- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOver the past few weeks, President Trump’s recent diagnosis has brought attention to the treatments available for people who have COVID-19. We’ve been hearing a lot about some of these therapies lately. Some of them have a lot of research behind them. Others are more theoretical. Here’s what we know right now. Research shows there are a few medications and treatments that could help people who have COVID-19. They include steroids, such as dexamethasone, and Remdesivir, an anti-viral drug. There is also antibody therapy with convalescent plasma. Convalescent plasma is antibodies from COVID-19 survivors. It can help a patient’s symptoms, shorten their hospital stay and reduce death risk among patients in the hospital. Researchers are also testing other novel drugs now, with the consent of thousands of willing and hopeful patients and families. We are seeing the benefits of these treatments. For example, we don’t need as many ventilators for COVID-19 patients. This is great progress. But it doesn’t mean that COVID-19 is no longer a threat. Cases are rising in many parts of the country and we need to remain on guard. Still, it is gratifying to know that the medical community is fully behind efforts to find better preventions and treatments. In terms of prevention, we are excited to share with county residents some promising research happening at Anne Arundel Medical Center. We are testing convalescent plasma in two important situations. One is for people who have recently been highly exposed to someone with COVID-19, but who test negative. The other is for people who are newly COVID-19 positive, but have mild symptoms. We’ve seen promising results of COVID-19 antibodies in patients who are in the hospital. These studies will test whether the antibodies can prevent people from getting infected or prevent more serious illness in patients with a recent COVID-19 diagnosis. This is good news for the many county residents who test positive each day. And it’s good news for those who have had exposure to a household member or other close contact with the virus. If you have recently been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible to participate in either of these studies. Visit CovidPlasmaTrial.org to learn more. Or email us at AAMC at [email protected]. Enrollment is only possible for a short time after exposure or date of positive test. Author Barry Meisenberg, M.D., is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn the medical field, ironically, it is easy to adopt an unhealthy diet by eating lunches brought to the office from local restaurants, snacking at desks or ducking into a doctor’s lounge to score a bagel or doughnut. Each meal or snack seemed harmless enough but I surely wasn’t burning off nearly the amount of calories I was consuming. After a while, I stopped checking my weight. I already knew what the scale would tell me. I knew at that point that I had to rediscover healthy habits, which meant paying more attention to my diet. Many of my patients know I like to address the subject of weight management and body mass index (BMI) at office visits. The consequences of being overweight or obese are real and prevalent. Obesity is directly related to hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and the development of diabetes. Indirectly, excess weight is related to heart disease. This underscores the importance of controlling your weight. But that’s not to say that weight loss and weight maintenance aren’t challenging. READ MORE: Heart smart: All about fats Habits, both good and bad, are easy to fall into. When I took a new position several years ago, my focus was on my career and the challenges of a new work environment. Like many people, I used food to help manage my stress. This had predictable results. I was aware of what was happening but work and family took priority before my health. I made all the usual excuses but eventually realized that I needed to practice what I preached. My goal: lose 20 pounds. It was an arbitrary goal but it would get me back to my pre-wedding weight and bring my BMI under 25 and out of the overweight range. So, how’d I do it? My first big change was to break the habit of snacking on high-calorie foods. I brought bags of carrots, celery and snap peas to work for those times when my hunger was distracting. I kept the size of my meals in check as well. If I ate until I was full, I would often feel stuffed and tired 30 minutes later. Overall, I tried to limit my daily caloric intake to 1,500 calories or less. I won’t lie, I was frequently hungry. But there is nothing wrong with feeling hungry. That’s what fat burning feels like (thank you, Oprah!). This was not a deprivation diet. I did not skip meals. Occasionally, I had chocolate, bacon, chicken wings and ice cream. But I ate them in moderation and not regularly. I did not adhere to any particular diet nor did I pay attention to the glycemic index, though I mostly avoided concentrated sweets. As a result, I lost 10 pounds in one month. I was halfway to my goal. I added exercise to accelerate my weight loss and maintain muscle tone. Initially, I ran and occasionally I added weights. Usually my workouts lasted 30 minutes but never longer than 45 minutes, and I never worked out more than four days each week. I dropped roughly 13 percent of my body weight in several months. I wanted to regain a certain level of fitness, and set an example for my kids and patients. My weight loss required consistency and dedication. I worked out, downloaded apps (check out My Fitness Pal), weighed myself regularly and drank a lot of water. My family’s encouragement kept me motivated. A healthy diet is a major factor in reducing your risk for illnesses, one of them being heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease. Take small steps, like I did. Start working towards prioritizing your health and remember that it’s your choices that ultimately count. It’s not only good for you, it’s good for your heart. You can do this! Author Salvatore Lauria, MD, is a cardiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Cardiology Specialists. To schedule an appointment, call 443-481-6700. Originally published Feb. 25, 2019. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNew health studies can be confusing, especially when it comes to certain foods and drinks that affect your health. A piece of chocolate or a glass of wine are common treats, and there’s lots of conflicting information about their health benefits. Some types of chocolate and wine offer more heart-healthy benefits than others, but that’s still not a green light to overindulge. Dark Chocolate Dark chocolate has gained a reputation as being a heart-healthy treat because cocoa beans are rich in flavonoids—a nutrient that protects plants from toxins and helps repair damage. The term ‘antioxidant’ is a reference to those benefits. Studies have shown when we eat foods rich in flavonoids, we also benefit from these antioxidant powers. Flavanols are the main type of flavonoid found in cocoa. In addition to their antioxidant qualities, research has shown other potential health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure. But not all dark chocolate is created equal. The more processed chocolate is, the more flavanols are lost along the way. And flavanols are not a nutrient reported on food labels. For the most health benefits, choose a dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70 percent or higher. And remember, chocolate is not a ‘health’ food. Enjoy dark chocolate as part of a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet. Think of it as a treat rather than a regular part of your diet. Red Wine Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. Those who drink moderate amounts of red wine seem to have a lower risk of heart disease. An antioxidant called resveratrol is the substance in red wine that has received a lot of attention. The ingredient may help prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol’) and prevent blood clots. While those benefits might sound great if you enjoy a five-ounce glass of red wine with your evening meal, I would never encourage anyone to start drinking alcohol on the premise that it’s heart healthy. Too much alcohol has harmful effects on your health, such as raising your risk of high blood pressure, liver damage, obesity and certain types of cancer. Drinking too much regularly can actually weaken your heart muscle. If you truly want the health benefits of antioxidants, you should think outside of the wine and chocolate box. Stock your kitchen with antioxidant ‘super foods’ such as blueberries, strawberries, purple grapes, raw nuts, dark green veggies, salmon and green tea. Author Barbara Hutchinson, MD is a cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Feb. 16, 2016. Last updated Sept. 16, 2025.0
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogStarting in January 2021, Kaiser Permanente members can receive comprehensive maternity services at Anne Arundel Medical Center, in Annapolis, MD. The hospital has been a premier hospital partner to Kaiser Permanente, a health system with more than 770,000 members in the mid-Atlantic region, since 2015. “Our award-winning Permanente physicians look forward to delivering babies at Anne Arundel Medical Center. The hospital’s commitment to medical excellence matches ours,” said Richard McCarthy, MD, medical director for Kaiser Permanente. “Our Permanente physicians are able to provide exceptional inpatient care at Anne Arundel Medical Center, so we are thrilled to expand the hospital-based services we offer there.” For Kaiser Permanente members in Annapolis and surrounding areas, the Kaiser Permanente Annapolis Medical Center offers a full range of comprehensive outpatient services, including primary care, orthopedics, cardiology, podiatry, dermatology, radiology, laboratory and pharmacy. With Anne Arundel Medical Center nearby, Kaiser Permanente members have a convenient option when inpatient or other hospital-based services are needed. The addition of maternity services in January further expands the comprehensive hospital care available to Kaiser Permanente members at the facility. As part of Luminis Health, Anne Arundel Medical Center welcomes more than 5,000 babies into the world each year — the second most in the state of Maryland. It is also home to a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, which provides care to critically ill babies. “As the second busiest delivery site in the state, our ability to provide high quality, low cost, patient- and family-centered care has positioned us to deliver on the promise of high value maternal and neonatal services. We are excited to advance our partnership with Kaiser Permanente in this exciting new direction and proud to be recognized as a top-rated hospital,” said Monica Jones, MD, MSc, FACOG, FACS, system chair, Luminis Health Women’s and Children’s Services. Among its many accolades for quality care, Anne Arundel Medical Center has centers of excellence in cancer, heart, joint spine and women’s and children’s services. In 2020, AAMC was recognized by US News and World Report as a top five hospital in Maryland and in 2019 the American Hospital Association awarded AAMC the Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award. “Bringing a baby into the world is a special and sometimes stressful time for parents,” said Amy Banulis, MD, obstetrician and medical director for Women’s and Children’s Services at Kaiser Permanente. “Kaiser Permanente’s members can rest assured that our maternity teams and hospital partners are committed to helping to ensure a safe and comforting arrival for their bundles of joy. And, it is exciting to now offer this exceptional care at Anne Arundel Medical Center.” Kaiser Permanente currently has 12 premier hospital partners across the mid-Atlantic region. To qualify as a premier hospital, each hospital has been carefully evaluated—and is regularly reassessed—for the quality of care, comfort, and services it provides. Kaiser Permanente is rated No. 1 in the region for several clinical quality measures, including childhood immunizations and timeliness of prenatal and postpartum care for women by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The health system currently has 33 medical centers offering a range of convenient, comprehensive services in the mid-Atlantic region, and partners with hospitals for inpatient care.0
- Orthopedics, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWith a new school year about to start, I’ve been thinking a lot about kids and their bone health. Osteoporosis is a disease that happens when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. Many think osteoporosis only affects older people. But it’s actually a disease that begins in childhood, with symptoms that appear in adulthood. Experts believe most people reach their peak bone mass in their early 20s. After that, you are holding on to what you have and trying to keep a balance between removal and replacement of old bone – not adding new bone. So what can you do to help your children reach their optimal peak bone mass so they have healthy bones as adults? READ MORE: True Story: What I wish I had known about my bones when I was younger Develop healthy eating habits Healthy habits start in childhood, and getting enough calcium and vitamin D is key. Yes, your kids can develop a taste for leafy green vegetables, nuts like almonds, and water or milk to drink. Replace soft drinks with calcium-rich dairy drinks. If your child dislikes dairy products or is lactose-intolerant, consider almond milk or fortified orange juice. It’s also important that your child eats enough calories, especially if he or she is an athlete. Eating disorders are more common in kids than you might realize, and are a disaster for bone health during these formative years. Watch out for weight loss or low energy in your child, and seek out a dietitian if you aren’t sure if your kids are getting enough calories. Get active Get kids moving for the joy of moving, and they’ll develop a lifelong love of being active. Research shows that high-impact exercise, such as jumping, is the most powerful way to build bones and muscle. But it also has the highest risk of injury. A sprinkle of higher impact exercise along with lower intensity activities is a winning combination. For kids in elementary and middle school, it’s important for them to have time to chase, run, climb, and then rest when tired. This helps them develop independent thinking and neuromuscular coordination, all while having fun. Old-fashioned games like hopscotch and jumping rope are also great ways to build bone, balance and muscle. Walking as a family is a chance for both you and your kids to exercise and spend quality time with each other. I highly encourage you to fight to keep recess in schools. Let your local school board know that physical education is crucial not only for exercise, but to develop the skills necessary to lead an active, healthy lifestyle as adults. Organized sports are another opportunity for kids to get exercise and develop neuromuscular skills, but beware of overuse injuries. Avoid specializing in one sport until high school to make sure your child develops a well-rounded set of movement patterns and prevents repeatedly stressing the same body parts. Be careful with tournaments and other events that cram a lot of intensity into a short time, and beware of burning your kids out. The trick is getting children to develop a love of sports and other physical activity so exercise becomes a lifetime habit. READ MORE: Preventing osteoporosis: 7 tips for better bone health Limit screen time Phones, computers, TVs, video games – screens are a big part of our world, for both children and adults. Screen time can take a lot of time away from physical activity if you let it. I don’t think we have figured this out, but consider limiting screen time to allow your kids to get at least an hour of exercise every day. The great thing about nurturing good bone health is that these habits are good for the rest of your health, too. So, as kids head back to school, let’s think about ways to help them eat right and stay active to ensure a lifetime of healthy bones! Author Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at AAMC Orthopedics. She can be reached at 410-268-8862. Originally published Aug. 26, 2019. Last updated Oct. 19, 2020.0
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