- 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
- General Page Tier 3BlogAre we killing the environment or is it killing us? When we look at what we eat and how we grow it, we find extensive evidence of damage to our food, from pollution and soil depletion to the toxicity of growing foods industrially. Not many people give much thought as to how their diet impacts the environment, the animals and our future. But this is a real, and growing, problem. Our diets are linked to the environment through the companies we fund and our personal emissions. As Americans demand cheap food, the American agricultural policy for the past 30 years has focused on providing large amounts of inexpensive calories. Two of the cheapest sources of calories are corn and soy, which the federal government has long subsidized and which make up a large percentage of our caloric intake. Corn and soy are used because they can be efficiently grown on vast farms. However, consistently growing just one crop – or a monoculture – depletes the soil and forces farmers to use greater amounts of pesticides and fertilizers. The effects of pesticides and fertilizers on natural wildlife and our water supply is well documented. Depletion of nutrients in the soil through monoculture and the use of fertilizer simplify the biochemistry, which makes our food less nutritious. Plants treated with pesticides also don’t produce much of their own phytochemicals –biologically active compounds found in plants – to protect themselves from pests. These plant chemicals are greatly beneficial to humans. Organic foods are an exception to this, as they do not include contaminants and it is likely that they have more phytochemicals. Additionally, they contribute less to environmental pollution. READ MORE: Farmers Markets: Let’s reduce the reliance on processed foods The following are foods that contribute to environmental concerns because they require more energy and typically release more pollution: Foods high on the food chain. Particularly large ruminant animals (cows, goat, sheep, etc.). Animal feed requires fertilizer and irrigation water. Emissions are also required if forestland is converted to grazing land. As a result, methane is released from their digestion and manure. Open-ocean fishing fleets depend entirely on fossil fuels. Highly sought-after fish are typically overfished, resulting in additional sea travel and increased emissions. Highly processed foods. These require more steps in the production process, which also mean more energy is used. Imported foods. When we transport food over long distances, more fossil fuels are used. If you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your food choices, you might want to consider the following: Eat lower on the food chain. This means more fruits, vegetables and grains, and less red meat. Choose local or sustainable fish and seafood that is lower on the food chain. For example, mussels, clams and squid. Read your labels. Look for fresh foods with the fewest processing steps. Buy organic. Organic food doesn’t have contaminants and it is likely to have higher amounts of phytochemicals Watch your waste. About 30 percent of the carbon footprint in the U.S. is tied to wasted foods. Water, energy, pesticides and pollution go into the production of wasted food, and food waste ends up in landfills where it releases methane gas as it decomposes. What we eat matters. The food choices we make every day have a big impact on the environment. The good news is that even small changes in what we buy and eat can add up to real environmental benefits. Eating green means eating fresher, healthier foods while reducing your grocery bill and supporting our farmers. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555.0
- Graduate Medical Education, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to start an Internal Medicine Residency Program. This will be a three-year residency program with 15 residents per year for a total of 45 residents when the program reaches full capacity. The Internal Medicine Residency Program accreditation marks another important milestone for Graduate Medical Education (GME) at AAMC as the hospital’s third ACGME-accredited residency program. AAMC received accreditation for its General Surgery Residency Program in 2016 and OB-GYN Residency Program in 2019. “We are expanding our role in the larger world of health and medicine to ensure talented and well-trained physicians for the future health of our community,” said Barry Meisenberg, MD, FACP, chair of Medicine and designated institutional official for GME at AAMC. “In launching a new residency in Internal Medicine, we continue to raise the level of care given to our patients.” “At Anne Arundel Medical Center, high-quality care goes hand-in-hand with research, learning and innovation to carry out our mission to enhance the health of the people we serve,” said Nargiz Muganlinskaya, MD, MMS, FACP, program director of Internal Medicine Residency. “We are proud to bring new physicians into our team-based culture of patient and family-centered care, where they will learn from a distinguished and diverse faculty.” In 2015, the ACGME approved AAMC as a sponsoring institution for GME programs, allowing AAMC to initiate individual residency programs. The GME program at AAMC provides training to doctors after they have completed medical school. AAMC anticipates interviewing approximately 300 Internal Medicine residency candidates from October 2019 through January 2020. Fifteen residents will match with AAMC through the National Residency Matching Program in March 2020, and they will begin their first day of residency on July 1, 2020. Learn more about GME at AAMC by visiting www.AAHS.org/Graduate-Medical-Education. Watch our video to hear program officials describe AAMC’s unique learning environment for residents, as well as the benefit of a teaching hospital to the community.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received Most Wired recognition by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). As a Most Wired organization, AAMC is recognized as a leader in healthcare technology for leveraging technologies in innovative ways to improve patient experience, reduce costs and broaden patient access to healthcare services. “This award shows we are committed to using the latest, state-of-the-art technology to provide the best possible care for our patients, regardless of where or when they need it,” said David Lehr, chief information officer at AAMC. “We’re continuously looking for ways to harnesses technology to improve the delivery of care for our patients and it is an honor to be recognized.” “Healthcare organizations across the globe are continually striving to raise the standard of care, pushing themselves and their peers to do better,” said Russ Branzell, CHIME president and CEO. “We designed Most Wired to identify and share those leading practices so everyone can benefit. It is an honor to be among those that perform at the highest levels, knowing that the excellence they achieve will impact patients for years to come.” The 2019 Most Wired survey assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in healthcare organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe use of tobacco can often lead to nicotine dependence and other resulting health problems. However, people who smoke always have the option to quit. In fact, the number of former smokers has been greater than the number of current smokers since 2002, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have made the decision to quit smoking, you should be aware of a few common misconceptions. Getting the facts about quitting smoking is important in order to make your journey to a tobacco free life a little easier! Misconception: Today is the day! I quit smoking. Actually… you should have a plan. It is easy to be impulsive, wake up one day and decide to throw away your cigarettes. But making a huge lifestyle change like quitting smoking requires a plan. You want to set yourself up for success. It is important to be prepared for the triggers – those routines and habits that you built around smoking. You will need alternative activities when you stop smoking. Preparing for potential urges or cravings to smoke is critical to staying on track. If you are more comfortable when you quit smoking, you will be more likely to stay on track. You may experience “recovery symptoms”, (also known as nicotine withdrawal). Understanding why those symptoms are occurring and learning tools and strategies to manage them can help you cope and not be thrown off when they happen. Misconception: All I need to do is take a pill or put on a patch! Actually… your plan should include other strategies in addition to medication. There are seven FDA-approved products that can help you to quit smoking. Combining smoking cessation medication with some type of supportive classes or counseling can double your chances of quitting successfully. Try not to fall into the trap of a miracle cure or the latest novel product, like e-cigarettes. These have not been fully tested as an effective tool for quitting smoking. There are many options that have been tested and proven to be effective. Misconception: I won’t tell anyone I’m quitting…just in case I don’t! Actually… it’s good to have support. Don’t keep it a secret. Support is very important to your success. Find people who will celebrate your successes and will support you through the tough times. Let people know how they can help you in your journey to quit smoking. There are several options for getting the support you need – classes, individual counseling, online, smart phone apps, text-to-quit programs and Nicotine Anonymous groups. Misconception: I’ll never be able to quit, I have tried a thousand times! Actually… you’re doing a great job and you should be more forgiving of yourself. It’s easy to think that it’s one-and-done. Unfortunately, when you quit smoking, like any other addictive substance, slips and relapses are part of the process. Learning how to manage slips and avoiding relapses is important. Learn from your experience and apply it to your next quit attempt. It’s not an event, it’s a process. Be kind to yourself and keep trying! Misconception: Quitting smoking is all about willpower! Actually… not really. You may think it’s all about willpower and if you can’t do it on your own that it’s a personal failure or weakness, but quitting tobacco is a tall order. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical. Don’t forget about all the resources, support and medications available to you. You can do this! Misconception: This plan worked for my friend, surely, it’ll work for me too! Actually… plans are very individualized. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Talk to your health care provider or a tobacco treatment specialist to discuss options and determine the best plan for you. Here are a few things you can do to keep moving ahead on the path to quitting smoking: Visualize yourself as a nonsmoker. If you’ve been smoking for many years, you may not remember a time when you did not smoke. Try picturing yourself as a non-smoker, going through your daily routines without a cigarette or using tobacco. Visualizing yourself as a non-smoker can prepare you for when you actually quit. When you first quit smoking, you may feel uncomfortable and awkward. You may feel like you don’t know what to do with your hands, during a work break, on the phone or when driving. Think about how you can handle these situations differently. Perhaps using a cinnamon stick or a straw if you need something to hold; replace your breaks with walks; doodling while you’re on the phone; and sipping on a water bottle in the car. These little tricks can help you get through those challenging times. Celebrate small successes. If you quit for two days or two weeks – those are wins! That means you can go without smoking and you can actually quit. Those small wins are huge. Reward yourself, you’re doing something really great! Identify your why. Examine the personal reasons you have for quitting smoking. Those reasons will drive you and keep you motivated to get you through the difficult times. Write your reasons down and carry them with you so you can pull them out when you need an extra boost of confidence and motivation. Constantly remind yourself why it is important to you to quit. Recognize that smoking has been a part of your life for a long time. Smoking has served some purpose in your life and that is one of the reasons you continue to smoke or use tobacco. Try to identify that purpose or need and fill that void with something else you enjoy and that will contribute to your overall health. Try to focus not on what you are giving up but what you are gaining by giving up tobacco. Celebrate quitting but don’t become too overconfident. Once you have quit smoking, try not to become too overconfident and think that you can enjoy the “occasional” cigarette. Once you have been dependent on nicotine, you will always be dependent on it. Remember — you’re a puff away from a pack a day! Think about how hard you worked to become tobacco free! It might take a few attempts to quit smoking, but there are many resources available to help you along the way. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, be kind to yourself and above all, don’t give up! Author Joanne Ebner is a Cancer Prevention Program manager at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). You can reach her office at 443-481-5366/67. Originally published Aug. 20, 2018. Last updated Sept. 30, 2019.0
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