- General Page Tier 3BlogAs technology advances, we continue to search for ways to make life just a little easier. Over the past century, food has been at the center of this mission. While we have gained time and energy as a result of processed foods, we have also gained many health issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The word “processed” often causes some confusion. Most foods we eat are processed in some way. Apples are cut from trees, ground beef has been ground in a machine and butter is cream separated from milk and churned. However, there is a difference between mechanical processing and chemical processing. If the food contains a single ingredient, with no added chemicals, it is still real food. On the other hand, food that have been chemically processed and made solely from refined ingredients and artificial substances are processed foods. Processed foods are addictive and designed to make you overeat. Studies show that the “reward system” in our brain can sometimes allow us to consume more of our favorite foods than our bodies need. Sugar, salt and fat are the ingredients that make these products highly rewarding, tempting us to go back for more. Below are the four food groups to avoid as much as possible: Deli meat, bacon, hot dogs and sausages. Processed meats have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Sodas and sweetened beverages. Sugary drinks contain more added sugar than you should consume in a day. Sodas are linked to an increased risk of heart, kidney and liver disease, stroke, diabetes, pancreatic cancer and osteoporosis. Quick meals. Jarred, canned, frozen and microwavable meals often contain too much sugar, sodium and preservatives. They also typically contain too little vegetables and too many refined carbohydrates. Commercially baked goods. Besides sugar and saturated fat content, packaged cookies, cakes and desserts often contain trans fats. So, let’s consider the benefits of shopping at farmers markets to minimize reliance on the grocery store and processed foods. You can taste real flavors. Fruits and vegetables ripen fully in the field and then brought directly to you. No long-distance shipping. No sitting for weeks in storage. No preservatives. They are simply fresh from the farm. You can enjoy seasonal food. Farmers markets allow for variety and perhaps a chance to try new fruits or vegetables including some “ugly produce” that may not look as nice as the produce we are accustomed to, but taste just as good. You can also find produce often not available in the grocery store, such as red carrots, a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes, purple cauliflower and much more. You can learn cooking tips, recipes and meal ideas. Farmers are often passionate cooks with plenty of free advice about how to cook the foods they are selling. READ MORE: 6 reasons to shop at a farmers market Enrich your healthy food options and explore local farmers markets by visiting www.aaedc.org. The AAMC Farmers Market is open Fridays from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm through Oct. 25. It is held in the Hospital Pavilion South (ground level) located at 2001 Medical Parkway. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogQuitting smoking is one of the most important health decisions you can make. Although we have seen a significant decrease over the past decade in the percent of U.S. adults who smoke, tobacco use continues to have a devastating impact on peoples’ lives. So what is the best way to successfully quit? Perhaps the first step is to not relegate smoking to a once a year promise. Make quitting tobacco a weekly event until you quit for good. “Healthy Monday Campaigns” encourage you to plan healthy lifestyle changes at the beginning of each week. “Quit and Stay Quit Monday” is a weekly opportunity to keep at your ‘quit attempt’ until you successfully quit for good! Take our pledge to love your lungs, and be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card! There are several ways to prepare for your quit attempt. Here are some steps you can take to get ready: Get ready mentally. Think about your most important reason(s) for quitting. What will drive you to stick to your resolution, even when the going gets tough? Prepare your environment. Take a look around and note what triggers you, or reminds you to smoke? Getting rid of ash trays, lighters and any remaining cigarettes is a first step. Where do you routinely smoke? What can you change about those areas and routines that go along with smoking? Have tools in place to keep you at ease. This might include readily available healthy snacks, sugarless gum or cinnamon sticks. Such items, along with over-the-counter and/or prescription medication, will go a long way to keep you on track. There are seven FDA-approved medications to help you quit tobacco. They include Chantix (varenicline), Zyban (bupropion), and five nicotine replacements: the “inhaler” and nasal spray (both are prescription), as well as the nicotine patch, gum and lozenge. Medication or a combination of medications can be invaluable in a successful quit attempt. You may be questioning whether Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices, or ENDDs, are a safe approach to quitting smoking. ENDDs are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine. They include ‘e-cigarettes,’ vapes, mods and e-hookahs. Instead of smoke from burning tobacco, ENDDs give off vapor from the liquid (e-juice) in the device. In addition to nicotine, the liquid contains flavorings and other chemicals that are not completely harmless. These devices have been around for several years, but have recently gained popularity as an alternative to smoking and another potential tool for quitting. The most current research concludes that ENDDs may help people quit smoking, and no serious side effects have been identified in the short term (up to two years). It is important to remember, though, that it was many years before tobacco was identified as deadly. So the long-term effects of the use of ENDDs are unknown. There are other concerns about the emergence of ENDDs, one being that they could renormalize smoking. They may deter people from quitting smoking and lead to nicotine addiction in young people, where the use of ENDDs is skyrocketing. Also important to keep in mind is that ENDDs are not fully regulated by the FDA yet and many products are under the control of tobacco companies. ENDDs have also been associated with specific lung disorders related to chemicals used in flavoring the e-juice. And there is an explosion hazard associated with the overheating of the lithium ion batteries. Quitting smoking is an important health decision, but how you quit is also important. Recognize that quitting tobacco will not only increase your years of life but also your quality of life. There are many safe, FDA-approved medications and other strategies that can help you achieve your goal of healthy smoke-free living. Consult your health care provider or a tobacco treatment specialist to discuss the best plan for you. Ready to quit smoking? call 443-481-5366 to learn how AAMC can help you. Author By Joanne Ebner, a cancer prevention program supervisor at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Jan. 16, 2017. Last updated Nov. 21, 2019.0
- Behavioral Health, Orthopedics, Weight Loss, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWe know the benefits of exercise: It can control our weight, reduce our risk of certain diseases, improve our mood and mental health, and lengthen our life. But it can be hard to get motivated. If you could use a little push, look no further than a workout buddy. “Exercising with a partner holds us accountable and keeps us motivated,” says orthopedic surgeon James York, MD. “It can also help us overcome our fear of trying a new class or exercise equipment, bring variety to our workouts and increase our commitment to achieving fitness goals.” Your exercise buddy could be a co-worker, spouse, friend, family member or new gym acquaintance. Look for: Someone who is slightly fitter than you, so he or she can motivate you Someone with similar fitness goals Compatible schedules Once you’ve found your perfect workout partner, try a few of these exercises: Take a class at the gym, like a spin class or boot camp Create a no-equipment, high-intensity routine at your home (think squats, push-ups, crunches, planks and high-knees) Rock climbing Try one of the martial arts, especially tai chi Learn about more than 20 fitness classes and workshops available through AAMC. Author James York, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at AAMC and practices with AAMC Orthopedics. Originally posted February 15, 2017. Last updated Aug. 5, 2019.0
- Why Choose Luminis HealthWe use laparoscopic techniques, which means minimal scarring, less pain and shorter hospital stays.And, because this is a lifelong journey, we continue to offer support after your surgery is complete. We help set you up for success by teaching you about:Making healthy choices when away from home.Reading food labels.Staying hydrated.Identifying low-fat foods.Our Bariatric Optimization Program (BOP) is a personalized, medically supervised fitness program designed with your needs in mind. It ensures you're able to work exercise into your life in a safe, sustainable way.We also offer support groups so you can talk to other people who understand what you're going through.Plus, if you're dealing with any other medical concerns, we provide access to a wide range of specialists within Luminis Health to make sure you're getting holistic, comprehensive care. For instance, if you develop loose skin after weight loss, the Luminis Health Plastic Surgery team can talk with you about options for body contouring.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageToday, there are more weight loss surgery options than ever before. The most common in the U.S. is laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, also known as a sleeve gastrectomy.Wondering if sleeve gastrectomy or another bariatric surgery might be right for you? Attend one of our many free weight loss surgery seminars to learn more.The Benefits of Sleeve GastrectomySleeve gastrectomy patients lose an average of 66% of their excess weight within three years.In addition to helping with weight loss, sleeve gastrectomy can reduce chronic conditions that often accompany obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea. As a result, in the years after the procedure, you may save money on prescription drugs, doctor visits and hospital stays.How Sleeve Gastrectomy WorksA sleeve gastrectomy is a permanent weight loss surgery that has grown in popularity in recent years.Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy removes about 80% of the stomach. Your surgeon creates a thin, vertical stomach pouch that is roughly the size of a banana.Like other weight loss surgeries, sleeve surgery reduces the amount of food that your stomach can hold. The surgery may also impact hormones in the gut that trigger hunger, fullness and blood sugar control.After surgery, your body still digests food naturally. Food passes through the entire digestive track and is absorbed into the body.This surgery cannot be reversed. Once a large portion of the stomach is removed, the procedure can't be undone.0
- Men's Health, Weight Loss, Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMore than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 8 million of those people do not yet know they have it. While these statistics are staggering, Barbara Mensah Onumah, MD, medical director of Luminis Health Diabetes & Endocrinology Annapolis, is even more concerned about another alarming fact: 86 million American adults—more than one out of three—have prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. And, nine out of 10 people with prediabetes don’t know they have it. People with prediabetes have higher-than-normal blood-sugar levels but do not yet meet the criteria for a diabetes diagnosis. “Without lifestyle changes to reverse risk factors, 15 to 30 percent of those with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years. If you take action, studies tell us that you can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, return blood glucose levels to within the normal range,” Dr. Onumah stresses. Luminis Health Diabetes & Endocrinology Annapolis offers comprehensive management, treatment and education for patients with diabetes. The program was created to complement care given by patients’ primary care providers and other specialists. Luminis Health’s diabetes care resources include: group education classes and access to support groups highly individualized counseling one-on-one nutrition counseling instruction on insulin pump usage and continuous glucose monitoring The program can be reached at 443-481-4600. Because so many Americans do not know they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, Dr. Onumah says that education coupled with physician-recommended screening tests are essential. Education begins with learning the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The two most significant risk factors, both modifiable, are obesity and inactivity. Non-modifiable risks include a family history of type 2 diabetes; African-American, Latino or Native American heritage; age of 45 or older; and for women, a diagnosis of gestational diabetes when pregnant. Knowing and discussing your risk factors with your physician helps pinpoint the right diabetes screening schedule for you. “A groundbreaking study showed us that education alone is not enough,” Dr. Onumah cautions. “There must also be motivational counseling.” The study she cites placed 3,234 overweight participants—all with increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes—into three distinct groups and followed them for three years. Compared to the placebo (those who did not receive individualized counseling or medication), those who received individualized counseling and were able to lose about 7 percent of their body weight through diet and exercise reduced their risk of developing diabetes by approximately 60 percent. The group that received medication alone reduced their risk of diabetes by about 30 percent. “It’s essential we understand the importance of increased risk of diabetes,” Dr. Onumah says. “Lifestyle interventions, addressed quickly and consistently, can change lives.” Author Barbara Mensah Onumah, MD, is medical director of Luminis Health Diabetes & Endocrinology Annapolis and can be reached at 443-481-4600. Originally published Nov. 17, 2015. Last updated Aug. 28, 2023.0
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