- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogShould you stress about stress? Stress is part of life, but its impact on your health can be more serious than you might think. While eliminating stress entirely may not be realistic, managing it effectively could be life-saving. It’s important to understand how stress affects your body—and what you can do to take control. Stress and your body’s systems Your body is equipped to handle stress in small doses. But heavy stress—especially over long periods of time—can take a toll on every aspect of your health, from your mental and emotional wellbeing to your physical condition. And physiologically speaking, stress can affect every one of your body’s systems in one way or another. Stress and your heart health When you become stressed, your heart rate increases and your heart muscle contracts—which means your blood vessels pump more blood to different parts of your body, temporarily raising your blood pressure. When your heart rate is consistently higher, and stress hormones increase your blood pressure on a regular basis, it can significantly multiply your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Stress and your gastrointestinal (GI) tract The neurons in your gut constantly communicate with your brain. Stress can affect this communication and trigger bloating, pain and other discomfort. And high levels of stress over time can often lead to chronic GI conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Stress and your musculoskeletal system When your body becomes stressed, your muscles tense up. Chronic (constant) stress causes your muscles to be in a continuous state of guardedness, which can cause stress-related disorders. For example, chronic muscle tension in your shoulders can lead to migraines and tension headaches. For many people who have chronic pain conditions related to musculoskeletal disorders though, stress-relieving activities can bring significant relief. Stress and your respiratory system Stress can manifest itself as shortness of breath and rapid breathing. While this isn’t typically a problem for people without respiratory disease, it can harm those who have conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In fact, some studies suggest that high amounts of stress can trigger asthma attacks. Stress and your nervous system Stress triggers your body’s “fight or flight” response, which signals your adrenal glands to release hormones. When the crisis is over, your body usually returns to its normal state. But chronic stress can cause a long-term drain on your body. Stress and your reproductive system For men, chronic stress can affect testosterone production, leading to a decreased sex drive and sometimes causing erectile dysfunction. It can also reduce sperm production. For women, stress can cause missing or delayed periods, which in turn affects their ability to conceive. In addition, it can make premenstrual syndrome (PMS) much worse. Managing your stress Stress management can be challenging, but it’s a necessity. The good news is that making small, incremental changes can pack a big punch. Consider trying these strategies: Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Sleep has remarkable restorative power, and you’re more likely to be able to manage stress when you’re well-rested. Connect with others. Spending time with family and friends can be a pleasant distraction from life’s struggles. Loved ones can lend a listening ear and laughter is always good medicine. Eat a well-balanced diet. A healthy diet that’s heavy on fruits, vegetables and whole grains will go a long way toward helping you feel your best. Food is fuel for the mind and body. Exercise regularly. Physical activity releases endorphins, which are your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Aim for 30-minutes of exercise a day at a minimum. Try proven relaxation techniques. Whether it’s yoga, meditation, music, art or journaling, relaxation techniques can help your mind—and body—find much-needed balance. Meet with a therapist. A therapist, counselor or other professional can help you understand the root of your stress and come up with long-term plans for stress relief. Support when you need it A Luminis Health Behavioral Health provider can help you figure out the cause of your stress and offer additional ways to manage it. If stress is disrupting your life or putting your health at risk, make an appointment with someone from our team today. Authors Crystal Osuchukwu, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor. To make an appointment with Crystal, please call 301-623-4352.
- Behavioral Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou’ve probably heard about the nationwide debate on the safety of food dyes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed phasing out artificial food dyes by 2027. It has left parents with many questions. The hard truth? If you’ve noticed your child building up nervous energy or getting cranky after a bright red candy or neon-yellow sports drink, it’s likely a reaction to the dyes. In fact, studies have shown kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be more sensitive to food dye compared to other children. But here’s the good news: Increasing awareness of how your kids respond to dyes, along with ideas for limiting exposure to them, can go a long way toward keeping your family healthy. What are food dyes? Food dyes are chemicals added to foods and drinks to enhance their color. You’ll often find them in candy, cereal, sodas, sports drinks, fruit snacks and even healthier foods like yogurt. In the United States, the most common food dyes include: Red 3 Red 40 Yellow 5 Yellow 6 Green 3 Blue 1 Blue 2 These dyes are usually made in a lab using synthetic materials such as petroleum. They don’t provide the body with any nutrients; they are there solely to make foods and beverages more visually appealing. How do food dyes affect behavior? Food dyes can affect a person at every age and stage of life, but they seem to affect growing children most significantly. According to researchers, there’s a strong connection between food dyes and behavior problems like hyperactivity. This means your children may have trouble sitting still, focusing on tasks or staying calm after eating foods with dye. It’s important to remember though, that all children are unique and react in different ways. Some feel fine after; others are more sensitive; and some have an actual allergy to dyes. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to any changes in your child’s behavior after eating or drinking foods with dyes. How do dyes affect the body? The link between food dyes and health is still being explored. But scientists suspect that food dyes affect several physiological functions, including brain function, hormone levels and the immune response. Children who are sensitive to food dyes may experience bothersome symptoms like: Anxiety Headache Hyperactivity Irritability Itchy rash Trouble focusing Some recent research also suggests that certain dyes can disrupt the balance in your child’s gut and cause inflammation, which is the body’s way of reacting to something it dislikes. Over time, this can make it harder to maintain good health. Children who are allergic to food dyes will experience more severe—and sometimes life-threatening—symptoms like: Breathing trouble Dizziness or fainting Feelings of impending doom Hives Low blood pressure Sudden and debilitating headache Swelling in the face, lips, tongue or throat Tightness in the chest If your child has mild reactions to food dyes, it’s important to talk with a doctor right away. A skilled care team can help you pinpoint the cause of your child’s symptoms and create a plan to help manage them. Your doctor may also connect you to an allergist for specialty care if needed. More severe and concerning reactions may point to a dye allergy. Seek emergency care right away or call 911 if your child has severe swelling, trouble breathing, faints or has chest pain. What can we do about it? Fortunately, you can take steps to protect your family. Start by: Increasing your awareness about food dyes and how your child responds. Planning meals and snacks around dye-free foods, such as fruits, veggies, eggs, oatmeal and other unprocessed foods. Reading labels on packaged foods and drinks to eliminate ingredients like Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1. Talking to your child’s school about offering snacks that don’t have artificial dyes. Trying dye-free brands of their favorite foods. Many companies are using natural colors like beet juice, turmeric or carrots. We’re in this together Food should help us feel good, both inside and out. If your child experiences symptoms after eating or drinking, and you suspect dyes may be the culprit, our team is here to help. Our dietitians can help you identify which foods work best for your family and support you in making informed, nourishing choices. If you’re concerned that food dyes may be affecting mental health or behavior, our behavioral health specialists can help you understand, manage and prevent related challenges. Authors Colleen Kiley, MS, RD, is a lead diabetes educator for Luminis Health Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists. To make an appointment, please call 443-481-6700.
- Behavioral Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogKids have busy lives…and so do you! If you and your children feel overwhelmed by summer activities like sports, camps, chores and more, it might be time for a mental health day. I like to call them ‘Family Skip Days.’ According to the most recent Prince George’s County Community Health Assessment, almost a third of middle and high school students felt sad or hopeless enough that it impeded their normal activities. That’s why mental health days are just as important for kids as for grown-ups. While it might feel challenging to fit one of these days into our busy schedules, it’s important to prioritize mental health and wellbeing to help the whole family recharge. What are the signs? While everyone feels down at times, you might consider a mental health day if your child is feeling persistent sadness or showing frustration that does not match the situation. Remember, summer should be fun. You can look out for these signs too: Changes in sleep or appetite Difficulty concentrating or completing tasks Increased irritability or anxiety Negative comments on social media Noticeable stress of feelings of being overwhelmed Physical complaints (like stomachaches) without a clear cause Withdrawal from social activities Threatens to harm or kill oneself Many of these signs may be more obvious in teens, but harder to spot in younger children. Watch for signs like frequent, unexplained temper tantrums, persistent nightmares, or ongoing disobedience and aggression. Whatever the signs, children of all ages can benefit from mental health days. Tips for a successful mental health day with your child Mental health days should be fun and relaxing, not stressful. Here’s how I make these days easy to schedule and fun for my own family: Schedule wisely: Pick a day when your family has the fewest obligations to reduce the stress of rescheduling other events. Start the day strong: Sleep in and help your children pick out or make their favorite breakfast in their pajamas. Pick enjoyable activities: It will feel more special if your kids can help decide the activity. Consider giving them options that are local and budget-friendly to make the day easy on your wallet. Connect with your kids: Ask your child if there’s anything on their mind or if something is bothering them. You can talk while you’re cooking, playing or walking to a park. Rotate the time: If you have multiple children, rotate activities so that each child has some one on one time with you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: If your child expresses feelings of anxiety, depression or other mood disorders, you may consider reaching out to a behavioral health professional. It’s okay that your kids are not okay. If you think that your child could benefit from meeting with a behavioral health professional, you can book an appointment online without a referral at Luminis.Health/BehavioralHealth. For urgent matters, visit the Behavioral Health Urgent Care at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham. At the urgent care, walk-in appointments are available Monday through Friday, from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Lastly, the most important thing is to get out of the house and enjoy your time together. Put away the phones and turn off the TV and game consoles. A mental health day is not about checking out, it’s about checking in with your child and being present without any distractions. Authors Dr. Jesselina Curry is the System Medical Director for Ambulatory Behavioral Health Services at Luminis Health.
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBetween what they see on TV, online and in video games, your kids can be bombarded with violent images. If you don’t address it, kids can become numb to real violence over time. Violent video games can especially lead to aggressive behavior and cause children to be less sensitive to other people’s pain and suffering. A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that just 20 minutes of playing a violent video game can cause people to be less affected by real violence. Children younger than 8 are even more prone to desensitization, since the line between reality and fiction is still blurry in their developing brains. As a parent, you should set clear limits for video game content and the amount of time spent playing. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips to steer your kids toward age-appropriate video games: Get to know a video game’s content before giving the OK to play. Keep gaming in a common family area for easy supervision. Limit video game time to an hour a day, and encourage other activities like exercise, playing outside and reading. Turn gaming time into family time by choosing group sports or music activity video games that bring everyone together. It’s also helpful to learn and follow the Electronic Software Ratings Board (ESRB) video game ratings. You can find them on game packaging or onscreen before downloading a game. Rating Categories Early Childhood: Content is intended for young children. Everyone: Content is generally suitable for all ages. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. Everyone 10+: Content is generally suitable for ages 10 and up. May contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. Teen: Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language. Mature: Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Adults Only: Content suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency. Learn how to talk to your kids about violence in the news and protect them from cyberbullying.
- Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThis may be the year you make changes in your life. Losing weight and keeping it off isn’t easy, no matter how hard you try. If you’re considering weight loss surgery, chances are you’ve tried changing your diet and exercise routines many times without seeing lasting results. In fact, if you have a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 35, the chances of reaching a normal body weight for a lasting period of time is less than one percent, according to research by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Weight loss surgery could be the answer. If you’ve been wondering if you might be a candidate, we’re here to help you sort through some important considerations. You can start by finding answers to these questions: Do you meet the medical guidelines? Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, isn’t the right choice for everyone trying to lose weight. In fact, the National Institutes of Health has developed guidelines to help you decide. It’s worth looking into if: You have a BMI of 40 or more (you can calculate your BMI here). You have a BMI of at least 35 and a related health problem such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. You have a BMI of at least 35, and type 2 diabetes that’s difficult to control. Do you know the benefits and risks? Surgical weight loss changes how your digestive system works, reducing the amount of food your stomach can hold and calories your body can absorb. It also affects how some hormones work, which assists in weight loss. You should work with a multi-disciplinary team to choose the type of surgery that fits your needs, such as gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or a new option called SADI-S (single anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve), which combines the restrictive power of a sleeve gastrectomy with the malabsorptive power of the gastric bypass. The results can be life changing. Weight loss surgery helps people lose as much as 77% of their excess weight 12 months later. It also helps people live longer healthier lives and can prevent or improve more than 40 obesity-related health issues, including: Heart disease High blood pressure Joint pain Sleep problems Type 2 diabetes Obesity related cancers What’s more, many people who’ve had weight loss surgery say they feel more energized, can move around more easily, and enjoy a better quality of life. For most people, these benefits far exceed the risks. But before signing up, you should talk to a surgeon to make sure you fully understand your risks. Are you ready to commit to a long-term change? It’s important to remember that the life-long benefits of surgery come along with a long-term commitment. You will need to meet program requirements, including nutrition classes, to be approved for your procedure. A bariatric optimization program, which includes physical therapy and nutritional guidance, can help. After your surgery, you will have to follow specific plans to best utilize the changes in your body and optimize for success. You’ll also need to carefully stick to a nutrition plan and attend follow-up appointments to keep your progress on track. Have you researched the specifics? Some insurance plans cover the costs of weight loss surgery, including Medicare and some Medicaid programs. As part of this coverage, be prepared with certain records to show why you need the procedure. Your medical team will help you understand your options for paying for your surgery and tell you about other information you need to know ahead of time. Some healthcare systems offer educational sessions, such as the free weight loss seminar hosted by Luminis Health, to help you get the process started and understand these details before you move forward. Luminis Health is hosting virtual seminars throughout January and February. Have you considered all you have to gain? If you’re interested in weight loss surgery, it’s worth taking the next step. Remember, it’s not about what you have to lose, it’s what you could gain with a strong team by your side: better health, a more active lifestyle and greater self-confidence. If you’re ready to take the next step, please call (443) 481-6699 or click here to sign up for a free webinar. Authors Dr. Alejandro Gandsas, Dr. Courtney Doyle, and Dr. Jilian Nicholas are bariatric surgeons at Luminis Health.
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