Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart Care
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Life After a Heart Attack
Blog
A heart attack sounds scary, and with good reason. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
But life after a heart attack doesn’t have to be fraught with fear. Chuck Raines, who survived a heart attack in August thanks to the cardiac catheterization team at Anne Arundel Medical Center, is discovering that life goes on.
Life-Saving Intervention
In August 2015, Chuck, a 53-year-old experienced marathoner, felt some chest pain after a routine run. The next morning, the pain returned with sweating and nausea. His wife Trang called 911.
An ambulance rushed Chuck from his home in Owings to AAMC, where the cardiac catheterization team was ready. The team was ready because Chuck’s electrocardiogram (EKG) results arrived wirelessly from the ambulance directly to the emergency room. Interventional cardiologist Elizabeth Reineck, MD, placed a catheter through Chuck’s wrist to the blocked artery in his heart and inserted a stent, opening the artery and ending Chuck’s heart attack.
“They saved my life, so I was pretty excited,” says Chuck, who returned home after a week in the critical care unit. But at the same time, the shock of what had happened led to a sense of depression. “I thought, ‘I’m never going to be able to do the things I like again,’” he says.
A Common Feeling
“A lot of people can develop depression after a heart attack,” says Baran Kilical, MD, Chuck’s cardiologist. In fact, studies show that up to 33 percent of heart attack patients develop some degree of depression.
“Patients typically were doing something when the heart attack happened, so now they’re afraid that their heart is delicate and they’re afraid to do common activities,” says Dr. Kilical. “I tell them, ‘You’re going to go back to your usual life, as long as you take the right steps.’”
Those steps include faithfully taking prescribed medications, eating a healthy diet and exercising. All these steps can be aided by cardiac rehabilitation.
Cardiac rehab provides a safe, monitored environment to begin increasing physical fitness. AAMC’s Outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program includes counseling to help patients improve their health and reduce the risk of future heart problems.
“Patients who choose to participate in cardiac rehab do better than those who don’t,” says Dr. Kilical.
A Healthy Future
Chuck is motivated to take the right steps by Trang, who is his marathon partner, and his three young children. “Now I’m running again,” says Chuck. “Not as much as before, but I’ll get there.” He hopes to run the Big Sur Marathon with Trang in April.
“Don’t feel like your life is over just because you had a heart attack,” Chuck advises. “You can get back.”
Read more about Chuck in Quick Heart Attack Treatment Saves Runner.
Find out your heart age and heart disease risk factors with our free online heart health profiler.
Learn more about AAMC’s commitment to quick heart attack treatment.
Contributor
Baran Kilical, MD, is a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center.
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News & Press Releases
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AAMC Announces Board Leadership for 2017-18
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Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) recently elected board officers for 2017-18.
Gary Jobson, chair, is an author, world-class sailor and Emmy-winning television commentator. He is vice president of the International Sailing Federation and president of the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
He has been involved in the health care community via various avenues throughout his career, including his personal experience facing disease, as well as serving on the boards of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Va., and the University of Maryland Medical System. Jobson has been involved in fundraising initiatives on behalf of the Leukemia Society and has served as chairman of the Leukemia Cup Regatta Series since 1994.
Jobson currently serves on the boards of Anne Arundel Medical Center, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Fales-Committee, Friends of St. John’s College, Hope Funds for Cancer Research, National Sailing Hall of Fame, US Coast Guard Foundation, US Naval Academy and the US Sailing Foundation.
John Belcher, vice chair, is the former chairman and CEO of Arinc, an Annapolis, Md.-based provider of transportation communications and systems engineering solutions to aviation, defense, aerospace, airports, rail and information technology customers in more than 150 countries globally.
Belcher previously served on the AAMC Foundation board of directors for nine years, serving as chairman for three of those years. He also chaired the capital campaign “Care Like No Other.” He has served on the AAMC Board of Trustees for five years.
Leisa Russell, treasurer, is the president of Russell Consulting, LLC. She has more than 30 years of extensive experience, including roles as chief financial officer and health care consultant. She currently serves as a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Russell has been a member of the AAMC Board of Trustees for seven years. In addition to serving as treasurer, Russell was also appointed chair of the AAMC Finance Committee and will serve as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, as well.
Jason Groves, secretary, is executive vice president and general counsel for Medifast, Inc. Previously, Groves spent ten years with Verizon. For most of his time there, Groves was the assistant vice president of Government Affairs for Verizon Maryland and was responsible for legislative policy and community affairs.
Groves is an Army veteran and entered active duty as a direct commissioned Judge Advocate in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp (JAG) in 1997, where he also had the distinction of prosecuting criminal cases in the District Court of Maryland as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.
Groves has been a member of the AAMC Board of Trustees for eight years. He is also serves on the board for several other organizations.
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Community, Giving, News & Press Releases
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AAMC Auxiliary Makes a Difference
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During the AAMC Auxiliary’s Annual Holiday Luncheon in November, AAMC Auxiliary leadership presented their 2016 charitable gift of $805,000 to AAMC, with funds earmarked for the hospital’s direct patient care programs. With more than 72 years of commitment and 500 active volunteers, the Auxiliary generously contributes more than 140,000 hours of service each year in a variety of capacities for AAMC programs, patients and care areas. Creating a legacy of helping hands and a history of giving, AAMC’s Auxiliary has provided more than $13 million in support to AAMC since it began. This year’s donation was made possible by creative fundraisers organized by the Auxiliary, and sales from the hospital’s three volunteer-run gift shops and our resale shop, Out of the Box.
While volunteering offers vital help to the hospital, the personal benefits of volunteering can be greater. Volunteering at AAMC easily fits into your schedule and areas of interest, including direct patient care, retail, administration and more. Giving back not only helps others, but also can improve your health and happiness.
Are you interested in getting involved with AAMC’s Auxiliary? Contact Volunteer Services Manager Diana Emerson at [email protected].
Call the AAMC Foundation at 443-481-4747 or visit AAMCFoundation.org to learn how you can help.
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Community, Giving, Orthopedics
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AAMC Volunteer Gives the Gift of Time and Treasure
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After years of service as an AAMC volunteer, longtime AAMC Auxilian Buddy Sears wanted to make a difference for the hospital in another impactful way. Through his volunteer shifts assisting patient recovery and physical therapy at the Joint Center and Spine Center at AAMC, Buddy recognized the need for new recliner chairs to transport patients to and from joint camp and provide comfortable accommodations during recovery.
Also a member of the Davidsonville Ruritan Club, a non-profit community service organization local to the Annapolis area, Buddy shared his request and interest in supporting AAMC with his fellow members. In October 2016, the Davidsonville Ruritan Club made a generous $50,000 charitable gift to purchase 28 brand-new recliner chairs to support patient- and family-centered care and comfort. We have the busiest joint replacement program in Maryland, and the new chairs will make an incredible difference for those we serve.
Call the AAMC Foundation at 443-481-4747 or visit AAMCFoundation.org to learn how you can help.
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Community, Giving, News & Press Releases
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Exciting Changes Coming to the Clothes Box
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As AAMC’s resale shop the Clothes Box prepares to celebrate its 65th anniversary, we are excited to announce several big changes:
We’re changing our name from the Clothes Box to Out of the Box. This is to reflect that we now sell not only new and gently used clothes but also furniture, accessories, household items and more.
We’re moving to a new, larger location across the street from Westfield Annapolis Mall. Our new location, 910 Bestgate Road, is a larger space with ample parking.
We’re expanding hours to accommodate our shoppers and those who want to donate their used goods.
The best things about the shop will stay the same. Our amazing AAMC Auxiliary will still run Out of the Box. All proceeds will continue to support high-quality care throughout the hospital.
“Out of the Box combines all of the great things that have made the Clothes Box successful with important new improvements, including a bigger and more convenient location, more parking, fresh merchandise and a much larger array of items,” explains Auxiliary Revenue Chair and Past Auxiliary President Kathy Cook.
The store carries a variety of gently used, contemporary, inseason, vintage and name-brand clothing and accessories, as well as housewares, furniture and knickknacks.
“The AAMC Auxiliary is very excited to expand our ‘out-of-the-box’ experience, make it easier for people to donate or consign their gently used items, and give back to their community by supporting our local hospital,” says AAMC Auxiliary President Peggy Alexander.
Check out the Clothes Box on Facebook for updates on the grand reopening events for Out of the Box.
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