- Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs a woman and mother, I understand how easy it is to put everyone’s needs above your own. But as a doctor and cardiologist, I also know how important it is to care for my health – especially my heart. More than one in three women are living with heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. And although heart disease death rates among men have declined over the last 25 years, rates among women have fallen at a slower rate. The first step in prevention is education. Some risk factors, such as a family history of heart disease and your age, can’t be changed. For women, your risk for heart disease rises significantly after menopause. In fact, the rate of heart attacks in women dramatically increases about 10 years after menopause starts. The good news is there are many key risk factors you can do something about. Cholesterol Your body needs small amounts of cholesterol to stay healthy, but too much can cause a problem. The extra amounts of cholesterol clog your arteries, putting you at risk for heart disease and heart attack. Work with your doctor to know your numbers and come up with a plan to keep them in a healthy range. High blood pressure High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the leading cause of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. It’s called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, so many people don’t know they have it. To lower your risk of heart disease, you should maintain a healthy blood pressure. Your doctor will help you decide what your goal blood pressure is how to achieve it through lifestyle changes or medication. Weight Carrying excess weight can raise your blood pressure and strain your heart. Being overweight also raises your chances of developing diabetes and high cholesterol. The best way to take control of your weight is to get moving and eat a healthy diet. In our fast-paced world this is easier said than done. Start by making small changes, such as walking for 30 minutes a few times a week, cutting out beverages with empty calories, or pledging to add fruits and vegetables into every meal. Smoking Smoking significantly raises your risk for heart disease, as well as a host of other diseases and cancers. If you need help quitting, you can find classes to help at askAAMC.org/events or call 443-481-5366. Now that you have the power to take control of certain risk factors for heart disease, you should also be aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Heart attacks in women can present themselves differently than in men. Everyone can experience chest pain, but women tend to experience more atypical symptoms: Shortness of breath Nausea Jaw pain Weakness Back pain Don’t ignore or make excuses for these warning signs. Call your doctor or 911 so a heart attack can be ruled out or identified early. Author Jennifer Brady, MD, cardiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Cardiology Specialists. Originally published March 2, 2017. Last updated Feb. 21, 2019.
- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere’s no better way to understand and connect with others than to experience what they’re going through yourself. For Tyra Neal, what once overwhelmed her to the point she almost walked away was just a blessing in disguise that would prepare her for what was coming her way. Today, when she looks back, all she can express is gratitude for how things worked out. “I’m just so thankful to have gotten my feet in the door and so thankful for the second chance I was given because this hospital is the best place I’ve ever worked at,” she says. Tyra works closely with patients and their families as a clinical escort assistant at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). She also holds another part-time job and takes care of her 17-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son. Her day-to-day consists of giving food to patients and spending time with them, to having tough conversations with family members who have just lost a loved one. And although it’s not always easy to have those conversations, Tyra always knew this path was meant for her. “I’ve been a certified nursing assistant for 20 years,” she says. “I’ve always cared for my grandmother, who’s 96, and she means a lot to me. A lot of my passion to care for others comes from my time spent with her and from my aunt, whom I also cared for after she was diagnosed with cancer. I worked at Heritage Harbour for eight years where I started in the kitchen as a prep cook and later became a tech after becoming a certified geriatric nursing assistant. I would take trays to patients’ rooms. If they needed help, I wouldn’t bother the nurse, I would just do it myself.” Tyra saw the opening available with AAMC and quickly applied for it. For her, this was an opportunity to push herself beyond her comfort zone and allow her to grow while still doing what she loved. “I was so nervous,” she recalls. “The hospital is so big and I wasn’t sure that I was going to understand everything.” Tyra was supposed to train for two weeks but started second-guessing herself after the first one. “There were so many different people training me, it was overwhelming,” she says. “That weekend I went home and emailed Jenny, my supervisor, to share my concern.” But things wouldn’t end there for Tyra. Jenny was very understanding and encouraged Tyra to come back, telling her they would be happy to work at her pace and accommodate her needs. “I called my mom and she told me opportunities like these don’t appear all the time,” Tyra says. “She reminded me of how hard I worked to get here and told me to not quit now, to follow my heart.” And she did. Tyra came back for her second week of training and never looked back. “Everybody was so kind, so nice,” Tyra says. “Jenny made sure I got the perfect trainer to make me feel comfortable during my second week. Today, I’m the one who trains new hires and I love what I do. I love trying to explain things in a way that’s not confusing, and I try to make people feel comfortable because I know what it feels like. I don’t look for anything in return. As long as I can help somebody else, I know that I’m going to be OK.” Currently, Tyra is training three new employees and her priority is to make them feel like they can do this. “I always tell them that if in two weeks they don’t feel like they’re comfortable or can’t take this on, to please come talk to me so I can train them another week until they do,” she says. Tyra’s remarkable and approachable personality is not only evident to her colleagues. Her patients, too, quickly develop a connection with her. “There’s a lady that comes in here every week to bring me a flower,” Tyra says. “Her mother passed away here and she always tells me that I took good care of her family during a really difficult time. It’s the little things like these that make me love what I do. I get easily attached to my patients. Or when a patient passes, it touches me so much because I’ve talked to them and built a connection with them. I love when people remember me because I know I don’t ever forget a face.” PRO TIP: “When you get to AAMC, be thankful for getting here. There are many opportunities available, like going to school, if you wanted to. It doesn’t matter if you start in the kitchen or in a lab, if you get your foot in the door then you will find opportunities to grow. This hospital is a good place to work with people who care and are here to help you. I’m thankful I was given the opportunity to push through my doubts and for being here today.” *Tyra Neal received an AAMC Champion award for the month of August. If you know a great individual or a fantastic team going above and beyond to make a difference, make sure to let us know! Looking for a career in health care? We invite you to join a diverse and collaborative team of professionals working together to innovate the future of health care for our entire region. Check out our career opportunities.
- Graduate Medical Education, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to start an Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) Residency Program, a four-year residency program with four residents per year for a total of 16 residents. The OB-GYN Residency Program accreditation marks another important milestone for Graduate Medical Education (GME) at AAMC as the hospital’s second ACGME-accredited residency program. AAMC received accreditation for its General Surgery Residency program in 2016. READ MORE: AAMC welcomes first class of residents “Our residents support and enhance our culture of patient safety and performance improvement,” said Monica Jones, MD, MSc, FACOG, FACS, chair, Women’s and Children’s Services at AAMC, and director of AAMG Gynecologic Specialty Surgeons. “As we help train the next generation of physicians, we continue to raise the level of care given to our patients and our community.” “We are proud to be recognized as a leader in women’s health in the region,” said Janifer Tropez-Martin, MD, MPH, FACOG, associate chair of academic affairs and research, Women’s and Children’s Services, and program director for the OB-GYN residency program at AAMC. “The primary goal of our obstetrics and gynecology residency program is to continue our legacy in health care excellence and further grow and strengthen our women’s services.” In 2014, the ACGME approved AAMC as a sponsoring institution for GME programs, allowing AAMC to sponsor individual residency programs. The GME program at AAMC provides training to doctors after they have completed medical school. Recruitment for OB-GYN residents, post-graduate year one (PGY-1), will begin in September 2019, with the first OB-GYN residents starting the program on July 1, 2020. AAMC is the second busiest obstetrical unit in the state of Maryland with over 5,500 deliveries each year. The hospital has been recognized as a Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care and by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the nation’s top 100 health systems for women’s care.
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s hard to miss headlines that tout the benefits of this fruit, that nut or another oil as a way to hold cancer at bay. In light of that, Molly Rusch, RD, LDN, registered dietitian at AAMC’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute, turns to the most recent evidence-based nutrition information for the facts. “No one food causes or cures cancer,” says Molly. “Broccoli and blueberries are called ‘superfoods’ because they are high in antioxidants — which is great — but what people should really be aiming for is a lifestyle that incorporates a variety of foods for good health.” While foods like chia seeds, coconut oil and walnuts offer a plethora of nutritional benefits, Molly explains that it’s easy to latch on to the newest food trends while missing the bigger picture. “We can’t expect superfoods to preserve our health while still eating processed and fast foods.” So what’s the best way to use food to fight cancer? Eat more fruits and vegetables. Molly says fruits and vegetables should make up about 50 percent of the food we consume, which translates to at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily for most adults. This plant-focused diet has the added benefit of contributing to a healthy weight, which is known to reduce cancer risk. “We know obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer and many other diseases,” Molly says. For those who are currently in cancer treatment or who are survivors, the total gets boosted to three fruit and five vegetable servings or more each day. With that said, Molly says, when one is dealing with the challenges of chemotherapy or radiation, a little nutritional latitude is given — at that point it’s more important for patients to tolerate food in general, rather than worrying about eating the “right” foods. Recipe for Good Nutrition: Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry The beauty of this vegetable-centric recipe is that nothing has to be exact. Shop your local market for what’s fresh and try different combinations of vegetables. Seasonal superstars like broccoli and bok choy pack a dense nutritional punch. Broccoli includes fiber and protein, and is a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, manganese and iron. One cup of broccoli is only 30 calories! Similarly, one cup of bok choy, sometimes called Chinese cabbage, is only 20 calories. It’s an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, vitamin K, folate and some B vitamins. You can easily substitute tofu for chicken and vegetable broth for chicken broth to make a vegetarian entrée. Ingredients 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed 4 cups assorted vegetables, such as broccoli, bok choy, snow peas, carrot, bell pepper 1 tablespoon cornstarch ¾ cup chicken broth 2 tablespoons dry white wine or white cooking wine 1 tablespoon soy sauce Directions Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken and garlic. Cook 4–5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove chicken with slotted spoon, set aside, cover, keep warm. Add remaining teaspoon of oil to the skillet or wok. Add vegetables and stir fry 3–4 minutes until crisp-tender, stirring constantly. Place cornstarch in a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of chicken broth and stir to smooth paste. Stir in remaining chicken broth, white wine and soy sauce. Pour mixture over vegetables in skillet or wok and cook 1–2 minutes, until sauce thickens. Add reserved chicken and toss to coat. Serve over rice. Author Molly Rusch, RD, LDN, is a registered dietitian at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute at AAMC. Originally published Sept. 16, 2016. Last updated Feb. 11, 2019. Save
- Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHeart disease affects more than one in three women and is the leading cause of death for females, according to the American Heart Association. The risk of heart disease increases for everyone with age, but for women that risk rises significantly after menopause starts. A natural part of aging, menopause can bring about changes that feel anything but natural. Most women enter this stage, marked by the end of menstruation and then a decline in estrogen, between 50 to 54 years of age. During this time, symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain and fatigue, leading to a new reality full of both emotional and physical changes. Estrogen is a complex, naturally occurring hormone responsible for many functions, like adding vital strength and flexibility to the arteries in the body, including those of the heart. A drop in estrogen can cause several different bodily reactions that don’t bode well for heart health. In fact, the rate of heart attacks dramatically increases in women about 10 years after menopause starts. Menopause can play a part in several risk factors related to heart disease: Higher blood pressure. The blood vessels and heart become stiff and less elastic. High blood pressure, or hypertension, puts added strain on the heart. Higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A drop in estrogen can lead to increased levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL), while “good” cholesterol (HDL) levels decrease or stay the same. Triglycerides are a component of body fat that can increase with menopause. Weight gain. Metabolism slows with age and a decline in estrogen, making women more prone to weight gain. Diabetes. After menopause, women become more resistant to insulin, a hormone needed to convert carbohydrates into energy for the body to use. This higher risk of diabetes puts women at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. The good news is going through menopause does not make you helpless against heart problems. There are plenty of simple, effective steps you can take to combat or slow down its effects. It should come as no surprise that a balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to having a healthy heart. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of weekly exercise, which translates to working out for thirty minutes, five days a week. Aerobic fitness classes, swimming, brisk walks, jogging, dancing, hiking and biking are a few physical activities you can do to keep your heart healthy. Regular exercise will speed up your metabolism, and lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you have a smartphone, you already have access to free fitness apps to give you a gym-quality workout in the comfort of your home or office. Create a diet plan full of whole and nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, unsalted nuts and fatty fish, like salmon and tuna. Limit red meat and avoid food and drinks that are high in added sugar. And if you smoke, you’ll be doing your heart (and the rest of your body) a potentially life-saving favor by quitting. Regular doctor appointments are also important for a healthy heart. Your doctor should check your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference. As women get older, their risk for heart disease inevitably increases. Staying active, eating nutritious foods and removing unhealthy habits packs a triple punch by lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol and creating a stronger heart. As your body enters a new stage of life, adapting your lifestyle is a great way to stay heart healthy. Author Sadia Shafi, MD, a cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach her office, call 410-224-0040. Originally published Aug. 29, 2016. Last updated Feb. 7, 2019.
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