- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWe’re launching a major advertising campaign that showcases our commitment to partnering with you to live healthier. The stars of our campaign? You! That’s right, we’re featuring local people just like you who have been AAMC patients, as well as their family and friends. The ads highlight our network of dedicated healthcare providers who are here to help you take control of your health. Whether you’re looking for a fitness class or nutrition counseling, or someone to repair your heart or fight your cancer — we’ve got you covered from head to toe. Look for our campaign (and see if you can find all five of our little known health facts) in local newspapers and magazines, on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, on county buses and on the radio. 1. People who own pets tend to have lower blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association, research shows that owning a pet may be linked with lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Researchers haven’t determined the exact cause of this effect, but there are several likely explanations. Pets have also been shown to lower stress and obesity levels in their owners, both of which can affect blood pressure. Dog owners may have an advantage since their pets require frequent walks. In fact, in a study of about 5,000 adults, dog owners were more physically active than people who didn’t own a dog. Take 48 stressed stockbrokers for example. As part of a study, these men and women all took medication to lower their blood pressure. Researchers then split them into two groups. Half of them adopted a dog or cat, the other half did nothing different. Months later, the study revealed that the group who adopted a pet were significantly calmer during stressful events compared to the other group. 2. Hugs have healing powers. Those people wearing T-shirts or holding signs declaring “Free Hugs” might be on to something. Most of us know hugs can help us feel connected to other people, but did you know they can actually help prevent sickness? When we feel connected to others, especially through physical touch, we’re less prone to experience sickness caused by stress. In one study of more than 400 adults, researchers found that the more often people hugged, the more their chances of getting sick decreased. Hugging may be an indicator of overall social support in a person’s life, which also promotes good health. In the same study, the adults who said they have a strong social support system had fewer cold symptoms than those who said their support system was lacking. 3. Happy people are less likely to get sick and usually live longer lives. Positive emotions and good health often go together. That’s what researchers found when they studied more than 6,000 adults between age 25 and 74 for 20 years of their lives. Specifically, people with “a sense of enthusiasm, hopefulness and engagement in life” were more likely to avoid or better manage diseases like stroke, diabetes, depression and heart attack. Another study revealed a link between happiness and life expectancy. Older adults who self-reported low levels of happiness died at almost twice the rate in the next five years compared to those who self-reported high happiness levels. Even after excluding factors like sickness, financial trouble and depression, those who were the happiest still had a 35 percent lower risk of death. 4. Laughing 15 minutes a day can burn up to 40 calories. Burning a few calories doesn’t require going to the gym. Your body burns calories naturally all the time, but laughing creates a spike in caloric burn. Here’s how it works: When you laugh, your heart rate increases anywhere from 10 to 20 percent. A higher heart rate speeds up your metabolism, the bodily reactions that affect your weight. Research at Vanderbilt University found that you can burn 10 to 40 calories by laughing for 10 to 15 minutes. 5. 20 minutes outside can have the same effect as a cup of coffee. Next time you start reaching for another cup of Joe to ward off feelings of tiredness, try stepping outside instead. Studies suggest that nature can help us feel more energized and focused. In one study, 90 percent of participants reported higher energy levels when doing activities outdoors. But you don’t have to exercise outside to reap the benefits. Nature’s effect is strong enough that simply being outside can make you feel more energized. Find more free health tips and tools at LivingHealthierTogether.org. Our Sources: https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/09/heart-association-weighs-in-on-pets/?ref=oembed http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/Owning-a-Pet-May-Protect-You-from-Heart-Disease_UCM_453586_Article.jsp#.V7w_YvkrKUkhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22071630 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hug-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/ http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/does_happiness_really_help_you_live_longer http://time.com/4217052/do-happy-people-really-live-longer/http://www.livestrong.com/article/308619-how-many-calories-do-you-burn-each-time-you-laugh/http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3639 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494409000838 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/7803320/20-minutes-outdoors-as-good-as-cup-of-coffee.html
- Orthopedics, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter nearly 20 years managing pain for my patients as an orthopedic surgeon, I recently found myself on the other side of the medical system. I was the patient in need of a major surgical procedure. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least, and I gained a new appreciation for how vulnerable a patient feels when it comes to pain management. Opioids, such as Percocet and hydrocodone, are strong medications that play an important role in managing pain before and after surgery. Over the past 15 years, many factors have led to a dramatic increase in opiate prescriptions. Orthopedic surgeons rank third after pain specialists and primary care doctors in the number of opioid prescriptions they issue. The increase in prescriptions has led to more patients who become dependent or addicted to these drugs. This crisis has affected every social and economic class. Nearly one out of every three people in Maryland knows someone who is, or was, addicted. The rate of opioid-related deaths due to accidental overdose has more than doubled. These drugs cause more deaths than motor vehicle crashes or suicide. They’re also responsible for more patient deaths than cocaine and heroin overdose combined. The United States uses more than 92 percent of the world’s opiates, and we consume 99 percent of the hydrocodone manufactured. Yet, studies haven’t shown any increase in patient-reported pain to warrant this use. We should address the societal acceptance for these medications. Unfortunately, there’s not an easy solution to this problem. Doctors must do a better job of teaching patients about the risks of using opiates. Patients trust and rely on their doctors to guide them in managing their pain. Most patients do not willingly start abusing or misusing their pain medications. Many believe they are only following their doctor’s instructions. Opioid alternatives For most conditions that don’t involve surgery, doctors can manage patients’ pain without opiates. Medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), certain anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs, like Motrin, Advil or Aleve), and Tramadol (Ultram) are all alternatives to opiate medications. Doctors can help manage pain before and after surgery by carefully using opiates. However, more opiates don’t always lead to better pain control. In some cases, they can lead to opiate-induced hyperalgesia. This means the more opiate the body’s pain receptors see, the more they want. For chronic conditions, a pain specialist is the best person to help manage pain. Role of patients and families Patients and family members also play an important role in preventing misuse or abuse of opiates. It can be difficult to identify people at risk of addiction, but those with opioid dependency tend to have psychological distress and poor coping skills. Behaviors like losing prescriptions or getting early refills are clear indicators. If a doctor expresses concern about possible addiction to a patient, the patient may be more open to their doctor’s concerns if family members also voice concern. At this point, it may be helpful to get the assistance of a pain management specialist or even going to a drug rehabilitation program. During my recent surgery, I realized that if it was difficult for me to navigate the system of pain management, it must be terrifying for non-medical professionals. Fortunately, I came through with a great result and a new focus on making sure my patients are well informed about their pain management plan. While the opioid epidemic is a complex problem, it’s important for patients and doctors to have open conversations about pain management to help stop opioid addiction. Author Alessandro Speciale, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at The Spine Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach his practice, call 410-268-8862.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRebecca “Becky” Fortney (formerly Becky Greco) was a true champion of our community. She lent her time and philanthropic support to several wonderful non-profit organizations in Anne Arundel County. Becky had a busy schedule running a successful real estate business and caring for several members of her family. Still, she found time to be a supporter for healthcare in our region by serving on the AAMC Foundation Board of Directors from 2003 to 2011. Becky was sensitive to those who did not have the resources to access care. Over nearly two decades of support for AAMC, Becky provided more than $500,000 to fund: A safe room for victims of domestic violence in the Emergency Room. Programs and facilities for breast healthcare. Facilities within the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Sadly, Becky passed away unexpectedly in the summer of 2014, but her legacy lives on. Becky made a significant planned gift to AAMC through her estate to support breast health and geriatric care at AAMC. To honor her commitment, The Breast Center on the main AAMC campus was renamed The Rebecca Fortney Breast Center at a ceremony held on March 29, 2016. It is the Fortney family’s hope, and ours, that Becky’s compassion, spirit, courage and legacy will serve as a source of inspiration and strength to all of the patients and families who receive care in The Rebecca Fortney Breast Center for many years to come.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAAMC is among a select group of organizations to join with IBM’s supercomputer “Watson” to bring cognitive imaging or “brain mapping” into healthcare. You may remember Watson won against its human opponents in a game of Jeopardy in 2011. While the vast amount of medical data gathered is often too great for humans to analyze and interpret, Watson can process 40 million documents in 15 seconds. AAMC will work with IBM Watson Health experts to train Watson on various health conditions, improving its ability to help physicians deliver care in the future. “Our early adoption of Watson’s cutting-edge technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we deliver care to our patients by creating greater efficiencies and providing deeper insight to our physicians,” says David Todd, MD, medical staff vice president and medical director of Anne Arundel Diagnostic Imaging. Get more information on IBM Watson Health.
- Community, GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMark and Cindy Cheben have owned and managed The Gateway Florist in Annapolis for the past seven years, pouring time and energy into their thriving flower shop. But each Tuesday afternoon, you’ll find Mark at AAMC. He’s there to donate bouquets of flowers to well-deserving patients. “We were just looking for a simple way to give back to the community,” says Mark. “We’ve been very blessed and want to care for other people.” Thanks to the generosity of Mark and Cindy, for the past seven months AAMC Patient Advocacy has delivered bouquets of flowers to patients in need each week. Recipients include a mom on bed rest waiting to deliver her baby, a man spending his 91st birthday in the Emergency Room, a fiancée whose soon-to-be wife passed away during his hospital stay and many more. While Mark and Cindy can’t solve patients’ health issues, they can brighten their day and make them feel cared for and loved. We appreciate their support.
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