- Orthopedics, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWith a new school year about to start, I’ve been thinking a lot about kids and their bone health. Osteoporosis is a disease that happens when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. Many think osteoporosis only affects older people. But it’s actually a disease that begins in childhood, with symptoms that appear in adulthood. Experts believe most people reach their peak bone mass in their early 20s. After that, you are holding on to what you have and trying to keep a balance between removal and replacement of old bone – not adding new bone. So what can you do to help your children reach their optimal peak bone mass so they have healthy bones as adults? READ MORE: True Story: What I wish I had known about my bones when I was younger Develop healthy eating habits Healthy habits start in childhood, and getting enough calcium and vitamin D is key. Yes, your kids can develop a taste for leafy green vegetables, nuts like almonds, and water or milk to drink. Replace soft drinks with calcium-rich dairy drinks. If your child dislikes dairy products or is lactose-intolerant, consider almond milk or fortified orange juice. It’s also important that your child eats enough calories, especially if he or she is an athlete. Eating disorders are more common in kids than you might realize, and are a disaster for bone health during these formative years. Watch out for weight loss or low energy in your child, and seek out a dietitian if you aren’t sure if your kids are getting enough calories. Get active Get kids moving for the joy of moving, and they’ll develop a lifelong love of being active. Research shows that high-impact exercise, such as jumping, is the most powerful way to build bones and muscle. But it also has the highest risk of injury. A sprinkle of higher impact exercise along with lower intensity activities is a winning combination. For kids in elementary and middle school, it’s important for them to have time to chase, run, climb, and then rest when tired. This helps them develop independent thinking and neuromuscular coordination, all while having fun. Old-fashioned games like hopscotch and jumping rope are also great ways to build bone, balance and muscle. Walking as a family is a chance for both you and your kids to exercise and spend quality time with each other. I highly encourage you to fight to keep recess in schools. Let your local school board know that physical education is crucial not only for exercise, but to develop the skills necessary to lead an active, healthy lifestyle as adults. Organized sports are another opportunity for kids to get exercise and develop neuromuscular skills, but beware of overuse injuries. Avoid specializing in one sport until high school to make sure your child develops a well-rounded set of movement patterns and prevents repeatedly stressing the same body parts. Be careful with tournaments and other events that cram a lot of intensity into a short time, and beware of burning your kids out. The trick is getting children to develop a love of sports and other physical activity so exercise becomes a lifetime habit. READ MORE: Preventing osteoporosis: 7 tips for better bone health Limit screen time Phones, computers, TVs, video games – screens are a big part of our world, for both children and adults. Screen time can take a lot of time away from physical activity if you let it. I don’t think we have figured this out, but consider limiting screen time to allow your kids to get at least an hour of exercise every day. The great thing about nurturing good bone health is that these habits are good for the rest of your health, too. So, as kids head back to school, let’s think about ways to help them eat right and stay active to ensure a lifetime of healthy bones! Author Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at AAMC Orthopedics. She can be reached at 410-268-8862. Originally published Aug. 26, 2019. Last updated Oct. 19, 2020.0
- Cancer Care, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere’s a good chance you’ve never heard of a Juul or “juuling.” But it’s likely your son or daughter has. A Juul, a type of e-cigarette, is a new device popular among those in middle school, high school and college. A Juul looks like a USB flash drive and you can even charge it through a laptop. At first glance, it seems like a harmless device. The reality, however, is far worse. One Juul pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. Children who use these devices are apt to become addicted to nicotine, and they are much more likely to smoke cigarettes as adults than kids who don’t use these products. Equally as alarming, you can fill the device with homemade substances including “wax,” a concentrated and more potent form of marijuana. It comes in a variety of fruity flavors, making it appealing to children. And its small design makes it easy to hide, allowing children to bring it to school and even smoke it during class. The proliferation of Juuls has caused some schools to take measures against its use on campus, including removing bathroom stall doors and taking disciplinary action against students caught using them. Adolescence is often a difficult time full of uncertainty and insecurity. As parents and concerned citizens, it’s important to be educated on how companies take advantage of this vulnerable time to entice kids into behaviors that will have lasting effects on their health. Talk to your children and don’t let them fall victim. Take our pledge to love your lungs, and be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card! To learn more about smoking cessation resources at AAMC, call 443-481-5366. Author Stephen Cattaneo, MD, is a thoracic surgeon and medical director of Thoracic Oncology at AAMC.0
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLearning to juggle the demands of work with the needs of your new family is hard no matter how you feed your baby. Pumping at work allows you to continue the special breastfeeding relationship you established and reap the health rewards for you and your baby. Legally, your employer must provide break time and space for mothers to pump breast milk. Getting familiar with your rights as an employee and the logistics of pumping can help you feel more confident in your decision to continue breastfeeding. Prior to Returning to Work Learn how to juggle it all. AAMC’s Breastfeeding and the Working Mother class will teach you the secrets to maintaining a good milk supply, the proper use of your breast pump and proper feeding of baby while away from mom. Get familiar with your pump. At least two weeks before you plan to return to work, get your pump out of the case and figure out how to make it work. Check to see if the maker of your pump has a helpful online tutorial. Remember, most insurance companies now cover the cost of your pump. Talk to your insurance company for their policy. Start freezing. Don’t stress thinking you need to stockpile frozen milk before you return to work. Ideally, each day you will pump enough milk at work to feed your child the next day. Having some frozen milk can be helpful though. Before you return to work, find a time you can pump each day. Pumping after your morning feeding, when you tend to have the most milk, is recommended. Freeze the milk in the amount your baby takes in a bottle. Get familiar with tips for storing, freezing and thawing breast milk. Discuss logistics. Talk to your employer about where you will pump and store your milk. Remember, the law is on your side. Legally, the space for you to pump must be functional for expressing milk, shielded from view, free from intrusion, available as needed and NOT a bathroom. Back to Work Block off your schedule. If you control your schedule, block out 30-minute time slots every three hours. Try to estimate when you will last feed your baby before heading to work, and go from there. Consistency in your pumping time will help you maintain your milk supply and help pumping become part of your routine, but your body can be flexible. The most important thing is to not skip pumpings. The number of times you pump will depend on how many feedings you miss while you’re away from your baby. Find support. Get support from other women who are working and breastfeeding. Talking about the challenges, offering tips to simplify the process and sometimes just laughing about how you’d like to throw your pump out the window will keep you motivated. Join AAMC’s Back to Work and Breastfeeding Support Group or AAMC Smart Parents on Facebook to connect with other moms. If you’re not sure if you want to continue breastfeeding after you return to your job, it could be helpful to set up a ‘trial period’ for yourself. Trying it for a set amount of time will give you a chance to get familiar with a routine and help you make the ultimate decision of how long you’d like to continue. Author Kim Knight is a board-certified lactation consultant with Breastfeeding Works which offers home consultations and workplace lactation support. She has provided support to thousands of breastfeeding moms during the course of her career. Kim is a busy mother of three, teaching AAMC’s Breastfeeding Basics and Breastfeeding and the Working Mother classes in addition to leading the Breastfeeding Support Group. Breastfeeding Resources Breastfeeding Basics Class: Learn how to prepare for breastfeeding, how to hold your baby, how often and how long to feed, how to avoid common problems and much more. Breastfeeding Warm Line: Anne Arundel Medical Center's lactation staff is available to answer any questions you might have about breastfeeding. You can reach our consultants seven days a week via our Warm Line at 443-481-6977. Simply leave a message and they’ll return your call between 9 am and 4 pm the same day. You can also e-mail our lactation staff anytime at [email protected]. Breastfeeding Support Group: Breastfeeding mothers are welcome to this gathering on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The group is led by Kim Knight, a board-certified lactation consultant. The group is very informal and welcoming to breastfeeding mothers regardless of experience or degree of commitment. Bring your baby! Find a Lactation Consultant: A board-certified lactation consultant can help address your breastfeeding concerns or challenges. You can find one in your area through the United States Lactation Consultant Association directory. Back to Work and Breastfeeding Support Group: Discuss questions and concerns common to nursing moms who returned to work. Share your experiences and hear new ideas on how to continue to work and breastfeed successfully. This group meets the first Friday of every month at the Big Vanilla in Pasadena. AAMC Smart Parents: Join our Facebook community focused on the journey of parenthood. This is a safe, non-judgmental group to ask questions and get answers from local moms and dads, and AAMC experts. Originally published April 15, 2016. Last updated Aug. 5, 2019.0
- Why Choose Luminis HealthWe use laparoscopic techniques, which means minimal scarring, less pain and shorter hospital stays.And once your surgery is complete, we continue to offer support, since this is a lifelong journey. We'll 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 incorporate exercise into your life in a healthy, 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 have 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 to you about options for body contouring.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageToday, there are more weight loss surgery options than ever before. One of the most common is gastric bypass.Wondering if gastric bypass 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 Gastric Bypass SurgeryPatients who have gastric bypass surgery typically lose 65-70% of their excess body weight within the first 12 months. Statistically, it is the most effective weight-loss surgery.In addition to weight loss, gastric bypass can reduce chronic conditions that commonly accompany obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnea. In the long run, you can save money on prescription drugs, doctor visits and hospital stays.How Gastric Bypass WorksLaparoscopic gastric bypass is an effective, permanent option for weight-loss surgery.For this procedure, your surgeon creates a small stomach pouch and directly attaches it to a lower section of your small intestine.With a smaller stomach pouch, you feel full sooner and stay full longer. As you eat less food, your body stops storing excess calories and starts using its fat supply for energy.Gastric bypass surgery doesn't change the way your body digests food. Instead, food spends less time in the small intestine, which may help reduce the amount of fat and calories your body absorbs. The surgery also changes the way some of your hormones work, which can lessen your hunger. How One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass WorksLuminis Health is the only program in Maryland to offer one-anastomosis gastric bypass, a variation on gastric bypass. It is the newest form of weight loss surgery.Using a stapling device, your surgeon creates a small pouch from the stomach and connects it to the small bowel. Unlike in gastric bypass, there is only one connection to the small intestine. This makes the procedure less invasive and requires less time in the operating room. After the surgery, patients feel fuller faster and absorb less fat and fewer calories.0
- Community, Pediatrics, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is prime time for frequent trips to water parks, pools, beaches and lakes. Unfortunately, it’s also the high season for drowning and even dry drowning that occurs after swimming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency care for nonfatal submersion injuries. The key to prevention is water safety education. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning water activities this summer: Learn to swim. The American Association of Pediatrics recommend children start swimming lessons around age one. You can find lessons at your local pool. Learn CPR and first aid. In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR and first aid skills could save someone’s life. Find CPR and first aid certification programs online in your local area. Use the buddy system. Never swim alone. Wear a life jacket when on a boat, raft, inner tube, kayak or canoe. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children. If you have a pool at home, make sure you have the proper safety mechanisms (i.e., gates, latches, locks, etc.) in place to prevent accidents. We all love to have fun, but we must do our part to protect others and ourselves by practicing water safety. If you have questions or concerns about preparing for summer activities, your primary care physician can help. Authors Heather Newhard, MSN, CRNP-F, is a primary care physician with Luminis Health.0
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