause you to skimp on important nutrients like fiber. Stop with the juicing. Tidy your kitchen De-clutter cabinets, give the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer a once over and throw out or donate the foods that are sabotaging your wellness goals. If you are really looking to tune up your eating habits, be mindful of the junk foods you keep stocked in the house. Restock your shelves with fresh, less processed choices. Organize spaces by placing the healthiest items at eye level. Line the counters with fresh fruits and vegetables to encourage more consumption. Make one meal a day vegetable based Try to add more vegetables to dishes that already have them present, such as soups, salads, pasta salads, tacos, or make a variety of cold vegetable dishes for sides at lunch and dinner. As we move into a new season, take the opportunity to include ‘in season’ fruits and vegetables into your diet. Slash the Sugar Winter is candy season from Halloween until Easter. The goal here isn’t to remove every granule of sugar from your diet in a frenzy, but to consider minimizing the added sugars that can contribute to fatigue, diabetes and heart disease. Try replacing some of the sugars in sweetened drinks and snacks with healthier options. Rely on natural sugars in fruits to get your sweet fix. Stop taking out and start cooking Eating healthier takes effort. Planning and putting in the time to cook is worth it and will become habit forming, not to mention cheaper. Taking control of how you fuel your body will pay in dividends with good health. Cut back on alcohol Summer evening happy hours and vacations don’t make it easy, but aim to cut down on your drinking. Alcohol is not only worthless in terms of nutrition but it can cause you to make less healthy food choices while you are drinking. Some libations can even promote appetite. Moderation with all behavior change is preferred, which includes drinking. Perhaps save indulgences for the weekends, and devise a non-alcoholic spritzer for a substitution. Be mindful Trying to eat mindfully is helpful whether you are striving to lose weight, gain weight or eat healthier. Tune into your body’s hunger and satiety cues. Avoid skipping meals and then later fall into snacking on treats that are not usually heathy options. The most important thing is to take inventory, make a plan and move ahead to eating and feeling better. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published April 3, 2018. Last updated Sept 17, 20250
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?