- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen you think of breast cancer treatment, you may think surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or any combination of these treatments. You may not know that there are rehabilitation services available to help with various side effects from breast cancer treatment. If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, rehab can improve your quality of life. Here are some things you should know: Specialists provide your breast cancer rehabilitation. Your team may include physical, occupational and speech-language therapists, based on your needs. They’re trained to provide you specialized care to help you before, during and after your treatment. They help you get back to your previous lifestyle in the best way possible. After chemotherapy you may notice a change in your sensation. A common side effect of chemotherapy is peripheral neuropathy, where the nerves in your arms and legs (typically in your hands and feet) are damaged. Breast cancer therapy can help desensitize nerves and improve your sensory feedback. This can help restore your balance if your legs and feet are affected. After breast surgery, you may experience limited reach and flexibility in your arm. A therapist assesses your range-of-motion and prescribes exercises and interventions, like massage and stretching, to safely improve your mobility and function. You may have surgery to remove underarm lymph nodes where cancer has spread. As a result, you may develop lymphedema. Lymphedema is abnormal swelling of your arm or other part of your body. Breast cancer rehab can help prevent development of lymphedema, or help treat lymphedema if you already have it. Rehab interventions to treat the condition may include: Specialized massage to help drain excess fluid. Compression bandaging and/or compression garments. Skin care strategies. Specialized exercise. Many experience muscle decline and weakness after breast cancer treatment. A therapist can help you with exercises, as well as energy conservation and fatigue management strategies to improve your tolerance for activity. The ultimate goal is to help you return to your prior level of function. Breast cancer rehabilitation ultimately helps improve your function and participation in daily activities. Rehab therapists are available to assist you with getting back to your personal best after the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Author Christy McLellan, PT, DPT, CLT-UE, is a physical therapist with AAMG Physical Therapy. To contact her practice, call 443-481-1140. Originally published Oct. 23, 2017. Last updated Oct. 11, 2019.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogExercise is crucial to maintaining heart health, but with summer heat hitting its peak, it’s important to factor in outdoor temperatures when you’re planning your activities for the day. If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, or are on medication to control certain risk factors, always check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine. Certain heart medications can exaggerate the body’s response to heat. In addition, when you exercise the heart is bringing blood and oxygen to your muscles and needs to pump harder to keep up with the fluid you lose due to sweating. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you stay heart healthy: Adapt Don’t let the heat be your excuse to NOT exercise—instead, adapt! If you’re planning to exercise outdoors, try to schedule your workout for early morning or late evening hours when the sun is less intense and the temperatures tend to be cooler. Don’t forget to take regular breaks. Find a cool place to stop for a few minutes, hydrate yourself, and then continue with your workout. Hydrate Staying properly hydrated is critical. Most guidelines recommend about eight glasses of water per day, and if you’re exercising or having a very active day you should add one or two glasses to replace fluids lost due to sweating. If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, please talk to your doctor about the appropriate guidelines for your specific needs. A lot of people are curious about sports drinks as well—when do you need them, when do you not? Remember, sports drinks are laden with sugar and other ingredients making them a far less healthy option compared to water. However, if you’re doing vigorous physical activity that lasts over an hour, especially when temperatures are hot, you need to replace fluids and electrolytes. You’ll also want to avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages as they can dehydrate you quickly. Certain foods can be powerful hydrators, too. Foods like watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes have high water content and they’re part of a heart healthy diet. Dress for Success If you’re staying outside, dress for the heat by choosing lightweight, light-colored clothing and breathable fabrics or fabrics that wick away moisture from the skin. A hat or sunglasses and sunscreen with SPF 30+ are also a must. According to the American Heart Association, people who are physically active and at a healthy weight live about seven years longer than those who are not active and obese. It’s important to stay motivated during the summer months, and by thinking ahead it’s easy to continue with your heart healthy habits in a safe way. Looking for a recipe to make your own sports drinks or fruit-infused water? Check here. Author Jerome Segal, MD, interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Heart Institute at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. He can be reached at 443-481-6700. Originally published June 23, 2015. Last updated July, 2023.0
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is finally here! The sun is out, the grass is green and you are likely to participate in many outdoor activities. Along with all this summer fun comes heat and humidity. So, as the mercury rises, you need to pay close attention to your hydration. Your body is 60 percent water by weight and proper hydration is essential for your overall health. Approximately 80 percent of our water intake comes from drinking water and other beverages, and the other 20 percent comes from food. The water you consume optimizes blood pressure, regulates body temperature, lubricates joints and aids in digestion. As your body works hard to keep you cool, you lose fluid through sweating and evaporation. How do you increase your water intake without feeling waterlogged or like you have to go to the bathroom all the time? Here are 10 tips to stay hydrated this summer: Make sure you drink enough. Fluid recommendations are based upon body weight but a good rule of thumb is to aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Purchase reusable water bottles. This is safer for you and the environment but also makes you mindful to drink if you carry it with you throughout the day. Infuse with flavor. Infusing your water with fruit slices, lemon or lime can make for a refreshing beverage without added sweeteners. Drink before you eat. Sometimes our brains confuse thirst for hunger, so next time the feeling strikes, hydrate before eating and your hunger pains may disappear. Fill up on electrolytes. A sports drink can replace minerals you lose while sweating. Avoid sugary ones that can lead to dehydration. Use caution with very cold beverages as these can lead to stomach cramps. Limit alcohol and caffeine intake. Heat acts as a diuretic, meaning it causes the body to lose more fluid through urine, resulting in dehydration. If alcohol is in the mix for your summer outing, alternate every drink with a water. Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Most fruits and veggies are 85-95 percent of water. So eat up! Exercise in the early morning hours or late evening. Pound the pavement when the sun is not out in full force and temperatures are cooler. If you do exercise in the heat for more than one hour, supplement water with a sports drink that contains 6 to 8 percent carbohydrates. This prevents hyponatremia, which dilutes your blood and could also lead to serious impairment or death. Know the warning signs of dehydration. Early signs include increased thirst, flushed skin, fatigue and concentrated urine. Later signs of more severe dehydration can be dizziness, weakness and labored breathing with exertion. If you notice these signs it is time to make hydrating a priority. Snack on dried fruits and nuts. For long hikes, when you will need food, dried fruit and nut mixtures contain high amounts of potassium, sodium, protein, carbohydrates and calories. However, continue to drink plenty of water. Water is truly the elixir of life. As you experience all the wonderful milestones of summer, remember to drink plenty of water and eat a diet rich in hydrating whole fruits and vegetables to keep you going strong all season long. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Luminis Health. To reach them, call 443-481-5555 or visit Luminis Health Nutrition Services. Originally published July 2018. Last updated July 2022.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHeart disease is the number one cause of death in Americans. There are certain factors that are not controllable: age, gender and family history of heart disease. Fortunately, there are many key steps you can take to lower your risk of heart disease. Quit Smoking Smoking, namely the chemicals in tobacco, can increase your blood pressure and damage your heart and its blood vessels. It is never too late to quit. Your risk of heart disease drops after quitting and your risk of coronary artery disease is the same as a non-smoker after 15 years of quitting. Maintain a Healthy Weight Being overweight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease. You may use the body mass index (BMI) to get a general sense of whether you have a healthy weight. However, BMI does not take into consideration factors like muscle content. Another useful tool to use is waist circumference. Men are considered overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches and for women, greater than 35 inches. Eating a heart-healthy diet is a great way to lose weight. This includes avoiding salt and processed sugars, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, eating whole grains, and limiting foods with saturated or trans fats. Even a small weight loss can be beneficial in lowering your cholesterol and sugar levels. Exercise Exercise helps control your weight and reduce your risk of developing other conditions that affect your heart, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The goal is to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week (for example, walking briskly). Every little bit helps — take the stairs, park your car far away or go for a walk with your family. Get Regular Checkups and know Your Numbers New blood pressure guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association have emphasized the importance of controlling your blood pressure, and in turn, lowered the definition of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol is another risk factor. High cholesterol can clog your arteries and raise your risk for having a heart attack. Have your physician check your cholesterol levels regularly. It’s also important that you get screened for diabetes. Adults with diabetes can be two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes. Make Sleep a Priority If you don’t get enough sleep, your risk of diabetes, obesity and hypertension goes up. Practice good sleep hygiene: set a sleep schedule and try to stick to it, avoid caffeine later in the day and avoid screen time before bed. If you feel as if you’re not getting good, quality sleep, you may want to ask your doctor if a sleep study would be beneficial. Manage your Stress Levels Stress can raise your blood pressure and “extreme” stress has been known to “trigger” heart attacks. Our coping mechanisms for stress are sometimes not ideal — like overeating and smoking. Focus on different stress relief techniques, like exercise, mindfulness and meditation. Author Sadia Shafi, MD, is a former cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Cardiology Specialists. Originally published March 15, 2018. Last updated April 16, 2026.0
- Women's Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter 30 years of dealing with acid reflux and trying different medications, Michelle Richardson finally decided to treat the problem with surgery. She spoke to a neighbor who recommended that she see the same local surgeon who helped him. Dr. Adrian Park, of Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), Michelle learned, is internationally known as a leading authority in minimally invasive surgery. Feeling reassured, Michelle started the process to take control of her health. A few weeks before surgery, she met with Registered Dietitian Allison Maurer to go over a special diet in preparation for her surgery. Allison also told Michelle about an online support group established for patients of Dr. Park. “We created this forum to foster a community of sharing and encouragement among patients,” says Dr. Park. “The opportunity to connect with others who have been down this path before them and even those who are making the journey in parallel with them often provides great comfort and reassurance.” Michelle signed up and posted that her surgery date was coming up. She quickly heard back from Karen Pearl. The two shared the same date for surgery and decided to keep in touch. They texted almost daily. “It made me feel like I was not alone,” Michelle says. “The group was really helpful because I could gain perspective from actual patients who had already had the procedure,” adds Karen. On the day of their surgery, Michelle and Karen saw each other in person for the first time. “That was wonderful, not only to see each other in person but also know that the surgery was behind us. It was a day to celebrate,” Karen says. The two planned their follow-up appointments on the same day and had lunch together before going to Dr. Park’s office. “I think of her as my ‘surgery bud,’” Michelle says.0
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