- SleepGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNot getting a good night’s sleep can compromise your brain performance, mood, and health. Plus, you just won’t feel great the next day. The American Medical Association says approximately 30 million Americans have sleep apnea—a condition that interferes with sleep—but only 6 million are diagnosed with it. Sleep apnea can be a significant, potentially life-threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. While snoring is annoying and can signal apnea, sleep apnea itself can halt breathing partially or completely—from ten seconds to over a minute at a time—and that adds up. This can happen from five to more than 100 times an hour during sleep. As a result, oxygen levels in the bloodstream fall, which may lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, or abnormal heart rhythms. These disrupted normal sleep stages leave you unrefreshed and may also negatively impact your memory. Types of Sleep Apnea There are three types: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This very common sleep disorder occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses (it relaxes when you sleep) and partially or completely blocks the airway. Air can’t enter the lungs and airway blockage can happen a few times, or several hundred times, per night. Central sleep apnea (CSA): This less common type occurs when the brain fails to tell the lungs to breathe during sleep. When the signal is lost, the lungs don’t intake the oxygen the body needs. Mixed or complex sleep apnea: You experience both obstructive and central events on the same night. Symptoms An individual with apnea may experience: Loud, irregular snoring Gasping and snorting after pauses in breathing Excessive daytime sleepiness Morning headaches Weight gain or obesity Frequent nocturnal urination High blood pressure Falling asleep while driving Loss of energy Anxiety or depression Risk Factors These factors can raise the risk of developing apnea: Age: You are over age 50. Gender: OSA is more common in men, and until the age of menopause in women. Family history: If someone in your family has sleep apnea, your likelihood increases. Low activity level: Exercise can improve sleep apnea. Being overweight: Even 10% to 20% weight loss can help with sleep apnea. Use of sedatives: These should be avoided, along with alcohol, before bed. Diagnosing Sleep Apnea An overnight sleep study at a sleep center clinic is the gold standard to diagnose sleep apnea. Painless electrodes and sensors placed on different points on the body—called polysomnography—are used. Home-use devices can study heart and breathing rate and blood oxygen levels; positive results will require a full study in a sleep center clinic. Treatment Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is commonly used to treat apnea. Patients wear a device, containing a mask with a hose, over the nose when sleeping. A small, quiet air compressor creates pressure that splints the airway open to eliminate snoring and prevent oxygen levels from dropping in the blood. This allows normal cycling through sleep stages, so users wake up refreshed and can stay alert during the day. Other treatment options include weight loss, oral appliances, hypoglossal nerve stimulation that involves an implant, and other ear, nose, and throat surgeries. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, don’t endure more sleepless nights—consult a healthcare professional. You’ll find the right treatment solution that improves your quality of life. This post originally ran in the Enquirer-Gazette. Authors Timothy Lady, RRT. Luminis Health offers comprehensive, fully integrated services for patients with sleep disorders.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
- Location250436tel:301-552-86658118 Good Luck Rd., Lanham, MD 20706Beginning Monday, February 9, the North parking lot at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center will partially close for construction as part of ongoing campus expansion and improvements. Patients and employees must use alternative parking across the campus. Emergency Department patients should continue to use the garage outside the ED entrance. Physicians and medical staff from Children's National provide pediatric emergency and urgent care at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center seven days a week from 3-11:30 pm.* This collaboration means we can provide emergency and urgent care for the entire family. Children's National physicians treat kids, while LHDCMC physicians serve adults — all at one convenient location. See the LHDCMC Children's National Team page Children's National team who staffs the LHDCMC pediatric ER. Children's National and Luminis Health Logo *For children who come to our ER outside of Children's National staff hours, our own emergency providers are there to treat them., Conditions we frequently see children for at the ER include:, We offer emergency pediatric care in this department, including mental health emergencies. You can always use our Find Care Find Care tool to schedule care within Luminis Health. Or, choose from the most frequently searched services related to pediatric emergency care. Emergency Medicine Pediatric Inpatient Unit Pediatric Surgery, We know this can be a stressful time. We've streamlined the process for your visit, including: Registration. When you arrive at the pediatric emergency room, you check in and provide information like address and phone number. Triage. A triage nurse asks you questions about your child's illness or injury, checks your child's temperature and weight, and briefly examines your child. We make sure a provider sees children with life-threatening conditions right away. Our waiting area. You remain in the waiting area until a provider is able to examine your child. Please understand that patients may not be seen in the same order of their arrival. Patients with the most serious illnesses and injuries will usually be given priority. The exam. We'll bring you and your child into a treatment area, where our expert team cares for your child. Depending on your child's condition, your doctor may order a blood test, x-rays, or other tests that help diagnose. We'll explain each test to you first. Discharge. When your child's care is complete, we give you instructions about any care you may need to provide at home. Admission to the hospital. For children who need additional care, we can transfer them to our pediatric inpatient unit at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center., The pediatric ER sees all patients, regardless of whether you have health insurance. If you are a self-pay patient, we can connect you to government programs that may help with your health care costs. Plus, our billing department can work with you on payment plans. Don't let your ability to pay keep you from seeking the emergency care you need. We provide medically necessary services to everyone, no matter your ability to pay. Call our Business Office at 443-481-6445 or learn more about payment options.Asthma attacks and respiratory problems, Broken bones, Burns, cuts or other wounds, Concussions, Diabetes complications, Digestion problems, Fever for infants under 2 months old, Infections, Sports injuries, Sprains and strains, Thoughts of hurting themselves or others, Vomiting or diarrhea that won't seem to stop0
- Location6974086tel:301-552-20006710 Mallery Drive Lanham, MD 20706Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Rehabilitation and Patient Care Center is a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and patient care facility which opened in August 2015. A collaboration between Genesis HealthCare and Doctors Community Medical Center, this modern facility replaces Magnolia Center previously located at 8200 Good Luck Road, Lanham, MD., We offer a wide range of comprehensive services, bringing access to multiple types of care to you., Your comfort in our care is important to us. Our facility offers:Short Stay Care, Long Term Care, Respite care, Palliative care, Hospice care, Rehabilitation therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech therapy, Physical therapy, Orthopedic Rehabilitation - including joint replacement, injuries and amputation, IV Therapy, Bariatric specialties, Colostomy care, Dementia care, Dental care, Personal care, Podiatry care, Psychiatric services, Wound care, X-ray, Pain management, Dietary and nutrition needs management, Discharge planning, Individual treatment plans, Medication management, On-Site pharmacy, 24-hour emergency alert and response system, Coordinated transportation, Cultural, educational, religious and social activities, Recreation activities, Interpreter services, Spacious, Private and Semi-Private Rooms, Private bathroom, Fully air conditioned, Individual climate control, Activity room, Beautiful outdoor spaces and courtyard, Beauty Salon and Barber Services, Cable Television, Comfortable common and lounge areas to gather with friends and family, Dining Room, In-room dining options, Private dining rooms for family gatherings, Alarm system to aid in the security of residents with cognitive deficits, Computer with internet access, Housekeeping, Laundry facility on-site, Mail and Newspaper Service, Pets Permitted, Pharmaceutical delivery service, Phone service, Telephone, Wireless Internet, Baby Grand Piano, Smoke free environment, Upgraded linens and bath towels available0
- Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou may have kicked off 2024 determined to lose weight. If you accomplished your goals, congratulations on your hard work and dedication. However, we know that maintaining weight loss can be just as challenging as achieving it. It’s tempting to reward yourself with old habits once you reach your goal, but remember, this is just one milestone in your journey to a healthier you. Let’s discuss a few steps you can take to maintain your healthy weight. Healthy Weight Benefits Achieving a healthy weight can lower your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure, reduce stress on bones and joints and ease the workload on your heart. All these health benefits are why it’s important to not simply lose weight, but to maintain the weight you have lost. Contrary to what some may think, people without obesity generally have just as much difficulty sustaining a small degree of weight loss as people with obesity have maintaining even larger degrees of weight reduction. It Takes Dedication It’s no secret that many weight loss journeys fail in the long term. This can be because strict diets are difficult to maintain over time. Another factor is that the decrease in calories to lose weight causes a drop in the rate your body burns calories. For these reasons, extremely low-calorie diets and rapid weight loss are discouraged. Luminis Health weight loss experts recommend losing no more than half a pound to two pounds per week. Gradual weight loss such as this is more likely to help you sustain it for the long term. Long-Term Weight Loss Individuals who have successfully maintained their weight loss share some common strategies across the board. Regardless of which diet you use to lose weight to begin with, taking up these habits may help you to keep it off: Stay physically active—Try exercising for at least 60 minutes every day. Walking is a great low-impact option. Find an activity you enjoy and do it with someone who brings you joy! Keep a food log—Recording what you eat every day helps hold you accountable, sheds light on emotional eating habits and keeps you motivated. Maintain a balanced diet—What you eat each day should be healthy and well balanced, minimizing ultra-processed foods and high fructose corn syrup. Eat breakfast every day—This is important because eating breakfast boosts metabolism and staves off hunger later in the day, which helps prevent those late afternoon junk food binges. Regularly check the scale—Weighing yourself weekly may help you detect any small weight gains, enabling you to promptly take action if you see the number creeping upwards. Keep Your Eye On The Prize Although many people are concerned about weight loss because of how it affects their appearance, it’s important to remember that even a small amount of long-term weight loss can have remarkable health benefits. Remember to determine your weight management success based on your health and how you feel—not on how you look. Author Dr. Jilian Nicholas, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon at Luminis Health.0
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