Why Choose Luminis Health for LDRT?We’re proud to be one of the only centers in the region to offer LDRT for benign conditions. Although your primary care doctor, orthopedic or sports medicine doctor can all refer you for LDRT, you can also contact us to learn more. Treatment is covered by most major medical plans, including Medicare, but your provider can help you learn more about your coverage. Our team, which includes social workers and nurse navigators, can also give you an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs before you start. Throughout your treatment, our nurse navigators are on hand to guide you, providing you with comprehensive care for you and your family, and answering any questions you may have along the way. You’ll also have an entire team supporting you and working to address your individual needs and treatment goals in a timely and compassionate way.
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Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Musculoskeletal Conditions
Radiation therapy isn’t only for cancer. It can treat a number of non-cancerous conditions, too. At Luminis Health, our low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) program for benign conditions offers a non-invasive treatment option that’s safe and effective.
"Low-dose radiation therapy is a noninvasive option that targets the affected tissues in these benign conditions. It helps reduce cell growth, inflammation, and pain while promoting healing and preventing recurrence."
-- Dr. Amar Rewari, Chief of Radiation Oncology and Medical Director of the LDRT Program at Luminis Health.
What is Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT)?
Lose-dose radiation therapy, or low-dose radiotherapy, helps reduce pain and stiffness caused by inflammatory and degenerative conditions of the tendons, joints and other soft tissues. It uses targeted X-rays to turn on the body’s anti-inflammatory response, which helps relieve symptoms and restore movement.
Benefits of LDRT
LDRT can be a good option for people with mild, early-stage inflammatory and degenerative conditions who haven’t been helped by conservative treatments and want to avoid surgery. Treatment with low-dose radiotherapy is painless and performed quickly. Each session lasts about 10 minutes, and sessions are typically performed two to three times a week. Choosing to have low-dose radiation therapy also doesn’t eliminate surgery or other treatment options for you down the road.
Curious about how Low-Dose Radiation Therapy can help with benign conditions? Watch our video to learn more about this innovative treatment and how it could benefit you!
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Email: [email protected]
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Patient Stories
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Eileen’s Story: There’s No Such Thing as a Dumb Question
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In August of 2023, Eileen Littlejohn received a diagnosis of gynecologic cancer. Her gynecologist, Dr. Chasheryl Leslie of Luminis Health, recommended that she schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicholas Lambrou, the Chief of Luminis Health Gynecologic Oncology.
Upon contacting the gynecologic oncology office with inquiries, Eileen experienced a compassionate and accommodating response. They promptly scheduled her for an appointment the following day.
“From my initial appointment, I found the team approachable and very reassuring,” she remarked. “Their responsiveness to answering my call, all my questions and addressing my concerns left a strong impression of relief for me.”
Dr. Lambrou commented “When a patient is referred to our office, our team reaches out immediately to the patient to schedule an appointment. Knowing the concern and worry a new cancer diagnosis carries, we try our best to provide prompt appointments at a location most convenient to our patients. Our goal is to provide ample time during the initial visit to allow patients and their families to meet with our team members, understand their plan of care, and coordinate next steps. We believe the key to this is clear communication within our team and to our patients.”
Offering advice to fellow patients, Eileen stressed the importance of having a strong support system.
She consistently brought a companion with her to appointments, emphasizing the significance of asking questions without reservation. “There’s no such thing as a dumb question,” she advised.
She adds, “I was extremely happy and comfortable that the entire team including the doctor, PA, nurse, scheduler and office staff were all kind and tender with their approaches, responses and responsiveness to all requests…I highly recommend Dr. Lambrou, his team and the Luminis Health Gynecologic Oncology for services and treatment.”
If you or a loved one are seeking gynecologic oncology care, please call 443-481-3493 to make an appointment. Our services are available in Annapolis, Lanham and Easton. Click here to learn more about gynecologic cancer.
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Wellness
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How Much Caffeine is too Much?
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Whether it’s coffee to start the day, a cold soda to revive the afternoon, or a beloved pumpkin spice latte to embrace the season, caffeine is a popular pick-me-up for many. However, while these caffeinated drinks can provide a much-needed boost, excessive consumption can have negative effects on your health. In rare instances, it can even be fatal. That’s why it’s important to know the facts.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that affects your central nervous system, helping you feel more awake and alert. It’s found in coffee beans, tea leaves, kola nuts, yerba mate, guarana berry, and cacao beans.
Safe limit for caffeine: How much is too much?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, most healthy adults can consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day without any dangerous or negative health effects. If you are pregnant, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests keeping your caffeine intake below 200 milligrams a day.
The amount of caffeine in beverages can vary greatly, making it easy to consume too much caffeine. Here are some typical caffeine ranges for beverages:
An 8-ounce cup of coffee has between 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine.
An 8-ounce cup of green or black tea has between 30 to 50 milligrams.
A 12-ounce/regular-size can of caffeinated soda has between 30 to 46 milligrams.
An 8-ounce energy drink has between 40 to 300 milligrams. Many energy drinks only come in 12-ounce or 16-ounce cans that can contain up to 400 milligrams of caffeine—the safe daily limit.
When adding up your caffeine intake for the day, make sure you include all caffeine sources. Caffeine can also be found in chocolate and baked goods, like cookies. It’s even in some medications, such as those for headaches. And decaffeinated coffees and teas may still contain between two to 15 milligrams of caffeine. Whenever possible, read all package labels to see how much caffeine a product contains.
Side effects of too much caffeine
Side effects that you have had too much caffeine include:
Agitation or irritability.
Fast heart rate.
Feeling anxious or restless.
Increased urination, which can lead to dehydration.
Insomnia or trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Muscle twitches, such as eye twitches.
Nausea or upset stomach.
Can you overdose on caffeine?
Consuming around 1,200 mg of caffeine at one time can cause toxic effects on your health, according to the FDA.
While rare, it is possible to overdose on caffeine, which can lead to death. Severe side effects of too much caffeine include:
Cardiac arrest.
Disorientation.
Hallucination or psychosis.
Irregular heartbeat.
Muscle breakdown, called rhabdomyolysis.
Seizures.
The overdose risk increases if you use dietary liquid or powdered caffeine supplements, which often contain high concentrations of caffeine. For example, just one teaspoon of powdered caffeine has the same amount of caffeine as 28 cups of coffee.
Why you should space out your caffeine intake
When you consume caffeine, it takes 45 to 60 minutes before you start to feel it. The stimulant effects can last between three to five hours.
Consuming too much caffeine all at once or having caffeinated products too close together in your day can lead to bothersome and dangerous side effects. Remember, limit your caffeine intake to 400 mg a day. And when possible, space out your caffeine intake by three to five hours, to reduce the risk of side effects.
To keep caffeine from interrupting your sleep, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends avoiding caffeine at least six hours before bedtime. So, if you go to bed at 10 p.m., stop consuming caffeine by 4 p.m.
Who should avoid caffeine?
Some medical conditions may make it more likely to have side effects from caffeine. Talk to your doctor about what amount of caffeine is safe for you if you have:
Cardiovascular disease, especially irregular heartbeat.
High blood pressure.
Severe anxiety.
Peptic ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Liver or kidney disease.
Seizures.
The bottom line on caffeine
Different people can experience the effects of caffeine differently. If you experience side effects from caffeine, see the specialist team at Luminis Health. They can help figure out why you may be more sensitive to caffeine.
Authors
Waseem Hussain, MD,is Associate Regional Director of Primary Care at Luminis Health who has expertise in all areas of family medicine including intense management of neurologic, pulmonary and cardiac diseases as well as diabetes and gynecologic care.
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Women's Health, Heart Care
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A trimester-by-trimester guide to safe exercise during pregnancy
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Years ago, doctors recommended rest and limited activity to expecting moms as they progressed through each stage of pregnancy. While you should always check with your health care provider on what would be best for you and your baby, staying active during your pregnancy has shown to ease back pain, improve your mood, and prevent the risk of gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. Exercise will also help you maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy and may reduce your risk for a Cesarean section.
Physical activity will not increase your risk of miscarriage, low birth weight or early delivery. But there are some safety tips you should keep in mind:
If you’re new to exercise, your heart rate should stay below 150 bpm.
Stay well hydrated before, during and after exercise.
Eat a snack or drink juice 15-30 minutes before you exercise.
Stop if you become dizzy, short of breath or experience any bleeding.
Do not exercise outside when it is very hot or humid.
As your body makes room for your growing baby, you may wonder which exercises are safe during each trimester.
Learn your risk for heart disease with our free online heart health profiler and take the first step toward having a healthy heart for life.
First Trimester
I wouldn’t start training for a marathon just yet, but if you are able to work through the first-trimester morning sickness and fatigue, going for a brisk walk is a great exercise during this stage. But if you’re just getting started, walk 10-15 minutes a day and gradually increase to a 30-minute walk 3-5 times a week.
For women without pre-existing health conditions, moderate activity does not have heart rate limitations. This is especially true for women who were exercising prior to pregnancy. If you were highly active before getting pregnant and remain healthy, you can continue.
Second Trimester
Has your morning sickness and fatigue decreased? You may find you have more energy in your second trimester. However, as your joints begin to loosen, you are at a greater risk for injury (like sprains and strains).
At 14 weeks, we recommend avoiding activities like skiing, contact sports, karate and other activities that increase your risk of falling. You may continue with walking, swimming and pre-pregnancy exercise as long as it isn’t high-impact or lifting weight over 25 pounds. Prenatal yoga and stretching can also be very beneficial and help increase your strength and flexibility as you prepare for childbirth.
Third Trimester
The best workouts for your third trimester are swimming, walking and biking in a reclined exercise bike. Prenatal yoga is still a good option for this stage as you get ready to deliver your baby. If you’re continuing with weight resistance exercises, it’s okay to lighten the load. Modifying bicep curls to about 3-5 pounds will still help keep your arms toned.
Some women work out through the end of their pregnancy, but some may stop. Either way, it’s important to listen to your body and talk with your doctor. Patients with the following conditions should especially ask their provider before starting exercise: heart and lung conditions, cervical problems, low-lying placenta, high blood pressure later in pregnancy, and vaginal bleeding and cramping.
As always, it is best to discuss any questions or concerns with your obstetric provider.
Need a reminder? Download your Safe Exercise During Pregnancy infographic now.
Author
Frederick Guckes, MD, is an OB-GYN at Luminis Health Ob-Gyn Annapolis. You can schedule an appointment with him by calling 410-573-9530.
Originally published Jan. 28, 2019. Last updated Oct 21, 2024.
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