Community, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease
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Tips for Going Back to School during the Pandemic
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Many schools are re-opening for in-person instruction after being closed for nearly a year. Heading back to school can be both exciting and nerve-racking. And whether your child has already returned or is still adjusting to new schedules, our experts have you covered with helpful tips for being back in the classroom.
Routine
Since many students have been out of school for almost a year, it’s important to restart good habits around routines like eating and sleeping. Children should start going to bed early and waking up each morning at an appropriate time. Remember, it’s always good to get eight hours of sleep and breakfast is the important meal of the day.
Model Good Behavior
Students should wear masks/face coverings on the bus and at school. If you wear a mask, your children will follow your lead. Face coverings must cover their mouth and nose fully. Kids should also practice wearing masks for long periods of time. It will make it that much easier when they return to the classroom.
Watch for Symptoms
If your child is sick, or if someone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19, they should stay home. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever of 100 degrees or higher, chills and loss of taste or smell. If you have questions, contact your child’s physician or the school’s health office.
Health and Safety
Children want to share; it’s in their nature. Normally, we applaud their kindness. But for now, students should refrain from sharing food or school supplies. They also must keep their physical distance from classmates. Turn a conversation about social distance into a fun exercise. For example, show your child how many toys it takes to get to six feet. Finally, remind them to frequently wash their hands with soap and water during the school day.
These important steps will keep everyone safe and healthy. Children are our future. Let’s help them lead the way.
Authors
Lauren Fitzpatrick, MD, is the medical director of Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Pediatric Emergency Department.
Kristen Breslin, MD, MPH, is the medical director of Children’s National Emergency Department at Doctors Community Hospital.
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The Region's Leading Heart and Vascular CareLuminis Health offers award-winning cardiac care. Our heart specialists use advanced technology to diagnose and manage problems like heart valve disease to keep your heart healthy. You have access to:The latest technology for minimally invasive procedures. With advanced imaging, we can detect aortic disease early. And we can often treat it with minimally invasive procedures. That means small incisions, less pain and a quicker recovery for you.Nationally recognized care. The American College of Cardiology recognizes Luminis Health for our commitment to hospital care for heart patients. We appear on the 2022 U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Hospitals."Heart treatments recognized by the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association recognizes us as one of only 25% of hospitals in the U.S. qualified to perform emergency cardiac catheterization.A dedicated heart center. Our Zazulia Heart and Vascular Center is an inpatient unit for people with heart conditions. It features cardiac catheterization labs, a critical care unit and a cardiac rehabilitation center.
Condition
Conditions/Services/Treatments Page
Aortic Aneurysm or Aortic Disease
Our heart and vascular experts have the diagnostic tools to catch aortic disease early. And we're skilled at the advanced treatments for aortic disease, keeping your heart in good hands.What Is Aortic Disease?Aortic disease is a serious cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease. It occurs when your aorta becomes weak or injured and a balloon-like bulge called an aneurysm"forms.Your aorta is the main artery that carries blood from your heart to all the organs in your body. If an aortic aneurysm grows, it can tear or burst, which may threaten your life.Most often, aortic aneurysms form in the section of the aortic artery that runs through your abdomen. This type is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm.You can also have an aneurysm in the aortic artery that runs through your chest, which is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm.Our heart and vascular experts have the diagnostic tools to catch aortic disease early. We also have advanced treatments for aortic disease — many of which are minimally invasive.
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Heart Care
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Is your heartbeat abnormal?
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Do you ever feel that your heartbeat is irregular, or slower or faster than normal? This describes an arrhythmia. Sean C. Beinart, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), answers a few common questions about this condition.
What is an irregular heartbeat and how will I know if I have one?
We refer to irregular heartbeats as arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms. They range from very benign single premature beats to more dangerous arrhythmias that can cause sudden cardiac death. Some arrhythmias are becoming more common such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is not life threatening, but it can increase your risk for stroke. It can also cause a wide range of symptoms including palpitations (a feeling of butterflies in the chest), shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe fatigue.
What treatments are available to me?
The wonderful thing about cardiology and the field of heart rhythm disorders is that we typically have many treatments available to patients. They include a variety of lifestyle modifications, medical treatments, or cardiac ablation. Cardiac ablation is a procedure where a specialist carefully places spaghetti-sized wires in the heart via the veins in the legs to identify and then eliminate the abnormal electrical signals.
Will I need a pacemaker?
Pacemakers are only necessary if someone has a very slow heart rate. This can sometimes occur in a patient who occasionally has a fast heart rate. Most treatments, however, do not require a pacemaker.
How long does treatment take?
Your provider will tailor treatments to your specific arrhythmia and associated symptom burden. I develop a strategy that involves a shared decision. I take into account the patient’s other medical problems. This ensures optimal health and quality of life.
How can I make an appointment with an electrophysiologist?
If you have symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or near fainting, chest pain or shortness of breath, you could have an arrhythmia. Making an appointment is as simple as calling our cardiology office and asking for an electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist) or Dr. Beinart.
Authors
Sean C. Beinart, MD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at LHAAMC. To make an appointment with him, please call 443-481-6700.
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Infectious Disease
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President’s Message: Thank You, AAMC Nurses
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On Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday, President and nurse Sherry Perkins praises today’s nurses for the incredible work they are doing.
Today is the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday and the end of Nurses Week. The World Health Organization (WHO) named 2020 the Year of the Nurse in recognition of Nightingale – the founder of modern nursing. The WHO could not have predicted what nurses and their teammates would see this year with COVID-19, nor the new definitions of health care heroism. In a recent interview with the media about our nurses and the AAMC team, I was proud to tell our community, “They aren’t just heroes; they’re superheroes.”
I am often asked to describe patient care; how to do that? In contemplating Nurses Week, I can think about important life events: emergency room visits, a parent in an ICU, the birth of a baby – a nurse is there with a team. A nurse is there knowing and caring, linking tenderness and mastery. Nurses know what it means for humans to be old, sick, weak, complex, and vulnerable. Nurses know how to prevent and treat infections, manage pain, teach, rescue, heal, console, and see problems before they occur. Nightingale was quoted as saying, “Live life when you have it. Life is a splendid gift – there is nothing small about it.”
On my first day of work less than four months ago, I described the AAMC team this way – “the unique mixture of science and caring…progressive expertise of our physicians, the dedication of our nurses, the excellence of our interprofessional clinical support partners, the acumen of our leadership and administrative team, the compassion of our auxilians and volunteers, the devotion of our patient and family advisors, and the governance of our board.” Each of you makes AAMC a unique place for our patients and our community. Even more I am awed by what a team you are.
Florence Nightingale would be proud. I know I am. Thank you for what you do for each other and for our patients and families.
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Behavioral Health, Senior Care
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Are Over-The-Counter Medications Safe?
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Studies show four out of five adults take over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat pain, fever, allergies, heartburn and other problems. Most of the thousands of OTC medications on the market are safe when taken as directed, as long as they do not interfere with other medications or health conditions.
Many people who take OTC supplements may not realize the Food and Drug Administration does not directly monitor or approve these non-prescription drugs. It is important to do your own research to know what you are taking and why.
Taking more than the recommended dose of an OTC medication can be dangerous. For example, taking too much acetaminophen, which can be found in pain relievers, can cause severe liver damage or acute liver failure.
Read the labels on your OTC medications carefully to prevent accidental overdose. This is especially important if you take more than one medication at a time to relieve multiple symptoms. Know the ingredients, dosages, timing and other instructions.
Along with carefully reading labels, you may want to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before starting a new OTC medication. Sometimes OTC drugs interact with medications you’ve been prescribed.
Those with chronic health conditions are at greater risk of serious adverse reactions while taking OTC medications. Adults age 65 and older are likely to have additional health issues, and take roughly 40 percent of OTC medications consumed. Because of this, seniors should take extra precaution.
In general, do not take OTC medications longer than 10 days for pain or longer than three days for fever without consulting your physician.
If you have concerns about medications, it’s important to talk to your doctor. To find a primary care doctor near you, visit findadoc.aahs.org or call 443-481-5555.
Originally published Jan. 28, 2016. Last updated April 25, 2018.
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