- Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs a parent, you’re probably still trying to learn how to navigate the new reality of dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Your home is now your office. At the same time, it’s your new daycare facility. And just as you might have many questions about the new normal, you might also be wondering if you should take your child to the pediatrician during the pandemic. The short answer is yes. If you’re concerned about keeping standing visits for your kids, it’s important that you remember that these are vital to their health. Getting immunizations and other regular check-ups remain important. This is especially true during the pandemic. Pediatric practices are implementing new steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These extra precautions are designed to keep you safe. Some of these steps include screening children for symptoms by phone before their arrival. Additionally, staff are wearing masks and personal protective equipment when caring for your child. Even while you are staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there are still important reasons you may need to bring your child into the office, including: Newborn visits after a baby is born. This is to make sure the baby is healthy and developing appropriately. Immunizations. Especially during the pandemic, we want to prevent an outbreak of other illnesses. Developmental screenings and tests. For example, hearing and vision screenings, monitoring growth, blood pressure and other vital signs. Adolescent health concerns. This includes menstrual care, anxiety and depression screenings. It’s also important to remember that our pediatrics Emergency Department (ED) is open. Patients must wear a mask to enter the ED. If patients need a mask, we give them one upon arrival. This is followed by screening questions at the front desk. We encourage parents to call their pediatrician’s office if they’re concerned about their child’s health. However, if it’s an emergency, we encourage parents to come directly to the ED. Here, staff is ready and available to care for your child. Understanding that you might feel anxious about bringing your child to the hospital, pediatric emergency visit turnaround time at AAMC has decreased to about 90 minutes for less acute symptoms. This is our way of giving you back your time and helping you get in and out as effectively as possible. Whatever you might be calling or visiting us for, we can assure you we are taking steps to keep you and your children safe. We understand things are a little different now and you might be worried about your child’s health. But, it’s important that you access care as soon as your child needs it. Waiting to come in will only prolong illness or symptoms. When a child needs to come in to the ED, the stay will likely be shorter the sooner you come. We’re here to help you. We remain safe, ready and open to care for your child. Authors Lauren Fitzpatrick, MD, is the medical director of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Pediatric Emergency Department. Kristen Breslin, MD, MPH, is the medical director of Children’s National Emergency Department at Doctors Community Hospital. Melanie Lee, MSN, RN, CPN, is the nursing manager of Pediatric Emergency and Inpatient Unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
- General Page Tier 3BlogTry this healthy and light cooked carrots recipe for a side dish you and your family will love. INGREDIENTS ½ cup golden raisins 1 ¾ cup hot water 5-6 medium carrots Boiling water, just enough to cover the carrots 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon brown sugar 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest Salt if desired INSTRUCTIONS In medium bowl, combine raisins and hot water. Let stand for about 15 minutes. Next, peel and slice carrots diagonally into half-inch slices. In a medium pot of boiling water, add carrots, ginger and lemon juice. Cook 6-7 minutes. Drain. Drain raisins, keeping ¾ cup of the liquid, set aside. In skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cook 30 seconds. Mix together raisin water and cornstarch. Add to butter/brown sugar mix. Cook 1 minute, until thickened. Add raisins and carrots and cook 1 minute. Add lemon zest and salt. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings To learn more about nutrition services at Anne Arundel Medical Center, visit AskAAMC.org/Nutrition. Originally published Aug. 1, 2016. Last updated July 20, 2020.
- Men's Health, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou may have seen people walking around toting a gallon of water that they sip from all day long, in hopes of staying properly hydrated. Others believe they need to drink eight 8-oz. glasses of water per day. Have you ever wondered if all that water is necessary for your body? It depends. Hydration is important. According to the National Kidney Foundation, about 60 to 70 percent of your body weight is made up of water, which is necessary for good kidney health. Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration. This can make you feel tired, cause headaches and lead to other health problems, including kidney damage. Water also helps prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections, the Kidney Foundation says. Drinking enough water helps flush out bacteria that causes infections. The National Academy of Medicine recommends that men drink about 13 cups, or three liters, of fluids daily. Women should drink about nine cups, or 2.2 liters, each day. Doctors recommend more water when exercising. An extra 1.5 to 2.5 cups of water is fine for shorter rounds of exercise, though you’ll need more for exercise that lasts longer than an hour. You’ll also need to drink more water if you’re in a hot, humid environment, or if you’re experiencing fever, diarrhea or vomiting. Pregnant or breast-feeding women also need additional fluids, according to the National Academy of Medicine. Pregnant women should drink about 10 cups, or 2.3 liters, of water every day. Women who are breast-feeding need about 13 cups each day. You don’t have to drink only water – unsweetened juice or low-fat milk are other healthier options. But water is your best choice because it has no calories. If you’re in doubt about whether you are drinking enough water, look at your urine. Urine that is light yellow or clear indicates that you are properly hydrated. Dark yellow urine signals dehydration. Author By Lauren Parmer, DO, a primary care physician at AAMG Pasadena Primary Care. She can be reached at 443-270-8600. Originally published July 11, 2017. Last updated July 17, 2020.
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen the temperature rises and the sun comes out, many people think it’s time to start soaking up the sun or hitting the tanning salons. But a “perfect summer tan” comes with a high price. “A tan is actually an injury to the skin, it’s not a tint,” says Barry Meisenberg, MD, the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health. Although we often hear a summer tan referred to as a “healthy glow,” Dr. Meisenberg says it’s anything but healthy. “A tan is essentially caused by a skin injury from ultra violet (UV) radiation. The resulting inflammation is what causes the skin to darken.” Many people believe a base tan or tanning gradually will protect them from skin damage as the summer goes on. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this isn’t true. “The idea of a safe base tan is a myth,” says Dr. Meisenberg. “In fact, people who tan in tanning booths are more likely to report being burned by the sun.” All forms of tanning increase the risk of skin cancer and other skin damage. The most serious of these is melanoma, which kills nearly 10,000 Americans every year. According to the National Cancer Institute, melanoma is among the most common forms of cancer found in those ages 25 to 39. In addition, young adults are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than younger children and older adults. Of course, not everyone who tans will develop skin cancer, and no public health authority recommends avoiding all sun exposure. But the damage caused by exposure to UV rays takes its toll over time. Tanners are more likely to develop wrinkles earlier in life than non-tanners. And the more UV radiation you’re exposed to during your lifetime, the more likely you are to develop age spots and scaly wart-like blotches called actinic keratosis. UV radiation is also very damaging to eyes, and can increase the risk of cataracts. Unfortunately, despite all the evidence linking UV radiation to skin damage and cancer, people continue to sunbathe or use tanning salons. The cultural pressure to be tan, especially in the summer, drives many people to intentionally expose themselves to cancer-causing UV-radiation. “So much of [indoor tanning] is about dissatisfaction with body image,” says Dr. Meisenberg, “Society is sending harmful messages that our body’s appearance is inadequate in some way. Adolescents especially should be aware that they are the target of messages that tell them to be dissatisfied with how they look.” To reduce your risk for skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, avoid indoor tanning and protect yourself from excessive exposure to UV radiation. Apply generous amounts of sunscreen with at least SPF 30 before going outside for prolonged periods, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Wear sun protective clothing to keep your skin covered in the sun. Wear sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection. Author Barry Meisenberg, MD, is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health. Originally published May 25, 2016. Last updated July 17, 2020.
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSpending more time at home comes with its fair share of advantages and disadvantages, and most families are figuring it out as they go. While we’re seeing less injuries from contact sports, injuries from things like starting new, unguided workout regimens and from doing everyday housework are on the rise. Here are four tips to avoid at-home orthopedic injuries while staying active this summer. Ease into new workouts and activities. Your gym may be closed and, if not, you’re trying to decide when to get back to your normal routine. In the meantime, you want to stay active to avoid going stir-crazy. But you don’t have access to the equipment or classes you’re used to. We get it. Take time to adjust to any new workouts and activities you choose to do at home. To help avoid injury, don’t overdo it right away. Get help when learning those new workouts. Maybe you’re ready to start weight-lifting or try your hand at CrossFit. As you begin these new routines, reach out for help. Find a friend or family member who has experience with that workout and can help demonstrate proper form. Or better yet, hire a trainer. Many trainers are now doing virtual sessions and can help guide you while you safely workout at home. Be careful with repetitive workouts. Many people have increased their at-home workouts and have used extra free time to become more physically active. Now is a great time to build good fitness habits, but be careful with repetitive workouts as they can lead to overuse injuries. Running and cycling too often, for instance, can cause stress fractures, shin splints and tendinitis. We recommend switching up your routine to focus on other muscle groups and giving your body proper rest. Don’t forget to warmup and stretch. These things can easily get left out of the routine when you don’t have an instructor guiding you, but you need to do them. Warming up and stretching are two of the most important parts of a workout routine. Warming up not only loosens stiff muscles, but it can also improve performance. And stretching can help boost your flexibility and decrease the muscle tension in your body. Both will reduce your risk of injury. No matter where you’re spending your time this summer, it’s important for your physical and mental health to stay active. But falls, mishaps and orthopedic injuries don’t take a vacation just because we’re at home. Call your doctor if you experience an orthopedic injury. Doctors’ offices are safe, ready and open to care for you. Author Ben Petre, MD, is a sports medicine doctor and surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Orthopedics. He can be reached at 410-268-8862. For more information visit aamcortho.com.
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