- General Page - Tier 1We’re learning more about this virus every day, and it will continue to impact the way we deliver care. Stay safe and informed.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou may not realize it, but your bones are in a constant state of regeneration. Your body naturally replaces old bone with new. But by the time you reach your mid-30s, you begin to lose more bone than your body can replace and then menopause speeds this process up. Over time this leads to thinner, weaker bones and the potential for developing osteoporosis. One in two women over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. It’s important that you go for bone scans to measure bone loss, as well as incorporate lifestyle habits that can slow down the weakening of bones. Ultimately, this helps reduce your risk of fractures. A bone density test called DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) can diagnose osteoporosis. A DEXA scan uses very little radiation and produces detailed information about your bone density by comparing data from two X-rays operating at different frequencies. Information is collected and compared to a reference group to determine your bone mineral density. “The bone density from the DEXA scan helps your radiologist determine your T-score, which we use to diagnose osteoporosis,” says John Park, MD, a radiologist with Anne Arundel Diagnostics Imaging. “A T-score of -2.5 or lower indicates you have osteoporosis.” You should talk to your doctor if you’ve gone through menopause or if you have any of the following risk factors: Low physical activity Low body weight Smoke Drink too much alcohol Heavy caffeine use Have a diet low in calcium and vitamin D Previous fracture, especially after age 50 Menopause before age 45 Take certain medicines, for example long-term use of corticosteroids Family history of osteoporosis. There’s also a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®) for evaluating fracture risk. Using the results of the DEXA scan, a FRAX score can be given to estimate the risk of a fracture within 10 years. Unfortunately, many women don’t get screened. Even if they have a fragility fracture, many don’t realize that’s a sign they may have osteoporosis. “A bone fracture is not unlike a heart attack — they are both a sign that something is wrong. In the case of a fracture, it could mean you have osteoporosis or a weaker form of bone loss called osteopenia,” says Christina Morganti, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at Anne Arundel Medical Center Orthopedics. Bones shouldn’t break with low-energy falls such as from standing height or less. When they do, your doctor may want to run blood and bone density tests to determine if you have osteoporosis. If diagnosed, you should learn about weight-bearing exercise, fall prevention, nutrition and medication options for healthy bones. You can improve your bone health and reduce your risk of fragility fractures by doing the following: Pay attention to your calcium intake. Try to get 1,200 mg of calcium a day, preferably from food. If you don’t get enough from food, add a 500-600 mg calcium pill. Get enough vitamin D. Many people benefit from a supplement of 800-1,000 iu per day. Incorporate weight-bearing exercise into your lifestyle. Try walking 30 minutes a day. Plus, lift weights two or three days per week when cleared by your doctor. Evaluate your home. Throw rugs, slippery surfaces and poorly lit hallways can lead to falls and then fractures. Get your eyes checked. If your sight is impaired, your chance of falling is higher. Eliminate vices. Alcohol and tobacco are two common vices that are detrimental to your bone health. Educate yourself. There are many good resources on the web, including the National Osteoporosis Foundation: nof.org. Authors Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and former medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at Anne Arundel Medical Center Orthopedics. John S. Park, MD, is a radiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGoing for a joint replacement or spine surgery can change your life in many positive ways. Freedom from pain and improved mobility are two main advantages, and who wouldn’t want that? There are 719,000 total knee replacements and 332,000 hip replacements performed annually in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, more than 7 million people in the country have had a knee or hip replacement surgery. And about 400,000 people in the U.S. undergo spine surgery each year. If you’re planning for either of these surgeries, it is likely your recovery could take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. Now, a joint replacement or a spine surgery is a big decision and you’re probably thinking about it quite a bit. But it’s also important to think about your comfort after you return home. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your time spent healing: Clear your walking paths! You need enough room to navigate comfortably to all the areas in your home you frequently use. Pick up rugs, remove animal and baby toys, clothing, totes or any other items from the floors. Choose your best chairs. Have a firm, comfortable armchair with an ottoman or a recliner chair to rest in and get your legs up. Low furniture is difficult to move in and out of, so you may need to raise the seat height. Secure railings. If you have to take the stairs to get to your bedroom, bathroom or anywhere else in your home, make sure you have a good railing to use. Loose or incomplete rails will not provide the stability you need to navigate safely your stairs. Adjust your bed height. Have a bed that you can get into and out of that is not too high. If this is not an option, make sure you have a good footstool handy to use as a step to allow you to sit back in your bed when getting into it. Be careful with pets. Keep pets secured away from you when you are moving around your home. Pets can trip you when they are underfoot! Prepare the bathroom for your limited mobility. If you can, install a grab bar next to your toilet and in the shower to assist you with balance and rising from a seated position. Since challenged mobility is a temporary limitation, you may opt to purchase a raised toilet seat with arm rests or a commode seat with multiple uses (like the 3-in-1 commode) in lieu of grab bar installation. A seat for the shower is also helpful and can be as simple as a plastic lawn chair or a specialized bathtub bench to slide into the shower in a seated position. There are a lot of thoughts that cross your mind when you are going to go through surgery, but it’s also important to take some time to think about how you can best take care of yourself once you’re home. Pay attention to the little things that you usually overlook and make sure that the layout will give you the safest and most comfortable environment. But most importantly: make sure you can reach the jar of cookies in the kitchen! A little sweetness always makes things a little better. Author Marilyn Pfeiffer is an outpatient home visit therapist at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Physical Therapy. You can reach her at 443-481-1140.0
- Pregnancy & Birth, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou’re pregnant – congratulations! Whether it’s your first baby or you’re adding a brother or sister to the family, having a safe, healthy and positive labor experience is what every family wants. One option for many women and their partners is to include a doula as part of their care team. A doula is a trained, non-medical, professional who nurtures, supports and offers guidance for families throughout labor and delivery, and after the birth. Doulas offer a wide range of services, including help with breastfeeding as well as postpartum care. Studies show a doula’s continuous labor support benefits mom and baby in many ways. It can often mean: • A more satisfying birth experience• Less need for pain medications• Less likelihood of needing a cesarean delivery• Shorter labor Finding the right person to be part of one of the most important events of your life may feel overwhelming. So, where do you start and how should you choose? Here are six tips to guide you in your search. Start looking early in your pregnancy It’s good to begin the process of finding a doula at your fourth to fifth month of pregnancy. Finding someone who’s the right fit may take more time than you think. Doulas work on-call, so they have a limit on how many clients they can serve at one time. Choosing a doula early in your pregnancy will give you time to get to know each other and get comfortable with your birth plan. Talk to other families As with most things, word-of-mouth referrals are gold. Talking with friends who have used a doula about their experience can help you start and even narrow your search. Technology – Facebook groups, a Google search for other online groups and forums – can connect you with other moms in your area. Keep in mind that everyone’s experience can be different. A good match for someone else may not be a good match for you, and vice-versa. Talk with the provider who’s caring for you during your pregnancy You’ll need to let your doctor or midwife know you’re planning on having a doula as part of your labor and delivery team. And if your provider has worked with a doula in the past, they may be able to offer a recommendation. The hospital’s lactation consultants and childbirth educators are also good resources. Check with doula certification programs Most doulas will have completed a certification program and are continually participating in education to increase their knowledge. These programs offer national, and even global, online directories of certified doulas that you can search by location. Some well-known programs include: • Birthing From Within• Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA)• DONA International• DoulaMatch.net• International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) Interview potential doulas Spending face-to-face time with the person who will be part of your baby’s birth is a must. You not only want to gather important information about them and their background, but you also need to get a feel for whether your personalities are a good fit.Prepare for the interview by thinking about why you want a doula and what you them to do for you. Spend time on the doulas’ websites. DONA International recommends asking potential doulas about: • Availability• Certification status• Experience• Fees• Services offered• Training Trust your gut When you choose someone to provide any service, there’s no doubt experience and technical skills are must-haves. But soft skills, such as communication, empathy and teamwork, come into play too. Pay attention to how you connect with and feel when you’re with them. No one knows you and what you need better than you do. Listen to and follow your instincts. Learn more Sara Shaffer is a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) formerly at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- Super Specialty Parenta:hover {color:#000000;} Why Choose Luminis Health for Your Imaging? At Luminis Health, we stay at the forefront of imaging. Our commitment to cutting-edge treatment ensures you receive the safest care. And we provide the most crystal-clear results possible. In fact, we were the first in Maryland to earn the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence Award. As a leading, diagnostic imaging center, we work closely with the American College of Radiology to ensure your safety. Our ACR accreditation is a fancy way of saying we meet the gold standard in the U.S. for medical imaging. Plus, we've signed on to ACR's Image Wisely and Image Gently pledges. This means we'll always use the lowest radiation dose possible to get the images you need. Is it time for your next screening mammogram? Learn more about screening mammograms offered at our locations in Annapolis, Lanham, Kent Island, Odenton, and Bowie. Learn more and find an appointment near you.0
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