- Men's Health, Women's Health, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogPrimary care is your first line of defense against fighting illness and detecting health issues that may require medical attention. As primary care providers (PCP), we are here to support all of your medical care. This includes acute care for those who are ill, routine care for chronic conditions, preventive medicine, vaccination to prevent disease, and addressing your mental health and wellbeing. As we continue to learn more about the coronavirus (COVID-19), patients who are concerned about their health can always turn to their PCP for help. Primary care still plays a critical role in your healthcare, even during a pandemic. It’s normal to feel anxious about coming into a doctor’s office even as social distancing guidelines begin to relax. However, your health shouldn’t take a back seat as a result. If you have a chronic condition or new illness, your symptoms won’t wait until the end of the pandemic. Neither should you. Medical offices have safety protocols in place to provide a safe environment for patients and staff. While telehealth is an option, not all visits can be done virtually. For patients who come in, we take the necessary steps to keep you and our staff safe, starting with a screening call the day before your visit. We implement masking and temperature checks upon arrival. And patients now go directly to the exam room, bypassing the waiting room. We also screen our staff and health care providers daily. While COVID-19 is still at the top of everyone’s mind, other illnesses and medical needs still require attention and care. Minor health concerns can grow into issues that are more serious. This is especially true if you ignore symptoms and don’t seek treatment. Connect with your PCP to stay-up-to-date on preventive care. Visiting your PCP can help you keep track of routine screenings, immunizations, annual check-ups and sustain a healthy lifestyle. By staying connected with your PCP, you prevent or minimize your risk of disease. If you’re going in for a mammogram or colorectal screening, for example, your PCP can help guide you on next steps. Talk to your PCP about making lifestyle changes. Primary care focuses on you as an individual. PCPs can be a great support in answering questions, providing advice and helping you make lifestyle changes. Whether giving advice on nutrition or exercise recommendations, your PCP can help you maintain your overall health and wellness goals. Check in with your PCP after your appointment. If you were recently treated for an acute condition, such as an infection or injury, it’s a good idea to check in with your PCP to make sure you’re healing properly. Also, talking with your PCP gives you the opportunity to ask additional questions about your progress. Your provider can also give you more information that can help make your treatment understandable and easy to follow. Consider support groups. Your PCP can recommend support groups that can help you enhance your healthcare experience. While you continue to practice social distancing, it might be a good idea to connect with a support group. Support groups can help you improve your health. Primary care is important to your overall health. COVID-19 shouldn’t delay your medical care. Reach out to your PCP and make an appointment. If you have a concern, we’re ready to handle it. We don’t want you to feel like your concern isn’t important during this pandemic. If it matters to you, it matters to us. Hospitals and physician offices are safe, ready and open to continue providing high quality care for all your health needs. Authors Andrew McGlone, MD, is a physician with Anne Arundel Medical Group Annapolis Primary Care.0
- General Page Tier 3BlogDuring the summer, fruits and vegetables grow in abundance and some items, such as cherries, peaches, plums and corn, are only available in grocery stores for a limited time. Fresh, seasonal produce is also less expensive this time of year because you can shop local. It’s no surprise that many people take advantage of this through farmers markets, co-ops and pick-your-own farms and orchards. Unfortunately, fresh produce spoils quickly, which can lead to a loss of food and money. If you find yourself buying fresh, summer produce in bulk or in high amounts, here are some ways to make the most of it so it doesn’t go to waste. Ideas for summer produce Enjoy fresh salads. Be creative and let your kids experiment with you. Make salads that include vegetables and fruits such as spinach salad with chicken, blueberries, and strawberries, or throw some diced peaches over kale. Try a cucumber, onion and dill salad with rice wine vinegar, or cherry tomato skewers with mozzarella cheese, shallot and basil leaf with balsamic vinegar. Cook up a stir-fry. Like salads, there are no wrong combinations for a stir-fry. Many summer vegetables, such as kale, bok choy, green beans, squash and tomatoes, make for excellent stir-fry dishes. Try fruit on the grill. Grilled fruit is a very tasty and healthy dish for any barbeque. Brush with olive oil and arrange uniformly sized pieces for even cooking. Cook apples, mangos, peaches or pear wedges for about five minutes on each side. Try kabobs of pineapples or watermelon. You can also add brown sugar or spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Make jams. Fresh strawberries, peaches, blueberries and even watermelon and habanero peppers can be cooked into jams. They’ll last for months this way, especially when stored in the freezer. Some fruits are so sweet you don’t even have to add sugar. Blend it. Think smoothies and soups. Blend fresh fruit and yogurt or flavored extracts. Mix together fruit or vegetables for a summer salsa. Or, try a cold soup such as cucumber gazpacho with watermelon, strawberry coconut soup, or blueberry yogurt soup with lime. Freeze it. Leftover produce can be stored in the freezer for use during the fall/winter months. Most fruits can retain quality in the freezer and many vegetables can too, excluding anything leafy (except spinach). Pack it. Summertime means vacations and road trips, so pack a cooler with orange and apple slices, sliced peppers, carrots and broccoli. Be sure not to let perishable food sit unrefrigerated for more than two hours, and be sure the cooler is 40 degrees or less. Include easy-to-transport, shelf-stable foods such as cereal, single-serve applesauce, cans of tuna, nuts, fresh fruit and nut butter sandwiches. Authors By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555. Originally published June 5, 2017. Last updated June 22, 2020.0
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is finally here! The sun is out, the grass is green and you are likely to participate in many outdoor activities. Along with all this summer fun comes heat and humidity. So, as the mercury rises, you need to pay close attention to your hydration. Your body is 60 percent water by weight and proper hydration is essential for your overall health. Approximately 80 percent of our water intake comes from drinking water and other beverages, and the other 20 percent comes from food. The water you consume optimizes blood pressure, regulates body temperature, lubricates joints and aids in digestion. As your body works hard to keep you cool, you lose fluid through sweating and evaporation. How do you increase your water intake without feeling waterlogged or like you have to go to the bathroom all the time? Here are 10 tips to stay hydrated this summer: Make sure you drink enough. Fluid recommendations are based upon body weight but a good rule of thumb is to aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Purchase reusable water bottles. This is safer for you and the environment but also makes you mindful to drink if you carry it with you throughout the day. Infuse with flavor. Infusing your water with fruit slices, lemon or lime can make for a refreshing beverage without added sweeteners. Drink before you eat. Sometimes our brains confuse thirst for hunger, so next time the feeling strikes, hydrate before eating and your hunger pains may disappear. Fill up on electrolytes. A sports drink can replace minerals you lose while sweating. Avoid sugary ones that can lead to dehydration. Use caution with very cold beverages as these can lead to stomach cramps. Limit alcohol and caffeine intake. Heat acts as a diuretic, meaning it causes the body to lose more fluid through urine, resulting in dehydration. If alcohol is in the mix for your summer outing, alternate every drink with a water. Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Most fruits and veggies are 85-95 percent of water. So eat up! Exercise in the early morning hours or late evening. Pound the pavement when the sun is not out in full force and temperatures are cooler. If you do exercise in the heat for more than one hour, supplement water with a sports drink that contains 6 to 8 percent carbohydrates. This prevents hyponatremia, which dilutes your blood and could also lead to serious impairment or death. Know the warning signs of dehydration. Early signs include increased thirst, flushed skin, fatigue and concentrated urine. Later signs of more severe dehydration can be dizziness, weakness and labored breathing with exertion. If you notice these signs it is time to make hydrating a priority. Snack on dried fruits and nuts. For long hikes, when you will need food, dried fruit and nut mixtures contain high amounts of potassium, sodium, protein, carbohydrates and calories. However, continue to drink plenty of water. Water is truly the elixir of life. As you experience all the wonderful milestones of summer, remember to drink plenty of water and eat a diet rich in hydrating whole fruits and vegetables to keep you going strong all season long. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Luminis Health. To reach them, call 443-481-5555 or visit Luminis Health Nutrition Services. Originally published July 2018. Last updated July 2022.0
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTori Bayless, Luminis Health CEO, reflects on the meaning of Juneteenth and our journey ahead. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were now free by federal decree. While the Emancipation Proclamation became official on January 1, 1863, news of it traveled slowly to the outermost slave state. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, week, and month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. The past three weeks have been painful and unsettling but through it, our incredible community has created the space to mourn, learn from one another, show solidarity and think about what change for the future should entail. I am grateful to those who organized, facilitated, and participated in our virtual faith-based service; White Coats for Black Lives demonstration; “Coming to the Table” conversations about diversity and inclusion; and other much-needed leadership discussions about how to improve racial justice and equity throughout our health system and communities. While I am proud of the steps we have taken to date through our Health Equity Task Force to ensure equity, promote diversity and inclusion, and actively tackle issues of racism in our health system, I know there is so much work ahead. As the great American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” I am hopeful and passionate about re-convening a Health Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force. This task force will bring together a diverse group of colleagues from our hospitals, our public health partners, and other community stakeholder groups. It will put into motion a new and lasting plan to guide the changes that we must undertake to be a more equitable and just health system. My own personal learning and resolve as CEO of Luminis Health has been strengthened by the outpouring of stories, reflections, and suggestions from so many of you across our health system. My high school motto was “actions, not words”—and I intend for that to guide our work ahead. We must be intentional and deliberate in our actions. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing further details about our specific initiatives, progress, and ways to get involved. Please continue to share your feedback and suggestions with me, so we can continue the conversation and make changes as we go. The road ahead will no doubt be challenging, but that’s how we’ll know it is worth it. To those for whom this day is especially meaningful – happy Juneteenth. Thank you for your resilience and continued dedication. Change is possible. I challenge each of us on this journey – instead of trying to change people to fit our organization, let’s work together to change our organization to fit and welcome all people.0
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogParents are often flooded with advice on how to care for their new baby. Much of that advice is on how to get them to go to sleep — including when, where and how. Sadly, about 3,500 infants die every year in the U.S. from sleep-related deaths, including deaths from accidental suffocation and strangulation, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To prevent this tragedy, it’s important you have the right information on recommended safe sleep practices. “The biggest misconception is that parents think it won’t happen to their baby,” says Charlotte Wallace, AAMC community health nurse and environmental health coordinator. “But it can.” Here are some other common myths — and truths — about infant safe sleep. Myth #1: It’s OK to fall asleep with your baby We’ve all seen the cute pictures of babies snuggled up on couches or in beds with their mothers or fathers. This is fine if the parents are awake and alert. Otherwise, there’s a risk of suffocation. When it comes to co-sleeping, there is a “survivor bias,” says Wallace. New parents hear from other parents who safely slept with their baby and then feel safe themselves. “We’re a really cozy society, with fluffy mattresses, comforters, and couches with a lot of cushions. That’s not a safe place for a baby to sleep,” Wallace says. AAP also cautions parents against using devices that claim to reduce the chance of sleep-related deaths. Those include positioners and other devices placed in your bed to separate you from your baby. Infants are safest sleeping in your room – but not in the same bed, AAP says. Myth #2: Babies need to be bundled up all the time In 2016, eight Anne Arundel County infants died due to unsafe sleeping practices, and Wallace says three of those deaths occurred over the summer. “Overheating is a real concern,” she says. “The general rule of thumb is you dress your baby in one more layer than what you would be comfortable wearing.” Avoid covering your baby’s face, as that could lead to suffocation. Myth #3: Sleep monitors will alert you to any danger “Baby monitors provide a false reassurance,” Wallace says. If a child is suffocating, there’s no noise for a monitor to detect that will alert the caregiver. Following the basic guidelines of no sleeping with your baby, always placing your baby on their back to sleep, and using a firm sleep surface will dramatically reduce your infant’s risk of a sleep related death. AAP also cautions against relying on cardiorespiratory monitors as a way to make sleep safer. There’s no data to prove these decrease the risk of infant sleep deaths. Myth #4: Sleep-related deaths can happen to babies at any age The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development says babies are at risk of sleep-related deaths only until they are a year old. Most deaths occur when babies are between a month and four months of age. If your baby rolls over on his or her own during sleep, you don’t need to turn the baby over, the Institute says. Most babies start rolling over on their own once they are four to six months old. Learn more about how to care for the new addition to your life at AAMC’s Newborn Care class. Originally published April 10, 2017. Last updated June 17, 2020.0
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