- Heart Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogI vividly remember the day Kathy Brown, my mother in-law and a dedicated teacher, was diagnosed with amyloidosis. It’s a rare disease that causes proteins usually produced in your bone marrow to build up in your organs. At the time, I was a cardiology fellow at the University of Maryland. I understood the severity of the diagnosis. Less than a month later, the disease had taken over Kathy’s heart and she was in heart failure. Her advanced heart failure team breathed hope into a hopeless situation. Doctors put Kathy on the transplant list and she received a new heart within two months. I was in awe that a team of doctors, my mentors and teachers, could give someone a second chance at life. The doctors were instrumental in my training. But Kathy, true to her calling, also taught me important lessons. The doctors showed me how to treat heart failure. Kathy taught me how to care for heart failure patients. It was then that I chose to further my training in advanced heart failure. Heart failure occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should, leaving your heart too weak or too stiff to pump efficiently. Nationally, it’s the number one reason people are admitted to the hospital. It’s also the number one reason why people return to the hospital within 30 days of leaving. Symptoms of Heart Failure Shortness of breath Swelling in your legs, ankles, feet or stomach Fatigue Rapid or irregular heartbeat Sudden weight gain from fluid retention You can help prevent heart failure by managing the conditions that cause it. These include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. But not all conditions, like the one Kathy suffered from, can be prevented. Medical treatments and lifestyle changes can improve the symptoms of heart failure and increase quality of life. If you’re living with heart failure, your doctor may recommend a plan that includes: Losing weight Reducing and monitoring salt in your diet Exercising regularly Managing stress Limiting your daily fluid intake to 2 liters per day What is most important for patients with heart failure is a close relationship with your cardiologist. These patients require frequent office visits and medication adjustments in order to avoid hospitalization. Kathy’s experience taught me the importance of easy access to care. Kathy had to drive more than one hour every other week to see her heart failure specialist, which was difficult. Having a heart failure doctor close to her home in Annapolis would have made her life much easier. It was then that my professional vision became clear. I wanted to be the heart failure specialist in Annapolis. Doctors are constantly thinking about how we can improve the lives of heart failure patients. Although Kathy passed away due to complications from her disease, I carry with me the lessons I learned from her to improve the lives of patients with heart failure in this community. Author Jennifer Brown, MD, is a cardiologist and heart failure expert with Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published March 1, 2016. Last updated Feb. 24, 2020.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere’s an easy fix for the muscle aches, high fevers, sore throats, stuffy noses and headaches the flu causes: it’s the flu shot. While the shot has been around for many years, some people still don’t take advantage of it and suffer nasty flu symptoms. Now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s especially important to make sure you get your flu shot because underlying conditions can increase your risk for infection. Vaccines are an effective way to protect you from other serious diseases, including the flu. READ MORE: Don’t neglect your immunizations during the pandemic There’s no question the flu shot is the best defense against the flu, but there’s a lot of confusing information out there. Here are five common myths about the flu vaccine explained. Looking for a primary care doctor? Our services focus on prevention and screening as well as treating illness. Find a primary care doctor today. Myth #1: The flu shot gives you the flu. You can’t get the flu from the flu shot. But it takes about two weeks for the shot to start working in your body, so you may still catch the flu after you have the shot. While most people feel fine after the shot, some may develop a mild fever or feel tired for a day or two. After you receive the shot, your body works to protect you against the virus, which can make you feel tired. Myth #2: The flu shot doesn’t work. Is it still possible to get the flu after you get the flu shot? Yes. Is it much less likely to happen? Yes. The flu shot is not 100 percent effective, but it does greatly lower your risk of getting the flu. There are many different types of the flu virus. The shot doesn’t protect you against all of them. Each year, the World Health Organization identifies three or four types to include in the flu shot. These are the types most likely to be spread for that year’s flu season. Myth #3: You don’t need the flu shot if you had it last year. Because the flu virus changes, your body needs the vaccine each year to protect you against each year’s most common flu type. Myth #4: If you’re a healthy, young adult, you don’t need the flu shot. The flu is most life-threatening for people age 50 and older, pregnant women, children under age 5 and people with a chronic medical condition. However, healthy adults can still become very sick, hospitalized or even die. Each year in the U.S., more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die from the flu. Myth #5: If you wash your hands, eat healthy and get lots of sleep, you can prevent the flu. These are all important and improve your overall health, but they can’t stop the flu. Germs in the air cause the flu, which means when a sick person coughs or sneezes, those germs in the air can make you sick. Each year, five to 20 percent of people in the U.S. get the flu. If you want to increase your chance of staying healthy this winter, the flu shot is an easy step to take. Minor discomfort from the shot is much better than a serious illness and the effects that can follow. Getting vaccinated will not only help keep you healthy, but prevent you from getting others sick as well. Author By Lauren Parmer, DO, a primary care physician at AAMG Pasadena Primary Care. She can be reached at 443-270-8600. Originally published Dec. 16, 2015. Last updated Sept. 25, 2020.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOsteoporosis is a disease that happens when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone or both. This leads to weaker bones that can break more easily. In honor of World Osteoporosis Day, Mandy Fawcett, a physician assistant in Luminis Health Orthopedics’ Osteoporosis Program, sat down for a Q&A to discuss her work treating patients with osteoporosis and why it’s so important to take good care of your bones. Mandy, you work with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Christina Morganti at Luminis Health Orthopedics in the Osteoporosis Program. What got you interested in the field? I was originally a finance major and, when I graduated, worked at Legg Mason in Baltimore. But I quickly became bored and decided I wanted to change careers. What better way to do that than to become a health professional? So I went back to school and became a physician assistant. I was hired to help Dr. Morganti with the Osteoporosis Program at Luminis Health Orthopedics as a new graduate, and got on-the-job training in osteoporosis. I have learned so much since I started here. Treating patients with osteoporosis is especially gratifying because osteoporosis is a disease that affects so many people. Fifty percent of women and 25 percent of men over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture. Unfortunately, the reality is that 80 percent of people who need treatment for osteoporosis do not receive it. READ MORE: True Story: What I wish I had known about my bones when I was younger What are some of the issues you see osteoporosis patients worry about the most? The biggest obstacle that we have to overcome is that many patients are very afraid of the side effects of the medications we prescribe. I find that there is a lot of misinformation in the general public about these adverse reactions. In fact, the chance of having one of these side effects is extremely rare. Some studies estimate it’s one in 100,000. However, the chance of having an osteoporotic fracture can be really high. What are some of the more interesting new things in osteoporosis treatment or nutrition? Dr. Morganti and I firmly believe that everyone should maximize non-pharmaceutical treatment for their bones. For example, all postmenopausal females should consume a total of 1200 milligrams of calcium, preferably from food sources. Many people also benefit from vitamin D supplements. We usually start with about 1,000 international units (IU) daily, and adjust the dose of vitamin D based on blood work. There is new medication on the market as well. Recently, a new bone-building drug came to market that may be a cheaper and promising alternative to the other two bone-building drugs now available. Dr. Morganti and I are monitoring it now that is on the market and will make a decision as to whether we think it is a good option for our patients. What type of exercise should patients do? Exercise is important. Everyone should do an enjoyable, lower-intensity exercise like walking at least 30 minutes daily, perform weight-bearing exercise two to three days per week, and balance train one to two days per week. Learning the proper technique to do exercise is extremely important in order to avoid injury. In general, you should avoid exercise that involves forward flexion of the spine, like when you do crunches, or too much rotation. Osteoporosis patients should only attempt higher-impact exercises like jumping with great caution, and only if good, strong muscle has been developed to protect the bones. Patients should be careful with contact sports or sports where you can slip, like skating, since falls can lead to fractures. What are some of the worst things you can do for your bones? Smoking cigarettes is very bad for your bones. Studies have also shown that drinking more than three units of alcohol a day or drinking excess caffeine can be harmful as well. Authors Mandy Fawcett is a physician assistant with the Osteoporosis Program at AAMC Orthopedics. She can be reached at 410-268-8862. Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at Luminis Health Orthopedics. She can be reached at 410-268-8862. Originally published May 23, 2019. Last updated Oct. 19, 2020.0
- Orthopedics, Weight Loss, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogStrength training exercises are key to burning calories, increasing metabolism and preventing injury. But you don’t need a gym membership or equipment for a proper strength routine. You can try these five exercises at home. Push-up Make sure your hands are shoulder-width apart. Angle your hands against the ground in whichever way feels most comfortable. Keep yourself straight. Think of your entire body as a straight line from your shoulders to your feet, and don’t stick your behind in the air. If you have trouble pushing yourself up, clench your glutes, abs or both. Your strength doesn’t have to come entirely from your arms. For a modified version, position your knees on the ground. Squat Spread your feet slightly wider than your hips. Point your toes slightly outward. Keep the weight on your heels and the balls of your feet. As you squat downward, push your behind and hips backwards. Think of it less about bending your knees and more about pushing your body backwards, similar to how you sit down in a chair. Make sure your hips go even with or lower than your knees. Otherwise, you won’t feel the full benefit of the exercise. Plank Forearm planks are more common and slightly easier than extended arm planks. For the forearm version, place your elbows on the ground at shoulder-width, and use the muscles in your abdomen to keep your body elevated parallel to the ground for as long as you can. For a slightly more difficult variation of the plank, extend your arms and keep your body in a straight line for as long as possible. For a modified version, position your knees on the ground. Tricep dip Find a chair or coffee table that is about the same height off the ground as your knees. Place your hands on the edge of the surface and slide yourself forward, keeping your arms straight and your body close to the chair. Lower your body until almost sitting on the floor and make sure your arms — not your legs — support your weight. Repeat as many times as you can. Originally published Dec. 5, 2016. Last updated Oct. 11, 2019.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHeart failure occurs when the heart muscle can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Signs and symptoms of heart failure include: Shortness of breath. Swelling in the legs, ankles and/or belly. Sudden weight gain. Fatigue. Jennifer Brown, MD, cardiologist and heart failure expert with Anne Arundel Medical Center, focuses on helping patients learn how to manage this disease. “Heart failure is one of the top reasons patients are admitted to hospitals across the country, and the number-one reason patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after discharge,” Dr. Brown stresses. While most of the time heart failure cannot be cured, it can be managed. Dr. Brown recommends a four-pronged approach. See Your Cardiologist “If diagnosed with heart failure while in the hospital, the most important thing you can do to keep from being readmitted is see your cardiologist within seven to 10 days post-discharge and as advised after that,” Dr. Brown says. Follow-up visits with a cardiologist are critical, since medications started in the hospital are often adjusted after discharge to optimize symptoms. Take Your Medications Not taking your medications as directed will likely lead to ER visits. Medications for heart failure — as well as other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes — should be carefully managed. “The heart is negatively impacted when other disease states are not well controlled. For example, poorly controlled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension and untreated sleep apnea can all worsen heart failure,” says Dr. Brown. “Many patients misunderstand how connected the body is.” Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle Lifestyle changes and self-management can go a long way toward improving your symptoms and overall quality of life. Dr. Brown recommends: If you smoke, quit. Manage fluids, drinking no more than 2 liters daily. Weigh yourself daily. Sudden weight gain can signal fluid retention. Contact your cardiologist if you gain 3 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week. Choose a heart-healthy diet. Limiting sodium is especially important for people with heart failure. In addition, staying active, getting enough sleep and avoiding heavy alcohol consumption and other drug use can reduce symptoms and prevent hospitalization. Manage Depression “It’s common for cardiac patients to experience depression, and when left untreated, patients may lose motivation to exercise, eat a heart-healthy diet, take their medications … and the list goes on,” Dr. Brown says. “If there’s any question of depression, making sure it’s treated appropriately is critical.” Your best defense against heart failure is prevention. Anne Arundel Medical Center offers Heart Health 101, a free class that delivers all the information you need to achieve a healthy heart for life. The class helps you understand: How the heart works. Causes of heart disease. How to manage heart disease risks. Symptoms that something is wrong. Diagnosis and treatment for heart disease. Early heart attack warning signs for men and women. Register for the next Heart Health 101 class on August 15 at 6 pm. Medical school taught Dr. Brown how to treat heart failure. But her mother-in-law’s experience with it taught Dr. Brown how to care for people with heart failure. Read Dr. Brown’s inspiring personal story. Find out how you can get involved in bringing cardiac surgery to AAMC. Author Jennifer Brown, MD, is a cardiologist and heart failure expert with Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
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