- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMenopause is one of the most common medical conditions in the world, and one of the least understood. Hot flashes, sleepless nights, and mood swings can all be signs of this major hormonal shift. But symptoms differ from woman to woman, and may be severe or mild. Here’s what you need to know about the signs of menopause — and what options are available to treat them. What Is Menopause? Menopause occurs when you stop having periods. Officially, it begins 12 months after your last period. Menopause occurs because your body makes less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, and your ovaries stop releasing eggs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, the average age of menopause in the United States is 52. But you might have irregular periods and menopausal symptoms for years before that, during the transition time known as perimenopause. Perimenopause usually lasts about four years, and typically starts in your mid-40s — although the time frame can vary. Symptoms like hot flashes can persist for more than a decade after menopause. Signs of Menopause Every woman’s experience is unique, and yours may be different from your friends or relatives. The intensity of symptoms can also vary greatly. Generally speaking, these are the most common symptoms of menopause: Hot flashes — a feeling of warmth that suddenly spreads over your whole body, sometimes followed by a chill. Hot flashes usually start in your upper body, especially around your face and neck. The sensation might be as short as 30 seconds or last up to 10 minutes. The frequency varies — hot flashes can happen rarely, once or twice a day, or several times an hour. Mood swings — your shifting hormones may cause you to feel irritable, moody, forgetful, or depressed. Difficulty sleeping — you may have trouble falling asleep, or may wake up in the middle of the night with night sweats. Many women have trouble falling back to sleep once awake. Vaginal dryness — during the menopausal transition, vaginal tissue becomes thinner and drier, which can make sex painful. Loss of interest in sex — your libido may diminish as your hormones change. Body changes — as hormone levels decline, you may lose muscle mass and gain fat around your waist. Your hair may thin out and your skin could become drier. Aches and pains — many women experience headaches, joint pain, or muscle pain during menopause. How to Ease Symptoms of Menopause It’s important to talk to your doctor about your menopause symptoms. If you’re suffering, there is hope by taking the following steps: Hormone therapy Your doctor may recommend hormone therapy for relieving hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, and mood swings. Hormone therapy may also help prevent bone fractures from osteoporosis, decrease your chances of developing heart disease, and lower your risk of dementia. The two types of hormone therapy are: Estrogen therapy — your doctor may recommend estrogen therapy if you had a hysterectomy (removal of your uterus). It comes in patch, pill, cream, gel, spray, or vaginal ring form. Combination therapy — uses both estrogen and progesterone in pill or patch form. It is for women who still have a uterus. Progesterone is used in various birth control methods, but can also help treat symptoms of menopause. Lifestyle changes There are many things you can do at home to help ease menopause symptoms. Consider trying the following: Eat a healthy diet. Eating fried, high-calorie, or fatty foods and drinking sugary soda can make menopausal symptoms worse. Prioritize sleep. Shortchanging rest can aggravate menopausal symptoms. Try to avoid hot flash triggers like caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, hot weather, and stress. Use vaginal lubricants to make sex more comfortable. Exercise to relieve stress and improve your overall health. If you smoke, make a plan to quit. Smoking can trigger hot flashes and even lead to earlier menopause. To Get Help for Symptoms of Menopause There’s no need to suffer with menopausal symptoms. Make an appointment with a Luminis Health OB-GYN. Ifeyinwa Stitt, MD is an obstetrician gynecologist at Luminis Health.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCancer and pregnancy. Two words many people would not put in the same sentence. But with a growing number of cancer survivors still in their reproductive years, many people are often considering cancer treatment and how it will affect their future ability to have kids. WATCH: Conquering cancer during pregnancy. Thanks to advances in cancer treatment, the rate of survival from childhood and adult cancers has increased steadily over the years. The five-year survival rate is greater than 80 percent for both childhood cancers and adult women of reproductive age. In fact, 1 in 400 adults are cancer survivors. Chemotherapy, radiation or surgery can affect the number and quality of eggs within the ovary. Treatment can also cause damage or loss of reproductive organs. The likelihood of a cancer survivor having a significant decrease or complete loss of fertility through ovarian failure depends on her age, type of cancer and specific treatment plan. Fertility preservation (FP) serves the purpose of preserving, expanding and restoring the reproductive future of cancer patients. Why is it important? Fertility issues are emotionally challenging, no matter the cause. One study found that 55 percent of cancer patients felt having a child was the most important event in their life. In addition, 64 percent said their fertility was the single most concerning issue about their treatment. These concerns are valid and understandable. In fact, the loss of fertility from cancer treatment is associated with depression, increased stress, sexual dysfunction and lower physical quality of life. To add to the burden, research shows that talking about the risk of cancer-related infertility is an important but inadequate part of the discussion at the time of diagnosis. A lack of information at the time of diagnosis and treatment planning are associated with negative mood and increased stress. Sadly, 33 percent of women report dissatisfaction with the quality and length of discussion about cancer-related effects on their reproductive health. And 73 percent of childhood cancer survivors say they received insufficient information when they were diagnosed. What options are available? The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that doctors assess all patients diagnosed with cancer for the risk of infertility. The ASCO also advises that interested patients at risk for treatment-induced infertility see a specialist to discuss their options. Cancer patients should talk openly about these things with their doctor. There are established methods of FP for adult women and adolescents who have undergone puberty. Egg and embryo cryopreservation, or freezing, are two options. For some patients, ovarian transposition and fertility-sparing surgeries may be available. For pre-pubertal children, investigational methods such as ovarian tissue freezing may be an option. For men, sperm preservation is a well-established method for FP and can be done through their local sperm bank or fertility specialist. FP decision-making Learning you have cancer is stressful and overwhelming. This is why making decisions about FP at the same time is challenging. Counseling about FP options is incredibly beneficial, even if women choose not to proceed with preservation before their cancer treatment. Studies show that counseling results in feelings of hope and profound relief while giving many patients a reason to live. Furthermore, those who proceed with FP treatment often feel it helps them cope and stay positive. READ MORE: Tips on supporting a loved one through cancer. There is still a lot to learn about FP and family building after cancer. Ongoing research is offering more information about the effects of cancer treatment and methods of FP. In addition, the cost of some treatments has historically been a barrier for many patients. However, Maryland recently became the third state to enact a fertility preservation law. Many factors affect the chance of becoming pregnant after fertility-sparing surgery or egg/embryo freezing. If you’re a cancer patient facing these decisions, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the FP options that are best for you. Authors Monica B. Jones, MD, MS, FACOG, FACS, is chair of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Women’s and Children’s services. Rebecca J. Chason, MD, specializes in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published June 18, 2018. Last updated Sept. 16, 2025.0
- General Page Tier 3BlogDietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a diet plan to lower or control high blood pressure. Your blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. High blood pressure is when stays elevated over time. The more your blood pressure rises above normal – which for the average healthy person is below 120/80 mmHg – the greater your health risk. There are no warning signs or symptoms that indicate you have high blood pressure. When you suffer from high blood pressure, your heart has to work harder. This can be dangerous. That combined with the high force of the blood flow, can harm arteries and organs such as the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes. The DASH diet follows heart-healthy guidelines to limit saturated fat and cholesterol. It emphasizes food rich in protein, fiber, potassium, magnesium and calcium, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains, and low fat dairy products. Research suggests it can also be effective in reducing inflammation, lowering the risk of developing kidney disease and decreasing levels of low-density lipoproteins (better known as bad cholesterol), along with several types of cancer. The DASH diet hasn’t gained much popularity because it has not been advertised as a weight loss diet. It is a dietary lifestyle designed for disease prevention and improved health. However, most people would likely lose weight given the recommended diet changes, which include limited portions of red meats, sweets and sugary beverages. With the DASH diet you fill up on delicious fruits and vegetables, paired with protein-rich foods. The following are recommendations on how to implement this plan into your life: Eat more fruits. Eat an apple or pear instead of cookies or muffins. Try a few dried apricots instead of pork rinds or chips. Increase your veggie consumption. Add extra vegetables to stews, soups and casseroles. Make one or two weekdays per week vegetarian days and experiment with a new recipe, where vegetables are the highlight. Turn to fat-free or low-fat milk products. Substitute sugary yogurt with plain, low-fat yogurt and add your favorite fruit. You can also use yogurt instead of sour cream, cream and salad dressings in recipes. Other calorie saving tips: Eat smaller portions by cutting back gradually. Try to be mindful of not just what you eat, but the speed, level of hunger or fullness and how your emotions dictate your choices. Snack on fruit, vegetables, boiled eggs, small pre-portioned cheese sticks and nuts. Don’t forget to hydrate with at least 64 ounces of water per day. It’s easy to mistake hunger for thirst. Eat in, not out, and plan healthy meals. Healthy eating takes effort and requires planning but the payback is a lifetime of health. The bottom line to lowering blood pressure is to follow a heart-healthy eating plan, maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol and increase physical activity. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555.0
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThank you. It’s a simple, yet powerful, phrase. One you probably taught to your children as soon as they could talk. And sometimes you probably have to remind them to use it when they get a gift or a compliment. But when you remind them to say thank you, you aren’t just teaching them to be nice. You’re teaching them how to be happy. Positive. Resilient. Did you know that more and more research is shining a light on a connection between gratitude and greater happiness? Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions. It helps to alleviate depression, improve health, build strong relationships and better manage adversity. Feeling grateful for even the smallest things in life can help you be more patient, too. That’s according to research from Northeastern University. Grateful teens are also building emotional resilience because it helps them look on the bright side. This is especially important for teens, who often see things in black and white. Looking for some guidance on how you can raise a grateful and generous teen? Here’s our advice. Walk your talk. It starts with you. Talk about what you are grateful for so your child has a good example to follow. Bonus – the more you do it, the more you’ll find reasons to give thanks. Start a gratitude conversation. Dinner is already the perfect time to catch up with your teen – why not ask them what they are grateful for? Feel free to come up with your own examples, as we mentioned earlier! Or consider making a gratitude jar. Support your teen during the hard times. Life can be challenging. If something difficult happens, acknowledge it. But then, bring them back to the present when they’re ready. Talk to them about what they can learn from the experience. How can they grow from it? Give them time and space – but also encourage them to view it as a learning experience. Encourage your teen to volunteer. Nothing beats real-world experience. When your child helps people in need, they will appreciate what they have even more. Adolescents are naturally entitled. That’s simply the way their brain works. But you can help them focus and build their gratitude muscle and emotional strength. Think of your teen’s emotions as a rubber band that you can stretch. Like a rubber band, they will return to their original shape. Even when pushed to their limit. Keeping that “gratitude muscle” in shape will help them bounce back and carry on. Want to start a gratitude conversation? Spread the positive vibes with our how-to guide on creating a gratitude jar. Authors Ruth Milsten, LCSWC, is a mental health specialist with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Mental Health Specialists. To schedule an appointment with her, call 410-573-9000. Waseem Hussain, MD, is a primary care doctor with Doctors Community Medical Center. Originally published Nov. 19, 2018. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOur bodies are made up of approximately 70 percent water. Water is the most abundant natural resource on earth. Yet, most of us do not drink enough of it, and our bodies suffer in many preventable ways. We become dehydrated when the amount of fluid we lose is greater than the fluid we take in. We routinely lose fluids in our sweat, exhaled air, urine and bowel movements. In a normal day, we have to drink a significant amount of water to replace this routine loss. If we are sick, we may also lose fluids through vomiting or diarrhea. Warning signs of dehydration include: Thirst. It’s the first signal that you’re already dehydrated. Dehydration can also mask itself as hunger, particularly sugar cravings. Brain fog. You may have fatigue, lightheadedness, muscle cramping, headaches, dry mouth, darker urine and a feeling of confusion that some people call “brain fog.” Bad breath. When you’re dehydrated, you may not have as much saliva in your mouth. This allows bacteria to thrive, resulting in bad breath. Saliva has antibacterial properties. Stiff joints. Joints can be stiffer without the lubrication that water provides. Poor digestion. Water is vital for healthy digestion. It helps move food through the digestive tract and waste pass more smoothly. Along with fiber, water is important to eliminate waste from the colon and urine from the bladder. If you are not properly hydrated, you are also more likely to get a urinary infection. Dehydration may affect your ability to drive safely. Some research shows that driving errors doubled during a two-hour drive when drivers were dehydrated, similar to driving while intoxicated. With severe dehydration, heart palpitations, confusion and weakness can occur as the brain and other organs receive less blood. This can result in coma, and even death, if left untreated. Infants and elderly people are more likely to become dehydrated. It’s unusual for a baby to have a dry diaper for more than three hours. Over time, dehydration can make your skin lose elasticity and wrinkles appear deeper. You are more likely to get kidney stones. And you may not be able to regulate your body temperature, making you more prone to heat stroke. To avoid dehydration: A good rule is to drink water in between meals. Drink fewer caffeinated drinks. Caffeine may act as a diuretic causing you to lose fluids. If you’re feeling excessively tired in the middle of the day, try drinking water first. Avoid alcohol, including beer, especially when it is hot. Alcohol increases water loss and impairs your ability to notice early signs of dehydration. Replace calorie-filled beverages with water (provided you are eating three healthy meals a day). Bring extra water to all outdoor events where you might sweat more. Use warm water instead of hot water in the shower. Hot water can dry out your skin. The water you drink does not have to be bottled. The tap water in your home, whether from a well or public water system, may be perfectly fine to drink. To find out about your home drinking water quality, you can contact the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or the Maryland State Water Quality Laboratory at 800-300-TEST. The exact amount of water you need depends on your size, level of activity, general health and the weather. If you have a condition like congestive heart failure or late kidney disease, you may be on a fluid-restricted diet and need to consult your healthcare provider for those limitations. Author Marla Spring, FNP-BC, MSN CDE, is a medical provider at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists. To reach her office, call 443-481-4600 Originally published July 31, 2017. Last updated Sept 2, 2025.0
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
Go to MyChart
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?