Why Choose Luminis Health Imaging for Your CT ScanWe're accredited by the top body in the U.S. for imaging, the American College of Radiology (ACR). This accreditation means our equipment, training and practices measure up to the gold standard.We'll always use the lowest dose of radiation to show the parts of your body your doctor needs to see. That's why we've signed on to the Image Wisely and Image Gently pledges. These programs, led by the ACR, help us stay at the forefront of safe radiology testing.If you're booking a lung screening or calcium scoring test, you can book using our simple online system. (Or give us a call if you prefer!) We also offer convenient evening and weekend appointments.
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Conditions/Services/Treatments Page
CT Scan
A CT scan is an imaging technology to see inside your body. CT scans can show bones, joints, organs, blood vessels — pretty much everything!CT scans can reveal the cause of your symptoms. They can find problems in the body before they cause any symptoms. They can also help doctors see whether cancer is going away with treatment.How Does a CT Scan Work?CT imaging uses radiation beams to produce images. Tissue, bone and other structures in the body absorb the radiation in different amounts. A computer analyzes the radiation beams as they pass through to the other side to form images.While an x-ray uses a single radiation beam, a CT scan takes that x-ray beam and moves it in a circle around the body. This is why CT machines are doughnut shaped. CT scans capture more detailed, 3D images, compared to x-rays.Besides diagnosing a broad range of conditions, CT radiology scans are useful for people without symptoms. They can reveal early signs of heart problems and lung cancer, and help you avoid a health crisis.CT Scans Can Help You Reduce Your Heart Attack RiskJust like plaque can build up around your teeth, plaque can build up in the arteries. But the consequence is much worse — plaque in the arteries can cause heart disease and heart attacks.Calcium scoring uses low-dose CT technology to see the arteries in the heart. The radiologist can then measure the amount of calcium in the arteries. Calcium is an important part of plaque.If you have a moderate to high calcium score, your doctor may recommend medications as well as lifestyle changes.CT Scans Can Find Lung Cancer EarlyAmerica's top lung experts recommend low-dose CT lung screening for long-term or heavy smokers between ages 50 and 80. This gives doctors a chance to find lung tumors when they're small and contained to one area. For cancer, early detection is good. Doctors can use less intense treatments. And treatments are much more likely to work when we find cancer early.How do you know if you smoke enough to need lung screening? Multiply your average number of packs in a day by the years you've been smoking. If you get 20 or more, you qualify. (As an example, someone who smokes a pack a day for at least 20 years should check their lungs. So should someone who smokes a half pack a day for at least 40 years.)
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Heart Care
General Page Tier 3
Healthy Foods for your Heart
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What are healthy foods for your heart?
The choices you make in your diet can have a powerful impact on your heart. Certain foods and beverages have nutrients and natural compounds that can lower cholesterol, maintain healthy blood vessels and protect your heart.
Here are the top picks for heart-smart foods to eat often. Adding these foods to your diet can keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Leafy green vegetables
All vegetables are nutritious, but dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and collard greens are especially rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that promote healthy blood clotting, lower blood pressure, and protect your heart and blood vessels. Eat leafy green vegetables daily by adding them to salads, sautéeing them as a side dish, adding them to soups or stews, or blending them into a smoothie.
Avocados
This creamy, satisfying fruit is full of heart-healthy, unsaturated fats. Replacing foods like butter, margarine, cheese, or processed meat with avocado can reduce your risk of heart disease. Skip the tortilla chips, though. For healthier ways to eat avocado, add it to your salad or sandwich or dip fresh vegetables into your guacamole.
Fresh or frozen berries
Colorful blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries contain polyphenols, antioxidants that reduce inflammation, protect blood vessels and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Fresh or frozen berries can be added to overnight oats, yogurt and salads, or enjoyed on their own for dessert.
Oats and barley
These whole grains are full of soluble fiber, which helps reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. Soluble fiber also slows digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer, which can promote weight loss. Add these grains to your weekly meal plan by eating oats for breakfast and trying barley as a side dish, in soups, or as a base for salads.
Beans (legumes)
Chickpeas, lentils, black, pinto, kidney, white beans, and all other dried beans or legumes are heart-smart superfoods. They’re full of plant protein, cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber, and many other nutrients that support your heart, blood vessels, and blood pressure. A 2023 analysis of studies published in Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases found that eating about 3 cups of beans each week can reduce your risk of heart disease. To meet that goal, add beans to soups, stews, chili, tacos, and salads, and blend them with herbs to make dips and sandwich spreads.
Fatty fish
Oily fish, such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and rainbow trout, are excellent sources of omega-3 fats (fish oil). These essential fatty acids can help reduce blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Research links a higher fish intake to a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. As such, the American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings (a total of eight ounces) of fatty fish each week. If you don’t like oily fish, lean fish or seafood like tilapia, cod, or shrimp still provides some omega-3 fats. Any type of fish is better than none.
Nuts and seeds
All nuts and seeds are excellent sources of unsaturated, heart-healthy fats which can improve your cholesterol. They also contain significant antioxidants to reduce inflammation and protect your heart and blood vessels from oxidative damage. To get the most benefits from nuts and seeds, vary them in your diet:
Snack on almonds, peanuts, and pistachios.
Sprinkle chopped walnuts, pecans, pumpkin, or sunflower seeds on salads and roasted vegetables.
Add a spoonful of chia or ground flaxseeds to a smoothie.
Olive oil
Olive oil is an essential ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, and extensive research supports its benefits for heart health. A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found about 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil each day is enough to reap the benefits. Use it to make salad dressings, in place of butter or other oil for baking, and when roasting fish, chicken, or vegetables.
Tea
According to a 2021 study published in the Annals of Medicine, drinking two cups of unsweetened brewed green or black tea each day can reduce the risk and progression of cardiovascular disease. Researchers believe antioxidant compounds in tea called flavonoids account for its benefits. If you prefer herbal tea without caffeine, try hibiscus tea. A 2022 review and analysis of 17 studies published in Nutrition Reviews determined it can reduce risk by lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol.
The bottom line
When it comes to heart health, food is medicine, so try to incorporate as many of these foods as possible into your regular diet. If you are taking blood thinners or other medications, talk to your physician before making substantial changes to your diet as some foods can change the effectiveness of those medications. Make sure you stay on top of your heart and overall health by getting regular wellness checks and notifying your doctor about any heart-related symptoms.
Author
Author: Luminis Health Chief of Cardiac Surgery, David J. Caparrelli, MD. Dr. Caparrelli has more than 20 years of experience in both cardiac and vascular surgery. To make an appointment with Dr. Caparrelli, please call 443-481-1358.
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Wellness, Cancer Care
General Page Tier 3
What you eat can have an impact on cancer risk
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The saying “you are what you eat” is more than just a catchphrase, it holds the key to potentially lowering your risk of cancer. According to the World Health Organization, adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes maintaining an ideal body weight and eating a nourishing diet, can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing cancer. But how can you achieve this? Here are things to include in your diet and what to avoid. Foods to add to your diet 1. Beans Beans and other legumes can give you fiber, which helps your gut and immune health—and can help prevent colorectal cancer. While all beans are beneficial, lentils offer the best protection. 2. Berries Berries like strawberries, blueberries and cranberries are full of antioxidants like vitamin C, and compounds called cyanidins, which protect your cells from stress and inflammation that could lead to cancer. 3. Broccoli Broccoli and other cruciferous foods like cauliflower, cabbage and kale have special plant compounds that help cells remove toxins and protect themselves. Studies show that eating these vegetables four or five times a week can reduce your risk of colorectal, prostate, bladder and breast cancer. 4. Nuts Studies have shown that tree nuts can help you prevent cancers in the digestive system. Common tree nuts, such as pecans, walnuts and almonds, have high levels of plant compounds called ellagitannins that can help gut bacteria stop cancer from growing. It’s best to choose unsalted and unsweetened nuts. If you don’t like them raw, mix the nuts into steamed vegetables, stir-fry, or salads. 5. Tomatoes Tomatoes are full of an antioxidant called lycopene, which may fight prostate cancer, according to many studies over the years. Other studies say that tomatoes (and tomato products such as tomato sauce) can lower your risk for breast, lung and colorectal cancer. Foods to avoid 1. Alcohol Alcohol, including beer, wine and spirits, causes tissue damage which can lead to changes in cells and increase your risk for cancer. If you don’t want to avoid alcohol entirely, try limiting yourself to one drink per day if you’re a woman, and two drinks per day if you’re a man. 2. Food and drinks with added sugar Candy, cookies and soda can lead to obesity, which in turn can increase your risk for cancer. Experts suggest you limit the amount of food and drinks in your diet that have added sugar. While diet sodas have no sugar and fewer calories, they lack essential nutrients found in water. 3. Fried foods When starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures (such as during the process of frying), they form a compound called acrylamide. Some studies have shown that acrylamide can damage cells, leading to a higher risk of cancer. Fried foods can also lead to obesity, which increases your risk for cancer. Air frying is a healthier alternative to than frying in traditional oil. It reduces calories by as much as 80% and significantly decreases fat content. 4. Processed meats This category includes most of the meats behind the deli counter, as well as hot dogs, ham, sausage, and anything sold in a pre-packaged container. These meats are often preserved using nitrates and nitrates, which increase your risk for colorectal and stomach cancers. 5. Red meats Researchers have found that consuming red meats such as beef, pork and lamb can increase your risk for colorectal cancer. Dietitians recommend eating less than 18 ounces of red meat each week. Balance is Key When it comes to healthy eating, it’s important to remember that finding a balance is essential to your overall success. Adding these cancer-fighting foods — and avoiding cancer-causing ones — as often as you’re able, can help you manage your risks. But making big, sweeping changes to your diet can sometimes be counterproductive. Be sure to start with small changes you know you can maintain. Finally, ongoing conversations with your primary care provider can help you better understand your personal cancer risk, and help you navigate any needed changes. To manage your overall wellness as well as cancer risks, schedule a visit with a primary care provider at Luminis Health Primary Care.
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General Page - Tier 2
At Luminis Health, we are committed to providing comprehensive care through our extensive range of specialties and highly skilled medical professionals. We understand the importance of a trusted partnership in patient care, and we're here to support you at every step.We also offer numerous educational and collaborative opportunities for our referring providers to stay at the forefront of medical advancements and best practices. At Luminis Health, we work together to enhance health outcomes and transform lives within our community. Refer a Patient to our Orthopedics ProvidersOur orthopedic team is committed to delivering expert, patient-centered care for a full range of musculoskeletal conditions. From sports injuries and joint replacements to complex fracture care, our team uses advanced technology and evidence-based practices to deliver results that support faster recovery and long-term mobility.We know strong provider relationships are key to better care. That’s why we’re committed to close communication and coordination at every step—from initial evaluation to surgical care to rehabilitation. Together, we’re helping patients return to the activities they love and improving quality of life across our community.To refer a patient to Luminis Health Orthopedics, call 410-268-8862 Schedule careOur services
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Research
2019-11-09
Crownsville, MD
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