- 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 443-481-5838.0
- Pregnancy & Birth, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGroup prenatal care like CenteringPregnancy® can be an excellent way for new moms to build friendships and make connections. Beyond this emotional support, however, you may be wondering how group prenatal care will affect your baby’s health. Over the last couple of decades, there have been many studies comparing the benefits of group prenatal care to the benefits of one-on-one prenatal care with a provider. While more research needs to be done, the data gathered so far shows that group prenatal care can have a positive impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Here’s what the research has to say. Group Prenatal Programs Like CenteringPregnancy® Often Result in Better Health Outcomes for Mom and Baby Healthier Newborns While we’re just beginning to understand the impact of group programs versus traditional one-on-one prenatal care, initial study results indicate that group prenatal care programs lead to the same — if not better — outcomes for newborns. Since birth weight is one of the most important health factors for a newborn baby — low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds) can lead to serious health problems and was one of the first measures closely studied. CenteringPregnancy® has been shown to have a positive effect on newborn outcomes, including birth weight and preterm delivery. A 2015 Yale School of Public Health study showed that group prenatal care resulted in: Babies with higher birth weights compared to those receiving individual prenatal care Less babies that were small for their gestational age Shorter neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays, when that level of care was needed Study results also suggest that group prenatal care promotes breastfeeding, and more women are likely to initiate breastfeeding if they participate in a program like CenteringPregnancy®, especially adolescent moms. Breastfeeding can have many benefits including: Helping to protect your baby from infection Reducing the risk of your baby developing a chronic illness later in life Supporting your baby’s development Healthier Pregnancies With the group discussion and provider-led activities in each CenteringPregnancy® visit, there are more opportunities to reinforce healthy behaviors among the women in the group — and a healthier mom often translates to a healthier baby. Women participating in group care, such as CenteringPregnancy® meetings were: At less risk for a preterm birth Less likely to get pregnant quickly after giving birth Less likely to go to the emergency room, especially in the third trimester More likely to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy, exercising and abstaining from alcohol, nicotine and drugs More likely to maintain a healthier weight throughout their pregnancy When it comes to prenatal care, women enrolled in CenteringPregnancy® programs attended more prenatal visits and were more likely to attend both prenatal and postpartum appointments. And, because of the structure of each CenteringPregnancy® meeting, you can enjoy up to 10 times the support, time and pregnancy knowledge compared to individual visits with an OB-GYN or midwife. Learn More, Talk With Our Team Today When you’re deciding the right type of prenatal care for you, it’s important you find a program that fits your personal needs and preferences, whether it’s with a group or one-on-one with your provider. If you have more questions about CenteringPregnancy® please visit our program website.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you play a sport or follow an exercise routine, injuries are possible. You may be tempted to keep playing through the pain. But that can lead to further problems down the road, especially if you don’t follow your doctor’s advice. A broken bone can take anywhere from two months to an entire year to fully heal, depending on the bone and the patient. It’s crucial to allow time for that healing process. Would you rather give yourself six weeks off to perform at 100 percent, or suffer for many months or the rest of your life because your injury didn’t heal properly? Your level of activity post-injury depends on its severity. Here’s a general guide to help. Sprains and strains Mild sprains and strains can be treated quickly, and exercise can continue. If your pain or symptoms associated with a sprain persist for more than a few weeks, seek medical attention. Warning signs of a more severe injury include significant bruising, swelling or significant dysfunction of a joint or body part. Broken toes Broken toes, too, can vary in terms of treatment. An injured big toe often needs treatment, while just taping the fourth or fifth toe provides support, protection and helps realign joints. If you have a deformity, such as a toe pointing the wrong way, seek medical attention. Any potential broken bone, even a small one, needs medical attention. Back injuries If you have back pain and/or a back injury, start by focusing on core stability exercises and flexibility. You should work with a physical therapist for a while before returning to unsupervised exercise. Once you start exercising again, start with low-impact activities, such as the elliptical or cycling. A return to higher-impact or contact sports should happen slowly over time. Get your doctor’s clearance first. Modifications when you have pain An injury doesn’t necessarily mean an end to all activity. You may be able to make modifications to your routine. For example, if you break your leg and you can’t walk, you might still be able to swim laps with a pull buoy without pushing off the wall during turns to get a cardiovascular and upper body workout. Or, if you have a severe injury to the upper body, you might still be able to do moderate exercise using a stationary bike. Author By Benjamin Petre, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with AAMC Orthopedics. To reach his practice, call 410-268-8862. Originally published June 26, 2017. Last updated July 22, 2019.0
- Behavioral Health, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen discussing domestic violence, I often hear comments like, “I’m lucky not to know anyone affected by domestic violence,” or “I have never been exposed to anything like that.” Most people are not only surprised to learn domestic violence is not always as obvious as a black eye—a lot of people, in fact, have been exposed in some capacity. While domestic violence can include physical and sexual violence, the most elusive kind of abuse is emotional abuse. Unlike physical abuse, the people doing it and receiving it may not even be aware it is happening. Emotional abuse can be more harmful than physical abuse. Even in the most violent families, the incidents tend to be cyclical—a violent outburst, followed by a honeymoon period with remorse and attention that eventually ends, and then the violence starts over again. But with emotional abuse, it happens every day. The effects are more harmful because they’re so frequent. This emotional abuse can happen between a parent and child, husband and wife, among relatives, and between friends. The other factor that makes emotional abuse so devastating is victims are more likely to blame themselves. When the words directed at you seem subtle—if the abuser says you’re unattractive, fat, dumb or unlovable—it’s easier to assume this is your own doing. But if someone hits you, it’s easier to see that he or she is the problem. It can undercut what we think about ourselves and impair our ability to be our true selves and escape the abuse. With emotional abuse, the abuser projects their words, attitudes or actions onto an unsuspecting victim. One person controls the other by undermining his or her trust, value, development, or emotional stability, or causes fear or shame by manipulating or exploiting that person. And it’s not so much about the words used, rather the threatening effects of the behavior by the abuser. The body language, tone and actions by an abuser oftentimes contradict the words. And this is very destructive to the victims. Warnings signs of abuse can include: decreased interaction with friends and family, constantly receiving phone calls or text messages inquiring about location and activity, seemingly anxious to please the partner, making excuses for partner’s behavior, going along with everything the partner says and does, decreased productivity at work or school, personality changes, lowered self-esteem, and limited access to transportation and money. These signs of abuse are more common and often overlooked. The support of family and friends can be helpful. But professional counseling will provide the victim with tools to prevent, cope and move on from an abusive situation. Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Abuse and Domestic Violence Program has professionally trained staff available to help patients, employees and community members. For information about abuse, call 443-481-1209. For a 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline, call 410-222-6800. Author Rae Leonard, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s abuse and domestic violence program coordinator, can be reached at 443-481-1209. Originally published Nov. 12, 2015. Last updated Sept. 16, 2025.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMay is Better Hearing and Speech Month. It’s a time when speech-language pathologists (SLPs), like me, help raise awareness about how our profession can help with a variety of communication and swallowing disorders. More than help with stuttering For many years there has been confusion regarding speech therapy. People often only associate it with help for stuttering. When I first became a licensed speech therapist, I assumed the majority of people would know what I could do to help them. However, I quickly found that there was a need to expand our knowledge about speech therapy, even among the medical community. Not just for kids Also, it’s important to realize speech therapy benefits more than just children. SLPs treat patients of all ages, from birth through end-of-life care. In 2014, seniors over 65 represented 14.5 percent of the population. By 2040 their numbers are expected to grow to more than 21 percent of the population. As people age, normal changes occur in their speech, language, memory and swallowing. Plus, their chances of having a communication or swallowing disorder related to a disease increases. Ways adult speech therapy can help Adult speech therapy helps a wide range of conditions that affect speech, language and swallowing. It helps with progressive neurological diseases like primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia and Huntington’s disease, as well as stroke and traumatic brain injury. Speech therapy also helps with a broad range of other diagnoses, from oral and laryngeal cancer to developmental disorders. Here is a breakdown of the many facets of adult speech therapy: Cognitive therapy: memory; attention; executive functioning, including organization, planning, problem solving, etc.; functional/daily living tasks Speech therapy: voice; dysarthria (slow speech, weakness); apraxia (difficulty with executing/planning speech movements); accent reduction; stuttering; voice/communication for transgender clients Language therapy: aphasia, which is a language disorder that can result in difficulties with any combination of word retrieval or verbal expression, understanding what you hear, understanding what you read, and being able to write out your thoughts Swallowing therapy: dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); aspiration pneumonia; mouth, throat, lip, tongue or cheek weakness Communication options: augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, tracheostomy/ventilator communication Speech therapists guide you and your family through life changes. We clinically challenge your skills using evidence-based practice techniques and support you through the rehabilitation process. Our goal is to improve your quality of life by helping you reach functional goals. If you think you or a loved one could benefit from a speech therapy consultation, please call 443-481-1140 to schedule an appointment with AAMG Physical Therapy. Our outpatient speech therapists are available in Crofton and Annapolis. Author Anusha Sivalingam, SLP, is a speech language pathologist with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Physical Therapy. To reach her office, call 443-481-1140.0
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