- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWith summer fun and outdoor activity hitting its peak do not let ticks spoil the party. Tick bites can be the cause of many illnesses including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, alpha – gal, and more recently babesiosis. The good news? Most tick-related illnesses are preventable with some simple habits. How to Prevent Tick Bites Routine checks can often find ticks before they bite you. Ticks are very skilled at going unnoticed, so checking yourself routinely for unwanted guests is a great habit to get into this time of year. Look carefully — Ticks will frequent many great hiding places such as: Armpits Behind the ears Along your waistline In the belly button Between the toes Ticks can be very small and be mistaken for dirt, moles, or birthmarks. If you have kids, be sure to check them regularly/ teach them this important summer safety tip. What to Do if You Find a Tick If you find a tick attached to you the safest and most effective way to remove a tick is with fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible, then pull upwards with steady, even pressure until it detaches. Try to avoid squeezing the tick's body, which can force its saliva and potentially infectious material into your skin. (Link to possible source) Do not burn the tick or put chemicals on them. Remember pets can bring ticks inside with them so if you are a pet owner you be extra vigilant. When to Seek Medical Care Contact a provider if you experience any of the following symptoms: A new or expanding rash Fever or flu-like symptoms Headache Joint pain or myalgia (muscle aches or body soreness) No matter the question or symptom related to a tick bite, Luminis Health primary care providers can help you get the answers and care you need. With Luminis Health CareConnectNow you can connect with a medical provider on your mobile device from anywhere—even the comfort of your home. Appointments available (for ages 13 and up): Weekdays: 8:00am - 9:00pm EDT Weekends: 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT Please note: You must be physically located in Maryland at the time of service. Schedule a live virtual visit with CareConnectNow during operating hours or call us on your smartphone at 667-423-0609. Authors Andrew McGlone, M.D., is the executive medical director of Primary Care and Community Medicine at Luminis Health.0
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMenopause is one of the most common medical conditions in the world, and one of the least understood. Hot flashes, sleepless nights, and mood swings can all be signs of this major hormonal shift. But symptoms differ from woman to woman, and may be severe or mild. Here’s what you need to know about the signs of menopause — and what options are available to treat them. What Is Menopause? Menopause occurs when you stop having periods. Officially, it begins 12 months after your last period. Menopause occurs because your body makes less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, and your ovaries stop releasing eggs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, the average age of menopause in the United States is 52. But you might have irregular periods and menopausal symptoms for years before that, during the transition time known as perimenopause. Perimenopause usually lasts about four years, and typically starts in your mid-40s — although the time frame can vary. Symptoms like hot flashes can persist for more than a decade after menopause. Signs of Menopause Every woman’s experience is unique, and yours may be different from your friends or relatives. The intensity of symptoms can also vary greatly. Generally speaking, these are the most common symptoms of menopause: Hot flashes — a feeling of warmth that suddenly spreads over your whole body, sometimes followed by a chill. Hot flashes usually start in your upper body, especially around your face and neck. The sensation might be as short as 30 seconds or last up to 10 minutes. The frequency varies — hot flashes can happen rarely, once or twice a day, or several times an hour. Mood swings — your shifting hormones may cause you to feel irritable, moody, forgetful, or depressed. Difficulty sleeping — you may have trouble falling asleep, or may wake up in the middle of the night with night sweats. Many women have trouble falling back to sleep once awake. Vaginal dryness — during the menopausal transition, vaginal tissue becomes thinner and drier, which can make sex painful. Loss of interest in sex — your libido may diminish as your hormones change. Body changes — as hormone levels decline, you may lose muscle mass and gain fat around your waist. Your hair may thin out and your skin could become drier. Aches and pains — many women experience headaches, joint pain, or muscle pain during menopause. How to Ease Symptoms of Menopause It’s important to talk to your doctor about your menopause symptoms. If you’re suffering, there is hope by taking the following steps: Hormone therapy Your doctor may recommend hormone therapy for relieving hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, and mood swings. Hormone therapy may also help prevent bone fractures from osteoporosis, decrease your chances of developing heart disease, and lower your risk of dementia. The two types of hormone therapy are: Estrogen therapy — your doctor may recommend estrogen therapy if you had a hysterectomy (removal of your uterus). It comes in patch, pill, cream, gel, spray, or vaginal ring form. Combination therapy — uses both estrogen and progesterone in pill or patch form. It is for women who still have a uterus. Progesterone is used in various birth control methods, but can also help treat symptoms of menopause. Lifestyle changes There are many things you can do at home to help ease menopause symptoms. Consider trying the following: Eat a healthy diet. Eating fried, high-calorie, or fatty foods and drinking sugary soda can make menopausal symptoms worse. Prioritize sleep. Shortchanging rest can aggravate menopausal symptoms. Try to avoid hot flash triggers like caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, hot weather, and stress. Use vaginal lubricants to make sex more comfortable. Exercise to relieve stress and improve your overall health. If you smoke, make a plan to quit. Smoking can trigger hot flashes and even lead to earlier menopause. To Get Help for Symptoms of Menopause There’s no need to suffer with menopausal symptoms. Make an appointment with a Luminis Health OB-GYN. Ifeyinwa Stitt, MD is an obstetrician gynecologist at Luminis Health.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s time to show your heart some love, especially if you are a woman. When most of us think of someone having a heart attack, we picture a man clutching his chest and struggling to breathe. But did you know that, contrary to common belief, heart disease—which is commonly manifested in the form of heart attacks—is just as common in women as it is in men? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the most common cause of death in women in the United States. Approximately one in every five female deaths is attributed to heart disease. Heart attacks in women are common. What Is Heart Disease and How Does It Relate to Heart Attacks? The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease in the United States—and the main cause of heart attacks—is coronary artery disease, which is a buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. The heart is a muscular pump that sends blood to the entire human body. As with any other muscle, the heart needs a steady supply of blood and oxygen to function properly. When blood flow to the heart is reduced or blocked, the heart muscle is deprived of necessary oxygen, resulting in a heart attack. Do Genetics Play a Role? Although there aren’t specific genes that have been identified as making some women more prone to heart attacks, there are trends that can occur in families. Family history of coronary artery disease, particularly at a younger age (30 to 50) is a strong predictor of increased potential for heart attack, as is race and other inheritable illnesses such as diabetes and high cholesterol. A heart attack can occur at any age, but the average age for women is 70. Heart Attack Symptoms Symptoms of a heart attack are most commonly described as an intense pressure/ache in the chest that may or may not extend to the arms, neck, jaw or stomach. Sometimes, particularly in women, pressure/ache is replaced with more vague symptoms such as: Nausea/vomiting Shortness of breath Pain in both arms Jaw pain Back pain Stomach pain Sweating Lightheadedness Extreme fatigue Risk Factors and Prevention Heart attack risk factors can be grouped into two main categories: modifiable and non-modifiable. Familial history, race and gender are non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors include other medical diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and tobacco use. Heart attack prevention in women is the same as for men: Properly manage diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol with physician-prescribed medications Make heart-healthy food choices Maintain a normal body mass index Perform regular physical activity Quit smoking — Women who smoke are four times more likely to have heart disease than non-smokers Love Your Heart February is American Heart Month, a time when we can all focus on our cardiovascular health. It’s important because an estimated 80% of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is preventable. To raise and spread awareness, Luminis Health invites you to learn about heart health risks while entering for a chance to win a Lululemon studio mirror (so that you can bring the gym experience to your home). Visit Luminis.Health/MirrorGiveaway for details and to register for a chance to win. Now, that’s something we can all love. Authors Murtaza Dawood, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Luminis Health. He is recognized for performing operations for complex valve disease and atrial fibrillation. Prior to joining Luminis Health, he was the surgical director for the University of Maryland atrial fibrillation and structural heart programs. Jennifer Brady, MD, is a cardiologist at Luminis Health who is board certified in cardiovascular disease and electrophysiology. She has a special interest in adult echocardiography and heart failure.0
- Orthopedics, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWith a new school year about to start, I’ve been thinking a lot about kids and their bone health. Osteoporosis is a disease that happens when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. Many think osteoporosis only affects older people. But it’s actually a disease that begins in childhood, with symptoms that appear in adulthood. Experts believe most people reach their peak bone mass in their early 20s. After that, you are holding on to what you have and trying to keep a balance between removal and replacement of old bone – not adding new bone. So what can you do to help your children reach their optimal peak bone mass so they have healthy bones as adults? READ MORE: True Story: What I wish I had known about my bones when I was younger Develop healthy eating habits Healthy habits start in childhood, and getting enough calcium and vitamin D is key. Yes, your kids can develop a taste for leafy green vegetables, nuts like almonds, and water or milk to drink. Replace soft drinks with calcium-rich dairy drinks. If your child dislikes dairy products or is lactose-intolerant, consider almond milk or fortified orange juice. It’s also important that your child eats enough calories, especially if he or she is an athlete. Eating disorders are more common in kids than you might realize, and are a disaster for bone health during these formative years. Watch out for weight loss or low energy in your child, and seek out a dietitian if you aren’t sure if your kids are getting enough calories. Get active Get kids moving for the joy of moving, and they’ll develop a lifelong love of being active. Research shows that high-impact exercise, such as jumping, is the most powerful way to build bones and muscle. But it also has the highest risk of injury. A sprinkle of higher impact exercise along with lower intensity activities is a winning combination. For kids in elementary and middle school, it’s important for them to have time to chase, run, climb, and then rest when tired. This helps them develop independent thinking and neuromuscular coordination, all while having fun. Old-fashioned games like hopscotch and jumping rope are also great ways to build bone, balance and muscle. Walking as a family is a chance for both you and your kids to exercise and spend quality time with each other. I highly encourage you to fight to keep recess in schools. Let your local school board know that physical education is crucial not only for exercise, but to develop the skills necessary to lead an active, healthy lifestyle as adults. Organized sports are another opportunity for kids to get exercise and develop neuromuscular skills, but beware of overuse injuries. Avoid specializing in one sport until high school to make sure your child develops a well-rounded set of movement patterns and prevents repeatedly stressing the same body parts. Be careful with tournaments and other events that cram a lot of intensity into a short time, and beware of burning your kids out. The trick is getting children to develop a love of sports and other physical activity so exercise becomes a lifetime habit. READ MORE: Preventing osteoporosis: 7 tips for better bone health Limit screen time Phones, computers, TVs, video games – screens are a big part of our world, for both children and adults. Screen time can take a lot of time away from physical activity if you let it. I don’t think we have figured this out, but consider limiting screen time to allow your kids to get at least an hour of exercise every day. The great thing about nurturing good bone health is that these habits are good for the rest of your health, too. So, as kids head back to school, let’s think about ways to help them eat right and stay active to ensure a lifetime of healthy bones! Author Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at AAMC Orthopedics. She can be reached at 410-268-8862. Originally published Aug. 26, 2019. Last updated Oct. 19, 2020.0
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThis week, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) welcomed our oldest surgical patient in the hospital’s history. Mary Saxe is 109 years old and recently moved to the Annapolis area to live closer to her son and daughter-in-law. After breakfast with friends, she suddenly lost balance and fell on her right side. She was quickly brought to LHAAMC for evaluation and medical staff determined her fractured hip would require surgery. Dr. Bigby performed a partial hip replacement on Mary’s right hip. “Everyone has been so kind,“ she said of her medical team. “They’re taking good care of me while I’m here.” “On behalf of the entire JSU team, it was an honor to care for Mary after her hip surgery,” said Eve Sage, Clinical Director, General Surgical Unit & Joint and Spine Unit. “Mary’s wit, words of wisdom and appreciation for life filled our hearts.” “We were so impressed with the level of care, professionalism and services that our mother received at LHAAMC,” said Charles Saxe, Mary’s son. “She was in good hands.” In the coming days, Mary will begin rehabilitation. “People always ask me to share my secret to aging well,” Mary said. “I have no secret at all. The only recommendation I have is to keep moving. Keep moving as much as you can, as long as you can.” Thank you to the entire LHAAMC team for their expert care as Mary recovers!0
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