- News & Press Releases, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2021. To receive this award, LHAAMC has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. “We are one of only 212 hospitals nationwide to receive this honor,” said Sherry Perkins president of LHAAMC. “This award recognizes our commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients, and signifies that LHAAMC has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.” “We are honored to be recognized nationally for high standards of cardiac care,” said Dr. Scott Katzen, medical director of LHAAMC’s Catheterization Lab. “The mission of Luminis Health is to enhance the health of the people we serve. This award reaffirms our dedication and commitment to providing excellent cardiac care to our patients in their own backyard.” That commitment was enhanced when LHAAMC launched a new cardiac surgery program. Since late December, the cardiac surgery team has performed nearly 75 open-heart surgeries. Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients. “As a Platinum Performance Award recipient, LHAAMC has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “By meeting the award requirements set forth in the registry, LHAAMC has demonstrated a commitment to providing reliable, comprehensive treatment for heart attack patients based on current clinical guideline recommendations.” The Centers for Disease Control estimates that almost 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.0
- Physical TherapyGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe way we breathe can either induce stress or encourage healing and calmness. Inhaling and exhaling properly affects us mentally and physically. What’s in a breath? Breathing is not only taking in oxygen. It’s also about managing the levels of carbon dioxide, a gas released when exhaling, that contributes to our respiratory function. The longer you practice exhaling through your nose, the more relaxed your body will feel as it releases more carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a potentially toxic gas when it builds up in the body. What impacts my breathing? Seasonal allergies, along with irritants such as smoke, dust, pollen and fragrances effect the efficiency of breathing. These pollutants cause internal swelling, excessive mucous, coughing and a host of other health issues. What can I do to breathe better? Deep breathing lowers blood pressure and promotes the body’s balance. Diaphragmatic breathing is a form of deep breathing. Also known as “abdominal breathing or belly breathing,” it encourages full oxygen exchange as you inhale air into the deepest parts of the lungs while engaging your abdominal muscles. Practice deep breathing by lying on your back with a pillow under your head with your knees bent. Place one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest. Inhale or breathe through your nose, allow your belly and chest to rise and then exhale out of your mouth. This technique is most effective when the stomach rises higher than the chest. How will intentional breathing and wearing a mask improve my health? Walking and taking deep breathes on a regular basis helps keep you healthy. The American Heart Association recommends 30 to 50 minutes of exercise daily to promote respiratory strength. Wearing a mask reduces the risk of transmitting COVID-19, the flu and other contagious diseases. Some ways to minimize the discomfort and anxiety of wearing a mask include: Using essential oils (placing a drop of lavender oil in your mask), chewing gum or wearing lip balm. Ultimately, wearing a mask is a form of self-care and shows respect for others. Luminis Health Physical Therapy is opening a new location in Upper Marlboro on Nov. 12. Authors Rhonda Fowler PT, MS, CLT, CWS, is a physical therapist at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. Clarissa M. Ocampo, MM MA CCC-SLP, CLSVT LOUD, is a speech language pathologist at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you’re celebrating Easter today, we hope the Easter Bunny filled your basket with all your favorite treats! Did you know that some of the most popular kinds of Easter candy actually have some major health benefits? Here are a few sweet examples: Orange jelly beans are loaded with Vitamin C* Vitamin C may help to ward off cold symptoms and boost your immune system — and research indicates it could also protect against heart disease and several types of cancer. You probably know that oranges are a rich source of Vitamin C. Well, so are orange jelly beans! About 25 orange jelly beans contain 50 percent of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C. Enjoy several handfuls today to get the most out of this Easter favorite. Chocolate eggs are high in protein* Just like real eggs, chocolate eggs are packed with protein — six grams of protein per ounce serving! Chocolate peanut butter eggs contain even more — around eight grams per egg. Protein helps build strong bones and muscles, so have an egg or two with your Easter breakfast. Chocolate bunnies are a good source of iron* Not getting enough iron in your diet can cause anemia, along with symptoms such as fatigue. To prevent this, make sure you eat all of your chocolate bunnies, which are high in iron. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron, so we recommend that you eat these with a side of orange jelly beans. *Wait a minute… Does this all sound too good to be true? It is — because today is not just Easter, it’s also April Fools’ Day! While there’s nothing wrong with indulging in some candy today, remember to do so in moderation, and enjoy these sweets as part of a balanced diet. Happy Easter!0
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogConfidence. Balance. Adventure. Focus. Support. These are just a few key qualities kids need in order to develop the mental strength required to become strong, responsible adults. Mental strength isn’t about being strong-willed, defiant or tough. It’s about teaching kids how to cope with what life sends their way and giving them the courage and confidence to reach to their full potential. As a parent, how do you instill these values while navigating the changing tides of society? You’re told to make kids brave, but cautious. Raise them to be confident, but humble. Give them freedom, but not too much. Keep them active, but let them rest. In the coming months, we’ll explore the “how” with you. Our age-by-age conversation starters will help you foster open communication as your child grows. Our article “Is it puberty or something else?” will explore what’s within the normal range of emotions and behavior and help you determine when you should seek professional help. We’ll talk about creating a stimulus barrier for yourself and your children, how play is therapeutic and how to navigate the pressures of social media. Raising mentally strong kids also takes self-reflection. When you get emergency instructions on an airplane, the flight attendant tells you to put on your own oxygen mask first before attempting to help anyone else. It’s a metaphor that extends to all aspects of life — you need to take care of yourself in order to best take care of others. So as you read our upcoming articles, participate in online discussions and use our tools to help encourage better communication with your child, reflect on how you too handle difficult situations, show resiliency and communicate. Let’s build mental muscle together. We need to make caring for our minds, and the minds of the children looking up to us, a priority. Because ultimately, healthy minds need YOU. Ask questions, find resources and learn more at askAAMC.org/HealthyMinds.0
- Behavioral Health, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMost parents know about the importance of play for their children to develop essential life skills. But did you know about the importance of play for grown-ups, too? When you think of the word play, you probably imagine a group of children running around, chasing a colorful ball as they laugh and cheer. But play is so much more than that, and it’s not restricted to a certain age group. Play can be defined simply as engaging in activity for pure enjoyment and recreation. Play is for everyone, regardless of age (or profession) Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron admitted to playing Angry Birds on his phone as a way to decompress after a long day. Soccer star David Beckham credited Lego toys for saving his life, saying that they served as therapy for a brain injury he sustained after a jet crash. Barack Obama said he enjoyed playing basketball or golf as a way to relax. The best thing about play, besides the fact that it’s something you enjoy, is that while you’re doing it, it’s benefiting your overall wellbeing and impacting your health. It can fuel your creativity, emotional wellbeing and ability to problem solve. It’s part of evolution, but it’s also healthy During one of his TED talks, Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College, said, “from a biological evolutionary perspective, play is nature’s means of ensuring that young mammals, including young human beings, acquire the skills that they need to acquire to develop successfully into adulthood.” And more research is revealing that the benefits of play for adults are myriad: It’s good for your stress levels. Play can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. These promote an overall sense of wellbeing and can temporarily relieve pain. It improves your brain function. Playing games that challenge the brain – such as chess and puzzles – can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. This can also help ward off depression. It stimulates your mind and boosts activity. And, it makes you more productive. More companies – like Google – have set up play stations and encourage employees to play and collaborate. This, in turn, helps foster team building and cooperation within the company. It’s a win-win situation. It improves your relationships. Laughing and having fun with others can foster empathy, compassion, trust and intimacy. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers and make new friends. As Dr. Gray puts it, play is by definition creative and innovative. It is an outlet where we, as human beings, can experience joy, learn to get along with peers, practice empathy and get over narcissism while improving our health. Learn more about the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, a 16-bed mental health hospital for adults opening in March. “It’s the getaway to vitality” Play is the gateway to vitality according to the National Institute for Play (NIFP). Play is uniquely “rewarding, it generates optimism, seeks out novelty, makes perseverance fun, leads to mastery, gives the immune system a bounce and fosters empathy.” Play is also powerful in creating a sense of community. For example, some treatment centers for drug or alcohol abuse turn to outdoor recreation and play as a vital part of their recovery programs. It’s a way to spark an individual’s interest in sober activities. Adventure therapy, for instance, requires individuals to engage in outdoor activities while working with others to problem solve and overcome challenges as a team. And although it’s part of therapy, it’s also a form of play that is helping individuals work on their addiction while having fun. The benefits of outdoor recreation include increased attention span, improved relaxation, decreased anxiety, reduced blood pressure and decreased risk of depression. Adventure therapy is just a term used to describe what’s known as experiential education. Play is no different. You can learn life skills and improve your health while playing. And just as children turn to play when they want to distress – or just enjoy their time – play can help you be the best versions of yourself when facing “adult problems,” like career stress, parenting, marriage and the many other responsibilities that come with age. Don’t think of play as a waste of time or as an activity that’s only for children. Instead, consider it an investment in your overall mental and physical wellbeing. Let's play Need a few ideas for fun play? Pick a hobby and make time for it. Make some time to do the things that you enjoy the most. Make sure you find joy in the process of that hobby and don’t just focus on the end product. Do something fun with others. Doing fun things with others is key when it comes to playfulness. Whether it’s playing with others, participating in a specific activity or just going out for coffee to catch up, consider spending some time with someone else. Play games. You can always create your own game with those around you, with or without the use of a device. Try racing someone up a hill, walking faster than them until you reach the end of the street or go outside and play ball. Visit a park or a playground. Go out in nature and have some fun. This not only boosts your mood, but it can also be a fun way to socialize. When was the last time you got on a swing? Try it! It’s so much fun. Be present. Playful people are those who take the time to appreciate beauty in the world. Practice mindfulness and pick a flower, step on the leaves and laugh as they crunch, feel the cool breeze against your face on a breezy day or go jump in that puddle of water that accumulated after the last rainstorm. Enjoy the process, just as much as you would if you were a child again. Author Mark Sakraida is the adventure therapy coordinator at Pathways, AAMC’s substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment facility.0
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