- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has installed two medication disposal drop boxes to offer the public a place to dispose of unused or expired medications. The new drop boxes can be found at MedPark Professional Pharmacy, located in the AAMC Sajak Pavilion, suite 170, 2002 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, Md., and at Arnold Professional Pharmacy, 1460 Ritchie Highway, Arnold, Md. The medication disposal drop boxes promote the safe collection and proper destruction of unused medications. Medicine placed in trash containers may represent a danger to children and flushing medications should be the last resort due to potential effects on plants, fish and water. “Our safe medication disposal drop boxes will support Anne Arundel Medical Center’s commitment to the health and safety of our community,” said Jo Deaton, senior director of nursing for Behavioral Health at AAMC. “This important solution also helps protect our community from the threat of prescription drug misuse.” AAMC’s medication disposal drop boxes are supported through the Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s Opioid Misuse Prevention Program grant, and through partnership with MedPark and Arnold Professional Center pharmacies. “Two-thirds of teens who report improper use of prescription medications get them from family and friends,” said Acting Anne Arundel County Health Officer Billie Penley. “Conveniently located prescription drop boxes strengthen our efforts to prevent substance misuse. By monitoring our medicine cabinet and disposing of unused medicine, county residents help fight the opioid epidemic and safeguard loved ones.” The new containers can accept controlled and non-controlled medications in pills, tablets, capsules, as well as ointments, creams, lotions, and powders. There must be no more than four ounces of liquid medication, and the liquids must be in original containers, wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag. Aerosol spray cans, needles, syringes, and home-based medical equipment supplies are not accepted. For additional medication disposal drop box locations, including drop boxes for home healthcare lancets, needles and syringes, visit the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website, www.aahealth.org.
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHeart disease is the number one cause of death in Americans. There are certain factors that are not controllable: age, gender and family history of heart disease. Fortunately, there are many key steps you can take to lower your risk of heart disease. Quit smoking Smoking, namely the chemicals in tobacco, can increase your blood pressure and damage your heart and its blood vessels. It is never too late to quit. Your risk of heart disease drops after quitting and your risk of coronary artery disease is the same as a non-smoker after 15 years of quitting. Maintain a healthy weight Being overweight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease. You may use the body mass index (BMI) to get a general sense of whether you have a healthy weight. However, BMI does not take into consideration factors like muscle content. Another useful tool to use is waist circumference. Men are considered overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches and for women, greater than 35 inches. Eating a heart-healthy diet is a great way to lose weight. This includes avoiding salt and processed sugars, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, eating whole grains, and limiting foods with saturated or trans fats. Even a small weight loss can be beneficial in lowering your cholesterol and sugar levels. Exercise Exercise helps control your weight and reduce your risk of developing other conditions that affect your heart, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The goal is to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week (for example, walking briskly). Every little bit helps — take the stairs, park your car far away or go for a walk with your family. Get regular checkups and know your numbers New blood pressure guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association have emphasized the importance of controlling your blood pressure, and in turn, lowered the definition of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol is another risk factor. High cholesterol can clog your arteries and raise your risk for having a heart attack. Have your physician check your cholesterol levels regularly. It’s also important that you get screened for diabetes. Adults with diabetes can be two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes. Make sleep a priority If you don’t get enough sleep, your risk of diabetes, obesity and hypertension goes up. Practice good sleep hygiene: set a sleep schedule and try to stick to it, avoid caffeine later in the day and avoid screen time before bed. If you feel as if you’re not getting good, quality sleep, you may want to ask your doctor if a sleep study would be beneficial. Manage your stress levels Stress can raise your blood pressure and “extreme” stress has been known to “trigger” heart attacks. Our coping mechanisms for stress are sometimes not ideal — like overeating and smoking. Focus on different stress relief techniques, like exercise, mindfulness and meditation. Author Sadia Shafi, MD, is a cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Cardiology Specialists. Originally published March 15, 2018. Last updated March 11, 2019.
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNancy Dick, 78, was sitting at a table playing poker with several of her good friends. They’ve been getting together once a month for the past seven years. Their friendship predates their card games, taking them back to kindergarten. Fast-forward several decades and now, instead of playing on the schoolyard, they find joy in exchanging dimes and nickels. “We laugh a lot together,” says Nancy. Mary, whom Nancy has known the longest out of the group, always carries an oxygen tank with her. Out of curiosity that afternoon, Nancy asked Mary if she could try her pulse oximeter. “My oxygen was OK but my pulse was 43,” says Nancy. “Mary asked me to try it again and my pulse was 44, which is still very low.” Concerned about the pulse reading, Mary encouraged Nancy to call her doctor right away. Worried, Nancy took action. “I called my internist who was able to see me next morning,” she says. After doing an EKG to record the electrical activity of her heart, Nancy’s internist described her pulse as “irregularly irregular” and scheduled her to see Juan Cordero, MD, cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Cardiology Specialists. He immediately said she needed to see an electrophysiologist, or a heart doctor who specializes in hearth arrhythmias. A few days later she would meet with Baran Kilical, MD, cardiologist and electrophysiologist with AAMG. He told her that what she had would not kill her, but he could improve her quality of life. “I knew that I was dragging,” Nancy recalls. “I couldn’t walk further than 25 feet without being out of breath. I would fall asleep at the drop of a hat.” Dr. Kilical’s recommendation? A Micra pacemaker. What is a Micra pacemaker? The Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (or Micra) is the newest and the world’s smallest pacemaker, and FDA approved for use in the U.S. since April 2016. Currently, Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) is one of only a few Maryland hospitals offering Micra pacemakers. Compared to traditional surgery with an incision, Micra can inserted through a catheter in the patient’s groin. The Micra pacemaker is about the size of a large vitamin capsule and 93 percent smaller than a traditional pacemaker. Dr. Kilical describes the several advantages of this small technology. “A traditional pacemaker requires an incision on the chest of about 3-5 cm in length,” says Dr. Kilical. “Micra has no incision and is cosmetically more appealing. There are lower complications because there are no leads, which most complications long-term with a pacemaker are due to the leads and them malfunctioning, breaking or fracturing over time.” The recovery time is also much quicker. Traditional pacemakers usually restrict patients from showering for a week and prevent heavy activity with the left arm. With Micra implants, patients can shower the next day and activity restriction decreases to roughly a week versus a full month. How does it work? It is less invasive and self-contained. Whereas a conventional pacemaker has leads that can fracture over time, increasing the likeliness of future complications, Micra is completely self-contained within the heart. Nancy, who had a mastectomy when she was 63, had a port on the right side of her chest and Dr. Kilical expressed his worry about scar tissue. “He gave me options,” says Nancy. “It didn’t take me any time to agree that the Micra pacemaker was the best choice.” Here’s how the implant works, from beginning to end: During a Micra implant, an anesthesiologist will first sedate a patient. A doctor, in this case Dr. Kilical, will then proceed to take a needle and make a small hole in the femoral vein (located in the patient’s groin). Through that, he puts a delivery sheath, or a straw-like catheter, that goes up into the heart. Through that sheath, the Micra pacemaker is brought up into the right atrium and then into the right ventricle of the heart. Once Dr. Kilical has verified that it is placed correctly, he tests the device to make sure it functions appropriately. Then, Dr. Kilical will release the tether and remove the delivery system. Is it for everyone? No. Micra is intended for patients who need a single chamber pacemaker, also known as a ventricular pacemaker or VVIR. For Nancy, this was the perfect option. “I knew I would be taken care of,” she says. She says her life has changed for the better. “I’ve felt good ever since,” she says. “Before, if I sat down for any length of time, I would frequently fall asleep. I’m not doing that at all. I feel a lot more energetic, I am happy camper for 78.” Now that’s a real royal flush! Originally published Aug. 10, 2018. Last updated March 11, 2019.
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhile many people associate heart issues such as heart attacks and cardiac arrest with older adults, young athletes can also be at risk. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating. The risk is three times greater in competitive athletes. In young adults, it’s most common among high-school and college-aged athletes who play high-intensity sports such as soccer, football and basketball. It seems illogical. Why would young, healthy and active athletes be at a higher risk for heart issues than the average young adult? Sudden cardiac arrest has to do with the heart’s electrical circuitry or a structural problem in the heart. Unlike a heart attack where arteries are blocked, cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. If there’s an electrical short circuit, the heart is “quivering” instead of “squeezing.” This means it isn’t pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs. Death can result from this. One of the most common of these electrical or structural problems is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), where the heart muscle is abnormally thickened. HCM is the most common cause of cardiac arrest found in athletes in the United States (approximately one-third of cases). In competitive athletes, there are often structural changes to the heart from intense exercise. When coupled with the sudden physical demands placed on the heart, the risk of sudden cardiac death increases. It’s very difficult to prevent, but recognizing cardiac arrest is the first step. The warning signs–dizziness and shortness of breath–don’t always happen. Furthermore, athletes are goal-oriented and often ignore warning signs as they push their bodies to the point of exhaustion. If you see someone collapse, you should always call 911 immediately. Cardiac arrest is time-crucial. Giving chest compressions and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) while you wait for help to arrive can make the difference between life and death. While imaging tests like electrocardiograms (EKG) and echocardiograms can detect heart problems that may lead to cardiac arrest, the American Heart Association doesn’t routinely recommend these tests for everyone. Athletes should get their blood pressure and heartbeat checked at their yearly physical exam and let their doctor know about family medical history. If anything raises a red flag, more advanced tests may be necessary. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that are unusual for them, it’s worth asking your doctor about it. Author Baran Kilical, MD, is a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Aug. 2, 2016. Last updated March 7, 2019.
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMove over quinoa, kale and coconut oil! The newest food trend is here: pulses. So what exactly is this food that’s caught the global spotlight? Pulses are the dried seeds of legumes (think soybeans, peanuts, etc.). There are many different varieties of pulses but the most common pulses are dried beans, chickpeas and lentils. Pulses have been a staple around the world for thousands of years, keeping people healthy, lean and satisfied without increasing risk of disease or weight gain. So why should you make pulses part of your diet? They’re affordable! You don’t have to empty your wallet to eat healthy. Beans, chickpeas and lentils aren’t expensive and fill you up fast. Thanks to fiber and complex carbohydrates, pulses keep you full and help control blood sugar and insulin. Research shows the more you add beans to your diet, the less risk you have for type 2 diabetes. Pulses are packed with nutrients like folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, protein, B vitamins, phytochemicals and fiber. Plus they’re low in fat. Pulses can help manage cholesterol, improve digestive health, regulate energy levels and appetite, increase bone health and lower risk of obesity and certain cancers. Here are five ways to add pulses to your diet: Add lentils to homemade or canned soups for a hearty lunch. Add black beans in tacos and use less ground meat or poultry. Add white beans to spaghetti sauce for a vegetarian pasta dish. Add black beans and salsa to your macaroni and cheese to create a Mexican twist on the traditional dish. Sprinkle chickpeas on your tossed salad for a filling topping. For healthy snacks try adding pulses to yogurt and smoothies, grains, soups or salads for color and crunch, but remember that moderation is key. Recipe: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad INGREDIENTS: Salad: One 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas) 1/8 cup fresh parsley, chopped ½ cup red bell pepper, chopped ½ cup Roma tomatoes, diced ½ cup cucumber, seeded and chopped 1/8 cup black olives, sliced 2 ounces feta cheese, reduced fat, crumbled 1/8 cup red onion, finely chopped Dressing: 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar ¼ teaspoon garlic, minced INSTRUCTIONS: Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans. Place in a medium bowl. Add the vegetables and toss. Add feta cheese and olives. Mix all dressing ingredients together and whisk to combine. Pour dressing over the salad and toss to coast. Chill for 1 to 2 hours before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste. Authors By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555. Originally published Nov. 7, 2016. Last updated March 6, 2019.
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