- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogUntil recently, experts typically found early stage lung cancer by accident. Since you rarely have symptoms with early lung cancer, finding it early was often a matter of luck. Take, for instance, the person who fell off a ladder and needed a chest x-ray to look for injuries. In turn, the x-ray found an abnormality and additional tests then found lung cancer. But times have dramatically changed. The results of the National Lung Screening Trial led to the new recommendation of a yearly low-dose chest CT scan for those at high risk of lung cancer. While there are a few exceptions, private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid should fully cover your screening. Take our pledge to love your lungs, and be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card! Am I High Risk? Smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. It’s also the primary risk to determine if you’re eligible for screening. Other risks include exposure to asbestos, radon gas, or prolonged contact with other environmental toxins. You should talk to your doctor about your personal risk factors and if you’re a candidate. Guidelines recommend the low-dose chest CT scan for lung cancer if you’re between the ages of 55 and 80, and have smoked at least 30 pack-years (number of packs per day x number of years). This includes people who still smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Ready to Quit? Quitting may not be easy. If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco and it’s difficult to quit on your own, you likely suffer from nicotine dependence or tobacco addiction. Like any other disease, tobacco dependence requires ongoing treatment and support. And just like diabetes and heart disease, tobacco dependence often requires a combination approach of expert help and lifestyle changes. We often think of tobacco use as a public health issue – and it is. But it’s also a disease that needs individualized and specialized treatment. Research shows the most effective treatment includes a combination of counseling and medication(s). Counseling can include one-on-one sessions between you and a trained tobacco treatment specialist, or a group approach with classes designed to give you tools for letting go of your tobacco dependence. There are seven FDA approved medications for treating tobacco dependence. You can use these medications to ease nicotine withdrawal symptoms while you work on changing your habits and routines linked to tobacco use throughout the day. Work with your health care provider on a treatment that’s right for you. One of the biggest hurdles you may face is the shame of continued use of tobacco despite serious health effects and pleas from your loved ones to stop. The key is for you to understand that dependence on nicotine is very powerful. Asking for help is okay. Once you move past this hurdle, find the right treatment plan and a qualified, supportive health care team, you can take control of your life and let go of tobacco for good. If you’re ready to quit, Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) can help. Visit askAAMC.org/QuitSmoking or call 443-481-5366 to learn more. Authors By Stephen Cattaneo, MD, medical director of Thoracic Oncology, and Joanne Ebner, Cancer Prevention program supervisor, at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published April 17, 2017. Last updated Nov. 15, 2018.0
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWith school back in session, your child’s stress and anxiety may be increasing due to homework, exams and after school activities. Add to that the constant stimulation of electronics, which creates social pressure and in some cases, cyberbullying. All of this can make your child feel like they’re being pulled in many different directions and manifest as stress and anxiety. The good news is that you have the power to help. How do I know if my child is feeling stressed or anxious? Elementary-aged children might experience regression. This means they might lose the ability to perform a skill they previously mastered. This can include children having episodes of bed-wetting, nightmares or night terrors. Children in middle or high school might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or they start waking up very early. You might also notice a difference in their eating habits, whether they’re eating a lot of junk food, not eating as much as usual or not eating at all. Moodiness, irritability, isolation and drastic changes with school grades are other signs that could indicate your child is experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety. WATCH: How to help your child develop coping skills How do I know if my child is just having a bad day or if it’s something else? The best rule of thumb to follow is if you start noticing things and behaviors that raise a red flag for you as a parent, something’s probably off. Trust your intuition. You can and should reach out to your child’s school because, during the school year, teachers and school staff spend more time with your child than you do. If they’re also noticing something is different, you may need to take action. How can I help my child? Think of coping skills as a toolbox. You might pull out the hammer often, but that’s not going to work for every job. You’ll need other tools. Coping skills are similar. Maybe your child loves a particular sport but at night or during school hours, that coping skill is not accessible to them. Encourage them to think of other ways that they can cope. Below are a few tips: Encourage communication. Help your child to identify his or her feelings and name them by asking, “I’m noticing that you’re more tired than usual, can you help me understand?” Kids usually like to use simplistic words, like ‘mad’ or ‘sad.’ You can ask, “Help me understand a little more,” or, “What do you think you need right now?” and encourage them to be the problem solvers. Help your child unplug. Whether it’s dancing, listening to music or going out for a walk, movement is always great for stress or anxiety and boosting mood. Look for grounding techniques to get out of the head and into the body. For example, when you go out for a walk, help them notice what they see, hear, feel, etc. This approach is adaptable for all ages. Talk to your child after a traumatic event. When hearing about violence in the news, reassure children that they are safe. This can help validate your child’s feelings and comfort them during a period of confusion and fear. Reach out to someone your child looks up to. Sometimes, your child won’t be ready to talk to you about something right away. You can reach out to a teacher, school counselor, coach or a mentor in their lives that they connect well with and talk to them. Adopt an attitude of curiosity. Get curious about what your child is feeling and listen without judgement. Ask them open-ended questions like, “What can you tell me about your day?” Don’t forget to take some time to unplug and practice good self-care or ask for help if you need to – it’s OK. Your child needs you, but taking care of others can also take a toll on you. Remind your child that you’re there to support them, but they’re driving the ship and you’re next to them in the passenger’s seat. Patients must be referred into the AAMC Psychiatric Day Hospital by a physician. If you think you or a loved one may be a candidate for these services, please speak with your doctor. If you need a doctor who specializes in mental health, please contact AAMG Mental Health Specialists at 410-573-9000. Author Jennifer Evans is a mental health clinician with Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (AAMC) Psychiatric Day Hospital.0
- Men's Health, Weight Loss, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHoliday food can bring on anxiety or joy, depending on your mind set. But sweet treats and heavy meals can be landmines when it comes to your health. Yet no one wants to feel deprived during the holiday season, the most wonderful time of the year. Fear not. There are reasonable ways to eat your way through the holidays in a healthy fashion. Follow these simple rules to make it through the season: Rule 1: Eat what you love and leave what you like. Instead of piling your plate with a little bit of everything, take inventory of what foods you really love and infrequently have available. Focus on these foods, while leaving the rest. Rule 2: Eat light to heavy. Start with a glass of water, then a broth based soup or salad, then the lean protein. This way you’re eating foods in their most digestible order. And by the time you reach dessert, a few bites and you will have had enough. Rule 3: Go to social gatherings to gather, not eat. You go to social functions to visit with friends and family, so do just that. Consider ‘pre-eating’ foods with protein and vegetables to keep your appetite in check. This way you can socialize with people you may not see as often without a mouthful of food. Rule 4: Nix the guilt. Feeling guilty after indulging on foods you usually avoid often leads to other unhealthy food choices. Plan the indulgence and enjoy. Then get back on track with your normal eating routine, immediately. Rule 5: Alternate your bubbly with sparkling water On average, most adults consume about 100 calories a day from alcoholic beverages. Alternating between an alcoholic beverage and a zero-calorie sparkler can help you avoid ‘pouring’ on the pounds. Sparkling water is festive while providing hydration to ward off a hangover. It also helps keep you full, therefore you’ll eat less at the party. Rule 6: Don’t be fooled by the health halo. Eating too much healthy food can also lead to weight gain. Also be mindful of ‘calorie swapping.’ If you’re dipping veggies or pureeing them into a creamy soup, then you may as well eat the ice cream. In which case, acknowledge it, enjoy it and then move on. Also keep an eye on your portions. Rule 7: Maintain your exercise schedule. The holidays bring a lot of preparation, shopping and partying which leaves us short on time. Exercise is often the first thing that falls by the wayside. It is important to keep this as a priority, especially since you may be adding a few more indulgences into your diet than usual. Rule 8: Drink half your weight in ounces of water. It is easy to confuse thirst with hunger, leading to mindless snacking that never satisfies. To make sure you are staying hydrated, drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For instance, if you weigh 160 pounds, you would need 80 ounces per day. Add fruit slices or pomegranate seeds to be festive and for flavor. Ring in the New Year on your best foot by staying focused on healthy eating and exercise during the holiday season. 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 Nov. 27, 2017. Last updated Nov. 12, 2018.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe quality of an interventional cardiac care program is largely measured by its door-to-balloon time. That’s the amount of time from the moment a heart attack patient arrives in the ER to when the blocked artery is opened with an angioplasty balloon. According to the American Heart Association, only 25 percent of hospitals in the nation are qualified to perform emergency cardiac catheterization. AAMC is one of those hospitals. “We have a system that is so efficient that once you call 911 within our area, you can pretty much be guaranteed that your artery is going to be open within 90 minutes of that call,” says Jonathan Altschuler, MD, medical director of AAMC’s cardiac catheterization lab. “The state’s benchmark for competency, as set by the Maryland Health Care Commission, is that 75 percent of patients have a door-to-balloon time of less than 90 minutes,” says Dr. Altschuler. “At AAMC, 96 percent have a door-to-balloon time of less than 90 minutes. Actually, 70 percent are less than 60 minutes.” A successful program requires having a cardiac catheterization team ready to be activated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also requires coordinating with top-notch emergency technicians, as well as multiple departments within the hospital. That effort has paid off with national and state recognition for the level of cardiac care at AAMC. But in the end, it’s the patient who wins. Find out your heart age, and if you are at risk for heart disease, with our free online heart health profiler. Contributor Jonathan Altschuler, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Return to Quick Heart Attack Treatment Saves Runner.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChuck Raines and his wife Trang have run six marathons together since 2011. They don’t smoke, avoid junk food and stay active with their kids. A heart attack was the last thing on the healthy 53-year-old’s mind. But he found out that it can happen to anybody. After an easy run on a Sunday afternoon in August, Chuck noticed chest pain. “I sat down and took a break, and then I didn’t think much of it,” he says. The next morning, the chest pain returned. This time it was worse. The retired Army master sergeant was no stranger to pushing through pain. “Being the person I am, I said, ‘It’s just going to go away.’” Instead, the pain began radiating down his arm and into his jaw. He began sweating and feeling nauseated. He called Trang and said, “I think I need to go to the doctor when you get home.” But she insisted on dialing 911. “Never in a million years did I think a heart attack would happen to me,” says Chuck. “I was in so much denial when it happened, even though the symptoms were right there in my face.” A Critical Process When Trang called 911, she set in motion a chain of events that were critical to saving Chuck’s life. An ambulance equipped with an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor rushed to Chuck’s home in Owings. On the way to Anne Arundel Medical Center, technicians sent real-time EKG results to the emergency room (ER). Chuck Raines enjoys a run. “We have a digital network that transmits from the ambulance to a central station in the emergency room,” says Jonathan Altschuler, MD, medical director of AAMC’s cardiac catheterization lab. “A doctor looks at it, and a decision is made to activate the cardiac catheterization team. Often our team gets there before the patient does.” When Chuck arrived at the ER, Elizabeth Reineck, MD, an interventional cardiologist, met him at the door and whisked him to the cardiac catheterization lab. “The artery supplying blood to the back of the heart was completely blocked,” says Dr. Reineck. “We opened the artery with a balloon and then stabilized it with a stent.” The team completed the procedure 65 minutes after Chuck arrived at the ER. This period of time, called “door-to-balloon time,” is a critical measure of cardiac care. AAMC’s average door-to-balloon time is well below the national standard of 90 minutes. “In our business, time is heart muscle,” says Dr. Reineck. “By opening the artery quickly, we minimize heart damage.” AAMC's Door-to-Balloon Time Door-to-balloon time is critical in successfully treating heart attack patients. Read more about how important reducing door-to-balloon time is at AAMC. An Innovative Approach Dr. Reineck used a new approach to cardiac catheterization, reaching Chuck’s heart through the radial artery in his wrist. Nationally, radial access is used in about 25 percent of stenting procedures and in fewer than 10 percent of patients with emergency heart attacks. “Radial catheterization has fewer vascular complications and less bleeding,” says Dr. Reineck. “For the patient, this means an easier recovery than the traditional route through the femoral artery in the groin.” “When Chuck left the hospital, his heart function was normal,” says Dr. Reineck. “This was the best case scenario. Chuck acted fast in seeking medical attention, emergency medical technicians sent information from the field and our cath lab team quickly re-opened the culprit artery. By working together, we prevented damage to Chuck’s heart, giving him the best possible outcome.” Chuck returned home after a week in the hospital. He enjoys swimming with his kids again. He’s back to work as an analyst for the federal government. And his doctors recently gave him the okay to resume running. Chuck and Trang are registered for the Big Sur Marathon in California this spring. “I’m a firm believer that I’m going to be out there running in April,” he says. When he does, it will be lucky number seven. Web Exclusive: Life After a Heart Attack Chuck, like many patients, experienced feelings of depression as he recovered from his heart attack. Read more about how he overcame these feelings and got his life back on track. Are you at risk? Learn your heart age and risk for heart disease with our free online heart health profiler. Contributors Jonathan Altschuler, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Elizabeth Reineck, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
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