- Behavioral Health, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn recent years, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have increased substantially in popularity. They are commonly advertised as a “healthier” and cheaper alternative to cigarette smoking. Smoking e-cigarettes, an activity known as vaping, is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a method for smoking cessation. It is important to remember that e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Unlike FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies, such as the patch, lozenge and gum, which contain regulated amounts of nicotine, the nicotine found in e-cigarette cartridges can vary widely among brands. Without large scale, well-designed research studies it is difficult to determine the real impact of e-cigarettes both now and in the future. Furthermore, by appealing to teenagers and young adults, there is the concern that e-cigarettes usage will reverse the progress made in smoking prevention, as well as normalize smoking behaviors. A Battery-Operated Nicotine Delivery Device Let’s look closer at what an e-cigarette is. An e-cigarette is a battery-operated nicotine delivery device. Rather than inhaling smoke from burning tobacco, users inhale a vaporized liquid solution. In 2009, the FDA published a study that identified varying levels of nicotine in these solutions, even in some e-cigarette cartridges that claimed to be nicotine free, and known carcinogens including diethylene glycol, an ingredient found in anti-freeze, and nitrosamines. Although sale to minors is prohibited in Maryland, virtually anyone can sell or buy e-cigarettes. Convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores offer the most popular brands. Unlike traditional tobacco products there are no restrictions on Internet sales, which makes it relatively easy for youths to make online purchases. This may account for teen use of e-cigarettes doubling between 2011 and 2012. While e-cigarette manufacturers may claim they do not market directly to young people, flavored cartridges such as bubble gum, caramel and chocolate clearly appeal to children. And the industry has exploded. Revenues for e-cigarette companies have doubled every year since 2008, and the market exceeded $2 billion in 2013. A Lot of Unknowns for E-Cigarette Safety So, are they safe? While it is widely believed e-cigarettes are less toxic than cigarette smoking, there are no scientific studies to support this belief. Furthermore, there is no information as to the future effects of vaping or the effects of second-hand vapor inhalation. Most importantly, the lack of regulations for the e-cigarette industry leads to a wide variation in e-cigarette nicotine levels and potentially toxic substances in the vapor. Without scientific data establishing the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes, there is no basis for recommending them as an alternative to cigarette smoking. Combining counseling and medications is proven to be an effective way to quit. The FDA has approved several forms of nicotine replacement therapies, including gum, lozenges, transdermal patches, inhalers and nasal spray, as well as bupropion and varenicline (Chantix). Talk to your doctor about how to stop smoking. If you have teenagers, talk to them about the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping. Ready to quit smoking? Learn more about smoking cessation programs at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Courses and individual counseling are free if you live, work or attend school in Anne Arundel County. If you live elsewhere in the region, our staff may be able to navigate you to free resources in your area so please call 443-481-5366. Author By Stephen Cattaneo, MD, medical director of Thoracic Oncology at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He may be reached at 443-481-5838.
- Behavioral Health, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOne Friday, after a long day at work at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Christina Delfendahl decided she was done with cigarettes. She was literally tired of smoking after 16 years of the habit. A quick stop after work at the local pharmacy to pick up nicotine patches, and she was on her way to a new beginning. Christina was certain it would work this time. She tried to quit the year before, first cold turkey, then by using a prescription, then a few months later using specialized gum. She also attended free employee smoking cessation counseling at AAMC. The counseling provided support and resources, and the counselors developed a personal plan to help Christina cope with the ups and downs of quitting. Before she wasn’t quite ready to kick the habit, but now this pack-a-day smoker really wanted to do it. “I knew it would work this time because I was ready. I really wanted it. I knew it would be a few weeks with the patches and that made it easier to know there was an end not far away. It ended up taking four months with the patches before I was smoke-free,” says Christina. Christina adds that having a support system made a difference. “My co-workers had been encouraging me to stop smoking for long time and once I decided to do it, they were there to help me stick with it,” she says. It’s been almost one year since Christina quit and she feels great. Christina is doing CrossFit classes and enjoys having more energy, a better sense of smell and an overall healthy living lifestyle. As an added bonus, Christina set aside the money she would have spent on cigarettes, saving enough to buy a new bedroom set. Ready to quit? Learn more about smoking cessation programs at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Courses and individual counseling are free if you live, work or attend school in Anne Arundel County. If you live elsewhere in the region, our staff may be able to navigate you to free resources in your area so please call 443-481-5366. If you’re an employee, we have specific resources for you, too.
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhat Susan Dennis says is most extraordinary about her life now is that it is so ordinary. In the last few months, she’s taken many long walks, gone to a baseball game, flown to Florida on vacation, and walked down the beach in a swimsuit. Nothing that unusual for a 40-year-old woman, except if you are Susan Dennis. Flash back a year, and Susan says you wouldn’t recognize her. She weighed over 300 pounds and had full-blown diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of other serious health issues. “I didn’t go out, I didn’t like seeing friends, walking was a chore,” Susan says. “I felt weighed down by myself, by everything. It wasn’t a happy existence.” A Lifelong Struggle Susan has struggled with her weight since she was 16. Over the years she tried fad diets, weight loss groups, even medically supervised prescription diets. But nothing worked. Finally, with her health in steep decline, her endocrinologist suggested bariatric surgery. At first, Susan balked at the idea. “I told her no. I thought it might be the easy way out and that I could do it on my own.” But as her health worsened, Susan finally realized she needed help. The Right Decision Susan decided to have gastric bypass surgery with Alex Gandsas, MD, who leads AAMC’s Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery program. Susan says she liked that the care felt “very personalized.” Dr. Gandsas says it’s essential to have a rigorous bariatric surgery program that addresses the whole person. “We are helping our patients engage in a different life,” Dr. Gandsas says. “The surgery helps them change course and shed weight, but it’s only one component. We want them to have all the tools they need to permanently succeed.” Intensive Help Before, and After At AAMC, weight loss patients begin preparing for surgery six months in advance with medical testing, diet, exercise, and nutrition counseling. And it doesn’t end there. After surgery, patients continue to receive careful monitoring and meal plans. Just 4½ months after her surgery, Susan was doing great. In addition to having lost 83 pounds, her blood pressure was down and her diabetes was fully controlled. What’s more, Susan says she’s happy all the time. “I just feel wonderful, I feel like I can take over the world.” But for now she’s content trying to live her extraordinarily ordinary life. Next on the list: yoga classes. To learn more about bariatric surgery at Anne Arundel Medical Center, please visit www.AskAAMC.org/WeightLoss.
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn 2012, Tammy Smith weighed 340 pounds. She attended a weight loss surgery seminar and decided to have gastric sleeve bypass. Her journey to new health habits began several months prior to her surgery, leading to a nearly 200-pound weight loss. Here’s Tammy’s story in her own words: Two years ago, I was very scared and nervous about the idea of bariatric surgery. I went to a seminar and met Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Alex Gandsas and he was amazing. After speaking with him, I decided to go through with the surgery to have the gastric sleeve bypass. The easiest part of the journey has been the surgery itself. There was very little pain. The hardest has been adjusting to a new way of thinking about food and establishing an exercise routine. But the program is set up for success by helping you adjust to new habits before surgery. Three months leading up to surgery, I met with the nutritionist in Dr. Gandsas office who guided me in the right direction. It was a lifestyle change that needed to take place in order to be successful. Each month, I picked two or three of the changes that needed to happen. I worked on making these changes every month until they became habits. As weeks went by the challenge was to make good choices and exercise regularly. I have lost 191 pounds. I started at 340 pounds and size 24. Now I am in a size 4. My journey has changed me. I love the new me. I never knew this life I now know could have existed. This surgery is not a quick fix or a magic procedure. It is about changing your way of life, not just a diet. Bariatric surgery is a tool in your tool box. Learning good eating habits and educating yourself about nutrition is key. For those who choose not to work out, the results will not be as great. The true test for maintaining and continuing my weight loss came after I lost my husband. Getting through the last six months has been a huge test to old eating habits. But I have stayed the course, and I know I will continue with my new lifestyle. I am so thankful for this program at AAMC. If you make the changes and do the hard work you will be successful! Learn more about bariatric surgery at www.AskAAMC.org/WeightLoss.
- Behavioral Health, Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNearly one third of older people in the U.S. take sleeping pills. These drugs are called “sedative hypnotics” or “tranquilizers.” They affect the brain and spinal cord. “Doctors prescribe the drugs for sleep problems,” says Ira Weinstein, MD, a pulmonologist who specializes in sleep disorders. “The drugs are also used to treat other conditions, such as anxiety or alcohol withdrawal.” Usually older adults should try non-drug treatments first. According to the American Geriatrics Society, there are safer and better ways to improve sleep or reduce anxiety. Here’s why: Sleeping pills may not help much. Many ads say that sleeping pills help people get a full, restful night’s sleep. But studies show that this is not exactly true in real life. On average, people who take one of these drugs sleep only a little longer and better than those who don’t take a drug. Sleeping pills can have serious or even deadly side effects. All sedative-hypnotic drugs have special risks for older adults. Seniors are likely to be more sensitive to the drugs’ effects than younger adults. And these drugs may stay in their bodies longer. “The drugs can cause confusion and memory problems that more than double the risk of falls and hip fractures,” says Dr. Weinstein. These are common causes of hospitalization and death in older people. They also can increase the risk of car accidents. The new “Z” drugs also have risks. Most ads are for these new drugs. At first, they were thought to be safer. But recent studies suggest they have as much or more risk than the older sleep drugs. Try nondrug treatments first. Get a thorough medical exam. Sleep problems can be caused by depression or anxiety, pain, restless leg syndrome, and many other conditions. Even if an exam does not turn up an underlying cause, you should try other solutions before you try drugs. Over-the-counter drugs may not be a good choice. Side effects of some drugs can be especially bothersome for seniors: next-day drowsiness, confusion, constipation, dry mouth, and difficulty urinating. Avoid these over-the-counter sleep drugs: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy, Nytol, Sominex, and generic) Doxylamine (Unisom and generic) Advil PM Tylenol PM When to try sedative hypnotic drugs “Consider these drugs if the sleep problems are affecting your quality of life and nothing else has helped,” says Dr. Weinstein. “But your healthcare provider should watch you carefully to make sure that the drug is helping and not causing bad side effects.” Kinds of sleeping pills (sedative-hypnotics) All of these pills have risks, especially for older adults: Barbiturates Secobarbital (Seconal and generic) Phenobarbital (Luminal and generic) Benzodiazepines for anxiety Alprazolam (Xanax and generic) Diazepam (Valium and generic) Lorazepam (Ativan and generic) Benzodiazepines for insomnia Estazolam (generic only) Flurazepam (Dalmane and generic) Quazepam (Doral) Temazepam (Restoril and generic) Triazolam (Halcion and generic) “Z” drugs Zolpidem (Ambien and generic) Eszopiclone (Lunesta) Zaleplon (Sonata and generic) Tips for better sleep Exercise. Physical activity helps people sleep better. But avoid vigorous activity for several hours before bedtime. Keep a routine. Try to go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day, even on weekends. Try not to eat right before bedtime. Eat three hours or more before going to bed. Avoid caffeine after 3 p.m. Some people need to avoid caffeine even earlier. Limit alcohol. Alcohol causes sleepiness at first, followed by wakefulness. Create the right environment. Keep the bedroom peaceful. And avoid mental excitement before bedtime. Avoid bright lights. Watching a bright screen can make you stay awake. Control pets. Pets disrupt sleep if they are on and off the bed, taking up space, or wanting to be let out. If you don’t fall asleep soon, get out of bed and do something that will make you sleepy, such as reading. Return to bed after you start to feel drowsy. Source: ChoosingWisely.org.
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?