- Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere’s a lot of discussion about the importance of probiotics, “good” bacteria and the role they play in aiding digestion and balancing out the bad bugs in your gut. Research is hinting that probiotics may help treat diarrhea, boost your immune system for fighting colds and flu, help prevent allergy symptoms, treat irritable bowel syndrome and prevent and treat yeast and urinary tract infections, among other things. However, effects can vary from person to person. These active cultures seem to pack a powerful punch, but there are things you should know before you invest in probiotics. Let Food Be Your Source Just like your vitamins, the best source for probiotics is through their natural occurrence in whole foods, not supplements. Not only are supplements costly and unregulated by the FDA, there are questions surrounding the amount of probiotics your body can absorb through supplements. Dairy items with live and active cultures are rich in probiotics, as are pickled or fermented foods. Probiotic-rich foods include: Yogurt with live cultures Kefir (a cultured dairy drink) Pickles Sauerkraut Kimchi (a fermented Korean side dish) Tempeh (a fermented Indonesian vegetarian patty) Pickled vegetables Live cultured salsa Aged cheese, like cheddar, gouda, parmesan and swiss Assorted beverages such as kombucha tea A wide assortment of probiotic-enriched foods have jumped into the market—like juices, cereals and snack bars—but you should use caution with these as the organisms may be decayed and of little health value. Keep Them Alive The benefits of probiotics come from live organisms, so proper storage and shelf life are key to gaining their maximum benefit. Make sure you follow instructions for refrigeration, as well as use items before their expiration date in order to maintain potency. The probiotics won’t work if they’re dead when you use them. Pair Them With Prebiotics Did you know probiotics like food, too? Prebiotics are the food of choice for probiotics. They are dietary fiber that’s nondigestible and able to pass on to the gut to help good bacteria flourish. Prebiotics can be found in foods like: Whole grains Bananas Jerusalem artichokes Asparagus Onions Leeks Garlic Honey Chicory root Unfortunately you won’t find prebiotic fiber listed on labels for products with whole grains, so it’s easiest to focus on boosting your overall fiber intake. Also, prebiotics do not have to be eaten at the same time as probiotics, but there are some great combinations you can put together, like sliced bananas added to your yogurt. Fresh asparagus pairs nicely with tempeh or kimchi. Is There Too Much of a Good Thing? Still considering taking a probiotic supplement? Probiotics aren’t necessarily needed every day like a multi-vitamin, and there are some people, like those who are immunosuppressed, who may need to be careful about how much they take. If you’re considering a probiotic supplement in addition to or instead of adding probiotic-rich foods to your diet, check in with your doctor. There may be specific strains that would benefit you more and guidelines for how much and how often you should take the supplement. Also, since the FDA does not regulate probiotic supplements, your doctor or registered dietitian can steer you toward a reputable product. Ever consider nutritional counseling? Learn more about this service from Anne Arundel Medical Center. Author By Ann Caldwell, nutritionist and registered dietitian at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach her call 443-481-5555. Originally published April 28, 2015. Last updated July 23, 2018.
- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogPicture your cartilage as a cushion covering all of our joints. In the knee, this cushion is a little less than a quarter inch thick and covers the entire knee joint surface. If your knee cartilage is injured, a painful divot or crater can appear on the surface. In people under 40, this is often caused by an athletic or sports injury. One treatment I have used with great success when repairing cartilage damage in younger adult patients is transplanting the patients’ own cartilage back into the damaged area, specifically known as Carticel Autologous Cartilage Implantation (ACI). You’re an ideal candidate for ACI if you: Have cartilage damage the size of a nickel or larger; Are under 40; Do not have arthritis; and Have healthy surrounding cartilage. ACI is a two-staged procedure. The first stage is a minor cartilage biopsy, where a small piece of the joint cartilage is harvested from a part of the knee that does not bear weight. The small sample—about the size of two Tic-Tacs—is sent to a special laboratory, where it is cultured and grown into several million “baby” cartilage cells. About two months following the first procedure, the surgeon opens the knee again to implant the new cells. First, the damaged cartilage is cleaned out. Then the new cells are put into place, secured with a small membrane sewn over the defective area. Within six hours the new cells cling to the damaged area and begin to grow. The new cells continue to grow, eventually filling in the damaged area in about three months. Healing takes several months, but patients should return to near pre-injury status, allowing you to return to a normal lifestyle. How do I know if I have knee cartilage damage in the first place? Cartilage damage may be identified following an acute injury or following chronic knee pain, which is pain that has re-occurred for at least two to three months. When you experience knee pain, specialists often start with conservative treatment options, including anti-inflammatory medication, rest and physical therapy, and sometimes this is enough to significantly improve the situation. When conservative measures don’t work, an MRI may be ordered. The MRI can help uncover whether there is joint surface cartilage damage and its size. What can I do if I have cartilage damage, and I’m not a candidate for ACI? If you have small damage—about the size of a dime or smaller—you may benefit from an arthroscopic microfracture technique, where tiny holes are punched into the affected area and debrided to promote cartilage healing. This requires the surrounding cartilage to be in good condition. Following this type of procedure, patients are on crutches for about six weeks. For small cartilage defects, we now have some new cartilage transplant techniques that can get you going even faster. If you’re over 40 and/or have arthritis, you may be a better candidate for a partial or full knee replacement. Talk with your orthopedic specialist to uncover how to best treat your knee pain. Author James York, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at AAMC Orthopedics. To reach him, call 410-268-8862. Originally published March 2015. Last updated July 2018.
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou may not realize it, but your bones are in a constant state of regeneration. Your body naturally replaces old bone with new. But by the time you reach your mid-30s, you begin to lose more bone than your body can replace and then menopause speeds this process up. Over time this leads to thinner, weaker bones and the potential for developing osteoporosis. One in two women over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. It’s important that you go for bone scans to measure bone loss, as well as incorporate lifestyle habits that can slow down the weakening of bones. Ultimately, this helps reduce your risk of fractures. A bone density test called DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) can diagnose osteoporosis. A DEXA scan uses very little radiation and produces detailed information about your bone density by comparing data from two X-rays operating at different frequencies. Information is collected and compared to a reference group to determine your bone mineral density. “The bone density from the DEXA scan helps your radiologist determine your T-score, which we use to diagnose osteoporosis,” says John Park, MD, a radiologist with Anne Arundel Diagnostics Imaging. “A T-score of -2.5 or lower indicates you have osteoporosis.” You should talk to your doctor if you’ve gone through menopause or if you have any of the following risk factors: Low physical activity Low body weight Smoke Drink too much alcohol Heavy caffeine use Have a diet low in calcium and vitamin D Previous fracture, especially after age 50 Menopause before age 45 Take certain medicines, for example long-term use of corticosteroids Family history of osteoporosis There’s also a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®) for evaluating fracture risk. Using the results of the DEXA scan, a FRAX score can be given to estimate 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. “A bone fracture is not unlike a heart attack — they are both a sign that something is wrong. In the case of a fracture, it could mean you have osteoporosis or a weaker form of bone loss called osteopenia,” says Christina Morganti, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at Anne Arundel Medical Center Orthopedics. 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. You can improve your bone health and reduce your risk of fragility fractures by doing the following: Pay attention to your calcium intake. 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. 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. Evaluate your home. Throw rugs, slippery surfaces and poorly lit hallways can lead to falls and then fractures. Get your eyes checked. If your sight is impaired, your chance of falling is higher. 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: nof.org. Authors Christina Morganti, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Osteoporosis Program at Anne Arundel Medical Center Orthopedics. John S. Park, MD, is a radiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
- News & Press Releases, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs adults, we’ve all heard about the financial damage identity theft can do. But do we also need to worry about protecting our kids’ identities from thieves? A Growing Crime Approximately 140,000 identity frauds are committed against children each year. The rate of identity theft for children is 35 times higher than the rate for adults—and growing. In 2014, the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council reported a 300 percent increase in calls related to child identity theft. Why Thieves Target Kids Child identity theft happens when someone steals a child’s personal information, often a Social Security number (SSN). The thief uses it to open credit cards, secure loans or engage in other criminal activity. How They Get Away With It Criminals can derail a child’s life in just three steps: The thief steals a child’s information. The thief uses data breaches/hacks, computer viruses or email phishing to access a child’s information, usually a SSN. The thief establishes a credit history. The thief typically tries to open an account with minimal credit history requirements—such as a cell phone, utility or unsecured credit card account—using the stolen SSN with a different name and date of birth. The thief builds up credit, and then cashes out. After the first account is set up, the thief can set up higher-value accounts, each account growing in size. When ready, the thief cuts ties with the identity, allowing any open accounts to go into default. The Impact on Children Most people are familiar with the financial cost of identity theft. There’s also a huge opportunity cost. Restoring a child’s identity can take years. In that time, child identity theft victims could be denied student loans, scholarships, internships, jobs, credit cards or housing. What You Can Do There’s a simple tool you can use to protect your child’s identity: a credit freeze. Maryland law requires that credit agencies allow parents to create a credit report for a child in order to freeze the account. The sooner you freeze your child’s credit, the lower the risk for identity theft. Why it works? Creditors cannot access an account that is frozen. Without a credit report to support an application, creditors are highly unlikely to approve and open an account for anyone who tries to use your child’s SSN. To freeze your child’s credit, submit a freeze request online or in writing to the credit agencies. Learn how to do it. Know the Warning Signs How can you tell if your child’s identity is stolen? If any of these red flags sound familiar, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urges you to act immediately: Unusual calls, bills and offers for your child. You may receive calls from collection agencies. bills from credit card companies or service providers; credit card offers; or even bank account checks—all in your child’s name. Employment confirmation requests. The IRS, Social Security Administration or other government agency may ask to confirm that your child is employed, even though she is not or never has been. IRS notifications. The IRS may notify you that the information you filed for a dependent child is already listed on another filer’s tax return. Or, your child may receive a notice that he has failed to pay taxes on income that he never received. Denied benefits. If your child or your family is expecting to receive government benefits and is denied, it may be because another account is using your child’s SSN to receive benefits. Visit the FTC website to learn what to do. Learn more about protecting your child’s identity and about pediatrics at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Sources: Maryland Hospital Association; 2012 Child Identity Theft Report. Originally published Dec. 9, 2015. Last updated July 11, 2018.
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLately, it seems like everything that comes on the news is plagued with disaster and acts of violence. And on June 28, the violence hit our backyard when a gunman entered the Capital Gazette newsroom with a shotgun, killing five people and injuring two. Many struggle with what to say or what to do, while others struggle to bounce back and feel a sense of safety and normalcy. This is true for many adults, but it also applies to children. Vulnerable by nature, kids can respond to traumatic events in many ways. Some can seem more withdrawn and quiet, while others may have a delayed reaction and demonstrate a change in their behavior weeks or months later. Many will feel confused, afraid, worried and develop an aggravated sense of being in danger. Children will turn to adults for more information and help to understand what it means. When it comes to children and violence in the news, it is important for you as a parent or guardian to keep communicating with them and reassure them that they are safe. Discussion helps validate a child’s feelings and comforts them during a period of confusion and fear. Here are a few tips for talking to kids after a traumatic event: Allow them to express their feelings. Give them the opportunity to express their emotions through talking, writing, drawing or whatever creative method they feel most comfortable. Acknowledge their feelings and let them know it’s normal to feel sad or upset. But most importantly, listen to them. There is no need to pressure them to talk or get involved. Give them space and pay close attention for signs of distress. Be patient. Let them discuss other fears and concerns about unrelated issues. Children and youth do not always talk about their feelings and fears willingly. Keep an eye on clues that suggest they have something they want to talk to you about, like hovering around while you are doing something. If they are hovering more than normal, ask how they are doing. They may respond to knowing you care. Keep your explanations age-appropriate. Use their questions as your guide as to how much information you need to give them. Early elementary school: Young children need short, simple information that should reassure them and their safety. Late elementary and early middle school: Children will be more open to asking questions about whether they are safe. It is likely they may need your help separating reality from the “what ifs”. Late middle school and early high school: Adolescents will feel strongly about the causes of violence in society and will express their own opinions. They will share specific suggestions about how to make their environment safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. Talk to them about what they can do to become responsible citizens, for example: not providing building access to strangers, reporting strange activity, reporting threats, how to respond to an active shooter, etc. Keep it simple. Be basic and answer questions in a way they can understand. Avoid giving graphic details about tragic circumstances. Monitor TV and social media consumption. Try to watch the news with them. You may wish to limit their access so they have time away from reminders that trigger them reliving a traumatic experience. Don’t use labels. Be careful with blaming any particular cultural or ethnic group. Let children know that they are not to blame when bad things happen. Many influential speakers will attempt to scapegoat when it helps their agenda. This can obscure a child’s sense of safety for decades. Help them see the good. Help children identify good things, such as heroic actions, families who get together to share support and the assistance offered by others. Keep a normal routine. Keeping a regular schedule can be encouraging and promote physical health. Especially self-care routines, like preparing and eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep and exercising. Some children may require more active interventions, such as family counseling, if they were more directly affected by a traumatic experience. Be careful not to over-shield children. Everyone is bound to hear or see something that might be disappointing. Pretending that something didn’t happen or doesn’t exist can only make things worse. The best thing parents and guardians can do is to continue to support children, communicate with them and help them through challenges with love and kindness. Remind them that tragedy is not the norm and encourage them to be the best version of themselves by being forgiving and compassionate with others. When we care and look after each other as humans, we are bound to create more good than bad. Author Daniel Watkins is the nursing manager at Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance and mental health treatment facility. He can be reached at 410-573-5434. Ask questions, find resources and learn more at askAAMC.org/HealthyMinds.
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