- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogQuitting smoking can be challenging under the best of circumstances. Add in the stress and isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and you compound that challenge. Research shows that smoking and vaping are harmful to lung health. They can also increase the risk of not only developing COVID-19, but impact the severity of the infection. How does smoking or vaping increase my risk of getting COVID-19? We know that smoking causes several respiratory diseases, including emphysema. Smoking also suppresses the immune system and reduces your body’s ability to fight infections. This makes you more susceptible to COVID-19. Does smoking raise my risk of getting a severe case of COVID-19? Smoking affects the ability of the lungs to function normally and do their job of providing fresh oxygen to your body. When you add a COVID-19 infection on top of that, this can lead to worse health outcomes. Does vaping increase my risk of a COVID-19 infection? According to the National Institutes of Health, people who smoke are two times more likely to get the flu than non-smokers. This may be true for COVID-19 infection as well. Research is limited for COVID-19 infections caused by electronic cigarettes/vaping. A study by the Journal for Adolescent Health looked at more than 4,000 young people ages 13-24 who vaped. The study found that they were five times more likely to get COVID-19 than young people who didn’t vape. Youth who smoked cigarettes and vaped were seven times more likely to get a COVID-19 diagnoses, compared with those who didn’t use any form of tobacco. How can I quit smoking or vaping? Trying to quit during this time is possible. But it requires a plan. Your plan can include finding alternative ways to deal with triggers associated with smoking. Medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for quitting nicotine are helpful in curbing smoking cravings. How long does it take to see changes in my health after quitting tobacco use? When you stop smoking, the healing starts almost immediately. Within the first 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse begin normalizing. Your lung function improves in one to three months. Make a list of all of the health benefits of quitting. Include all the important personal reasons you want to quit. This can keep you motivated. And don’t forget to reward yourself for each day you don’t smoke/vape! Resources Feel your best now by quitting tobacco. There are many resources to help you quit. They come in many forms – in-person, online or by telephone. To talk to a tobacco treatment specialist at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Nicotine Dependence Program, call 443-481-5366. Author Joanne Ebner is manager of the Cancer Prevention Department and Nicotine Dependence Program at Anne Arundel Medical Center. You can reach her office at 443-481-5366/67.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWe understand that this time has brought a new set of challenges to breastfeeding moms. Bringing a baby into the world is a time full of emotions, but now you might be wondering, ‘What if I get COVID-19?’ Here’s what you should know about breastfeeding during COVID-19 – what you should do if you are infected and what you can do to prevent the spread to your baby while still breastfeeding. Can I breastfeed if I have COVID-19? The answer is simple – yes! If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, it is safe to breastfeed. Breastfeeding helps keep babies healthy by providing immune-boosting properties unique to mom and baby. Breastfeeding moms also produce the hormone oxytocin, which reduces anxiety and promotes rest. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports breastfeeding during a COVID-19 infection if safety measures are being taken. What safety measures should be taken if I have COVID-19? Moms with a COVID-19 infection should keep a reasonable distance from their babies when possible. They should also use a mask and proper hand hygiene when caring for baby until they: Have been fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever medications (acetaminophen or ibuprofen); Are at least 10 days past when symptoms first appeared (or, in the case of asymptomatic women identified only by screening tests, at least 10 days have passed since the positive test result), and symptoms have improved. This means that breastfeeding moms should wear a mask when caring for their babies and pumping or handling breast milk until the above safety measures are met. If I test positive for COVID-19 in the hospital, will I be separated from my baby? At AAMC, no. You will not be separated from your baby. The early postpartum period is crucial for establishing breastfeeding. Studies have shown that if moms are able to practice skin–to–skin and feed their babies often, they are more likely to meet their breastfeeding goals. Can breast milk protect my baby from COVID-19? We are learning more about COVID-19 every day, but what we do know is that when a mom’s immune system is triggered by a virus, it will start producing antibodies that the baby needs through breast milk. Keep in mind that breast milk constantly changes depending on the needs of that particular baby. And as always, if you have questions about breastfeeding, don’t hesitate to reach out to your lactation consultant or provider for help. Learn more about prenatal care and giving birth at AAMC during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWe all want to be healthy. But there is so much information out there when it comes to your health that it’s hard to know what to focus on. Routine doctor visits are important, but only account for 10 percent of what determines your health. Social and environmental factors are twice as important at 20 percent. And genetics (what you inherit from your family) comes in at 30 percent. The biggest factor, at 40 percent, is your health habits and behaviors. Here are six of the most important things you can do for good health, according to our experts. Be physically active. Exercise for at least 20 minutes, three times a week. Cardio is the most important type of exercise you can do. But it’s also important to incorporate resistance training, like weight lifting, into your routine. People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, live longer, have less joint pain, are in a better mood, and are at less risk for cancer. Find an activity you can enjoy. This gives you the best chance to keep it going over time. Don’t smoke. Life is hard enough when you’re doing everything right. Smoking harms almost every organ in your body. Smoking causes cancer, and it can also cause heart disease, osteoporosis, cataracts, and even increases your chance of becoming diabetic. Don’t drink alcohol to excess. Moderate drinking is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Excessive drinking causes liver disease, high blood pressure, many types of cancer, and the empty calories increase your risk of obesity. Eat multiple servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This means about two cups of fruit and two cups of vegetables. The vitamins, minerals and fiber they provide reduce blood pressure and cholesterol as well as diseases of the intestines. They also help you repair injured tissues, reducing your risk of some cancers. Wear seatbelts. Your injuries from a car crash will be worse without a seatbelt. And not wearing one during a car crash can be fatal. More than half of people ages 13 to 44 who die in car accidents don’t have on seatbelts. Achieve a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of disease, most notably diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, arthritis, and many types of cancer. Being underweight is also a risk factor for disease. Ask your doctor about your BMI (your measure of body fat based on height and weight). A BMI of 19 to 25 is healthy. These six health habits may not seem all that difficult, but only three percent of Americans do them all. Talk with your doctor about your challenges. Write down your goals and post them where you can see them every day. If you achieve all six, you will have more energy, feel more focused and motivated, handle stress better, and have the best possible quality of life. Originally published June 12, 2017. Last updated Sept. 8, 2020.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2020. AAMC is one of only 140 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor. The award recognizes AAMC’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. AAMC has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart attack patients to the highest level of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations. “We are extremely proud to be recognized for nationally for high standards cardiac care,” said Scott Katzen, MD, medical director of AAMC’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab. “This award demonstrates our commitment to providing optimal care for our cardiac patients and that the wellbeing of our community remains our priority.” To receive the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, AAMC has sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for two consecutive years and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. “As a Platinum Performance Award recipient, AAMC has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “By meeting the award requirements set forth in the registry, AAMC has demonstrated a commitment to providing reliable, comprehensive treatment for heart attack patients based on current clinical guideline recommendations.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that almost 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others. Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEvery day, we are learning new things about coronavirus (COVID-19) and the way it spreads. The virus mainly spreads through people who are in close contact with each other. When someone who is infected (with or without symptoms) coughs, sneezes or speaks, they produce respiratory droplets that others can inhale. Or, they can get into their eyes, nose or mouth. This is why we recommend that you wear a mask in public spaces, and when you are around other people. And it’s especially important when you can’t stay at least six feet apart from others. If you are infected with COVID-19, wearing a mask may keep you from passing the virus to others. Likewise, other people’s masks may protect you. What type of mask should you wear? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people cover their faces with cloth masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Cloth masks should have at least two layers of fabric. You should avoid wearing masks with exhalation valves or vents. These vents appear as a plastic clip on the outside of the mask. These types of masks allow the breath you exhale to come out through the holes unfiltered. This can allow your respiratory droplets to reach others and spread the virus. Personal protective equipment, such as surgical masks and N-95 respirators, should be saved for health care workers and others who are on the front lines of patient care. How to wear a mask It’s important to make sure you are wearing your mask properly. Here are some of the dos and don’ts of mask wearing: Do cover your mouth, nose and chin. Don’t leave gaps between your face and the mask. If the mask slips down over your nose, the mask is either loose or too big. A proper fitting mask should contour your face and minimize gapping along the nose, cheeks and chin. Don’t over-tighten your mask, as it may cause skin irritation, injury or difficulty breathing. Do handle the mask by its straps or ties when putting on and removing the mask. Don’t touch the front surface of the mask while wearing it. Adjust mask from the side edges to reposition it. If you do have to touch it, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after. Do wash your cloth mask daily or more frequently, if it becomes soiled. You can wash your masks with other laundry using regular detergent. Don’t wear a mask that is damp. Do put your used masks in a clean paper bag or container that allows moisture to escape. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after you touch them. Don’t remove the mask to speak to someone. The CDC doesn’t recommend that children under the age of two wear masks. People who have trouble breathing should consult with their doctor. You should wear masks while observing other safety precautions. Those include washing your hands often using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitizer, staying at least six feet apart from others, and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. We all must do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are in this together. Author Jean Murray is the director of Infection Control for Anne Arundel Medical Center.
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