- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” These still-famous words were composed by Thomas Paine, an immigrant soldier in General Washington’s beleaguered, ever-retreating Colonial Army in December 1776. In America’s first existential crisis, the Army was just a few expiring enlistments away from vanishing from the field. The ideas expressed in Paine’s pamphlets, collectively called the American Crisis, rallied the nascent nation and changed the world. Words and ideas from the past, even if requiring an adjustment to gendered pronouns, can help us now too, providing a stream of solace in our collective despair. Since that first crisis, Americans have, as a united nation and as citizens of the world, endured many such “fiery trials.” Civil war, global war, economic depression, civil unrest, terrorism and even prior pandemics have all tested our unity, our perseverance and our foundational beliefs. All were alarming, all were overcome. I do not believe that those previous generations had more grit, determination and optimism than our own. We are made of the same stern stuff. We can honor the service of our ‘essential’ neighbors who care for us bravely by caring for one another and embracing unity above all else. Proof of this assertion can be found in the daily demonstration of duty and courage by the thousands of ‘essential’ workers who set aside their own concerns to stock our groceries, answer our 911 calls and staff our hospitals with every type of caregiver. It is not that they are ignorant of the risks presented by COVID-19. The opposite is true. Rather, they embody Nelson Mandela’s description of courage and bravery. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave person is not the one who does not feel afraid, but the one who conquers that fear.” These ‘essential’ neighbors have ranked duty over fear. You won’t find any summer soldiers or sunshine patriots among those staffing our grocery stores, firehouses, police stations and hospitals. We have before us “many long months of struggle and suffering,” as Churchill warned Britain’s House of Commons in 1940. How we conduct ourselves individually and collectively during our ‘grievous ordeal’ will define us for future generations. We can honor the service of our ‘essential’ neighbors who care for us bravely by caring for one another and embracing unity above all else. If we use this crisis to summon forth the “better angels of our nature,” future Americans will look to our generation with admiration and awe. 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.
- Infectious Disease, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen you’re sick, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids. Fever, diarrhea or vomiting can all lead to dehydration, which occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body. The most obvious remedy is to drink more water, but what if you or your kids want to mix it up with a healthy alternative? We have some ideas for you. Sports/Electrolyte Drinks Electrolyte drinks are popular among athletes, particularly when training in the summer heat. However, they are also a common go-to when illness strikes. Loss of water often leads to an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, are minerals and salts that the body needs to function. If you see white residue on you or your child’s skin or clothing, that indicates sodium loss and that you may want to reach for an electrolyte drink. There are several recipes online for creating a homemade electrolyte drink, but here’s an easy one for you to use from Health, Home and Happiness: Homemade Sports/Electrolyte Drink 1 cup lemon juice (approximately six to eight lemons) 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda Place in a pint jar or container. Stir to combine (the lemon juice and baking soda will react, so stir it down). Keep concentrate in the fridge. This can be added to 1 gallon of water, or add 1-2 tablespoons to each 8 ounces (1 cup) of water. But if electrolyte drinks aren’t your thing, fruit-infused water will also provide you with some extra flavor. Fruit-Infused Water There are endless combinations of your favorite fruits and herbs (especially mint and basil) you can add to water. Test out your favorite combinations, plus consider preserving your herbs and fruit in ice cubes for an easy way to add flavor to your water on the go. Try this simple recipe for water with strawberry and mint leaves: Strawberry-Mint Water Slice 1/2 cup fresh, rinsed strawberries Rinse several sprigs of fresh mint Add to one to two quarts of cool water Refrigerate for several hours to let flavors mingle Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCoughing. Fever. Trouble breathing. These are some of the potential symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). If you or someone in your family exhibits these symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend you call your health care provider. Most people will have mild illness and will be asked to recover at home. If this applies to you, here are the steps you should take. Stay home Unless you are seeking medical care, please stay home. Self-isolate in a room away from other people in your home as much as you can. Use a different bathroom if you have one. Clean “high-touch” surfaces in those rooms, but let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas. Such surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Don’t share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels/wash cloths, bar soap or bedding with other people in your home. Wash these items thoroughly after using them. Wash your hands Hand washing is the single most important step in preventing infection from COVID-19. Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to wash your hands, and have every member of your family do the same. Wash your hands after you touch surfaces, use the bathroom, cough, sneeze and before you eat or prepare meals. Monitor your symptoms If you are experiencing more serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or bluish lips, call 911 and say you may have COVID-19. This will allow health care providers to take steps to protect themselves and other patients. Wear a cloth covering, scarf or face mask if you have one. If you don’t, cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue. The CDC advises that you practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from others. When it’s okay to stop home isolation You can stop isolating when you’ve had no fever (without taking fever-reducing medications) for at least 72 hours, your other symptoms have improved and it has been a least seven days since your symptoms first appeared, the CDC says. After your fever has subsided, we recommend you follow these prevention steps for 10 days: Stay home except to get medical care. Don’t go to work or any public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride sharing or taxis. Ask a friend or family member who is healthy to help you with errands including buying groceries or picking up medications. Avoid people who are at high-risk of developing severe infections from COVID-19, including elderly people, people who are immunocompromised and people who have chronic health conditions such as chronic heart, lung or kidney problems. Author Jean Murray is Anne Arundel Medical Center’s director of Infection Control.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWith stay-at-home orders in place across our state and country, coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed the way we interact with everyone, including our family and friends. Traditional family gatherings are on hold. Easter Sunday dinners and Passover seders won’t look like they have in previous years. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find creative ways to celebrate these holidays and other get-togethers with our loved ones. While we are hearing a lot about social distancing, I’d like to think of it more as physical distancing. Staying connected to other people is vital to our mental health – even if that means we’re not in the same physical space. That’s where technology can be a wonderful tool. Tools such as Zoom, FaceTime and Skype can help keep your holiday traditions alive. For example, if you have plans for a special holiday dinner, you can arrange to have all of your family members log in at the same time and share a meal virtually. If an Easter egg hunt is part of your annual celebrations, see if you can do a live broadcast of your children scouting for eggs. Many churches and other houses of worship are holding online services, too. During these unusual times, the elderly tend to be the most vulnerable, as they may live alone and are unable to see their children and grandchildren. That’s why it’s important to still do things that are joyful and to include older family members as much as possible in these activities. It’s beneficial for your children, too! Looking ahead As we look past the spring holidays and ahead to the next few months, consider other ways to stay in touch, such as a simple phone call or a good old-fashioned letter. Writing letters is something we’ve gotten away from over the years. But receiving a letter in the mail will really lift your spirits – especially now. Social media can also be a great distraction in uncertain times. We could all use a little humor and lightheartedness and it is yet another way to stay connected to others while keeping our physical distance. But on the flip side, social media can also be full of negativity, rumors and misinformation. If you find yourself getting bogged down by too much bad news, it’s time to log off. We often caution against allowing children to spend too much time on their devices. However, encourage your kids to call or FaceTime with their friends that they can’t see right now. Playing video games and other online games with friends is another good way for them to socialize from afar. Mental health matters These times are trying for everyone. If you struggle with your mental health, it’s especially difficult. Many people with mental health issues may want to isolate themselves, but connecting with other people becomes more important than ever. For people who take medication, make sure you fill your prescriptions and stock up on any medications you are on (some pharmacies, such as CVS, are offering free delivery.) If you can, arrange telehealth visits with your therapist or provider. And don’t forget to practice self-care. One of my favorite breathing exercises is to breathe in faith and breathe out fear. I like to do a series of three cleansing breaths. Above all, remember that this isn’t going to last forever and we are all in this together. Author Jo Deaton is the senior director of nursing for Behavioral Health at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She can be reached at 667-204-7313.
- General Page Tier 3BlogWith the social distancing brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we are all spending more time in our homes than usual. This is the perfect time to remind ourselves that intuitive eating is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Intuitive eating is about becoming attuned to our body’s natural hunger and fullness signals or cues. We are born with this inner wisdom but it can be difficult to connect with after years of fad dieting and food myths. We often encourage individuals to slow down and use the acronym HALT (Hungry, Anger, Lonely, Tired) before choosing something to eat. If you are truly physiologically hungry (H) and haven’t eaten in two to four hours, then the answer is you need food. The goal is that when we are hungry, 90 percent of the time we select nutrient-dense foods that have a positive impact on health. These are foods rich in lean protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and fiber. Nutrient-dense foods also provide us with needed vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Then, 10 percent of the time we are including fun foods. These are foods that might be less nutrient dense but are important to our families and us. Food is fuel for our bodies, but it is also a source of pleasure, family traditions and cultural importance. We need to stop labeling food as “good” or “bad” and remind ourselves that all foods fit in a healthy diet. It is about awareness and moderation. We all know that sometimes we eat for reasons other than hunger. When you are angry (A), upset, feeling stressed or sad, you might turn to food as a way to make yourself feel better. By identifying how you are feeling and how emotions can impact your desire to eat, you can look for behaviors other than eating that might help you. For example, taking a walk, meditating, reading a book or making a list of activities you enjoy so you have ideas ready when needed. Learning ways to manage your emotions aside from eating will help build a life of resilience and joy. It might be that during this time of social isolation you feel lonely (L). Choosing to eat to assuage loneliness might make you feel better in the short run, but can negatively impact your health when you find yourself at home for many days on end. If feeling lonely drives your desire to eat, make an effort to call a friend, FaceTime with family, write a letter or look for other ways to stay connected. Meeting with a therapist or mental health professional to discuss your feelings might also be helpful. Behaviorists say that humans are the only animals on the planet that don’t know the difference between feeling tired (T) and being hungry. We may think we need a snack at 9 or 10 pm when what we really need is sleep. Looking for ways to rejuvenate yourself without food is important. Drink eight to 10 ounces of water and take a walk. Listen to a calming meditation or take an afternoon nap and be sure you are getting adequate sleep at night. During this stressful time of social distancing try to be mindful about your relationship with food. Remember, food is the fuel our bodies need to run efficiently but at the same time, what we like to eat makes us feel good. So, bake those chocolate chip cookies with your children or have a small bowl of ice cream. But, slow down, enjoy every bite and don’t feel guilty. Keep the big picture in mind and remember that when we fuel our bodies with nutrient-rich foods, we feel good and are better able to handle life’s ups and downs. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555.
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