- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s not red meat or eggs that can make or break your heart health: It’s sugar and processed carbohydrates. Processed carbs are found in packaged foods with added sugar, like soda, cakes, cookies, ice cream and pie. They’re also found in packaged foods containing high-fructose corn syrup, including white bread and regular pasta. How Do Processed Carbs Affect Your Heart? “Your body breaks them down quickly, which can cause a quick rise in your blood sugar,” says Jonathan Altschuler, MD, a cardiologist at AAMC. “This leads to a spike in insulin production. High insulin can lead to high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol, which can increase your chances of a stroke or heart disease.” Dr. Altschuler recommends avoiding processed carbs as much as possible. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop eating the foods you love. You just need to make a few smart swaps. For example: Substitute brown rice and brown rice pasta for white rice and pasta. Choose multigrain or whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Focus your diet on fruits and vegetables as much as you can. “There are many naturally sweet fruits you can add to your daily diet. And in terms of vegetables, you can really eat an unlimited amount,” Dr. Altschuler says. Find healthy recipes from our registered dietitians. Contributor Jonathan Altschuler, MD, is a cardiologist at AAMC.0
- Women's Health, Uncategorized, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOn March 14, 2016, Kelly Huber suddenly felt strange. She had spent the day doing yard work when her symptoms hit: sore, tired arms and tight shoulders. “It wasn’t a normal hurt. It felt like I’d been hit by a truck,” says Kelly, who was just three days away from her 51st birthday. “My arms were exhausted. I could barely move them.” At first, Kelly tried to ignore the symptoms. She went inside and got her 8-year-old twin boys ready for bed. But she couldn’t get rid of the heavy feeling in her arms and shoulders, and began to feel extremely hot. She didn’t understand what was happening and became confused and concerned. Kelly’s husband insisted they go to AAMC’s emergency room near her home in Grasonville, Md. There, tests showed the last thing Kelly expected at her age: She was having a heart attack. Women and Heart Disease Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths every year. Source: The American Heart Association Heart Attack in the Making Kelly was no stranger to AAMC. When her twins were born three months early, she was by the boys’ side for seven long weeks in AAMC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Teddy’s Place. Now it was her turn to be the patient. “The artery to the front of Kelly’s heart had a major blockage, which was causing her symptoms,” says Elizabeth Reineck, MD, interventional cardiologist with AAMC. Dr. Reineck reopened Kelly’s artery with a stent. To Kelly, the heart attack felt like it came out of nowhere. But in reality, it was years in the making. “If you looked at her 10-year risk of heart problems one month before she had her heart attack, it would have been very high,” says Kelley Sullivan, MD, Kelly’s post-operative cardiologist with AAMC. Kelly had high cholesterol and a family history of heart problems. Her father had triple bypass surgery before age 50, and her mother was diagnosed with severe heart disease. On top of that, in the span of seven years, Kelly gave birth to her boys prematurely, which left one of them blind; lost her mother; and became separated from her husband. “It was a lot to handle,” she says. A New Lease on Life Kelly’s heart attack was the icing on a bitter cake. “I was scared to death. I prayed, ‘I have little boys. Please let me make it so I can be here for them,’” she says. Her prayers were answered when she left the hospital three days later on her birthday. That was just the beginning of Kelly’s recovery story. Post-operative care would be a partnership between Kelly and her doctors. “Even if we can open up the blocked artery, you have to take medications for the rest of your life and follow up with a cardiologist regularly,” says Dr. Reineck. “As doctors, we can only do so much. To be successful moving forward, patients need to make positive lifestyle changes, too.” Kelly was determined to do whatever it took to succeed. For her, that meant taking prescribed medications, improving her diet and exercising more often. Because she was terrified of another heart attack, exercising was especially hard. “You worry,” she says. “Every little ping and pain feels like it’s your heart.” Fortunately, three months of cardiac rehab at AAMC helped her recover physically and emotionally. “Kelly came to us scared and nervous. She was afraid for her kids,” says cardiac nurse Shannon Adkins. Her therapy with Kelly included nutritional counseling and supervised exercise, such as walking on a treadmill while connected to a heart monitor. “Our goal was to make her feel better about doing things so that when she went back into the real world, she would feel more confident.” Kelly’s twins were by her side at most of her appointments. They supported her a few steps away from where she’d first supported them at their birth. “My boys are my little advocates. They are my biggest motivation for getting healthy,” Kelly says. “I’ve changed everything so I can be here to watch them grow up.” Find out how you can help bring cardiac surgery to AAMC. Contributors Elizabeth Reineck, MD, is an interventional cardiologist with AAMC. Kelley Sullivan, MD, is a cardiologist with AAMC.0
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogPalliative care is often mistaken for hospice care. If you or your loved one is suffering from a serious illness, it’s important to know the difference and what is available to you. Hospice care is appropriate when medical treatments cannot offer a cure. Hospice professionals provide care to people who have an advanced illness and are in their last stages of life (prognosis of six months or less). Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv), however, may be given at any time during a patient’s illness, from diagnosis on, regardless of life expectancy. Palliative care may also be provided along with curative (meaning lifesaving or life-prolonging) treatment. Most doctors are trained to focus on curing and treating your illness. But you may have symptoms that make it difficult to be as active as you want to be, or that impact your overall quality of life. This is where palliative care teams come into play. Teams are made up of specially trained doctors, nurses and other providers. They focus on treating and relieving your symptoms and side effects, such as shortness of breath, pain, lack of appetite and fatigue. They can also treat physical and mental stress caused by a serious illness—whatever your diagnosis. In fact, the word “palliative” itself comes from the word “palliate,” which means to make the effects of something less painful, harmful or harsh. Palliative care also emphasizes making sure you are informed. Teams help you understand the pros and cons of treatments and help you make decisions about treatment options. They also offer spiritual or religious support, and can help match your goals and values to your medical care. Palliative care teams work with you, your other doctors, and your family to coordinate all aspects of your care. They focus on you as a whole person, not just the part of you that is sick. Research shows that those with a serious or chronic illness who receive this extra layer of support see a number of benefits, like better symptom control, improved quality of life, satisfaction with care, fewer hospital and emergency room visits, and lower medical costs. So, where do you start? If you think palliative care could be right for you, the first step is to talk to your doctor. If costs concern you, you should know that services are covered by most private insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Services are also flexible and based on your needs. Medical care can be confusing. Palliative care teams can help you and your family talk through what you want, and help you navigate a very complex system. You don’t have to cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a serious illness alone. Palliative care can give you a better quality of life. Learn more about palliative care at www.askAAMC.org/palliative. Author Jeanette M. Abell, MD, MBA, is associate chair of Medicine and medical director of Hospitalists and Palliative Medicine at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- Heart Care, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOne small act can make a big difference. We invite you to join Anne Arundel Medical Center in our week-long celebration of kindness as we put our hearts in motion for Random Acts of Kindness week, Feb. 12-18, 2017. Studies have shown that being kind and doing kind acts for others can benefit your heart, reduce anxiety and lower your blood pressure. Download our free, printable kindness cards to start your own chain reaction of good deeds. Need some ideas to get you started? Buy a cup of coffee for a stranger. Leave a special treat on a friend or co-worker’s desk. Donate old towels or blankets to an animal shelter. Surprise a neighbor with dinner. Send a card to someone who deserves more recognition. Leave a kind server the biggest tip you can afford. Share your stories and see what others are doing on Facebook using #AAMCHeartsInMotion. One of the best Random Acts of Kindness you can do is encourage everyone to know their “heart age” and risk of heart disease. Take our free, online heart health profiler at AskAAMC.org/Heart.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) President and CEO Victoria W. Bayless has been recognized as an “Influential Marylander” by The Daily Record and will be honored March 23 at a ceremony in Cockeysville, Md. Fifty-one Influential Marylanders were selected by the editors of The Daily Record for their significant contributions to their respective fields and for their leadership in Maryland in the following areas: civic leadership, communications, education, finance, freestyle, general business, health care, law, philanthropy, real estate and technology. “This year’s Influential Marylanders demonstrate an impressive record of accomplishment, leadership and vision,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, publisher of The Daily Record. “What they say is important, and what they do makes a difference in the lives of many in Maryland and beyond. The Daily Record is honored to recognize their accomplishments.” Bayless has 25 years of experience in management and leadership roles specializing in strategic planning, health system operations, performance improvement, community health and outreach, medical staff relations, physician practice management and business development. The principal architect of AAMC’s ten-year strategic plan, Vision 2020: Living Healthier Together, Bayless is focused on overall quality performance, workforce development, growth and financial strength, while improving access and meeting the needs of the community. During her tenure, AAMC has become the third busiest hospital in Maryland, with the busiest joint, bariatrics and urogynecology programs in the state, and is one of only six percent of hospitals in the U.S. to have earned the Magnet® designation for superior nursing care. Bayless was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 12 national healthcare leaders in the publication’s 2007 “Up and Comers” report. In 2007, the Baltimore Business Journal recognized her as one of “40 under 40” business leaders in the region. In 2015, she was named to the list of “Influential Marylanders” by The Daily Record. Most recently, in 2016, the Capital Gazette named Bayless to its list of “People to Watch.” Additionally, Bayless was named one of the “Most Powerful Women in Healthcare IT” by Health Data Management. Bayless is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel and the 2011 recipient of the YWCA’s Tribute to Women & Industry (TWIN) Award. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the board of organizations including the United Way of Central Maryland, CareFirst/Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, and the American Hospital Association Region 3 Policy Board. In 2016, Governor Larry Hogan appointed Bayless to serve on the state’s Health Services Cost Review Commission. Honorees will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the March 24 issue of The Daily Record and available online at www.TheDailyRecord.com.0
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
Go to MyChart
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?