- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Patient & Family Advisors, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEarl Shellner had just completed a long course of chemotherapy to treat aggressive rectal cancer when he and his family began to notice something was seriously wrong: He was experiencing frequent memory lapses. Earl found himself forgetting basic life skills, such as how to use his toothbrush or write out certain letters. “I couldn’t remember how to make a cursive S or a J,” he recalls. “I had to look it up on the Internet, how to make the curves for those letters.” His family also noticed he was telling the same stories over and over again in the same day without realizing he was repeating himself. When Earl mentioned these lapses to his medical team, they told him the problem was very likely “chemo brain,” a term describing cancer-therapy-associated cognitive deficits. Basically, the strong drugs used to treat Earl’s cancer had disrupted some of the neural pathways in his brain. Reports indicate that as many as 70 percent of patients who receive chemotherapy experience symptoms anywhere from mental “fuzziness” to memory lapses to problems following through on tasks. Rebecca Gondak, a speech language pathologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Cancer Rehabilitation program, worked with Earl, practicing exercises that helped him carry out tasks like shopping for groceries and recalling names. Earl was particularly excited when he and Rebecca worked out a clue for helping him remember the name of his 14-year-old neighbor. “I learned how to use a mnemonic device,” says Earl. “When I saw the young man, I would think of a calendar and the first letters of July-August-September-October-November to spell ‘JASON.’” Now, after making significant progress on his cognitive tests, Earl has become a patient and family advisor at AAMC. In this role, he is informing medical center staff, as well as cancer patients, friends and family—everyone he can—about chemo brain. “I have given a speech to hospital administrators,” he says. “And when I am at the infusion center, I ask patients if they know about chemo brain. A lot of them don’t, so I lead them in the right direction [to get help].” Read more about chemo brain and Earl’s experience. Learn more about Cancer Rehabilitation, a certified STAR Program® at AAMC, by calling 443-481-3805.0
- General Page Tier 3BlogThe brain is the body’s control center that is working day and night. As a result, it requires fuel to keep functioning. By eating higher quality foods — containing a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants — your brain can better protect itself from oxidative stress, or the waste products produced by your metabolism. On the flip side, eating a lot of processed or refined foods can displace other nutrients and be harmful to your brain. High-sugar, high-fat and high-salt foods cause inflammation. For example, eating a lot of sugar and refined carbohydrates worsens your body’s regulation of insulin. Multiple studies found a link between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function. This included a worsening of mood disorders, such as depression. Here are some of the most studied problems caused by a poor diet that researchers have linked to mental health issues: Chronic low-grade inflammation. This is caused by lifestyle factors, including poor diet, smoking, lack of sleep and psychological stress. And it has been observed in people with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Elevated oxidative stress. Patients with depression experience this. Many people with a mental illness have lower levels of antioxidants in their system compared to control groups. Brain plasticity. Some research shows healthy dietary patterns improve brain plasticity, or the capacity of the brain to change with learning throughout life. Gastrointestinal microbiota. There is a link between mental illness and “gut flora,” or the microbe population living in our digestive tracts. When inflammation starts in the gut, paired with a poor combination of nutrients that affect the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria ratio, it can in turn cause brain inflammation. Ultimately, this causes our brain cells to die. Studies have shown that people taking probiotics have improved their anxiety levels, perception of stress and mental outlook. Mental illness is a top cause of global disability, and the problem continues to grow. Mental health is complex, and if you’re experiencing a problem you should work with a professional on a well-rounded solution. Learn more about the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, a 16-bed mental health hospital for adults opening in March. Nutritional psychiatry supports the role of diet in mental health, and its potential role as a modifiable risk factor for mental illness. Some of the nutrients identified – such as magnesium, vitamin D, zinc, omega 3, b-vitamins and probiotics – are prevalent in a Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains, fish and seafood, with modest amounts of lean meats and dairy. They are also void of processed foods, which are staples of the Western diet. If you’re interested in seeing how food affects your mood, start keeping a food record. Jot down how eating different foods make you feel, not just in the moment, but the next day. Make positive changes and compare how you feel . Your body — and brain — will benefit. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published Dec. 3, 2018. Last updated Feb. 10, 2020.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnn Caldwell, a nutritionist and registered dietitian at AAMC, breaks down five common heart health misconceptions. Myth #1 – Eggs and other foods high in cholesterol are unhealthy and to be avoided. The cholesterol in foods actually has little effect on most people’s cholesterol levels. In fact, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recent finding is that cholesterol in the diet need no longer be considered a “nutrient of concern.” The bigger concern continues to be too many servings of foods high in saturated fats and trans fats, such as fatty meats, whole milk dairy products, fried foods, and butter. Try focusing instead on less processed foods and a more plant-based diet. Myth #2 – If I had high blood pressure, I would know. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because you don’t usually know you have it. You may never experience symptoms, so don’t wait for your body to alert you there is a problem. The way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check your numbers with a simple blood pressure test. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because, if left untreated, it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and other serious health problems. Myth #3– If I don’t have an hour to do cardio, it is not worth it. Sedentary lifestyle is a major risk for heart disease. Compared with people who exercise regularly, inactive people have nearly twice the risk of heart disease. After checking with your physician, set yourself a weekly exercise goal and start gradually. Do not wait to find time—be proactive by setting aside time for daily exercise. Being more active isn’t just about heart health; exercise improves our sleep, emotional health, reduces stress, and improves agility and balance. Myth #4 – Drink wine, eat dark chocolate and live forever. Wouldn’t it be great if we had to eat chocolate and drink wine to stay healthy? Unfortunately, this is not the case. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there is not conclusive evidence that either of these indulgences have any health benefits. Although a few small studies have pointed to some benefit, the fat, sugar and alcohol outweigh the benefit. Myth #5 – I am too young to worry about heart disease. How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular disease later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries. One in three Americans has cardiovascular disease, but not all of them are senior citizens. Even young and middle-aged people can develop heart problems, especially now that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors are becoming more common at a younger age. Author Ann Caldwell is a nutritionist and registered dietitian at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Feb. 27, 2015. Last updated March 25, 2019.0
- Behavioral Health, Community, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe heroin epidemic is a national problem that hits close to home in Anne Arundel County. According to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, heroin-related deaths in the county have increased by 128 percent between 2010 and 2013. The rate of heroin use here is 5.5 percent for youths ages 16 and 17 and 10.7 percent for adults age 18 and older. Both of these numbers are above the averages for the state of Maryland. The Danger of Opioids Fueling the epidemic are opioids. Opioids come in two main forms: prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet and illegal drugs like heroin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is writing new guidelines for physicians to explore other options before prescribing opioids. Still, many people already have a prescription for opioids. In 2012, doctors wrote 259 million opioid prescriptions. That’s enough for every adult in the United States to have a bottle of pills, according to the CDC. Not everyone who takes opioids gets addicted. However, everyone develops tolerance and some may start to crave these drugs. Opioid use can lead to risk of falls, respiratory problems, sleep apnea, interaction with other medications and potentially fatal overdoses. Suboxone: A Safe Solution Quitting opioids “cold turkey” is painful and dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms start around 12 hours after someone stops using opioids. Symptoms can include stomach pain, anxiety, body pain, chills, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, insomnia, weakness and more. For people dependent on opioids, Suboxone can help. Suboxone is a medication that helps people safely stop opioid use by reducing withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings. The medication also blocks the effects of other opioids. Suboxone treatment not only allows people to safely withdraw from opioids with little discomfort, it helps manage other health issues related to opioid use. Suboxone treatment also links people with professional counselors. Counselors can help people develop coping skills and behaviors to prevent setbacks. Only qualified, licensed doctors can prescribe Suboxone. Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance use and mental health treatment center, offers both inpatient and outpatient Suboxone treatment. Both programs begin with a phone call to understand the patient’s needs. Based on the phone call, we recommend either inpatient or outpatient care. The opioid epidemic is complex, and the solution is not simple. At Pathways, we believe we can begin to turn this public health crisis around by working together with other healthcare professionals, our community partners and our patients. For more information on Suboxone treatment and other options available through Pathways, visit PathwaysProgram.org.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is in full swing! With school out for the year and summer vacations on the calendar, there’s a lot to look forward to this time of year. But summertime also means an increased risk of sun damage, heat-related illnesses and other seasonal ailments. Here are some of the most common summer safety concerns and what you can do to address them. Stay safe in the sun As we expose more of our skin during the summer, we are also exposing ourselves to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which damages skin cells. Sunburns significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer. In fact, more than five sunburns as a child can double your risk of developing skin cancer later in life. A suntan also increases your risk of skin cancer, the most serious of which is melanoma. It’s important to protect your skin and eyes all year long, but especially in the summer, when UV rays tend to be stronger. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes and the sensitive skin around them. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protector factor (SPF) of at least 30, which will screen out 97 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as well as protect against ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Apply approximately two tablespoons of sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, especially if swimming or sweating. Consider limiting your time in direct sunlight, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, when UV light is strongest. For more summer safety tips, visit www.askAAMC.org/sunsafety. Enter our Instagram contest, and help us spread the word about the importance of sun safety! Beware of heat exhaustion and heat stroke Outdoor activity can lead to heat exhaustion, one of the most common conditions kids experience in the summer. The signs include severe thirst, nausea, fast and shallow breathing, headaches, muscle pain and cool, clammy skin. If your child is showing signs of these symptoms, immediately bring them somewhere cooler, remove excess clothing, encourage them to drink cool fluids and call your doctor. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke, which is extremely serious. Symptoms include a pounding headache, dizziness and light-headedness, red, hot, dry skin, cramps or muscle weakness, rapid, shallow breathing, nausea, vomiting, confusion and unconsciousness. If you think someone has heat stroke, call 911 immediately. While you wait for medics to arrive, work to cool the person down by moving them to a shaded area, fanning them and cooling their skin with water. You can prevent heat exhaustion by making sure your child is drinking water early and often, especially if they are playing outside in the heat. Be prepared when traveling Nothing can spoil your vacation like getting sick or injured. But if this does happen, it helps to be prepared. If you’re older or have chronic health issues, see your doctor four to six weeks before your trip to make sure it’s safe for you to travel. Check to make sure your vaccinations are up to date, and make a list of your current medications and allergies. Include the names and phone numbers of your doctors and your pharmacy. Remember to bring a note on your doctor’s letterhead if you are taking controlled substances or injectable medications. You should also program health information, including medical conditions and emergency contacts, into your phone (both Apple and Android products have built-in apps for this). If you have a history of heart disease, ask your cardiologist to give you a wallet-sized version of your latest electrocardiogram (EKG). Over-the-counter medicines, including ibuprofen and a thermometer, should also be a part of your travel kit. Don’t let illness put a damper on your summer activities. Following these safety tips will help you have a relaxing, fun and, most importantly, healthy summer. Authors Joanne Ebner is a cancer prevention program manager at Anne Arundel Medical Center. You can reach her office at 443-481-5366. David Afzal, DO, is a family medicine physician with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Waugh Chapel Family Medicine. To find an AAMG doctor in your area, visit MyAAMG.org. Mike Remoll, MD, is the medical director of the Emergency Department at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
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