- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGlendale, MD — As new federal data shows more women are delaying prenatal care, Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) is hosting its third annual Community Baby Shower Saturday, April 11, 2026 from noon to 4 p.m. Due to growing popularity and a desire to reach more families, LHDCMC is partnering with Reid Temple A.M.E to host this year’s Community Baby Shower at the church’s campus in Glendale. The Community Baby Shower is free and open to the public and will support expectant mothers and families with children up to age 2 through: Educational presentations on pregnancy, maternal mental health, and lactation. Local vendors offering baby essentials and supportive services. A raffle for breast bumps, a car seat, and stroller. Diaper and other baby giveaways. “During the pandemic, Reid Temple A.M.E. Church was a trusted partner in helping us educate and vaccinate the community against COVID-19,” said Temi Oshiyoye, Luminis Health’s director of Community Health Improvement. “We are proud to partner again to ensure families have the knowledge, resources, and support they need for a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.” The need for early and consistent care is more urgent than ever. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that a quarter of women delay prenatal care, which increases the risk of complications and maternal mortality. The trend is especially concerning in Prince George’s County, where eight out of 10 women leave the county to deliver their babies. Black women also continue to face disproportionately high maternal mortality rates, approximately 50% higher than the national average. LHDCMC is committed to addressing the maternal health crisis. Next month, the hospital will break ground on a new Women’s Health Pavilion on its Lanham campus. The pavilion will have inpatient obstetric services, including labor, delivery, and postpartum care. These expanded women’s health services are scheduled to launch in 2028. Once fully operational, LHDCMC expects to deliver approximately 2,000 babies each year. “By expanding access to comprehensive women’s health services, we can help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in our community and build healthier, thriving families for generations to come,” said Deneen Richmond, president of LHDCMC. “Our annual Community Baby Shower is one way we are helping families start that journey with the support they deserve.“ In addition to expanding hospital-based services, Luminis Health is strengthening its investment in community-based prevention efforts. This summer, the health system will launch the Start Well Preconception Program, a cohort-based initiative designed to support women before pregnancy. Led by registered nurses, midwives and doulas, and community health team members, the program connects participants with trusted clinical guidance and a supportive peer network as they navigate important health decisions. Sessions include education and on-site health screenings such as A1C testing, diabetes risk assessment, nutrition counseling and blood pressure checks. Thanks to a generous grant from Care First and the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the program will be offered free of charge beginning in July, and no insurance is required. Together, these efforts reflect Luminis Health’s commitment to ensuring every family in Prince George’s County has access to the care, education, and support needed for a healthy baby before, during, and after pregnancy.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center is pleased to name Dawn Ridley as the new vice president, development. Ridley has more than 25 years’ experience in program development, fundraising, marketing, business development and new product development. She most recently served as Assistant Vice President of Institutional Giving at Howard University. “It is clear Dawn has the experience and expertise to lead our Foundation to great heights, including our current 2-year $2.5M comprehensive campaign,” said Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “Since the mission of Luminis Health is to enhance the health of the people and communities we serve, Dawn will play a pivotal role in making sure we continue to provide quality healthcare services for our family, friends, and neighbors.” “I am honored to live in Prince George’s County and now work for the premiere hospital in the region,” said Dawn Ridley. “For more than thirty years, the Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Foundation has raised funds to support hospital programs and services. With the new behavioral health pavilion being built on campus, this is an exciting time to make a positive impact in this community.” Ridley shares a passion for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives. With its Health Equity and Anti-Racism Task (HEART) Force, Luminis Health has become a national model for eradicating inequities in health care. “I am proud to further the work of the HEART Force and I’m excited about the opportunity to increase health equity for our Prince George’s community,” said Ridley. Ridley is on the faculty at Georgetown University and Howard University. She has held leadership roles with AARP, D.C. United, National Geographic Society, NFL Players Association, Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, and the Atlanta Braves baseball club. In addition, Ridley served as the chair of the AARP Black Caucus Employee Resource Group.0
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhether it’s coffee to start the day, a cold soda to revive the afternoon, or a beloved pumpkin spice latte to embrace the season, caffeine is a popular pick-me-up for many. However, while these caffeinated drinks can provide a much-needed boost, excessive consumption can have negative effects on your health. In rare instances, it can even be fatal. That’s why it’s important to know the facts. What is caffeine? Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that affects your central nervous system, helping you feel more awake and alert. It’s found in coffee beans, tea leaves, kola nuts, yerba mate, guarana berry, and cacao beans. Safe limit for caffeine: How much is too much? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, most healthy adults can consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day without any dangerous or negative health effects. If you are pregnant, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests keeping your caffeine intake below 200 milligrams a day. The amount of caffeine in beverages can vary greatly, making it easy to consume too much caffeine. Here are some typical caffeine ranges for beverages: An 8-ounce cup of coffee has between 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine. An 8-ounce cup of green or black tea has between 30 to 50 milligrams. A 12-ounce/regular-size can of caffeinated soda has between 30 to 46 milligrams. An 8-ounce energy drink has between 40 to 300 milligrams. Many energy drinks only come in 12-ounce or 16-ounce cans that can contain up to 400 milligrams of caffeine—the safe daily limit. When adding up your caffeine intake for the day, make sure you include all caffeine sources. Caffeine can also be found in chocolate and baked goods, like cookies. It’s even in some medications, such as those for headaches. And decaffeinated coffees and teas may still contain between two to 15 milligrams of caffeine. Whenever possible, read all package labels to see how much caffeine a product contains. Side effects of too much caffeine Side effects that you have had too much caffeine include: Agitation or irritability. Fast heart rate. Feeling anxious or restless. Increased urination, which can lead to dehydration. Insomnia or trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Muscle twitches, such as eye twitches. Nausea or upset stomach. Can you overdose on caffeine? Consuming around 1,200 mg of caffeine at one time can cause toxic effects on your health, according to the FDA. While rare, it is possible to overdose on caffeine, which can lead to death. Severe side effects of too much caffeine include: Cardiac arrest. Disorientation. Hallucination or psychosis. Irregular heartbeat. Muscle breakdown, called rhabdomyolysis. Seizures. The overdose risk increases if you use dietary liquid or powdered caffeine supplements, which often contain high concentrations of caffeine. For example, just one teaspoon of powdered caffeine has the same amount of caffeine as 28 cups of coffee. Why you should space out your caffeine intake When you consume caffeine, it takes 45 to 60 minutes before you start to feel it. The stimulant effects can last between three to five hours. Consuming too much caffeine all at once or having caffeinated products too close together in your day can lead to bothersome and dangerous side effects. Remember, limit your caffeine intake to 400 mg a day. And when possible, space out your caffeine intake by three to five hours, to reduce the risk of side effects. To keep caffeine from interrupting your sleep, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends avoiding caffeine at least six hours before bedtime. So, if you go to bed at 10 p.m., stop consuming caffeine by 4 p.m. Who should avoid caffeine? Some medical conditions may make it more likely to have side effects from caffeine. Talk to your doctor about what amount of caffeine is safe for you if you have: Cardiovascular disease, especially irregular heartbeat. High blood pressure. Severe anxiety. Peptic ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Liver or kidney disease. Seizures. The bottom line on caffeine Different people can experience the effects of caffeine differently. If you experience side effects from caffeine, see the specialist team at Luminis Health. They can help figure out why you may be more sensitive to caffeine. Authors Waseem Hussain, MD,is Associate Regional Director of Primary Care at Luminis Health who has expertise in all areas of family medicine including intense management of neurologic, pulmonary and cardiac diseases as well as diabetes and gynecologic care.0
- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDo you suffer from back pain? Well, you’re not alone. About 90 percent of the population will experience lower back pain at some point. Symptoms can vary by cause, severity and duration, which can make treating back pain difficult. Symptoms of lower back pain can come on quickly, often unexpected. Back pain can interfere with sleep, work or even completing simple tasks like putting on your socks and shoes. Fortunately, in many cases back pain is due to a non-worrisome cause, even though the pain can feel intense and severe at times. Patients are often surprised to learn their pain could be due to a simple muscle strain or spasm, connective tissue inflammation, arthritis, or normal wear and tear of the structures in the spine. Even more surprising, it’s often difficult for doctors to identify the exact cause of pain. An X-ray and even an MRI can appear relatively normal despite severe pain, further clouding doctors’ understanding of back pain. If you experience back pain, don’t panic. Most episodes of low back pain will resolve within a few days, and 50 percent of people fully recover within two weeks. Here are some helpful tips to manage your symptoms: Keep moving. Staying in bed for more than 24 hours only prolongs your back pain. Walking and other low-impact movements can help your pain. While it may seem counter-intuitive, the more you move the better your back will feel. Just remember to not carry heavy objects, and lift everything with your legs, not your back. Use ice and heat over the site of your pain. Try alternating ice packs or heating pads—20 minutes at a time—to help reduce spasms and inflammation. Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are more effective than acetaminophen. These non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Check with your doctor to make sure these medications are safe for you to take. If you’re not yet experiencing back pain now, there are a few things you can do to help prevent it in the future: Maintain a regular exercise schedule. Patients with a sedentary life style are at higher risk for back pain. Strengthening your core muscle groups—your back, stomach, glutes and thigh muscles—will help support the mechanical structures in your lower back and reduce your chances of having pain. Maintain a healthy body weight. Excess weight puts additional stress on your back. Avoid smoking and nicotine products. The chemicals from smoking and nicotine products constrict the tiny blood vessels that bring nutrients to the mechanical structures in your lower back. This can wear on the discs in your lower back and prevent healing after an injury. Avoid prolonged sitting at work. If you have a desk job, stand up and move around every 30 to 60 minutes. Author By Chad Patton, MD, medical director of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Center for Spine Surgery and spine surgeon at AAMC Orthopedics. To reach his office, call 410-268-8862. Originally published May 2016. Last updated August 2018.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe American Lung Association reports chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) claims nearly 135,000 American lives annually, making it the third deadliest disease after heart disease and cancer. COPD, characterized by shortness of breath, chronic cough, and chronic mucus production, is not curable, nor can you reverse lung damage linked to COPD. You can, however, treat and maintain the disease with these proactive steps. Medication Adherence “In the short term, medications help decrease COPD exacerbations. But there are long-term benefits, too,” explains Keith Goulet, DO, a critical care medicine and pulmonary disease specialist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. “Exacerbations increase lung damage. So every flare-up you prevent today slows down future disease progression.” Consult a Pulmonologist Typically, your primary care physician is the first doctor to assess symptoms associated with COPD. The next step is to consult a pulmonologist, a physician with advanced knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions and diseases. “You need to make sure your COPD diagnosis is accurate and you’re on the right medications,” says Dr. Goulet. “Ask your doctor questions if you have them. COPD can be a scary disease because it’s not curable. But it is treatable. Learning everything you can about the disease often calms those fears, and ultimately improves your quality of life.” Be Your Own Advocate Anne Arundel Medical Center offers free classes and support groups to help people with COPD better understand disease symptoms, drug administration, lifestyle adjustments, and coping strategies. COPD 101 is a 90-minute class held monthly in the fall, winter and spring. The Better Breathers Club, a support group held every other month, emphasizes lifestyle changes, such as how to travel with COPD and how nutrition plays into COPD management. Visit AAMCevents.org or call 443-481-5555 for more information or to register. Quit Smoking Smoking is not the sole cause of COPD, but it is estimated that 80 percent of those diagnosed with COPD are either current or past smokers. Specific to COPD, cigarette smoke contains toxins that irritate the lungs and trigger symptoms. Take our pledge to love your lungs, and be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card! Stay Active For COPD patients, every breath taxes the breathing muscles. To keep these muscles in good shape, it’s essential that you stay active to the best of your ability and always follow your doctor’s recommendations. Author By Keith Goulet, DO, a critical care medicine and pulmonary disease specialist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He can be reached at 410-266-1644. Originally published Sept. 24, 2015. Last updated Nov. 11, 2019.0
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