- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe common cold leads to more health care provider visits and absences from school and work than any other illness each year. It is caused by a virus and is easily spread to others. It’s not caused by cold weather. However, cold symptoms may look like other medical conditions. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis if your symptoms are severe. A cold and the flu (influenza) are two different illnesses. A cold is relatively harmless and usually clears up by itself, although sometimes it may lead to a secondary infection, such as an ear infection. However, the flu can lead to complications, such as pneumonia and even death. What may seem like a cold, could be the flu. Be aware of these differences: Symptoms of the common cold Low or no fever Sometimes a headache Stuffy, runny nose Sneezing Mild, hacking cough Slight aches and pains Mild fatigue Sore throat Normal energy level, or sluggish feeling Symptoms of the flu High fever A headache is very common Clear nose Sometimes sneezing Cough, often becoming severe Often severe aches and pains Several weeks of fatigue Sometimes a sore throat Extreme exhaustion How is the common cold diagnosed? Most common colds are diagnosed based on reported symptoms. However, cold symptoms may be similar to certain bacterial infections, allergies, and other medical conditions. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis if your symptoms are severe. How is the common cold treated? Currently, there is no medication available to cure or shorten the duration of the common cold. However, the following are some treatments that may help to relieve some symptoms of the cold: Over-the-counter cold medications, such as decongestants and cough medicine Over-the-counter antihistamines (medication that helps dry up nasal secretions and suppress coughing) Rest Increased fluid intake Pain relievers for headache or fever Warm, salt water gargling for sore throat Petroleum jelly for raw, chapped skin around the nose and lips Warm steam for congestion Because colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics don’t work. Antibiotics are only effective when given to treat bacterial infections. Do not give aspirin to a child who has fever. Aspirin, when given as treatment for viral illnesses in children, has been associated with Reye syndrome. This is a potentially serious or deadly disorder in children. When should I call my health care provider? If your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms, let your health care provider know. If your symptoms don’t improve within a few days, call your provider, as you could have another type of infection. Are you looking for a primary care doctor? Search our Find A Doc directory.0
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen you think of breast cancer treatment, you may think surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or any combination of these treatments. You may not know that there are rehabilitation services available to help with various side effects from breast cancer treatment. If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, rehab can improve your quality of life. Here are some things you should know: Specialists provide your breast cancer rehabilitation. Your team may include physical, occupational and speech-language therapists, based on your needs. They’re trained to provide you specialized care to help you before, during and after your treatment. They help you get back to your previous lifestyle in the best way possible. After chemotherapy you may notice a change in your sensation. A common side effect of chemotherapy is peripheral neuropathy, where the nerves in your arms and legs (typically in your hands and feet) are damaged. Breast cancer therapy can help desensitize nerves and improve your sensory feedback. This can help restore your balance if your legs and feet are affected. After breast surgery, you may experience limited reach and flexibility in your arm. A therapist assesses your range-of-motion and prescribes exercises and interventions, like massage and stretching, to safely improve your mobility and function. You may have surgery to remove underarm lymph nodes where cancer has spread. As a result, you may develop lymphedema. Lymphedema is abnormal swelling of your arm or other part of your body. Breast cancer rehab can help prevent development of lymphedema, or help treat lymphedema if you already have it. Rehab interventions to treat the condition may include: Specialized massage to help drain excess fluid. Compression bandaging and/or compression garments. Skin care strategies. Specialized exercise. Many experience muscle decline and weakness after breast cancer treatment. A therapist can help you with exercises, as well as energy conservation and fatigue management strategies to improve your tolerance for activity. The ultimate goal is to help you return to your prior level of function. Breast cancer rehabilitation ultimately helps improve your function and participation in daily activities. Rehab therapists are available to assist you with getting back to your personal best after the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Author Christy McLellan, PT, DPT, CLT-UE, is a physical therapist with AAMG Physical Therapy. To contact her practice, call 443-481-1140. Originally published Oct. 23, 2017. Last updated Oct. 11, 2019.0
- Cancer Care, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“What caused my breast cancer?” Patients have asked me this seemingly simple question every day of my 16 years as a breast cancer surgeon. Despite the incredible advances we’ve made, I still have to answer, “I don’t know.” If you search the Internet, you can discover a list of about 50 possible causes. Unfortunately you can’t prevent the major risk factors: being female, getting older, living in North America, and genetic risk. Breast Cancer and Exercise But there’s good news. There are several risk factors you can control. One way you can prevent breast cancer is with exercise. More than 60 studies show that regular exercise lowers your risk of breast cancer by 20 to 40 percent. If you’re a breast cancer survivor, exercise can help prevent breast cancer from returning by the same percentage. If that doesn’t motivate you to break a sweat, here are some other health benefits of exercise. Lowers your blood pressure Decreases your risk of many diseases and conditions (including 12 types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, dementia, arthritis, heart disease, etc.) Maintains your bone strength and builds muscle mass Boosts your energy levels Increases your metabolism Improves your memory Decreases excess body fat Helps your immune function Decreases insulin and inflammation Prevents stress The amount of time a woman is overweight also matters. For each decade a woman is overweight, her breast cancer risk may go up by 7 percent. And while adults who start exercising as a teenager have a lower risk of breast cancer, starting at any age still helps. Even if you’ve never exercised, it’s not too late to start! Get Motivated: Your Action Plan If you don’t exercise regularly, I recommend starting with 30 minutes of moderate exercise (such as a brisk walk) each day. Eventually, your goal should be four to five hours per week. For most women, that’s easier said than done because we’re often the caretakers, sacrificing our needs for those of our children, partners, parents, friends and even pets. We’re also the hardest on ourselves and often feel guilty and discouraged when we don’t meet our goals. Think of exercise as a celebration of what your body can do, not a punishment for being something it’s not. Tell yourself you are worthy of exercising for yourself and schedule exercise until it’s a natural part of your day, like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Recommit to your daily goals and remember tomorrow is another opportunity to get back on track. Start at a level and activity that’s fun and feels almost easy. Exercise with a friend or go to a group exercise class to keep you accountable and motivated. Meet with a personal trainer to learn simple exercises you can do in the gym or at home to feel comfortable and confident. You don’t need fancy or expensive equipment to break a sweat. Mix it up with cardio, strength and flexibility exercises. Don’t get bored with repeating one activity. Don’t give up if your goal feels far away. I know many women who could barely walk for 10 minutes at a time, who eventually ran a marathon. Know your limits and talk to your doctor for an exercise plan that considers your age, exercise experience, daily energy level and chronic symptoms from medical conditions and treatment side effects. Remember, whatever your body can do that day is better than nothing. Exercise because you can. Author Wen Liang, DO, is a breast surgeon at the Fortney Breast Center. Originally published Oct. 10, 2016. Last updated Oct. 11, 2019.0
- Orthopedics, Weight Loss, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogStrength training exercises are key to burning calories, increasing metabolism and preventing injury. But you don’t need a gym membership or equipment for a proper strength routine. You can try these five exercises at home. Push-up Make sure your hands are shoulder-width apart. Angle your hands against the ground in whichever way feels most comfortable. Keep yourself straight. Think of your entire body as a straight line from your shoulders to your feet, and don’t stick your behind in the air. If you have trouble pushing yourself up, clench your glutes, abs or both. Your strength doesn’t have to come entirely from your arms. For a modified version, position your knees on the ground. Squat Spread your feet slightly wider than your hips. Point your toes slightly outward. Keep the weight on your heels and the balls of your feet. As you squat downward, push your behind and hips backwards. Think of it less about bending your knees and more about pushing your body backwards, similar to how you sit down in a chair. Make sure your hips go even with or lower than your knees. Otherwise, you won’t feel the full benefit of the exercise. Plank Forearm planks are more common and slightly easier than extended arm planks. For the forearm version, place your elbows on the ground at shoulder-width, and use the muscles in your abdomen to keep your body elevated parallel to the ground for as long as you can. For a slightly more difficult variation of the plank, extend your arms and keep your body in a straight line for as long as possible. For a modified version, position your knees on the ground. Tricep dip Find a chair or coffee table that is about the same height off the ground as your knees. Place your hands on the edge of the surface and slide yourself forward, keeping your arms straight and your body close to the chair. Lower your body until almost sitting on the floor and make sure your arms — not your legs — support your weight. Repeat as many times as you can. Originally published Dec. 5, 2016. Last updated Oct. 11, 2019.0
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen you know something is off with your child’s mental health, you just know. But often taking the steps to get them help can be a challenge. Once you have talked with your child, spoken with your insurance, made all the appropriate calls and appointments, and have gotten in front of a medical professional, it can feel like you will finally find the solution. The truth is there is no single solution or “magic pill.” Mental health treatment is a complex process that is different for every child and every family; however, the investment into finding what will work best for you and your child is worth the time, energy and emotion. Medication can help many children and adolescents struggling with depression, anxiety and attention disorders. But medication is just part of the answer. A well-rounded approach to mental health treatment has six components — medication being just one of them. There are many other places to look for solutions in addition to taking or considering a prescription. The total picture of health The best place to start is at the beginning. Try to collect as much information on your family medical history as possible and share it with your provider. A full panel of bloodwork is a great way to check things like metabolism, thyroid levels, Vitamin D and blood sugar. All of these can affect mood and sleep, which in turn affect overall mental health. If there is a deficiency in one of these areas, supplements or other therapies can make a difference. Talk to your provider about what will work best. Physical activity The benefits of exercise extend beyond the physical benefits. It helps kids get off their electronics and keeps their minds active, occupied and not dwelling on negative thoughts. Even just a short walk around the block can make a big difference. It’s not about being athletic or even losing weight necessarily – it’s good for you and a great distraction. Nutrition Eating healthier and avoiding processed foods sounds obvious when treating many health concerns; however, there are specific reasons why a healthy diet can help treat a mental health disorder. For example, we need proteins and fat for neurological functioning. Processed foods can have a negative effect on the gut, so your child may not be getting all of the vitamins and minerals needed from healthy foods. If your child is taking medication, his or her body may not be absorbing all of the benefits. Seeing a nutritionist can help with building a well-balanced plan for eating. Work toward healthier eating as a family and everyone will reap the rewards. Sleep Sleep hygiene — getting better sleep on a regular basis — is one of the most overlooked yet effective tools in a treatment plan. Many of us think because we slept for eight plus hours, we are good to go, but we still may not be getting enough rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep affects memory, relieves anxiety, and helps to regulate male hormone secretion. Asking your child, “Do you feel rested?” or observing to see how much time they spend on electronics before bedtime can help to identify if there may be a lack of REM sleep. For a clearer picture, a sleep study can determine if your child’s sleep patterns, and give you insights on their sleep’s ability to regulate their mood, emotions and attention. Encouraging your child to shut down their electronic devices a few hours before bedtime is one small step toward better sleep hygiene. Home life This is a tough one for some parents, but many mental health concerns can be better treated with changes in the home. Often times, medication is used so that your child can perform better in stressful situations, but you should also focus on removing what stress you can. This means more consistency, stability and structure at home. Looking at your relationship with your partner and/or with yourself is important. Are you and your partner on the same page? Are you experiencing your own feelings of anxiousness or depression? Are there things that need to change? Don’t be discouraged by the answers to some or all of these questions. You are not the first parent who has faced these challenges feeling like they can’t get it right. The important thing is that you’re working on it. No one is perfect. Don’t forget to tell yourself and your child that the job you’re doing or the progress they’re making is good enough. Simply saying “good job” can have a huge impact. Show your kids it’s OK to make a mistake. Tell them you’re proud and be specific. Small things add up to big changes. Being receptive to a full treatment plan for your child can be the difference between success and failure. There is no one magical solution, but when you are open to all of the potential solutions, and finding which ones works best for your child and your family, amazing things will happen right before your eyes. Ask questions, find resources and learn more at askAAMC.org/HealthyMinds. Author Mitchell Odom, MSN, CRNP, PMHS, is a practitioner with AAMG Mental Health Specialists. To schedule an appointment with him, call 410-573-9000. Originally published Oct. 29, 2018. Last updated Oct. 8, 2019.0
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