- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThank you. It’s a simple, yet powerful, phrase. One you probably taught to your children as soon as they could talk. And sometimes you probably have to remind them to use it when they get a gift or a compliment. But when you remind them to say thank you, you aren’t just teaching them to be nice. You’re teaching them how to be happy. Positive. Resilient. Did you know that more and more research is shining a light on a connection between gratitude and greater happiness? Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions. It helps to alleviate depression, improve health, build strong relationships and better manage adversity. Feeling grateful for even the smallest things in life can help you be more patient, too. That’s according to research from Northeastern University. Grateful teens are also building emotional resilience because it helps them look on the bright side. This is especially important for teens, who often see things in black and white. Looking for some guidance on how you can raise a grateful and generous teen? Here’s our advice. Walk your talk. It starts with you. Talk about what you are grateful for so your child has a good example to follow. Bonus – the more you do it, the more you’ll find reasons to give thanks. Start a gratitude conversation. Dinner is already the perfect time to catch up with your teen – why not ask them what they are grateful for? Feel free to come up with your own examples, as we mentioned earlier! Or consider making a gratitude jar. Support your teen during the hard times. Life can be challenging. If something difficult happens, acknowledge it. But then, bring them back to the present when they’re ready. Talk to them about what they can learn from the experience. How can they grow from it? Give them time and space – but also encourage them to view it as a learning experience. Encourage your teen to volunteer. Nothing beats real-world experience. When your child helps people in need, they will appreciate what they have even more. Adolescents are naturally entitled. That’s simply the way their brain works. But you can help them focus and build their gratitude muscle and emotional strength. Think of your teen’s emotions as a rubber band that you can stretch. Like a rubber band, they will return to their original shape. Even when pushed to their limit. Keeping that “gratitude muscle” in shape will help them bounce back and carry on. Want to start a gratitude conversation? Spread the positive vibes with our how-to guide on creating a gratitude jar. Authors Ruth Milsten, LCSWC, is a mental health specialist with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Mental Health Specialists. To schedule an appointment with her, call 410-573-9000. Waseem Hussain, MD, is a primary care doctor with Doctors Community Medical Center. Originally published Nov. 19, 2018. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you have or have had breast cancer, you may want to know if there are things you can do that may lower your risk of the cancer growing or coming back. Diet is thought to be partly responsible for about 35-40 percent of cancers. No specific food or diet can prevent you from getting breast cancer, but striving to get your body the healthiest it can be to improve your immune system may help keep your risk as low as possible. Breast cancer is less common in countries where the typical diet is plant-based and low in total fat. Breast cancer is one of the best-studied cancers and research has shown us a few things we can do that might be helpful. One thing is clear: fat is a major source of calories. High fat intake can lead to being overweight or obese, which is a breast cancer risk factor. Overweight women may be at higher risk for breast cancer because the extra fat cells make estrogen, which can cause extra breast cell growth. Here are some steps you can take to lower the risk of breast cancer: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Freeze grapes and berries for a snack. Buy a new fruit or vegetable every time you go to the grocery store. Add squash, onions, mushrooms and carrots to jarred or fresh spaghetti sauce. Eat whole fruit instead of juices or smoothies for a fiber boost. Make all snacks fruits and vegetables and elevate these with marinades, seasonings or cold vegetable slaws. Limit your fat intake. Use less salad dressing or substitute with flavored vinegars or chutneys. Cook with bouillon, broth or stock to enhance flavors. Avoid processed meats and cold cuts as these are high in salt, fat and preservatives. Eliminate foods with the highest fat content. Aim for 3 grams of fat or less per 100 calories when label reading. Choose lean cuts of meat and remove skins. Mix up your protein options. Try fish, chicken or lamb instead of beef and pork. Have and omelet for dinner with beans and vegetables. Use lentils or beans as your main dish such as vegetarian chili, bean burgers or a hearty soup. Add healthy choices to your diet. Bake, broil or grill your food to decrease the amount of calories in your food versus frying. Choose nonfat milk and dairy products and yogurts. Choose smaller portions with a total of 6 ounces of cooked meat per day. Fill in the remaining plates with vegetable and fruits. Eat more fiber to feel full for longer and to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Put beans into salads, soups and casseroles. Toss vegetables with pasta sauce. Be physically active. Among breast cancer survivors, studies have found a consistent link between physical activity and a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence and death. Research has also linked physical activity to improvements in quality of life, physical functioning and less fatigue. Limit or avoid alcohol. Alcohol can increase levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It also may increase breast cancer risk by damaging DNA in cells. Compared to women who don’t drink at all, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15 percent higher risk of breast cancer. Consider buying organic. There is a real concern that chemicals used to grow food may cause health problems, including an increase in breast cancer risk. To reduce your exposure to pesticides, you may want to buy organically grown food, particularly fruits and vegetables. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published Oct. 1, 2018. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn 2017, many of us anxiously followed headlines and reports on social media for news of missing Howard County teacher Laura Wallen, only to be saddened at the news of her death. While the public waited and hoped for Laura Wallen’s safe return home, Prince George’s County resident Andrea Grinage was attacked in her apartment and set on fire. What did these women have in common? They were both pregnant and victims of intimate partner violence — or domestic violence. Although these and similar stories frequently report the fact that the suspect is a current or former partner, there is all too often no mention of domestic violence. This very subtle omission is an indication of continued misconceptions about what domestic violence is and who is most at risk. The fact is, over half of all female homicides are in relation to domestic violence. Equally disturbing, as many as 300,000 pregnant women experience some form of domestic violence each year. Undoubtedly, the most dangerous time for women in abusive relationships is when they are attempting to leave an abusive partner and during or just after pregnancy. As in the case of Andrea Grinage and Laura Wallen, these frightening facts hold true. READ MORE: When words hurt: Another kind of domestic violence The media’s omission of domestic violence, to not call it out by name, illustrates the stigma and misconceptions that still surround this issue. Chances are, if you are a woman and have not experienced domestic violence yourself, you know someone (a sister, a mother, a co-worker, a neighbor) who has and you have seen the signs. Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior used by one person to gain power and control over another, usually a current or former intimate partner. Abuse can include physical abuse, verbal abuse and threats, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, isolation, stalking, coercive or controlling behavior and financial abuse. This type of violence does not discriminate. It touches women in all walks of life. It transcends race and socioeconomic status. Support of family and friends can often be vital to those impacted by domestic violence by diminishing the effects of isolation and feelings of hopelessness. Advocates trained in the dynamics of domestic violence can assist victims by screening and assessing risk, documenting injuries, creating safety plans, providing immediate crisis intervention, and referrals to professional counselors, safe shelter, and legal resources. Unfortunately, the stories of so many women like Laura Wallen and Andrea Grinage reach our headlines when they result in tragedy. And even so, reports too often fail to mention domestic violence. It’s time this public health problem is called by its name, domestic violence. Author Amy J.N. Bosworth, Psy.D., is an abuse/domestic violence specialist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Her email is [email protected]. Originally published Oct. 1, 2017. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogI never thought much about my bones when I was younger. I figured they were strong and would last unless I broke one. And if I did break a bone, it would heal and everything would be fine. After all, I was busy working full-time, plus managing a household with three kids and a husband and all of our daily activities. I didn’t have time to think about my bone health. I thought I was invincible. I wasn’t. Here’s what I wish I had known about my bones when I was younger. I wish ….. I had known that there is a point where your body stops making new bone. I didn’t know that by the time you reach your mid-30s, you begin to lose more bone than your body can replace. Menopause speeds this process up. READ MORE: Bone health and osteoporosis: What all women should know I wish …. I had made sure I was getting enough calcium in my diet. I knew that calcium was necessary for bone health, but I did not focus on making sure I had enough in my diet. READ MORE: 7 tips for better bone health I wish …. I had exercised more. Even just walking for 10 minutes at a time, three or four times a day would have helped. I wish …. I had never started smoking. I smoked for about 10 years and wish I had known that smoking wasn’t good for my bones – or anything else, for that matter. Schedule your lung screening today and learn your risk of lung cancer. I wish …. I had known that at every stage of your life, you have to focus on your own health and make sure you learn what you need to do to stay healthy – and make time to take care of yourself. Author Bonnie P. Mulieri, 75, of Arnold is an osteoporosis patient. Originally published Oct. 14, 2019. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.
- Community, Pediatrics, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is prime time for frequent trips to water parks, pools, beaches and lakes. Unfortunately, it’s also the high season for drowning and even dry drowning that occurs after swimming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency care for nonfatal submersion injuries. The key to prevention is water safety education. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning water activities this summer: Learn to swim. The American Association of Pediatrics recommend children start swimming lessons around age one. You can find lessons at your local pool. Learn CPR and first aid. In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR and first aid skills could save someone’s life. Find CPR and first aid certification programs online in your local area. Use the buddy system. Never swim alone. Wear a life jacket when on a boat, raft, inner tube, kayak or canoe. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children. If you have a pool at home, make sure you have the proper safety mechanisms (i.e., gates, latches, locks, etc.) in place to prevent accidents. We all love to have fun, but we must do our part to protect others and ourselves by practicing water safety. If you have questions or concerns about preparing for summer activities, your primary care physician can help. Authors Heather Newhard, MSN, CRNP-F, is a primary care physician with Luminis Health.
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