- Men's Health, Weight Loss, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMost of us know that good nutrition is important for good health. However, when we hear catch phrases like “calcium deficiency” or learn a new multivitamin just hit the shelves, it can make us wonder if we are getting enough vitamins and minerals. Do we really need to take additional doses? First, let’s talk about these nutrients. There are 13 vitamins – vitamin C, A, D, E, K and the B vitamins. Vitamins help your body grow and work the way it should. Minerals have different jobs in which they help you resist infections, keep your nerves healthy and help your body get energy from food. By following the MyPlate guidelines, a nutrition guide published by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, you will get enough of most of what you need from food. In addition to a balanced diet, some people may need nutrient supplements depending on their situation. For example, older adults, pregnant women and people who are food insecure are at increased risk of nutrient deficiencies. Some individuals are limited in their food choices because of allergies, special diets, medical conditions, intolerances or because they are following a vegetarian or vegan diet. For example, animal foods are the main source of vitamin B12. So people who follow a vegan diet need to eat fortified foods and or take a supplement. Vitamin D might be a concern among infants, children and young adults, especially for those that do not drink milk. Therefore, they will likely need a supplement. Adolescent girls, meanwhile, may need more iron. As people age, it can be difficult to get enough vitamin B12. Getting B12 from fortified foods or taking it as part of a multivitamin can help raise B12 in our blood. As we get older, our bodies are not as skillful at absorbing certain nutrients. B12 is one of those. READ MORE: What you eat can affect your mental health On the other hand, real food contains healthy components a pill can’t give us. Plant foods have thousands of beneficial plant substances called phytochemicals that interact with one another in many ways, some of which scientists may not even understand yet. The greater the food variety, the more the potential beneficial interactions. When we get nutrients from a pill, we lose the fiber in these foods and, according to studies, these vitamins also fail at preventing cancer, dementia, heart disease or Type 2 diabetes. People who eat foods rich in those vitamins instead of going for pills only are at less risk of these diseases. Nutrients work synergistically, meaning you need the right balance of nutrients. A deficiency in one might appear as, or worsen, a deficiency in another. For example, vitamin E enhances vitamin A absorption. Vitamin A and E together lead to increased antioxidant capabilities, protect against some forms of cancer and support a healthier gut. Zinc is required for vitamin A transport, while vitamin C aids in iron absorption. This is only a snapshot of the many nutrient interactions happening in our bodies and their co-dependencies. Your doctor can order tests to help determine if taking a supplement would be good for you. A registered dietitian can evaluate your diet and make recommendations to meet your personal needs given your food preferences. As always, check with a health care professional to see which vitamins and minerals you may need and how to best take them. Remember, eating a balanced diet mainly consisting of fruits and vegetables is the first step towards the right direction. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWe’re excited to announce the opening of our new care facility to help meet mental health needs of Anne Arundel County residents and residents of surrounding communities. Our Psychiatric Day Hospital is an intensive daytime treatment program providing clinical, diagnostic and mental health treatment services for adults and adolescents (13 and up). The program is designed for patients who are either transitioning from inpatient care or need help stabilizing a condition in order to prevent hospitalization. “Expanding access to mental health services is a top priority for Anne Arundel Medical Center,” said Dawn Hurley, executive director of behavioral health at AAMC. “The addition of AAMC Psychiatric Day Hospital to our growing list of mental health services is another step in our efforts to offer comprehensive care to help meet a critically important community need. Patients will receive quality care from our multidisciplinary team of specialists in a safe, secure setting.” The AAMC Psychiatric Day Hospital is located at 132 Holiday Court, Suite #209, Annapolis, MD. Treatments offered include: Mental health and medical evaluation Group psychotherapy Family evaluation and therapy School-based on-site tutoring Art/activity therapy Goal setting/skills development 24/7 emergency coverage for enrolled patients Patients must be referred into the AAMC Psychiatric Day Hospital by a physician. If you think you or a loved one may be a candidate for these services, please speak with your doctor. If you need a doctor who specializes in mental health, please contact AAMG Mental Health Specialists at 410-573-9000.0
- NeurosurgeryGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen most people think of a “bleed,” they think of bleeding visibly from the body—a cut or abrasion, for example, where a wound is deep enough to release blood onto a person’s skin. A brain bleed, however, is different. It’s an intracranial hemorrhage—a severe bleed inside the skull—which is not observable externally. Intracranial hemorrhages require treatment by a neurologist or neurosurgeon; some strokes can be hemorrhagic. Are You at Risk? The most common risk factors for a brain bleed include: Head trauma Bleeding disorders (a group of conditions that occur when the blood cannot clot properly) Antiplatelet agents such as aspirin that prevent blood clots from developing Anticoagulants such as Coumadin, Xarelto, or Eliquis Uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes Smoking or drinking heavily, or using illegal drugs Atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in arteries) Vascular malformations (abnormalities in blood vessels or blood vessel walls) Aneurysm (a type of vascular malformation) Types of Brain Bleeds Bleeding can occur in the brain, or between the brain and the skull. Each type can have a variety of causes and treatments. Bleeds are named based on where they occur. For example, the following are four types of intracranial hemorrhages that are defined by location and cause: Intraparenchymal, or within the brain. This can be caused by a hemorrhagic stroke, when a weakened blood vessel within the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding areas. It can also be caused trauma or injury, vascular malformation or a tumor. Subdural, which is inside the dura but outside the brain. The dura is comprised of two layers of tough tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. This bleed is usually caused by trauma. Epidural, which is inside the skull but outside the dura. This type of hemorrhage is also mostly the result of trauma. Subarachnoid, which is on the surface of the brain. This type of hemorrhage is cause by trauma or an aneurysm. Symptoms of a Brain Bleed A person experiencing a brain bleed will usually know that something is wrong. Symptoms include: Sudden and severe headache Seizure Loss of balance, coordination, and motor or movement skills—even loss of consciousness Extreme tiredness Weakness in a limb, often on just one side Loss of vision and light sensitivity Loss of normal taste sensations Nausea and vomiting Stiff neck Difficulty breathing Abnormal heart rate IMPORTANT: Persons experiencing the symptoms of a brain bleed should immediately go to an emergency room to maximize chances for survival and recovery. What Can Be Done for a Brain Bleed Depending upon the location, size, cause and severity of a brain bleed, surgery may be required to help reduce swelling and pressure, remove a blood clot or tumor, stop further bleeding or repair malformed blood vessels. Small brain bleeds may not require surgery; patients can work to prevent another occurrence by discussing how to mitigate risk factors with their physician. Swelling or tumors are usually controlled with intravenous steroids. Anti-epilepsy drugs may be prescribed to help prevent seizures. Other medications may be needed to control blood pressure or other risks factors. Those who have been prescribed blood-thinning medications may need to stop taking them during recovery. What to Expect While Recovering From a Brain Bleed A brain bleed is a serious medical event. There are many factors that contribute to a successful brain bleed recovery, and no two patients are the same. Age, genetic predisposition to certain conditions and general health can all affect the speed of recovery, which can be as short as a few days or as long as several months. Many patients will need rehabilitation, which may be lengthy; unfortunately, not all brain injuries can be reversed. Again, the speed with which a person seeks treatment is critical to recovery time. A patient’s recovery team may include not only a neurologist and neurosurgeon, but also rehabilitation specialists and physical, occupational or speech and language therapists. Those in recovery may feel very tired but also have trouble sleeping. Headaches, “odd” bodily sensations and changes in taste, smell or vision are other symptoms that can occur during recovery. There will be good days and bad during the recovery process. Perseverance and a positive mental outlook are two important components that can make the likelihood of a full recovery much more possible. Author Yu-Hung Kuo, MD, PhD, is the Luminis Health Chief of Neurosurgery. Dr. Kuo is an experienced neurosurgeon who specializes in trauma and the treatment of oncologic lesions affecting the nervous system, including tumors of the brain and pituitary gland.0
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center recently launched the Grateful Hearts campaign to show our health care workers that we are thankful for what they do every day. And now, as we battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we’re more thankful than ever for these superheroes who protect our community. During this campaign, we are asking the community to share their gratitude and join the #HeartsForHealthcareWorkers movement. Joining the campaign is simple: decorate and display paper hearts in your home, post a picture of your heart on social media and be sure to tag us using the hashtag #IHeartAAMC. We are in challenging times and this campaign ultimately shows the gratitude for the powerful impact our health care workers have in patients’ lives. Highlighting our health care workers as the heartbeat of our community also has mental health benefits. More and more research proves the consistent link between gratitude and greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, alleviate depression, improve health, better manage adversity and build strong relationships. Showing gratitude is important for all of us, but it is an especially important trait to develop in children. When you teach your children to practice gratitude, you aren’t just teaching them a social skill, you’re providing your children with a tool for happiness and resilience. Building grateful character traits can increase your child’s happiness and resiliency when faced with life’s challenges. It’s easy to participate in the campaign, simply download one or both of the printable hearts and post in your home to show how grateful you are for our frontline heroes. Don’t forget to share on social media and tag us using the hashtag #IHeartAAMC.0
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThink of your genes as an instruction manual for your body. There are two copies of every gene – one from your mother and one from your father – and each has its own job. For example, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in our body act like police officers making sure tumor cells don’t grow out of control and develop into cancer. They’re the good guys. But when a person has a genetic predisposition, that means that one of the copies of the gene is not doing its job. Or, in other words, that person was born with fewer “police officers” in their body. Although we have around 25,000 genes, we only know what half of them do at this time. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are just two of the most common genes associated with hereditary breast cancer. There are many genes that can increase someone’s risk for cancer besides BRCA1 and BRCA2. It’s also possible that there are other genes that haven’t yet been identified that can put a person at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Can I rely on over-the-counter genetic tests? Genetic testing is complex and is only one piece of the puzzle when determining your risk for developing a disease. The 23andMe test – the first direct-to-consumer test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to report on breast cancer gene mutations most common in people of Eastern European descent – detects only three out of more than 1,000 known BRCA mutations. It is also limited in that it doesn’t rule out other BRCA mutations that increase cancer risk. People who receive positive test results for these mutations should ask their doctor or a genetic counselor about being retested in a clinical setting under the supervision of a medical professional before making any medical decisions. Those who test negative, yet have a strong family history of cancer, should consider comprehensive genetic testing and should consult with their doctor. What is the difference between over-the-counter tests and seeing a counselor? Because of its limitations, at-home genetic testing can give a false sense of security when you test for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The National Society of Genetic Counselors also advises people to consider the risks, limitations and psychological implications of genetic testing for themselves and their families before purchasing an at-home genetic test without the involvement of a clinically certified genetic counselor. Unlike over-the-counter tests, when you meet with a genetic counselor you receive guidance and support when seeking more information about your genetic health. A genetic counselor can provide pre- and post-test counseling. Pre-test counseling includes a thorough look at your family’s health history. During post-test counseling, the genetic counselor interprets results with you and advises on the best next steps. Depending on test results, a genetic counselor can advise on how to discuss the information with family members. When should I consider being tested? When Angelina Jolie shared her personal journey with breast cancer in a New York Times opinion piece, she explained why she decided to be tested. She’s a good example of someone who understands the chances of being at risk and doing something about it. We encourage you to learn about your family’s health history and ask your doctor if genetic testing is right for you. Genetic testing isn’t a crystal ball that predicts whether you will develop cancer. Instead, it’s looking in the ‘rearview mirror’ to figure out why cancer is occurring in a family and to help better understand cancer risk. If there is breast cancer in your family, a genetic counselor will work with you to understand if genetics could be the cause. If you are considering over-the-counter genetic testing or have received results and need further explanation, a genetic counselor can help. Authors Adam Riker, MD, is chair of Oncology at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Margo Gallegos, CGC, is an oncology genetic counselor at Anne Arundel Medical Center . Katherine Lincoln, CGC, is an oncology genetic counselor at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Oct. 21, 2019. Last updated Sept. 22, 2025.0
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