- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOver the past few weeks, President Trump’s recent diagnosis has brought attention to the treatments available for people who have COVID-19. We’ve been hearing a lot about some of these therapies lately. Some of them have a lot of research behind them. Others are more theoretical. Here’s what we know right now. Research shows there are a few medications and treatments that could help people who have COVID-19. They include steroids, such as dexamethasone, and Remdesivir, an anti-viral drug. There is also antibody therapy with convalescent plasma. Convalescent plasma is antibodies from COVID-19 survivors. It can help a patient’s symptoms, shorten their hospital stay and reduce death risk among patients in the hospital. Researchers are also testing other novel drugs now, with the consent of thousands of willing and hopeful patients and families. We are seeing the benefits of these treatments. For example, we don’t need as many ventilators for COVID-19 patients. This is great progress. But it doesn’t mean that COVID-19 is no longer a threat. Cases are rising in many parts of the country and we need to remain on guard. Still, it is gratifying to know that the medical community is fully behind efforts to find better preventions and treatments. In terms of prevention, we are excited to share with county residents some promising research happening at Anne Arundel Medical Center. We are testing convalescent plasma in two important situations. One is for people who have recently been highly exposed to someone with COVID-19, but who test negative. The other is for people who are newly COVID-19 positive, but have mild symptoms. We’ve seen promising results of COVID-19 antibodies in patients who are in the hospital. These studies will test whether the antibodies can prevent people from getting infected or prevent more serious illness in patients with a recent COVID-19 diagnosis. This is good news for the many county residents who test positive each day. And it’s good news for those who have had exposure to a household member or other close contact with the virus. If you have recently been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible to participate in either of these studies. Visit CovidPlasmaTrial.org to learn more. Or email us at AAMC at [email protected]. Enrollment is only possible for a short time after exposure or date of positive test. Author Barry Meisenberg, M.D., is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health.
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn the medical field, ironically, it is easy to adopt an unhealthy diet by eating lunches brought to the office from local restaurants, snacking at desks or ducking into a doctor’s lounge to score a bagel or doughnut. Each meal or snack seemed harmless enough but I surely wasn’t burning off nearly the amount of calories I was consuming. After a while, I stopped checking my weight. I already knew what the scale would tell me. I knew at that point that I had to rediscover healthy habits, which meant paying more attention to my diet. Many of my patients know I like to address the subject of weight management and body mass index (BMI) at office visits. The consequences of being overweight or obese are real and prevalent. Obesity is directly related to hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and the development of diabetes. Indirectly, excess weight is related to heart disease. This underscores the importance of controlling your weight. But that’s not to say that weight loss and weight maintenance aren’t challenging. READ MORE: Heart smart: All about fats Habits, both good and bad, are easy to fall into. When I took a new position several years ago, my focus was on my career and the challenges of a new work environment. Like many people, I used food to help manage my stress. This had predictable results. I was aware of what was happening but work and family took priority before my health. I made all the usual excuses but eventually realized that I needed to practice what I preached. My goal: lose 20 pounds. It was an arbitrary goal but it would get me back to my pre-wedding weight and bring my BMI under 25 and out of the overweight range. So, how’d I do it? My first big change was to break the habit of snacking on high-calorie foods. I brought bags of carrots, celery and snap peas to work for those times when my hunger was distracting. I kept the size of my meals in check as well. If I ate until I was full, I would often feel stuffed and tired 30 minutes later. Overall, I tried to limit my daily caloric intake to 1,500 calories or less. I won’t lie, I was frequently hungry. But there is nothing wrong with feeling hungry. That’s what fat burning feels like (thank you, Oprah!). This was not a deprivation diet. I did not skip meals. Occasionally, I had chocolate, bacon, chicken wings and ice cream. But I ate them in moderation and not regularly. I did not adhere to any particular diet nor did I pay attention to the glycemic index, though I mostly avoided concentrated sweets. As a result, I lost 10 pounds in one month. I was halfway to my goal. I added exercise to accelerate my weight loss and maintain muscle tone. Initially, I ran and occasionally I added weights. Usually my workouts lasted 30 minutes but never longer than 45 minutes, and I never worked out more than four days each week. I dropped roughly 13 percent of my body weight in several months. I wanted to regain a certain level of fitness, and set an example for my kids and patients. My weight loss required consistency and dedication. I worked out, downloaded apps (check out My Fitness Pal), weighed myself regularly and drank a lot of water. My family’s encouragement kept me motivated. A healthy diet is a major factor in reducing your risk for illnesses, one of them being heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease. Take small steps, like I did. Start working towards prioritizing your health and remember that it’s your choices that ultimately count. It’s not only good for you, it’s good for your heart. You can do this! Author Salvatore Lauria, MD, is a cardiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Cardiology Specialists. To schedule an appointment, call 443-481-6700. Originally published Feb. 25, 2019. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNew health studies can be confusing, especially when it comes to certain foods and drinks that affect your health. A piece of chocolate or a glass of wine are common treats, and there’s lots of conflicting information about their health benefits. Some types of chocolate and wine offer more heart-healthy benefits than others, but that’s still not a green light to overindulge. Dark Chocolate Dark chocolate has gained a reputation as being a heart-healthy treat because cocoa beans are rich in flavonoids—a nutrient that protects plants from toxins and helps repair damage. The term ‘antioxidant’ is a reference to those benefits. Studies have shown when we eat foods rich in flavonoids, we also benefit from these antioxidant powers. Flavanols are the main type of flavonoid found in cocoa. In addition to their antioxidant qualities, research has shown other potential health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure. But not all dark chocolate is created equal. The more processed chocolate is, the more flavanols are lost along the way. And flavanols are not a nutrient reported on food labels. For the most health benefits, choose a dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70 percent or higher. And remember, chocolate is not a ‘health’ food. Enjoy dark chocolate as part of a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet. Think of it as a treat rather than a regular part of your diet. Red Wine Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. Those who drink moderate amounts of red wine seem to have a lower risk of heart disease. An antioxidant called resveratrol is the substance in red wine that has received a lot of attention. The ingredient may help prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol’) and prevent blood clots. While those benefits might sound great if you enjoy a five-ounce glass of red wine with your evening meal, I would never encourage anyone to start drinking alcohol on the premise that it’s heart healthy. Too much alcohol has harmful effects on your health, such as raising your risk of high blood pressure, liver damage, obesity and certain types of cancer. Drinking too much regularly can actually weaken your heart muscle. If you truly want the health benefits of antioxidants, you should think outside of the wine and chocolate box. Stock your kitchen with antioxidant ‘super foods’ such as blueberries, strawberries, purple grapes, raw nuts, dark green veggies, salmon and green tea. Author Barbara Hutchinson, MD is a cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Feb. 16, 2016. Last updated Sept. 16, 2025.
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn one way, a bone fracture is similar to a heart attack — they are both a sign that something is wrong. Just like a heart attack triggers evaluation of cardiac risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure, a fracture should trigger a workup of risk factors for osteoporosis. Although you don’t feel it, your bones are constantly repairing and replacing old bone with new bone. But by the time you reach your mid-30s, you begin to lose bone faster than you replace it. For women, menopause speeds up this process. Over time, this leads to thinner, weaker bones and the potential for developing osteoporosis. READ MORE: No bones about it: Preventing osteoporosis with these diet and exercise habits Osteoporosis is a disease that happens when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone or both, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. This leads to weaker bones that can easily break from a fall. And in severe cases, bones can break from sneezing or small bumps. Osteoporosis is a painless disease until a bone breaks. Bone breaks related to this disease are most likely to happen in the hip, spine or wrist, but other bones can break too. Loss of height can be a sign of a vertebra, or spine, fracture, which can also lead to a stooped or hunched posture. One in two women over the age of 50 has an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. It’s important that you get a bone density scan (DEXA scan) to measure bone density and incorporate lifestyle habits that can slow down the weakening of bones. This helps reduce your risk of fractures. A DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan can diagnose osteoporosis. It uses very little radiation and produces detailed information about your bone density. Information is collected and compared to a reference group to determine your “T score.” A “T score” equal to or lower than -2.5 is considered osteoporosis. There’s also a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®) for evaluating fracture risk. Using the results of the DEXA scan, a FRAX score estimates the risk of a fracture within 10 years. Unfortunately, many women don’t get screened. Even if they have a fragility fracture, many don’t realize that’s a sign they may have osteoporosis. Bones shouldn’t break with low-energy falls such as from standing height or less. When they do, your doctor may want to run blood and bone density tests to determine if you have osteoporosis. If diagnosed, you should learn about weight-bearing exercise, fall prevention, nutrition and medication options for healthy bones. Here are some tips to improve your bone health and reduce your risk of fragility fracture: Pay attention to your calcium intake. Calcium is essential to building strong, dense bones. In fact, over 90 percent of the calcium in our bodies is deposited in our bones and teeth. Try to get 1,200 mg of calcium a day, preferably from food. If you don’t get enough from food, add a 500-600 mg calcium pill. Get enough vitamin D. Like calcium, Vitamin D supports the maintenance of healthy bones at all ages. Many people benefit from a supplement of 800-1,000 iu per day. Incorporate weight-bearing exercise into your lifestyle. Try walking 30 minutes a day. Plus, lift weights two or three days per week when cleared by your doctor. Or, if you want to have a little fun, you can play tennis, dance or go for a hike. Evaluate your home. Throw rugs, slippery surfaces and poorly lit hallways can lead to falls and then fractures. Make sure you make your surroundings safe and make any changes that are necessary. Get your eyes checked. If your sight is impaired, your chance of falling is higher. Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. Eliminate vices. Alcohol and tobacco are two common vices that are detrimental to your bone health. Educate yourself. There are many good resources on the web, including the National Osteoporosis Foundation: www.nof.org. Although osteoporosis is common, it is still a serious, painful and costly disease that can sneak up on you and change your life completely. By talking to your doctor, getting screened and making small changes for your health, you could reduce the risk of developing weak bones. Be good to your bones and they will treat you right! Author Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at Anne Arundel Medical Center Orthopedics. She can be reached at 410-268-8862. Originally published May 28, 2018. Last updated Oct. 19, 2020.
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogStarting in January 2021, Kaiser Permanente members can receive comprehensive maternity services at Anne Arundel Medical Center, in Annapolis, MD. The hospital has been a premier hospital partner to Kaiser Permanente, a health system with more than 770,000 members in the mid-Atlantic region, since 2015. “Our award-winning Permanente physicians look forward to delivering babies at Anne Arundel Medical Center. The hospital’s commitment to medical excellence matches ours,” said Richard McCarthy, MD, medical director for Kaiser Permanente. “Our Permanente physicians are able to provide exceptional inpatient care at Anne Arundel Medical Center, so we are thrilled to expand the hospital-based services we offer there.” For Kaiser Permanente members in Annapolis and surrounding areas, the Kaiser Permanente Annapolis Medical Center offers a full range of comprehensive outpatient services, including primary care, orthopedics, cardiology, podiatry, dermatology, radiology, laboratory and pharmacy. With Anne Arundel Medical Center nearby, Kaiser Permanente members have a convenient option when inpatient or other hospital-based services are needed. The addition of maternity services in January further expands the comprehensive hospital care available to Kaiser Permanente members at the facility. As part of Luminis Health, Anne Arundel Medical Center welcomes more than 5,000 babies into the world each year — the second most in the state of Maryland. It is also home to a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, which provides care to critically ill babies. “As the second busiest delivery site in the state, our ability to provide high quality, low cost, patient- and family-centered care has positioned us to deliver on the promise of high value maternal and neonatal services. We are excited to advance our partnership with Kaiser Permanente in this exciting new direction and proud to be recognized as a top-rated hospital,” said Monica Jones, MD, MSc, FACOG, FACS, system chair, Luminis Health Women’s and Children’s Services. Among its many accolades for quality care, Anne Arundel Medical Center has centers of excellence in cancer, heart, joint spine and women’s and children’s services. In 2020, AAMC was recognized by US News and World Report as a top five hospital in Maryland and in 2019 the American Hospital Association awarded AAMC the Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award. “Bringing a baby into the world is a special and sometimes stressful time for parents,” said Amy Banulis, MD, obstetrician and medical director for Women’s and Children’s Services at Kaiser Permanente. “Kaiser Permanente’s members can rest assured that our maternity teams and hospital partners are committed to helping to ensure a safe and comforting arrival for their bundles of joy. And, it is exciting to now offer this exceptional care at Anne Arundel Medical Center.” Kaiser Permanente currently has 12 premier hospital partners across the mid-Atlantic region. To qualify as a premier hospital, each hospital has been carefully evaluated—and is regularly reassessed—for the quality of care, comfort, and services it provides. Kaiser Permanente is rated No. 1 in the region for several clinical quality measures, including childhood immunizations and timeliness of prenatal and postpartum care for women by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The health system currently has 33 medical centers offering a range of convenient, comprehensive services in the mid-Atlantic region, and partners with hospitals for inpatient care.
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