- Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAmy Turpin, a Harwood resident, is unusual in some ways. At 50 years old, this grandmother of four is exceptionally fit, working as a strength and conditioning coach, and competing in marathons and triathlons. “I’m physical all day long, and then running or cycling is what I choose to do for fun,” she says. But there is one way in which Amy is not unusual. Just like almost a quarter of American women, she experienced a pelvic floor disorder. Pelvic floor disorders occur when the muscles or connective tissues that support a woman’s pelvic organs weaken or are injured. This is commonly a result of pregnancy and childbirth. But obesity, smoking and genetic predisposition are also risk factors. The most common problems are incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. In prolapse, organs such as the uterus, bladder or bowel collapse into the vagina. For many women with prolapse, there are no symptoms, other than some pressure or a vague feeling that something is different, until an organ begins to protrude out of the vagina. Physical and Mental Changes “For me, the changes were fairly subtle over a period of time,” says Amy. She began to feel pelvic pressure while jumping rope. On long runs she would feel the same pressure, plus numbness in her legs. Then, one day, the change became dramatic. “I was out for a run, and I just felt like, literally, the bottom fell out.” At this point, Amy had to change her training routine and avoid some activities she enjoyed. “It affected every aspect of my life physically,” she says. “Then there’s the mental pain when you can’t do the things that you’re used to doing.” Tips for a Stronger Pelvic Floor AAMC Urologist Mara Holton, MD, says it’s important for women to remember that pelvic health corresponds to overall health and wellness. This includes good nutrition, physical fitness and maintaining a proper body weight. Pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, and help these organs function. The best way to maintain pelvic floor fitness is to do Kegel exercises. “Everyone has heard of them, but most women do them incorrectly,” she says. “Kegels are a dedicated exercise that need to be done properly to get the benefit. There are online resources, as well as physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor strengthening.” Dr. Holton advises women to do Kegels twice a day and says women who follow this regimen can see improvement in urinary continence and sexual comfort in six to 12 weeks. She says exercises that strengthen the core muscles, such as jumping jacks, crunches, wall squats and the bridge pose in yoga, can help strengthen the pelvic floor, too. Seeking Treatment Studies suggest that a woman has an 11 to 19 percent chance of needing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in her lifetime. While lifestyle changes or pelvic floor exercises (called Kegels) can help some women with early prolapse, often the degree of muscle damage or tissue relaxation requires other treatments. One option includes trying a pessary—an insertable device that supports the pelvic organs. But Amy’s active lifestyle demanded a more permanent solution. “For me, surgery was a very clear answer, because I just couldn’t perform at the level that I was used to performing,” she says. She ended up undergoing a minimally-invasive robotic procedure. This involved having small incisions put in her abdomen no wider than her pinky. The operation involved controlled robotic arms that worked through the incisions to move Amy’s pelvic organs back into place and secure them. Amy also had a mesh sling inserted under the urethra, the tube through which urine comes out, to prevent urine leakage. Back to Full Speed “With the great technology that we have, you don’t end up with huge scars, but that doesn’t mean the surgery should be minimized,” says Amy. After her surgery in May 2015, she was careful to follow instructions to avoid stairs and not drive or bend over for at least two weeks, then begin returning to regular activities slowly. Recovery time is typically about six weeks. “I think being compliant and not moving around as much as I’m used to was the most challenging part,” she says. “I feel amazing. I got my life back,” says Amy. “In fact, I recently did a triathlon.” Through her work, Amy meets a lot of women. “I know I’m not unusual,” she says. So she made a conscious decision to be open about the personal nature of her surgery, and she often hears, “Oh my goodness, I have the same thing.” Her advice to the millions of women experiencing a pelvic floor disorder is, “We can’t be quite so proud. If you have symptoms, you need to find out what your options are, because you don’t have to live that way.” Have a sensitive health question you’d like an answer to? Call The Smart Woman Connection, your new go-to health resource focused on one thing—your needs as a woman. Call 443-481-5995. Author Mara Holton, MD, is a urologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogA 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.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne 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.0
- Community, Giving, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDuring 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.0
- Community, Giving, OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter 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.0
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