- Weight Loss, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLove your morning oatmeal, but wondering how you’ll enjoy it without that spoonful of sugar on top? Sprinkle these yummy, unexpected combos of low-sugar fruits and nuts on top for a new, healthy taste sensation. Try these oatmeal toppings without the added sugar. Tart and Tasty 1 oz cranberries 1 oz blackberries 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt A Creamy Confection 1 oz chopped avocado 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt Berry Surprise 1 oz raspberries 1 oz chopped strawberries Citrus Delight 1 oz chopped lemon 1 oz chopped tangerine 1 oz chopped lime Sweet and Crunchy 1 oz sliced almonds 1 oz Brazil nuts A sprinkling of cinnamon to taste Sunny Side Up Sprinkle sunflower seeds on any of the oatmeal toppings provided Author Maureen Shackelford, registered dietitian and nutritionist at Luminis Health, provided these recipes. Originally published Feb. 15, 2017. Last updated Oct 21, 2024.
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe days are growing shorter and there is a hint of fall in the air. It can only mean one thing: It’s almost time to go back to school! Summer’s less structured schedule and more unpredictable rhythms can make it a bit of a bumpy road for both parents and children as they get back into the learning groove. Here’s a pediatrician-recommended checklist of items to help make the return to school a healthier and more pleasant experience for kids and their parents, too. Importance of Sleep Routine Routines and schedules are important for children, especially when it comes to sleep. A week or two before school starts, slowly adjust your child’s bedtime until it is back to its regularly scheduled time for school nights. For example, have your child wake up 15 minutes earlier and go to sleep 15 minutes earlier until you find the right balance. Begin this process early—don’t wait until a couple of nights before the first day of school. Well-rested brains are ready to learn and grow. Vision Screenings and Eye Exams While basic eye tests are common at school, it’s also recommended that your child see an optometrist or pediatric ophthalmologist, preferably at the beginning of school. You may be surprised to learn that, squinting and straining to see can cause headaches in school-aged children. These headaches can be fixed with a pair of glasses or contacts that are properly prescribed by an eye doctor. Vision is one of the most important learning tools for students. Well-Child Check A new school year is the perfect time to take your children to the doctor for a well-child check. Your healthcare provider will examine your child’s growth and development to find, treat, and in some cases, prevent issues. You can also talk to the doctor about your child’s vaccinations. Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics for a helpful recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule and for guidance, including answers to many of your questions. Healthy Meals Whether your child is eating lunch at school or bringing their own, you should educate students about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, as well as protein such as cheese, meat or peanut butter. Beans are an excellent source of nutrition and can be added to many meals. While we all love and want to eat foods like chips and fries, they should be saved for special occasions—not daily or the main course. Another good tip? Avoid drinking fruit juice and soda. Water is healthier because it increases energy, relieves fatigue, and has no calories! Nutritious snacks and meals, especially breakfast, help ensure your child is ready to focus and learn at school. Back-to-School Jitters It is normal and natural for a new school year—or a new school—to cause your child to experience some anxiety. Parents and guardians should acknowledge their child’s anxiety and talk openly about it. Visiting the school before the year begins, rehearsing drop-off, and spending time on the playground or inside your child’s classroom can be helpful ways to calm anxiety and soothe your child’s concerns. Keep in mind that children can sense your anxiety—so do your best to stay calm and supportive. In Conclusion A new school year should be an exciting, not a scary or stressful time. Your child’s pediatrician is available to work with you to make sure your children have a successful school year. We hope you found these tips helpful. One last one: encourage regular handwashing, as germs are plentiful in classrooms! Small bottles of hand sanitizer are a good addition to every backpack. Author Asha S. Payne, MD MPH, is a board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s National Hospital. Physicians from Children’s National provide pediatric emergency and urgent care at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) seven days a week from 1-11 PM.* *Children who come to LHDCMC’s ER outside of Children’s National staff hours are seen by Luminis Health emergency providers.
- Physical TherapyGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhat’s not to love about the nation’s fastest-growing sport that’s taking the country by storm – Pickleball? The sport combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong; is easy to learn and slower paced. As more Americans pick up a paddle, there are also growing numbers finding themselves in a, dare we say, pickle when dealing with a pickleball injuries. Shelby Schaefer—a Luminis Health physical therapist—and her colleagues have noticed an increase in injuries related to pickleball amongst their patients, particularly in the older population who have more limited movement in their spine and hips. Schaefer says the low-impact sport gives players a false sense of security. Your chances of strains and sprains increase because you’re pushing your body too hard and lack of preparation. Common pickleball injuries include strains and sprains of the back, knee and ankle, as well as elbow and wrist injuries. Prep Your Body All levels of sport require some training and warm-up. The greatest risk for injury in any sport, including pickleball, comes from not preparing your body for the sport or warming up. Here are some recommended pre-pickleball stretches for different parts of your body: Shoulders—Cross-body stretch. Begin standing in an upright position. Raise one arm in front of your body with your thumb pointing up. Grasp the outside of your arm with your other arm and apply gentle pressure until you feel a stretch. Hamstrings—Forward lean stretch. Begin sitting upright with one leg straight forward and your heel resting on the ground. Bend your trunk forward, hinging at your hips until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg. Hold this position. Quadriceps—Standing knee bend. Begin standing in an upright position. Step forward with one food and lower down into a mini lunge position. Return to standing and repeat on the other leg. Calves—Standing calf stretch. Stand facing a wall with your hands on the wall. Put one leg about a step behind the other leg, with toes pointed towards the wall. Keep the back heel on the floor, bend your front knee until you feel a stretch in the back leg. Repeat on the other leg. Helpful warm-ups before playing pickleball include: Squats. Lunges. Walking butt kicks or marches. Arm swings. It’s also important to exercise outside of pickleball to keep up your upper and lower body strength. Overuse Injuries When considering how often to play pickleball, think about your typical routine. If you haven’t played the sport and aren’t typically active, ease into it by playing once or twice a week. If you are regularly active and physically fit, daily pickleball play may be just fine. Remember to listen to your body—it will tell you when you need some rest and recovery time. Complements for the Court Other activities that are a nice complement to pickleball include water aerobics, yoga and Pilates. One final tip to “ace” the sport, play pickleball against an opponent who is at a similar ability level as you. It’s best not to play competitively when you are learning the sport. In the event that you are injured, Luminis Health is here to help. Click here to learn more about our physical therapy services. Author Shelby Schaefer, PT, DPT, ATC is a physical therapist at Luminis Health.
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFibroids are benign tumors in the uterus that affects 20 percent to 80 percent of women by the time they reach age 50. Symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, and pelvic pain. In some cases, there are no symptoms. Some women experience unmanageable pain, as well as swelling of the abdomen or pelvic area. While doctors still don’t know what causes fibroids, we now have minimally invasive treatments, eliminating the need for large incisions that were common just a few decades ago. Here’s what you need to know: During minimally invasive surgeries, smaller incisions and precise surgical tools are used, sometimes with robotic assistance like the da Vinci surgical system. Compared to traditional open surgery, there are numerous benefits, including: Less pain Less stress on your immune system Quicker healing Decreased need for pain medications, especially narcotic medication Lower risk of post-surgery complications Shorter recovery time Shorter hospital stays – many times, patients can go home the same day Shorter operating time with less time under anesthesia Smaller incisions with smaller, more subtle scars What are the options? Minimally invasive techniques can treat various gynecologic conditions, such as fibroids, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, heavy and painful menstrual periods, and ovarian cysts. Based on your condition, health history, and other unique factors, your gynecologist may recommend one of the following types of minimally invasive surgery: Advanced laparoscopic surgery and robotics Laparoscopic surgery could be an alternative to a traditional hysterectomy (removal of uterus) or myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids). small incisions are made in the surgical area to accommodate surgical tools and a camera for precision during the surgery. It can be used for complex cases, including large fibroids, advanced stage endometriosis, or certain gynecologic cancers. The Acessa® procedure, a laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of uterine fibroids, is an advanced uterine-sparing treatment option. Heat is delivered directly to the fibroid tumor, causing it to shrink. It is an outpatient, same day procedure that allows you to return to work in four to five days and return to your normal activities quicker. Robotic surgery, most commonly using the DaVinci® system, enhances precision and allows access to small or hard-to-reach areas. With laparoscopic surgery (with or without robotics), patients typically return to light activity and driving within two weeks. Hysteroscopic surgery During a hysteroscopic procedure, your surgeon uses a camera (called a hysteroscope) to get a view of the lining of the uterus (endometrium). It requires no incisions, as this surgery is performed through the natural orifices of the vagina and cervix. This type of surgery is often used to treat abnormalities inside the lining of the uterus like fibroids. Hysteroscopic surgery can often be performed in an office setting without the need for sedation. The recovery time is about 24-48 hours. Vaginal surgery By inserting surgical tools through your vagina to the area where the surgery is being performed, surgeons can perform many procedures without making any incisions. And, depending on the exact minimally invasive procedure you undergo, it’s possible you could even return home the same day. How do I know which is right for me? Having open conversations with your doctor is essential in developing the best treatment plan for you. By sharing your health and wellness goals and getting answers to all your questions, you can make an informed decision and improve your quality of life. Authors Dr. Jonelle Samuel and Dr. Jessica Ton specialize in many types of gynecologic surgery at Luminis Health.
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health partners with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) system, providing healthcare learning opportunities and career counseling to students as they train for their future careers. Both the Center of Applied Technology (CAT) North in Severn and CAT South in Edgewater are part of AACPS and prepare students for career pathways by offering experiential learning, post-secondary credits and industry certifications. In addition to providing CAT students with opportunities to practice clinical skills, Luminis Health hires them as interns and both temporary and permanent team members. Bennett Chateauneuf shares how he has benefited from this partnership. Bennett Chateauneuf is a senior who recently graduated from Broadneck High School in Annapolis. He worked a summer job at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) in 2022 in Food and Nutrition where his role included delivering meals to patients throughout the hospital, returning used dinnerware to the kitchen and washing and sanitizing dishes. “My job in Food and Nutrition helped me come out of my shell a little bit,” Bennett says. “I became more comfortable with introducing myself to patients and making sure they knew who I was.” His summer position with LHAAMC’s Food and Nutrition team helped him ease his way into the next step he had mapped out for his future: a degree as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). In this role, he would have the opportunity to provide basic bedside patient care—such as checking vitals — and other patient-centered tasks under the supervision of licensed nursing staff. Bennett applied and was accepted into CAT South’s Academy of Health Profession, a 2-year program offered to 11th and 12th grade students. This program empowers students to become multi-skilled health care providers. “I have always loved talking to people, helping them and being in an environment where I’m communicating with a team,” Bennett says. Luminis Health’s partnership with CAT South means that Bennett and his classmates were able to complete 20 hours of hands-on clinical training at LHAAMC. Having worked in Food and Nutrition the previous summer, Bennett felt right at home—his classmates relied on his familiarity with the facility to help them navigate. “I knew my way around the entire hospital and my peers were able to rely on me for directions,” he recalls. “I knew where everything was.” After graduation, Bennett knew that he wanted to apply the skills he had learned as a student at CAT South to a job as a CNA at LHAAMC: “The people who work at LHAAMC are super nice,” he says. “It’s a great community and it’s the largest hospital in the Annapolis area, so they’ve got cool high-tech equipment that you just don’t see at other facilities. There’s nothing else like Luminis Health in Maryland.” Bennett’s dedication and focus paid off when he was hired as a CNA at LHAAMC. He officially started his role at the hospital this month. For Bennett, this is just the beginning of a well-considered career plan: his ultimate goal is medical school, where he would like to earn a degree in anesthesiology. CAT South and Luminis Health’s collaboration has played an important role in helping him achieve his dream of helping others through a healthcare career. AACPS students can get involved in this program by speaking with their instructors about the CAT Academy of Health. Beyond this partnership, Luminis Health has a variety of job shadow, student volunteer and internship opportunities for any student who may be interested in the healthcare field.
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