- 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.
- GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAAMC’s second annual Denim & Diamonds was a resounding success. Guests dressed in various forms of denim and bling represented the community’s support for one of our most urgent care needs. On April 29, 2017, more than 1,100 people attended this special event under the stars to shed light on the crucial need for mental health services in this region. Thanks to the efforts of a talented committee and under the leadership of co-chairs Al and Cathy Adelman, Jerry and Lori Collier, and Rich and Theresa Gergar, nearly $1 million was raised during this special event. These much needed funds will help to improve the lives of thousands of patients in our community by supporting mental health programs and services. Jerry Collier, Senior Vice President at M&T Bank and AAMC Foundation Board member, shares his passion and commitment to making AAMC’s Denim & Diamonds Bash such an impactful occasion. “I joined AAMC’s Foundation Board in 2013 as I believed then, and know now, that AAMC directly touches more folks and has a larger positive macro impact on our great community as compared to other health, human and social service not for profits,” says Jerry. “When the leadership of AAMC asked my wife Lori and I to chair Denim & Diamonds 2017, we gladly accepted based upon our desire to raise awareness of, and increase funding for, mental health. At each of our monthly Denim & Diamonds Bash Committee meetings our first meeting agenda item was our “mission moment” where clinicians and other caregivers shared the challenge of significant resource constraints to address the overwhelming demand for mental health care in our community,” Jerry says. “With each “mission moment,” the Committee became increasingly resolved to make Denim & Diamonds this region’s biggest and best event so that we could raise the funds so greatly needed to expand mental health care. The outpouring of support from sponsors and guests for the event has been nothing short of extraordinary.” The Denim & Diamonds Bash could not have been a success without our 102 sponsors, including presenting Platinum co-sponsors the Chesapeake Bayhawks and M&T Bank, and Diamond sponsors Aerotek, AAMC Medical Staff, BB&T, Comcast, Homestead Gardens, Ken’s Creative Kitchen, TEKsystems, What’s Up? Magazine and WRNR-103.1. We are also grateful for our media sponsors, Capital Gazette Communications, Inc., Eye on Annapolis, Liquified Creative, LLC, Annapolis Home Magazine, and 1430 WNAV. Don’t miss next year’s party with a purpose! Tickets sold out almost a month before this year’s event, so be sure to save the date for AAMC Foundation’s Denim & Diamonds Spring Bash, Saturday April 28, 2018. For more information about getting involved with AAMC Foundation’s Bash, please contact Kendra Smith Houghton at 443-481-4739 or [email protected].
- Cancer Care, Plastic Surgery & Skin Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you or someone you know is considering breast reconstruction surgery following a lumpectomy or mastectomy, it’s important to know what options are available. While silicone and saline breast implants are an option, breast reconstruction surgery has advanced tremendously in recent years to include natural ways to rebuild the shape and look of the breast. Oncoplastic breast surgery This is a combination of operations performed by a breast surgeon and a plastic surgeon. At the same time a patient is undergoing a lumpectomy, where a breast surgeon removes a cancerous tumor, a plastic surgeon will use remaining tissue, the nipple and areola to immediately reshape and restore the natural appearance of the breast. The plastic surgeon will also modify the opposite breast to create an even look. This procedure could be a good option for women who are also candidates for a breast reduction or breast lift. Microvascular free flap options Following a mastectomy, a patient can choose to have an entire breast reconstructed with their natural tissue. Plastic surgeons can transfer tissue from other areas of the body to the breast. Historically, surgeons would take skin, fat and muscle from the upper back to reconstruct the breast. This is known as latissimus flap reconstruction surgery. Alternately, plastic surgeons can transfer skin, fat and muscle from the rectus, or ‘six pack’ muscle, from the lower belly to reconstruct the breast. This is TRAM flap reconstruction surgery. However, surgeons now use the latissimus and TRAM flaps surgeries less in favor of more modern reconstructive options. These more advanced options keep the muscles associated with those two procedures intact. One such option is the deep inferior epigastric perforator artery, or DIEP, flap technique. Plastic surgeons transfer the necessary skin, tissue (no muscle) and tiny blood vessels from a patient’s abdomen to form a new breast. Many women choose this option because of the tummy tuck benefit since excess skin and fat from the belly is removed. Fat grafting Liposuction can remove excess fat deposits from areas like a patient’s flanks (the area between your ribs and hip) or thighs. In the operating room, plastic surgeons purify the fat and carefully inject it into the breast to enhance the appearance of a reconstruction or in some cases to make an entire breast. As we discuss your options, it’s also important to shed light on the “Go Flat” movement. Women eligible for reconstruction but disinterested in additional surgeries, or the idea of reconstruction in general, embrace the idea of wearing their mastectomy scars with pride. Your surgeon should review your medical history and overall health, and explain which reconstructive options might be best for you based on your age, health, body type, lifestyle and other factors. Your surgeon should explain the limits, risks, and benefits of each option. Deciding whether or not to have breast reconstructive surgery following cancer treatment is a very personal choice. Find a surgeon you feel comfortable with, and talk openly about any concerns and preferences you may have. Author Drs. Devinder Singh and Tripp Holton are plastic surgeons at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Plastic Surgery and specialize in breast reconstruction including microvascular surgery at Anne Arundel Medical Center. You can reach their office at 443-481-3400 or AAMGPlasticSurgery.com.
- Men's Health, News & Press Releases, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) on Wednesday announced the opening of its new primary care practice, AAMG Chesapeake Family Medicine. The practice is accepting new patients and is located at 2002 Medical Parkway, Sajak Pavilion, Suite 460, in Annapolis, Md. AAMG Chesapeake Family Medicine provides primary health care services to patients age 10 and up. The practice has three full-time providers: Scott Eden, MD, attended medical school at Duke University. Dr. Eden graduated from the Duke-Watts Family Medicine Residency Program in 1983, where he served as chief resident. After serving on the clinical faculty at Duke University, Dr. Eden moved to Annapolis, Md., where he has practiced family medicine since 1984. Tammy Jones, MD, attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She completed her residency at Forbes Regional Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., and relocated to Maryland after 18 years of practicing medicine in Charlotte, NC. Patricia Valentino, CRNP, attended the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Patricia has practiced family medicine for 25 years, and has been practicing in the Baltimore/Annapolis region since 1992. “Choosing a primary care provider is one of the most important health care decisions you can make,” says Dr. Eden. “At AAMG Chesapeake Family Medicine we provide our patients with quality care that is personal, compassionate and convenient. We are proud to serve this community.” Research shows that patients with a primary care provider have better management of chronic disease, lower overall health care costs and a higher level of satisfaction with their care. As a part of AAMG, the practice is affiliated with Anne Arundel Medical Center specialists and facilities. Patients in the AAMG network have one seamless medical record shared between all their AAMG providers. Patients also have access to MyChart, a free, personalized online resource to view their medical records, send a message to their doctor, view lab results, and request an appointment or prescription refills. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an AAMG Chesapeake Family Medicine provider, call 443-481-4080.
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMost of us are not aware of simple things we do every day that affect our health, good or bad. I am a firm believer that being healthy is a direct reflection of what you put into your body, mind and spirit. You are made to live in harmony with nature, which means everything you put into your body is designed to become a part of you. I have some very simple recommendations which, if you practice regularly, can prevent many of the illnesses that may bring you into the doctor’s office. The goal is staying healthy and living a long life, with the added benefit of feeling well and energetic. 1. Remember that food is intended to become a part of your DNA. When you eat organic, whole foods as close to the way they appear in nature — untouched by pesticides, genetic modification, or general processing — it is the healthiest for you. Highly processed foods often have excess fats and sugar, which can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke or kidney disease). 2. Exercise is essential to stay healthy. Exercise induces your endorphins which are natural hormones that counterbalance stress. Exercise also increases your good cholesterol called HDL and decreases bad cholesterol called LDL. It also increases your body’s efficiency of using glucose for energy and decreases your insulin levels. As you might guess, these things decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes. 3. Minimize refined sugar, carbohydrates and some dairy products. These are inflammatory and inflammation leads to cell damage. Inflammation leads to plaque buildup in your blood vessels, also called atherosclerosis. Plaque can break off and cause heart attack and stroke. Inflammation is also a huge contributor to arthritis and related diseases. Using natural spices such as turmeric can help you reduce and eliminate inflammation. 4. Adequate sleep is extremely important Your body repairs itself during sleep. But not all sleep is equal. You need deep sleep, or eight hours, to allow the most efficient cell repair. Decreased sleep equals decreased repair. Your vitamin D levels also affect your sleep. When you get direct sunlight to the skin, your body will metabolize and increase your vitamin D levels naturally. 5. Minimize stress. There are multiple ways to accomplish this. Exercise is often helpful. If you cannot run on a treadmill or spend an hour in the gym then try Tai Chi or Yoga, which are both low impact and work well for improving balance, increasing muscle tone, and calming your mind. To minimize stress, I also highly recommend mindfulness — some may call it meditation. Studies have proven that mindfulness reduces stress considerably. You can try sitting or lying still without stimulation from electronics or other devices. Practice deep breathing and perhaps have soft, instrumental music in the background. Try five minutes at a time until you find the right combination and time frame that works for you. Prevention of disease is the framework for a long life, and a healthy mind, body and spirit. As you work to improve one area, the others are sure to follow. Author Tammy Jones, MD, is a primary care doctor with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Chesapeake Family Medicine, a new practice opening in Annapolis, Md., on April 18. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 443-481-4080.
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