- Digestive Care, SurgeryGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhile watching television one evening, Mark Bachteler of Gambrills, Maryland, suddenly didn’t feel well. He thought he might need to cut back on spicy foods, but the stomach pain and vomiting didn’t go away, even after a few weeks. At first, being unable to keep food down helped him meet his weight loss goals. He stopped eating out and only ate soft foods at home. But after losing more than 50 pounds, he and his wife agreed it was time to see a doctor. Mark was referred to Dr. Sanmeet Singh, Medical Director of Endoscopy at Luminis Health. Dr. Singh performed an endoscopy and diagnosed Mark with achalasia, a rare condition that occurs when food and liquid can’t move from the esophagus to the stomach. To fix it, Dr. Singh recommended a minimally invasive procedure called peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The procedure gently cuts the tight muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, opening the passage so food can reach the stomach again. “Given the severity of Mark’s symptoms, POEM was the right choice for him,” Dr. Singh says. “It’s minimally invasive, allows for a faster recovery than traditional surgery, and delivers relief by cutting the tight muscle without large incisions. We’re proud to be one of the few centers in Maryland equipped to provide this advanced level of care close to home.” After just one night in the hospital, Mark went home to his wife and two sons, ages 11 and 8. “It has been life-changing,” Mark says of the experience. "I am now eating more solids than I have in the last 1.5 years. I no longer have to always worry about being near a bathroom or someplace where I can step away when eating with others. Dr. Singh truly changed my life." A few weeks later, Mark and his family went on a beach trip to Delaware with his in-laws. Everyone was glad to see him enjoying family meals again after so many missed mealtimes in the past. Next, Mark is looking forward to a golf trip and enjoying meals out with his golf buddies. If you or someone you know has a digestive disease, please call 443-569-4855 to make an appointment with our team.0
- Orthopedics, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou’ve trained hard, stayed consistent and pushed through every mile. Now it’s time to make it count. Dr. Max Coale, foot and ankle orthopedic surgery specialist, shares his top tips to help runners feel their best before, during, and after race day. Pre-Race Checklist Fuel up smart. Carbohydrates are essential for energy. Eat a balanced breakfast but stick to what you know — race day isn’t the time to try something new. Drink water in the days leading up and the morning of. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your race and on the morning of. Consider adding electrolytes to maintain balance and prevent cramps. Stretching. Proper stretching and warmups before the race can help you avoid injury and feel your best. Take 5–10 minutes to warm up with dynamic stretches like ankle circles, calf raises, and leg swings. Stay calm and listen to your body. Keep your thoughts positive and focus on the excitement of race day. But don’t ignore pain — mild discomfort can be an early sign of overuse or a developing injury. Post-Race Checklist Cool down. Keep walking for 5–10 minutes after you run to gradually lower your heart rate. Try some light stretches, focusing on calves and hamstrings. Prioritize recovery. Your body needs rest to repair. Avoid high-impact exercise for 1–2 days post-race and consider active recovery like swimming, yoga or cycling. Use RICE when needed. If you notice swelling or tenderness in your foot or ankle, follow the RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Follow up. Ongoing pain after running isn’t normal. Luminis Health is here to help you get answers and get back to what you love. Authors Schedule an appointment with foot and ankle orthopedic surgery specialist, Dr. Max Coale.0
- Behavioral Health, Lung CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe back-to-school seasons brings excitement—from new teachers to new backpacks. But amid the preparation, it’s also a key moment to have honest conversations with your teen about the risks of vaping and using marijuana. First, a reality check: In Maryland, 14% of high school students reported using marijuana in the past 30 days, according to the latest health data. While teen experimentation can be common, it doesn’t make it safe. That’s why it’s important to talk to your kids early and often. Sharing facts, not fear, can help them make informed, healthy choices. Marijuana’s impact on teenagers Marijuana is legal in Maryland, so it’s safe, right? Not for teens. Their brains are still developing and regular marijuana use can interfere with that growth in serious ways. Potential effects on children and adolescents include: Difficultly solving problems Impaired memory Poor physical coordination Slower reaction time Trouble focusing Increased irritability Increased risk of psychosis Interference with prescribed medication Still not convinced? Research shows that teens who start using pot before the age of 18 are seven times more likely to develop marijuana use disorder later in life—a condition where a person struggles to stop using marijuana, even when it negatively affects their health, school, or relationships. Vaping is more smoke and mirrors Vaping has become increasingly popular among young people. It’s often cheaper than cigarettes, comes in appealing flavors, and is heavily promoted on social media—which can make it especially attractive to teens. Many people assume that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking tobacco. But the reality is more complicated: Nicotine is still addictive. Most vapes contain nicotine—a highly addictive substance that can harm brain development in teens and increase the risk of future substance use. Harmful chemicals are still present. Vaping aerosols contain toxic substances like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein—chemicals linked to lung damage and cancer risk. Lung injury is real. Vaping has been linked to serious lung illnesses, including EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury), which has led to hospitalizations and even deaths. Unknown long-term effects. Because vaping is relatively new, the full long-term health impacts are still unknown, but early research shows cause for concern. Tips for talking to teens about vaping and marijuana Having these conversations with your teen can feel uncomfortable at first. Here are some tips to get you started: Start early, talk often. Short, regular check-ins feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation. Lead with curiosity, not accusations. Ask open-ended questions: “What have you heard about vaping?” “How do kids get e-cigarettes?” Use facts, not fear. Share concrete data (e.g., nicotine addiction, lung injury, impaired brain development) instead of scare tactics. Connect to their goals. Explain how vaping or cannabis can hurt sports performance, concentration for classes, or driving safety. Model healthy coping skills. Discuss stressbusters such as exercise, music and journaling so nicotine or THC isn’t the default escape. Practice exit lines. Roleplay ways to say “no thanks” when offered a vape or joint (e.g., “I’ve got practice tomorrow,” “I’m good—don’t want the hassle”). Keep communication twoway. Listen without interrupting; validate feelings even if you disagree. Teens are more receptive when they feel heard. Set clear expectations and consequences. Explain family rules (e.g., no vaping, alcohol, or marijuana before 21) and what happens if they’re broken. Stay alert to peer influence and online marketing. Ask about social media trends or friends who vape; discuss how ads target teens. Revisit the topic. Trends, products, and pressures change quickly; schedule regular “checkins” rather than oneanddone talks. How Luminis Health can help Parenting can be tough, but you’re not alone. Luminis Health mental health providers, with expertise in adolescent care, have already laid the ground work. Through funding from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, behavioral health education and support services have been successfully delivered in six high schools in Prince George’s County. The program—developed in close partnership with local schools—has demonstrated meaningful impact in supporting student well-being. Due to its success, the state has renewed funding for the upcoming school year following a highly competitive grant process. This continued investment underscores the importance of school-based behavioral health initiatives and the strength of collaborative community partnerships. If you or your children need additional support, the Behavioral Health Urgent Care walk-in clinic at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham offers treatment for non-life- threatening mental health needs for ages four and up. No appointment is necessary. Thanks to the state grant, we will expand our hours later this fall to include weeknights and Saturdays. Authors Dr. Jesselina Curry is the system medical director for ambulatory behavioral health services at Luminis Health. Supported by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission and Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, the views presented here are those of the grantee organization and not necessarily those of the Commission or Consortium.0
- Research2019-10-01Population Health Management0
- Patient Stories, Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“Going through cancer treatment can feel like a blur,” says Edward Clarke, a prostate cancer survivor. For him, having someone by his side made all the difference. His wife of more than 45 years joined him at every appointment. “She came with me to make sure we didn’t miss anything.” Clarke was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025. After researching his options and meeting with a surgeon, he chose to undergo radiation treatment at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. "When you have the right team, you will know it," he says. Clarke received care from Radiation Oncologist Dr. Angel “Ted” Torano. He says Nurse Navigator Alyson Figlioli also played a key role in his experience. “She was incredible. She relieved a lot of anxiety and stress. I can’t say enough about her.” Prostate cancer is common. One in eight men in the United States will be diagnosed during his lifetime, with most cases occurring in men 65 and older. LHAAMC has treated more than 750 men with prostate cancer in the last three years. The American Urological Association recommends that men ages 45 to 50 talk to their primary care provider about whether screening is right for them. Clarke’s cancer was detected through one of these routine screenings. A retired captain from the Montgomery County Police Department, Clarke served for more than 20 years. He later led the Maryland Center for School Safety and worked as the Director of School Safety and Security for Montgomery County Public Schools. Now retired, he remains open to consulting opportunities. This summer, Clarke traveled to the Outer Banks with his family for a weeklong vacation. He says he takes time to celebrate life’s milestones—especially his bell-ringing ceremony at the end of radiation. If you or someone you know needs prostate cancer treatment, click here to learn about options at Luminis Health.0
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