- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogPeople of different age groups can protect their bones and joints in a variety of ways: Kids and teensDon’t go straight from zero to 100. Avoid fractures by stretching and strengthening well before returning to seasonal sports. TeensStrengthen muscles and increase muscle mass with weight training to protect bones and joints in contact and high-impact sports. Teen girlsReplace the calories burned during high-intensity cardiovascular sports to avoid excessive fat loss that can lead to reduced bone density. AdultsUse stretching and light resistance strength training to keep stiff joints limber and reduce arthritis symptoms. Maintain a healthy weight to take pressure off the joints. WomenGet enough vitamin D and calcium, and participate in load-bearing activities such as walking, running, dancing or resistance training to keep bones strong. Ask your doctor about a bone density scan after menopause. Learn more about The Joint Center at AAMC, which performs more joint replacements than any other hospital in Maryland. Read about one athlete who swapped running for biking to save his knees.0
- Men's Health, Weight Loss, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSpring is officially here. As you’re rolling up your sleeves for spring cleaning, why not overhaul your cupboards and remove the foods that are sabotaging your health? Start eating healthy and purge your kitchen of processed foods, products with more than five ingredients, expired items, and sugary and salty snacks. Avoid foods with ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, trans or saturated fats, and any other additives you cannot pronounce. Load up on lean proteins, such as tuna, sardines, salmon and low sodium beans. Trade out high-sugared cereals for oatmeal flavored with cinnamon and fruit. Try some new grains such as quinoa, faro or buckwheat. Declutter your freezer It’s easy to throw foods in the freezer and forget about them, or allow them to become buried by recent purchases. Get rid of anything with ice crystals forming on it. Foods with freezer burn not only lose flavor, but also their nutrient density, especially produce. Meats can keep up to nine months in the freezer. Make room for frozen fruits and vegetables to have on hand to supplement meals, shooting for the “My Plate” goal of making half your plate fruits and vegetables. Lighten up your fridge Even with plenty of frozen fruits and vegetables, you want to be sure to have room for fresh varieties. Aim for foods that keep for days such as oranges, cauliflower, apples and cabbage. Don’t cut up anything or pre-wash produce when you bring it home from the store. Although this may seem like a time saver, it will make the produce spoil sooner. Save food prepping for the night before to save time. Swap out creamy condiments like mayo, salad dressings and sour cream for mustard, flavored vinegars, lemon or lime juice, Greek yogurt and olive oil. Always have a carton of eggs for a quick protein that goes well with any snack or meal. Food storage Finally, put everything in its place. To make sure your healthy habits stick, it is important to put energy and time into where you are storing your foods. Keep the nutrient-dense options front and center and the treats in the back, perhaps out of sight out of mind. It is also key to keep the FIFO method of inventory in mind when restocking shelves, which means ‘first in, first out.’ In other words, rotate the items you already have to the front of the freezer, or cupboards and then put the newer items in the back. 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 April 3, 2017. Last updated March 25, 2019.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMay is Better Hearing and Speech Month. It’s a time when speech-language pathologists (SLPs), like me, help raise awareness about how our profession can help with a variety of communication and swallowing disorders. More than help with stuttering For many years there has been confusion regarding speech therapy. People often only associate it with help for stuttering. When I first became a licensed speech therapist, I assumed the majority of people would know what I could do to help them. However, I quickly found that there was a need to expand our knowledge about speech therapy, even among the medical community. Not just for kids Also, it’s important to realize speech therapy benefits more than just children. SLPs treat patients of all ages, from birth through end-of-life care. In 2014, seniors over 65 represented 14.5 percent of the population. By 2040 their numbers are expected to grow to more than 21 percent of the population. As people age, normal changes occur in their speech, language, memory and swallowing. Plus, their chances of having a communication or swallowing disorder related to a disease increases. Ways adult speech therapy can help Adult speech therapy helps a wide range of conditions that affect speech, language and swallowing. It helps with progressive neurological diseases like primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia and Huntington’s disease, as well as stroke and traumatic brain injury. Speech therapy also helps with a broad range of other diagnoses, from oral and laryngeal cancer to developmental disorders. Here is a breakdown of the many facets of adult speech therapy: Cognitive therapy: memory; attention; executive functioning, including organization, planning, problem solving, etc.; functional/daily living tasks Speech therapy: voice; dysarthria (slow speech, weakness); apraxia (difficulty with executing/planning speech movements); accent reduction; stuttering; voice/communication for transgender clients Language therapy: aphasia, which is a language disorder that can result in difficulties with any combination of word retrieval or verbal expression, understanding what you hear, understanding what you read, and being able to write out your thoughts Swallowing therapy: dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); aspiration pneumonia; mouth, throat, lip, tongue or cheek weakness Communication options: augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, tracheostomy/ventilator communication Speech therapists guide you and your family through life changes. We clinically challenge your skills using evidence-based practice techniques and support you through the rehabilitation process. Our goal is to improve your quality of life by helping you reach functional goals. If you think you or a loved one could benefit from a speech therapy consultation, please call 443-481-1140 to schedule an appointment with AAMG Physical Therapy. Our outpatient speech therapists are available in Crofton and Annapolis. Author Anusha Sivalingam, SLP, is a speech language pathologist with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Physical Therapy. To reach her office, call 443-481-1140.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCoughing. Fever. Trouble breathing. These are some of the potential symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). If you or someone in your family exhibits these symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend you call your health care provider. Most people will have mild illness and will be asked to recover at home. If this applies to you, here are the steps you should take. Stay home Unless you are seeking medical care, please stay home. Self-isolate in a room away from other people in your home as much as you can. Use a different bathroom if you have one. Clean “high-touch” surfaces in those rooms, but let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas. Such surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Don’t share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels/wash cloths, bar soap or bedding with other people in your home. Wash these items thoroughly after using them. Wash your hands Hand washing is the single most important step in preventing infection from COVID-19. Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to wash your hands, and have every member of your family do the same. Wash your hands after you touch surfaces, use the bathroom, cough, sneeze and before you eat or prepare meals. Monitor your symptoms If you are experiencing more serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or bluish lips, call 911 and say you may have COVID-19. This will allow health care providers to take steps to protect themselves and other patients. Wear a cloth covering, scarf or face mask if you have one. If you don’t, cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue. The CDC advises that you practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from others. When it’s okay to stop home isolation You can stop isolating when you’ve had no fever (without taking fever-reducing medications) for at least 72 hours, your other symptoms have improved and it has been a least seven days since your symptoms first appeared, the CDC says. After your fever has subsided, we recommend you follow these prevention steps for 10 days: Stay home except to get medical care. Don’t go to work or any public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride sharing or taxis. Ask a friend or family member who is healthy to help you with errands including buying groceries or picking up medications. Avoid people who are at high-risk of developing severe infections from COVID-19, including elderly people, people who are immunocompromised and people who have chronic health conditions such as chronic heart, lung or kidney problems. Author Jean Murray is Anne Arundel Medical Center’s director of Infection Control.0
- TelehealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChances are you’ve experienced episodes of coughing, congestion and sniffles in recent weeks. Hospitals are currently busy treating patients who need care for respiratory infections such as COVID, flu, and RSV. If you visit an Emergency Department (ED) for treatment, you might experience longer than normal wait times. Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) in Lanham has successfully improved wait times by revamping its patient triage process: When you arrive at the ED, you will register with the clerk, and a triage nurse will assess your needs to determine the priority of care. A patient liaison staff member promptly engages and will explain and expedite the next steps in your care. This change has decreased the amount of time you wait by 40-50 minutes. If you are discharged to go home, our caregivers will ensure you have appropriate follow-up with your primary care provider, or they will connect you with a Luminis Health Primary Care Provider. Parents will be glad to know that at LHDCMC, physicians from Children’s National are available seven days a week to treat pediatric cases in the ED. You can also take several steps to ensure you receive timely care. Here’s what you can do: Make sure you bring everything you need for emergency care Your time in the Emergency Department will go faster by bringing important items for our care team, such as the following: Driver’s license or identification card Insurance card List of medications and allergies List of contacts, including primary physician, specialists, friends and family Discharge instructions and notes from recent ED visits or hospital admission Cell phone chargers Keep your cool Dealing with an emergency is stressful, and emotions are often heightened for everyone. Getting upset or mistreating your care team won’t speed up your visit. It’s important to remember that doctors, nurses, receptionists and other staff members in the ED are on your side — and working their hardest to give you the care you need as quickly as possible. At Luminis Health, we believe in a culture of mutual caring: We provide the best care possible in a healing environment and we always treat each other with respect and dignity. Caring for and protecting patients, families, employees, and our community, is important to us. “We have to treat patients in order of priority, seeing patients with life-threatening illness or injury first,” said Dr. Reginald Brown, emergency department chair at LHDCMC. “Your patience is very important and appreciated, as we prioritize care for those who need it urgently.” Urgent care is another option There are many situations in which the ED is the best place to go for care, such as life-threatening injuries or conditions. In other cases, urgent care centers are a convenient option for treatment. Urgent care can address the following conditions and symptoms: Cough and cold symptoms Minor cuts that may need stitches Eye problems, like pink eye Mild abdominal pain Mild illnesses, such as strep throat or the flu Sprains and strains Vomiting or diarrhea Telehealth visits are refreshingly easy If you have a minor medical issue, consider connecting with a medical provider virtually. This often allows for a quicker appointment, most patients are able to schedule same-day care. With the availability of after-hours and weekend virtual visits, we aim to accommodate your schedule. Luminis Health’s CareConnectNow is available for Maryland residents by calling (443) 951-4270 from your smart phone or making an online appointment. Thank you for your patience, support, and your own efforts as we strive to improve emergency care for every patient. Author Dr. Reginald Brown, is the emergency department chair at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.0
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