- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) is currently experiencing a high volume of patients with influenza (flu). The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports an increase in flu cases statewide. In order to reduce the spread of flu, AAMC is limiting hospital visitors in the following ways: People under age 12 should not visit. People experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms should not visit. AAMC’s Clatanoff Pavilion will allow siblings to visit after the birth of a new child, but parents must be sure siblings are not ill. Flu Symptoms You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms: Fever Cough Sore throat Body aches and chills Headache Fatigue Fighting the Flu Stay home and get plenty of rest. Drink clear fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading flu to others. Most people with the flu do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. If, however, you have symptoms of flu and are in a high-risk group, contact your health care provider. Certain people are at high risk of serious flu-related complications including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. Emergency warning signs in children: Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough Fever with a rash Emergency warning in adults: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen Sudden dizziness Confusion Severe or persistent vomiting0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s been one year since COVID-19 became one of the most common terms in our vocabulary. It’s been a hard year, filled with the consequences of a “once in a hundred years” pandemic. We’ve adapted to unexpected changes to our daily routines and our way of life. Our usual coping skills are put to the test on a daily basis. Stress has been a constant. How do we keep going? How do we keep a hopeful, positive attitude? The first thing is to acknowledge and accept that none of this is “normal.” We are used to crises that resolve within a matter of days or weeks, not a global crisis of this magnitude. However, through difficulty comes resilience. Resilience is our ability to adapt to loss and changes to get to a place of learning and growth. Resilience can help us cope with stress, overcome adversity, and enjoy the better days to come. Here are some ideas for staying resilient during difficult times: Connect with supportive people in safe ways. Stay connected to positive relationships with loved ones and friends who can provide you with support and acceptance. Talk with friends on the phone or a Zoom call. Attend a virtual church service. Or, set up a virtual coffee or lunch date. It’s the human connection—hearing the right words, seeing someone’s smile—that can make all the difference to how you’re feeling. Take care of your needs. Even if you’re working from home follow a daily schedule — exercise, shower, get dressed, make your bed and prepare for your day. Eat food that supports your health. Get plenty of sleep. And find a relaxing way to spend your downtime. Read a good book. Watch a funny movie. Listen to music. Take up a hobby. Make time for self-care. Think of at least one good thing each day. It might be very simple: I taught my daughter how to access the library online, or my family and I ate a good dinner. Expressing gratitude each day is a healthy way to counterbalance feelings of unease or worry. Spend time outdoors. Getting fresh air outside is an important way to destress and recharge. Stepping away from your work or daily routine to go outside can help clear your thoughts. This can help improve your concentration and mood. Think about what you’ve learned during COVID. How can you use those things to make a new goal? Resilient people see change as an opportunity to align priorities and purpose. We know we’ll eventually get through this difficult time. The vaccine is helping. The number of people testing positive is decreasing. Hospitalizations and deaths have also begun to decrease. Spring is coming. We’re slowly getting back to life. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s keep moving forward. Authors Jo Deaton is the senior director of nursing for Behavioral Health at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. She can be reached at 667-204-7313.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOver the last few years, we’ve all heard a lot about vaping. Especially its popularity among teens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked 2,807 lung injuries to vaping as of February 2020. And the agency has also linked vaping to 68 deaths across 29 states and Washington, D.C. We’re shining a light on five things you need to know about this trend right now. Symptoms can vary. Coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea, fever, chills or weight loss – all could be symptoms of vaping illness. Some symptoms can appear over a few days. Others might appear over a few weeks. Vaping affects more than your lungs. Defective e-cigarette batteries can cause injuries. Including severe burns, fires and explosions. E-cigarette liquid has also poisoned children and adults. Vaping continues to be growing in popularity among teens. Two years ago, more than 3.6 million kids were vaping. In one year, vaping by high school students increased 78 percent. And vaping by middle school students increased 48 percent. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine – which is highly addictive. Nicotine itself is not known to cause cancer. But it is a stimulant that can cause health problems. A person’s brain isn’t fully developed until age 25. Nicotine can lead to permanent changes in the brain – affecting memory, learning and cognition. And it could increase the risk of addiction to other substances. Remember, too, that e-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances. E-cigarettes contain at least 60 potentially toxic chemicals. These can irritate your lungs and can cause lasting lung damage and disease. There’s no safe level of vaping. Research shows that e-cigarette vapor caused DNA damage in the lungs and bladder in mice exposed to the equivalent of three to six years of vaping. We’ve also seen research that shows that e-cigarette users’ oral tissue looks like that of cigarette smokers with cancer. In Maryland, you have to be 21 to buy tobacco (unless you are 18 and serving in the military). Decades ago, the cigarette industry touted their products’ safety as they marketed to teens. The first studies that linked smoking to lung cancer appeared in the 1920s. But the U.S. Surgeon General didn’t release the first report connecting smoking to lung cancer and chronic bronchitis until 1964. We expect that we will also have to wait and see what the long-term effects of e-cigarettes will be. Until then, we encourage you to talk to your kids about the dangers of vaping. It is just not worth the risk. Author Stephen Cattaneo, MD, is a thoracic surgeon and medical director of Thoracic Oncology at AAMC. Originally published Nov. 18, 2019. Last updated Nov. 9, 2020.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOur children are our most precious gift, so let’s be sure to give them every health advantage good nutrition can provide. As parents we are role models in all the behaviors we exhibit, making what we eat, how we plan and how we prepare our meals vital to our children’s health. We need to teach kids about healthful foods and make sure they get regular daily exercise, but remember our actions speak louder than words. More than a third of children and teens are overweight or obese, according to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Childhood obesity can lead to elevated risks of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and other health issues, and the reality is it can usually be prevented. Here are tips to keep your kids healthy: Plan Shop smart and get your children involved in selecting the food that will be available at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Go to the grocery store with a list, and stick to the list. Be adventurous and pick a new fruit or vegetable every week, or prepare a familiar one in a new way. Cook Excuses aside, we have more control over what is in our food and how it is cooked if we prepare it ourselves. For instance, use plain yogurt when you are accustomed to using mayo or—to reduce fat—try a tablespoon of any juice in place of a tablespoon of oil in a recipe. Ask for help from your children with age-appropriate tasks. Plus, teach them about the food, such as orange vegetables have a lot of beta-carotene, which helps our vision, or greens provide calcium, which helps us grow tall. The goal is to encourage them to try new foods they helped to prepare. Set the Example by Eating Right Breakfast is a critical meal, so make sure no one in the family skips it. In the evening sit down as a family to enjoy dinner and conversation about everyone’s day. Research indicates families who eat together have a stronger bond, and children have higher self-confidence and perform better in school. Use “My Plate” to Guide Portions When serving meals, start by filling half the plate with fruits and vegetables. Make sure the grains are whole grains, which deliver 3 grams of fiber or more per serving. For beverages, choose water over sugary drinks, and opt for fat-free or low-fat milk. Keep portion sizes in check by eating protein about the size of a deck of cards at lunch and dinner, plus a half cup of pasta/rice or small sweet or white potato. All snacks are fruits and vegetables. Get Moving Regular physical activity strengthens muscle and bones and is a great way to spend time together. Family hikes, bike rides or a walk to the playground are all activities that provide an opportunity for children to have parents’ undivided attention while still engaging in physical activity. As parents, we are highly influential over the habits our children form early, and they can last a lifetime. Take steps to lead kids down a path of good nutrition. For additional tips and kid-friendly fruit and vegetable options, visit www.choosemyplate.gov. Author By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555.0
- Senior Care, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe holidays are usually a time to gather with family and friends. Our calendars fill up with parties and other social outings. We celebrate with our loved ones. We reflect on the past year and look forward to the future. But the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to months of physical distancing as we work together to slow the spread of the virus. This has sparked feelings of loneliness in many people. Including seniors, who may be at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. 43 percent of seniors say they feel lonely on a regular basis. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), about 20 percent of adults who are at least 65 years old live alone. Those who are lonely can suffer from health problems as a result. The health effects of social isolation In her 2015 study on public health and loneliness, Brigham Young University Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad said social isolation can be as damaging to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And according to the NIA, research has also linked loneliness to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weaker immune system, depression, anxiety and dementia. Having loved ones around often encourages people to take better care of themselves. Including eating well, exercising and taking necessary medications. Living alone and not leaving the house on a regular basis are two major things that can cause loneliness in seniors. How you can help Feeling connected to others is key. And these days, many of these connections are happening virtually. Thanks to FaceTime, Zoom and Skype, staying in touch is easier than ever. If you have an older family member or friend who wants to learn to use the new technology, set up some time to explain to them how it works. Or, simply give them a call. Chat with them about their worries and concerns. Let them know you are thinking of them. This year has been like no other. This holiday season will be no exception. The best gift you could give during the holidays or any day is to reach out to those who may be feeling lonely. Offer them connection and companionship. It costs nothing, and you’ll brighten someone’s day. Author Lil Banchero is the senior director of Luminis Health AAMC’s Institute for Healthy Aging. Originally published Dec. 16, 2019. Last updated Dec. 7, 2020.0
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