- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you’re a homeowner, it may seem as if your list of yard work never ends. Mowing, weeding, raking leaves and gardening are only a few of the common yard chores that take up both time and energy. But did you know your back and spine could be in danger of injury due to the high demands these chores put on your body? Here are some tips to help prevent back pain when you’re taking care of your yard: General Lifting Tips to Prevent Back Pain Squat or kneel when lifting light or heavy objects. Pull the object close to your body and then lift. The power should come from your legs, not your back. Maintain proper posture with a straight back by tightening your stomach muscles without holding your breath. Use smooth, not jerky, movements. Push instead of pull when possible. Leaf Raking Tips Use power from your arms and legs to pull the rake, not from your low back. Consider using a leaf vacuum or mowing your leaves instead of raking and sending them to the dump. Leaves are great free mulch for your winter garden and yard, or an excellent addition to your garden soil. Not only will you help save your back, but you’ll help the environment too. Squat or kneel on a foam knee pad to bag leaves. This will help you maintain good posture by keeping your back straight instead of bending at the waist. Don’t hold your breath when raking or lifting bags, inhale and exhale normally. Change position so you’re not always raking using one side of your body. Gardening Tips Kneel with a straight back and tight stomach muscles, while continuing to breathe normally. Move your body close to where you are weeding instead of reaching too far in front. Keep your body lined up straight with your work area to avoid twisting and pulling. Physical therapy can help with a wide range of injuries, increasing your mobility and decreasing your pain. Learn more about the techniques and services we offer at Luminis Health.0
- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAbout 12,000 women get cervical cancer every year in the U.S., and a third of those cases are fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly all of those cases are linked to the human papillomavirus infection, also known as HPV. HPV can also cause other forms of cancer. Experts say the infection causes between 50 and 60 percent of cancers including cervical cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancers, anal cancer, throat cancer and penile cancer. However, there is a vaccine that can help prevent these cancers. Here’s what you need to know. HPV vaccine guidelines About nine in 10 people will catch HPV eventually, and medical experts recommend that both males and females get the vaccine before they become sexually active. According to the National Cancer Institute, the vaccine has helped to lower HPV among women in their 20s by nearly two-thirds. There are three HPV vaccines available – Gardasil, Gardasil 9 and Cervarix. The CDC recommends the vaccine for women through age 26, and men through age 21. But there are guidelines for when your child should get the HPV vaccine, based on age. Boys and girls who are 11 or 12 should get two shots of the vaccine six to 12 months apart. Those who receive their shots less than five months apart will need a third shot. If your child is 15 or older, he or she will need three shots over six months. Doctors also recommend that children with weakened immune systems receive three shots. Children who are allergic to yeast or latex should not receive the vaccine. Talk to your pediatrician if your child has any severe allergies. Women who are pregnant should also not get the HPV vaccine. As with any vaccine, there can be side effects. Common side effects include pain, redness or swelling in the arm where the patient received the shot; fever; headache or feeling tired; nausea; and muscle or joint pain. According to the CDC, most people who get the vaccine never experience side effects. Screening for HPV related cancers The CDC says the HPV vaccine isn’t a substitute for cervical cancer screening, and it doesn’t protect against all types of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer. Women should still see their gynecologist for regular Pap tests. There are no recommended screening tests for anal and penile cancers, or for throat cancers. You should visit your doctor regularly for checkups.0
- Digestive Care, SurgeryGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhile watching television one evening, Mark Bachteler of Gambrills, Maryland, suddenly didn’t feel well. He thought he might need to cut back on spicy foods, but the stomach pain and vomiting didn’t go away, even after a few weeks. At first, being unable to keep food down helped him meet his weight loss goals. He stopped eating out and only ate soft foods at home. But after losing more than 50 pounds, he and his wife agreed it was time to see a doctor. Mark was referred to Dr. Sanmeet Singh, Medical Director of Endoscopy at Luminis Health. Dr. Singh performed an endoscopy and diagnosed Mark with achalasia, a rare condition that occurs when food and liquid can’t move from the esophagus to the stomach. To fix it, Dr. Singh recommended a minimally invasive procedure called peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The procedure gently cuts the tight muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, opening the passage so food can reach the stomach again. “Given the severity of Mark’s symptoms, POEM was the right choice for him,” Dr. Singh says. “It’s minimally invasive, allows for a faster recovery than traditional surgery, and delivers relief by cutting the tight muscle without large incisions. We’re proud to be one of the few centers in Maryland equipped to provide this advanced level of care close to home.” After just one night in the hospital, Mark went home to his wife and two sons, ages 11 and 8. “It has been life-changing,” Mark says of the experience. "I am now eating more solids than I have in the last 1.5 years. I no longer have to always worry about being near a bathroom or someplace where I can step away when eating with others. Dr. Singh truly changed my life." A few weeks later, Mark and his family went on a beach trip to Delaware with his in-laws. Everyone was glad to see him enjoying family meals again after so many missed mealtimes in the past. Next, Mark is looking forward to a golf trip and enjoying meals out with his golf buddies. If you or someone you know has a digestive disease, please call 443-569-4855 to make an appointment with our team.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOur bodies are made up of approximately 70 percent water. Water is the most abundant natural resource on earth. Yet, most of us do not drink enough of it, and our bodies suffer in many preventable ways. We become dehydrated when the amount of fluid we lose is greater than the fluid we take in. We routinely lose fluids in our sweat, exhaled air, urine and bowel movements. In a normal day, we have to drink a significant amount of water to replace this routine loss. If we are sick, we may also lose fluids through vomiting or diarrhea. Warning signs of dehydration include: Thirst. It’s the first signal that you’re already dehydrated. Dehydration can also mask itself as hunger, particularly sugar cravings. Brain fog. You may have fatigue, lightheadedness, muscle cramping, headaches, dry mouth, darker urine and a feeling of confusion that some people call “brain fog.” Bad breath. When you’re dehydrated, you may not have as much saliva in your mouth. This allows bacteria to thrive, resulting in bad breath. Saliva has antibacterial properties. Stiff joints. Joints can be stiffer without the lubrication that water provides. Poor digestion. Water is vital for healthy digestion. It helps move food through the digestive tract and waste pass more smoothly. Along with fiber, water is important to eliminate waste from the colon and urine from the bladder. If you are not properly hydrated, you are also more likely to get a urinary infection. Dehydration may affect your ability to drive safely. Some research shows that driving errors doubled during a two-hour drive when drivers were dehydrated, similar to driving while intoxicated. With severe dehydration, heart palpitations, confusion and weakness can occur as the brain and other organs receive less blood. This can result in coma, and even death, if left untreated. Infants and elderly people are more likely to become dehydrated. It’s unusual for a baby to have a dry diaper for more than three hours. Over time, dehydration can make your skin lose elasticity and wrinkles appear deeper. You are more likely to get kidney stones. And you may not be able to regulate your body temperature, making you more prone to heat stroke. To avoid dehydration: A good rule is to drink water in between meals. Drink fewer caffeinated drinks. Caffeine may act as a diuretic causing you to lose fluids. If you’re feeling excessively tired in the middle of the day, try drinking water first. Avoid alcohol, including beer, especially when it is hot. Alcohol increases water loss and impairs your ability to notice early signs of dehydration. Replace calorie-filled beverages with water (provided you are eating three healthy meals a day). Bring extra water to all outdoor events where you might sweat more. Use warm water instead of hot water in the shower. Hot water can dry out your skin. The water you drink does not have to be bottled. The tap water in your home, whether from a well or public water system, may be perfectly fine to drink. To find out about your home drinking water quality, you can contact the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or the Maryland State Water Quality Laboratory at 800-300-TEST. The exact amount of water you need depends on your size, level of activity, general health and the weather. If you have a condition like congestive heart failure or late kidney disease, you may be on a fluid-restricted diet and need to consult your healthcare provider for those limitations. Author Marla Spring, FNP-BC, MSN CDE, is a medical provider at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists. To reach her office, call 443-481-4600 Originally published July 31, 2017. Last updated Sept 2, 2025.0
- Renowned Hip and Knee CenterWe're nationally recognized for providing excellent hip and knee care. We'll work together with you to decide how best to manage your hip and knee pain. Choose us because of our:Highly experienced experts. Each member of our team has advanced training and extensive experience in diagnosing and treating hip and knee problems.Top-notch sports medicine program. Are sports like running or basketball a big part of your life? Having to stop due to a knee injury hurts in more ways than one. We'll help you get back in the game as quickly and safely as possible. And we have specialized physical therapists who help you recover from your knee or hip injury.Renowned joint replacement team. Is non-surgical treatment for severe hip or knee arthritis not cutting the pain? Joint replacement can get you back to the active life you want. For the right patients, knee and hip replacements are among the most effective surgeries. And Luminis Health's joint replacement program is top in the state.ConditionConditions/Services/Treatments PageWe treat hip and knee problems of all kinds. We also help patients manage hip and knee pain and move more easily.Causes of Hip and Knee PainBesides being the largest joints in our bodies, our hips and knees are some of the hardest working. After all, they must bear our weight, yet be flexible enough for activities like walking, squatting, and kneeling. Fortunately, our hips and knees are so well-designed for that kind of movement that activity helps keep them healthy.However, there are things that can happen to our hips and knees that can cause pain and make movement difficult. The cartilage "cushion" in the hip or knee can also wear away as we age, causing pain and stiffness. This condition is known as osteoarthritis, and knee osteoarthritis alone affects up to one in five Americans over 45. Other conditions we treat include:Abductor tendon tears.Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.Cartilage injury.Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).Fractures and dislocations.Labral tears.Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries.Meniscus tears.Overuse injuries.Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries.Sprains and strains.Synovitis.Trochanteric bursitis.Luminis Health Orthopedics treats all these hip and knee conditions and more. We'll work jointly with you to lessen our pain and improve movement in your hip or knee.0
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