- Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWho’s better suited to offer you advice on how to keep your heart at its best than a cardiologist? We asked three of our cardiologists from the Heart and Vascular Institute to share their advice for staying heart healthy while juggling a busy home and work life. Jennifer Brown, MD How do you juggle the demands of work and home? I have two kids under five, work 50 hours a week and my husband is deployed with the military to Afghanistan. Organization, structure and balance are essential. I try to be efficient and designate responsibilities when possible. The key is making sure I am healthy. This means finding time to exercise, getting adequate sleep and fueling my body with a heart-healthy diet. If you could only give one piece of advice for heart health, what would it be? I think nutrition is our most powerful medication. Every Sunday morning, you will see me in my kitchen preparing healthy snacks. I try to avoid eating out or not bringing my lunch as much as possible. I am more likely to make bad food choices in the cafeteria. What is one thing women need to specifically be aware of when it comes to heart health? Signs of heart disease in women can be subtle. You may feel more fatigued or short of breath. The most important thing is to develop a good relationship with your doctor and seek medical attention when something just doesn’t feel right. Barbara Hutchinson, MD How do you eat heart healthy during a busy work week? Dr. Hutchinson stays heart-healthy by eating a big meal for breakfast to avoid overeating in the evening. I plan ahead for my week by preparing meals on the weekend. I prepare at least three different meat dishes, starches and vegetables on the weekend, then during the week I am able to have different combinations. My day begins with dinner because I am able to work it off during the day with my activity. I often work through lunch because I am not hungry, but may have fruit. I then have something very light for dinner with a cup of tea. Essentially, I have dinner in the morning and breakfast in the evening. If you could only give one piece of advice for heart health, what would it be? Eating a heavy meal late at night then going to bed one to two hours later is the ticket to obesity. What’s your go-to quick heart-healthy snack? I love fruits of all kinds, and I will choose them over things like potato chips, which I do not like. I often drink water or 100% fruit juice. I don’t drink sodas or alcohol. Jennifer Brady, MD If you could only give one piece of advice to women about heart health, what would it be? Know your numbers. By regularly monitoring your blood pressure and weight, as well as lab results like cholesterol, you can better manage and be active in your heart health. Ultimately, you will take control of reducing your risk of heart disease. What is one thing women need to specifically be aware of when it comes to heart health? Dr. Brady (far left) enjoys spending time with her family and says they offer her important support. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three women’s deaths each year. Women need to be aware of the many different signs and symptoms of a heart attack so they can seek immediate medical attention. How do you juggle the demands of work and home? By having a reliable support system of family and friends I am able to achieve a balance of caring for both patients and my family.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCarpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that causes tingling, numbness and pain in the wrists and hands. With more than three million new cases every year in the U.S., typing and overuse of the hands are often associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. However, many studies now suggest these are not causes, and genetics are actually believed to play a major role in determining who gets carpal tunnel syndrome. Orthopedic Surgeon Alex Shushan, MD explains the truth about carpal tunnel syndrome. What causes carpal tunnel syndrome? The carpal tunnel is a small space in your wrist. Nerves and tendons run through this space from your forearm to your hand. Anything that decreases the space available for the nerve may cause carpal tunnel syndrome. This may include: Pregnancy. Thyroid issues. Arthritis. Diabetes. Many cases are “idiopathic,” which means we can’t determine the underlying cause. In these cases, genetics may play a significant role. What are the symptoms? Symptoms include pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or wrists. Most patients experience this first at night, waking up with tingling in the hand that can be “shaken off.” This can progress to daytime numbness and tingling. As the symptoms worsen, patients may have trouble manipulating small objects, such as buttons on a shirt. Symptoms may occur in one or both hands. Who is most at risk? People between age 40 and 60 are especially at risk for carpal tunnel. Women are three times more likely to develop the condition. What about treatment? Splints at night are often prescribed. If this does not help, a nerve study is frequently performed to determine the severity of nerve compression. Those who don’t improve after conservative treatments may be candidates for surgery. Surgery is very effective, with more than 500,000 operations performed each year in the U.S. Ninety-eight percent of patients report they have a “good to excellent” result with surgical carpal tunnel release. Learn how carpal tunnel release surgery provided relief for this local cashier. Contributor Alex Shushan, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery at AAMG Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists.0
- Community, Giving, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAt age 75, Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation Board Member Anthony Izzo has everything he could hope for: a wonderful wife, a healthy family and four grown grandsons. When friends and family asked his wife Angelina for Anthony’s birthday wish list last year, she decided to surprise him with an idea that aligned with his passion for supporting the community. Instead of gifts for Anthony, Angelina asked party guests to bring new toys to be donated to AAMC’s Pediatric Emergency Department. His friends and family were excited to oblige, bringing several thousand dollars’ worth of new toys. “People get to a certain point in life where they no longer need anything,” says Angelina. “We were hoping it would inspire others to do something like this in the future. We were incredibly surprised by the generosity of our friends.” The gifts were shared among AAMC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit–Teddy’s Place, the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Family Foundation Pediatric Inpatient and Emergency Center, the Thomas J. Frank Family Birth Center and the Hackerman-Patz House. The toys were given to pediatric patients and their siblings to help relieve the stress of a hospital visit during the holidays and to play with during treatment.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter the mosquito-borne Zika virus outbreak spread from Brazil to more than 20 countries in Latin America, the World Health Organization labeled it a global health emergency. Zika virus is strongly suspected to have caused microcephaly and other neurological problems in thousands of babies. As this public health issue unfolds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to update guidelines for healthcare providers and citizens. At Anne Arundel Medical Center, we’re taking every precaution necessary to potentially evaluate and care for infected patients. The situation is constantly evolving, but we are staying on top of the latest information from the CDC and WHO,” said Mary Clance, MD, epidemiologist. “We are ready for the Zika virus because of our preparations for other infectious diseases including Ebola, MERS, West Nile and SARS. We have a lot of experience treating diseases coming from returning travelers. Dr. Clance adds that AAMC is regularly collaborating with the state and local health departments to keep doctors and nurses informed about the virus. “We continue to do all we can to ensure we stay ahead of any possible Zika virus spread and protect our community’s health.” Here are some things to know about Zika virus: How is Zika virus transmitted? Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. They live indoors and outdoors near people. Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue and Zika often bite people during the day, but they can also bite at night. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person already infected with the virus. These infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. Zika can spread from mother to newborn during birth, although this is rare. This can happen if a mother is already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery. It’s possible that Zika virus can pass from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. The CDC is studying how some mothers can pass the virus to their babies. To date, there are no reports of infants getting Zika virus through breastfeeding. Because of the benefits of breastfeeding, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed even in areas where Zika virus is found. Zika can also be spread through infected blood or sexual contact. The CDC recommends taking precautions. What are the symptoms? About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill (i.e., develop Zika). The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely a few days to a week. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week but it can be found longer in some people. For more information on the Zika virus, visit the CDC website0
- Orthopedics, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBernadette Hagerman suffered through pain in her right hand for years. “I let it go far too long,” she says. “I tried everything to relieve the pain, but there’s a limit to what you can do.” Despite wearing a wrist brace, Bernadette often woke up several times each night due to pain. As time went on, the pain spread to her arm and shoulder blade. As a cashier at Home Goods, Bernadette had no time for hand pain. “My hands are constantly moving,” she says. “At work I would just power through and it was very uncomfortable.” But powering through could only last so long. “I realized that I’m just too busy to let [pain] stop me,” she says. That’s when Bernadette went to Alex Shushan, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center, for carpal tunnel release surgery. As an outpatient procedure, the surgery was quick and only required a few hours of Bernadette’s Friday afternoon. She was back to work just two days later. “Before the surgery, just raising my hand up could cause numbness,” she says. “After five minutes of driving, my hand would go numb. I couldn’t sew, and handwriting was getting really difficult.” Now, Bernadette enjoys better sleep and more ease when using her hands. With so much success in her right hand, Bernadette recently returned to Dr. Shushan for a carpal tunnel release on her left hand. “My left hand wasn’t as painful as the right, but I had the surgery to prevent more pain,” she explains. Again, she returned to work just two days after the surgery. Contributor Alex Shushan, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery at AAMG Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists.0
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