- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChuck Raines and his wife Trang have run six marathons together since 2011. They don’t smoke, avoid junk food and stay active with their kids. A heart attack was the last thing on the healthy 53-year-old’s mind. But he found out that it can happen to anybody. After an easy run on a Sunday afternoon in August, Chuck noticed chest pain. “I sat down and took a break, and then I didn’t think much of it,” he says. The next morning, the chest pain returned. This time it was worse. The retired Army master sergeant was no stranger to pushing through pain. “Being the person I am, I said, ‘It’s just going to go away.’” Instead, the pain began radiating down his arm and into his jaw. He began sweating and feeling nauseated. He called Trang and said, “I think I need to go to the doctor when you get home.” But she insisted on dialing 911. “Never in a million years did I think a heart attack would happen to me,” says Chuck. “I was in so much denial when it happened, even though the symptoms were right there in my face.” A Critical Process When Trang called 911, she set in motion a chain of events that were critical to saving Chuck’s life. An ambulance equipped with an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor rushed to Chuck’s home in Owings. On the way to Anne Arundel Medical Center, technicians sent real-time EKG results to the emergency room (ER). Chuck Raines enjoys a run. “We have a digital network that transmits from the ambulance to a central station in the emergency room,” says Jonathan Altschuler, MD, medical director of AAMC’s cardiac catheterization lab. “A doctor looks at it, and a decision is made to activate the cardiac catheterization team. Often our team gets there before the patient does.” When Chuck arrived at the ER, Elizabeth Reineck, MD, an interventional cardiologist, met him at the door and whisked him to the cardiac catheterization lab. “The artery supplying blood to the back of the heart was completely blocked,” says Dr. Reineck. “We opened the artery with a balloon and then stabilized it with a stent.” The team completed the procedure 65 minutes after Chuck arrived at the ER. This period of time, called “door-to-balloon time,” is a critical measure of cardiac care. AAMC’s average door-to-balloon time is well below the national standard of 90 minutes. “In our business, time is heart muscle,” says Dr. Reineck. “By opening the artery quickly, we minimize heart damage.” AAMC's Door-to-Balloon Time Door-to-balloon time is critical in successfully treating heart attack patients. Read more about how important reducing door-to-balloon time is at AAMC. An Innovative Approach Dr. Reineck used a new approach to cardiac catheterization, reaching Chuck’s heart through the radial artery in his wrist. Nationally, radial access is used in about 25 percent of stenting procedures and in fewer than 10 percent of patients with emergency heart attacks. “Radial catheterization has fewer vascular complications and less bleeding,” says Dr. Reineck. “For the patient, this means an easier recovery than the traditional route through the femoral artery in the groin.” “When Chuck left the hospital, his heart function was normal,” says Dr. Reineck. “This was the best case scenario. Chuck acted fast in seeking medical attention, emergency medical technicians sent information from the field and our cath lab team quickly re-opened the culprit artery. By working together, we prevented damage to Chuck’s heart, giving him the best possible outcome.” Chuck returned home after a week in the hospital. He enjoys swimming with his kids again. He’s back to work as an analyst for the federal government. And his doctors recently gave him the okay to resume running. Chuck and Trang are registered for the Big Sur Marathon in California this spring. “I’m a firm believer that I’m going to be out there running in April,” he says. When he does, it will be lucky number seven. Web Exclusive: Life After a Heart Attack Chuck, like many patients, experienced feelings of depression as he recovered from his heart attack. Read more about how he overcame these feelings and got his life back on track. Are you at risk? Learn your heart age and risk for heart disease with our free online heart health profiler. Contributors Jonathan Altschuler, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Elizabeth Reineck, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe foods you choose to fuel your body with today, affect your heart health tomorrow. You can do your part to keep your heart healthy by eating a healthy diet. Need some motivation? Studies show up to 70 percent of heart disease cases can be prevented with the right food choices. You have the power to help prevent heart disease by changing what you eat. And the good news is you don’t have to give up all the foods you love. Focus on making smart, healthy choices at home, work, restaurants and the grocery store. Try this heart-healthy recipe that’s perfect for cold winter months. Vegetarian Black Bean Soup Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, sweet/yellow, diced ½ cup carrots, chopped ½ cup celery, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon cumin ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 3 cans black beans, drained but not rinsed 3 cups vegetable broth, low sodium Juice from one lime Optional for garnish: ½ cup chopped cilantro, ½ avocado, ½ cup diced green onion/scallions Directions: In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil and add onion and garlic, stirring until translucent. Stir in carrots and celery. Cook for five to 10 minutes. Add chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for one minute. Add black beans and vegetable broth. Bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat, add lime juice and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes. For a thicker-textured soup, use an immersion blender or blender to puree two cups of the soup and add it back into the pot. Serve with desired toppings. Follow these tips to get on the path to a healthier heart: Even if a packaged food item looks healthy, it’s best to read the label. Ingredients and nutrient content can vary. When choosing between items, compare nutrition information on package labels. Select foods with the lowest amounts of sodium, added sugars, saturated and trans fat. Avoid foods with partially hydrogenated oils. Look for the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark in the grocery store to identify foods that can be part of a healthy diet. Learn more at HeartCheck.org. Watch your calorie intake. To maintain your current weight, consume only as many calories as you use up through physical activity. If you need to lose weight, consume fewer calories and burn more. Eat reasonable portions. Most restaurants serve you more food than you should eat. It’s easy to snack on foods like dips and finger-food snacks without knowing how much you actually ate. It’s best to limit these foods to avoid gaining weight. Cook healthy meals at home. This way you have more control over ingredients and portion sizes. It may help you save money by not eating out, too. Eat a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrients your body needs. Fruits and vegetables are a healthy choice and full of essential nutrients to keep your heart, and your body, healthy. Make it fun. Get creative and find snacks that feature vegetables and fruits for special occasions, like the Super Bowl. Authors By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMore than 60 million adults in the U.S. experience heartburn, the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a digestive condition that causes indigestion and acid reflux. If you feel a burning sensation below your ribs or a sour taste at the back of your mouth after you eat, GERD may be to blame. AAMC is participating in a clinical reflux study to compare treatment options for patients who continue to have symptoms, like heartburn and regurgitation, despite taking medication every day. The study is comparing two treatment options for controlling reflux–a medical device, called LINX, and medications called Proton Pump Inhibitors (such as Nexium, Prevacid, and Priolosec) given two times per day. You may be eligible to participate in this study if you are 21 years or older and currently receive daily treatment for reflux symptoms. To determine if you’re eligible, additional testing will be required. For more information, please contact Almaz Holmatova, MD, study coordinator, at 443-481-4943 or [email protected].
- Men's Health, News & Press Releases, Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOur new Crohn’s and Colitis Clinic is now open. The clinic’s team includes gastroenterologists, surgeons, nutritionists and other specialists—all with focused training and experience in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). “With the entire team in one clinic, everything revolves around the patient,” explains AAMC Department of Surgery Chair Adrian Park, MD. “Instead of sending patients out for consults, we collaborate as a team to help the patient. This seamless process provides a better level of care.” The clinic’s team of experts offers broad treatment, including new immune-suppressing drug therapy. Team members have a weekly conference to talk about your needs, treatment options and progress. They work closely with you and your referring doctor to give you the best results. Our goal is for you to take an active, informed role in your journey. Treatment Options The clinic offers custom treatment plans to fit your individual needs based on your symptoms. Options may include: · Medication: Many different medications are available to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. · Diet: Changes in diet and nutrition can reduce symptoms. Our nutritionist can work with you to create a detailed diet plan and support you along the way. · Surgery: If you don’t respond to medication or can’t maintain diet and lifestyle changes, you may need surgery. Many different surgical options are available. · Alternative medicine: Our experts study new alternative treatments and therapies, and can talk about these options with you. Learn more by calling 443-481-6699.
- Behavioral Health, Community, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe heroin epidemic is a national problem that hits close to home in Anne Arundel County. According to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, heroin-related deaths in the county have increased by 128 percent between 2010 and 2013. The rate of heroin use here is 5.5 percent for youths ages 16 and 17 and 10.7 percent for adults age 18 and older. Both of these numbers are above the averages for the state of Maryland. The Danger of Opioids Fueling the epidemic are opioids. Opioids come in two main forms: prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet and illegal drugs like heroin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is writing new guidelines for physicians to explore other options before prescribing opioids. Still, many people already have a prescription for opioids. In 2012, doctors wrote 259 million opioid prescriptions. That’s enough for every adult in the United States to have a bottle of pills, according to the CDC. Not everyone who takes opioids gets addicted. However, everyone develops tolerance and some may start to crave these drugs. Opioid use can lead to risk of falls, respiratory problems, sleep apnea, interaction with other medications and potentially fatal overdoses. Suboxone: A Safe Solution Quitting opioids “cold turkey” is painful and dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms start around 12 hours after someone stops using opioids. Symptoms can include stomach pain, anxiety, body pain, chills, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, insomnia, weakness and more. For people dependent on opioids, Suboxone can help. Suboxone is a medication that helps people safely stop opioid use by reducing withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings. The medication also blocks the effects of other opioids. Suboxone treatment not only allows people to safely withdraw from opioids with little discomfort, it helps manage other health issues related to opioid use. Suboxone treatment also links people with professional counselors. Counselors can help people develop coping skills and behaviors to prevent setbacks. Only qualified, licensed doctors can prescribe Suboxone. Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance use and mental health treatment center, offers both inpatient and outpatient Suboxone treatment. Both programs begin with a phone call to understand the patient’s needs. Based on the phone call, we recommend either inpatient or outpatient care. The opioid epidemic is complex, and the solution is not simple. At Pathways, we believe we can begin to turn this public health crisis around by working together with other healthcare professionals, our community partners and our patients. For more information on Suboxone treatment and other options available through Pathways, visit PathwaysProgram.org.
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