<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yI-c_u6d0kg" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Before you indulge in another holiday cookie, digest this fact: On average, people gain about one to five pounds during the holiday season. And, according to Jana Wolff, RD, LDN, Director of Nutrition at GBMC’s Bariatric Surgery & Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMP), these are the pounds that most people keep on over the years. <br> <br> With parties, family gatherings, and sweet indulgences seemingly everywhere, Wolff explains that many people often feel out of control with eating during the holidays. <br> <br> What’s one of Wolff’s hot tips for surviving holiday parties? “Don’t go to a party on an empty stomach,” she says. “Eat regular meals throughout the day. Don’t save up all of your calories for the big meal only to find yourself overindulging and consuming many more calories in that one meal than if you ate three normal meals that day.” Wolff also gives invaluable tips and secrets to winning the battle of the bulge and surviving the deluge of holiday foods including: </p> <ul> <li> How to practice self-control around common foods that lead to overeating </li> <li> Healthy swaps and substitutions for cooking lighter and healthier (think skim milk instead of heavy cream) </li> <li> Better choices for alcoholic beverages </li> <li> How to enjoy dessert without all the guilt </li> <li> Finding balance in your diet </li> <li> Practicing “mindful eating” </li> </ul> “During the holidays, enjoy time with family and friends and practice mindful eating,” says Wolff. “It’s all about taking the time to slow down, enjoying the food of the season, and being present in the moment.”
<p class="article-body"> "The holidays remind me that I'm alone." <br> "I can't afford to give people the kinds of gifts they expect." <br> "My family will always consider me a failure compared to my sister." <br> "I'm in too much pain to act like I'm enjoying myself." <br> <br> These are just a few of the reasons why many people find the holiday season to be an unpleasant time of year. Depression can be caused by a number of different things – certain chronic illnesses, grief, medications, hormones, substance abuse – and it can also be brought about or amplified by stressful experiences. <br> <br> Not only can depression result in uncomfortable physical symptoms like headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, sleeplessness and fatigue, it can also worsen a chronic illness such as diabetes or high blood pressure. This is especially dangerous for those who have a chronic condition that has not yet been diagnosed. Unfortunately, when people suffer from a combination of chronic illness and depression, they are even more likely to avoid family, friends and activities they once enjoyed. That isolation may intensify the depression. <br> <br> The most frequently cited “triggers” for depression during the holidays are: family gatherings or being away from family and friends; concerns about money and spending; high or unrealistic expectations; fatigue; over-committing and over-commercialization. <br> <br> To cope with these triggers, consider trying some of the following actions: </p> <ul> <li> plan daily “me” time to focus on your own needs </li> <li> practice saying "no" to avoid over-committing yourself </li> <li> donate to a charity instead of buying commercial gifts </li> <li> prepare a budget for reasonable spending </li> <li> ask for help when you need it </li> <li> set time limits for various tasks or events to prevent rushing from place to place </li> <li> Deep breathing can also be a helpful tool to calm yourself when you feel frustrated or anxious. </li> </ul> Don’t wait for a crisis or suffer in silence. There are multiple ways to address depression and people do get better. Regardless of whether you or a loved one suffer from major (clinical) or seasonal depression, it’s important to speak with your primary care physician about the symptoms. He or she will be able to assess your needs, determine whether a chronic condition is present and discuss possible treatment options. <br> <br> GBMC has 10 primary care practices throughout the Baltimore area. If you do not have a primary care physician, visit <a href="http://mygbmcdoctor.com">mygbmcdoctor.com</a> to find one who is right for you. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Handwashing: it's something you do multiple times a day, every day. It's probably so ingrained into your daily routine that you rarely give it much thought. However, when done properly, it's the single most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. December 4-10 is National Handwashing Awareness Week, and also the time of year when influenza (flu) viruses in the United States start to peak. If you follow the 4 Principles of Hand Awareness, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can virtually isolate yourself from the germs people around you may be spreading: </p> <ul> <li> Wash your hands when they are dirty, before eating, and after using the toilet. </li> <li> Do not cough into your hands. </li> <li> Do not sneeze into your hands. </li> <li> Above all, do not put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth. </li> </ul> The mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, and mouth are referred to as the T-Zone, and this zone is where the majority of diseases enter the body. In fact, for respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, it is the only portal of entry, which is why not touching this area is crucial to avoiding getting sick. If you never touched your T-Zone with a contaminated finger again, you could avoid flu, conjunctivitis, strep throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, and many more! Handwashing is very much like a "do-it-yourself" vaccine (though you should never forego your flu shot!), when these five simple and effective steps are followed: <ul> <li> Wet your hands with clean, running water </li> <li> Lather by applying soap and rubbing hands together. Remember to get the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. </li> <li> Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. </li> <li> Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. </li> <li> Dry your hands using a clean towel. </li> </ul> There are some situations where you may find yourself without soap and water, but still need to wash your hands: food trucks, outdoor events like concerts, festivals, and fairs, or in emergencies such as water outages. Then what? Will hand sanitizer get the job done? The answer is yes if you use the SaniTwice method, developed by infection prevention specialists to help the military safely feed recruits in the desert when there is no running water. <br> <br> <strong>SaniTwice:</strong> <ul> <li> Apply hand sanitizer (two pumps!) </li> <li> Rub all over hands for 15-20 seconds (including backs and between fingers) </li> <li> Towel wipe while hands are still wet. </li> <li> Apply sanitizer again. </li> <li> Air dry. </li> </ul> By following these simple steps for hand hygiene and sanitizing etiquette, not only are you preventing yourself from getting sick, but you're assisting in preventing epidemics and pandemics everywhere. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Tobacco use negatively affects every system in your body. We've all learned to associate smoking with lung cancer and emphysema, but it causes many more diseases. Smoking can directly lead to heart disease and stroke along with asthma, hypertension and cancer in any part of your body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking causes approximately 1 in 5 deaths every year and it's the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. <br> <br> It’s no secret that quitting smoking is not an easy task for most people. When you decide it's time for you to quit, know that there will be challenges, but the benefits of quitting far outweigh the costs. Here are some tips to help get you started: </p> <ul> <li> Know your personal motivations for quitting. Is it to improve your health? Is it to reduce the risk in your family of second hand smoke from you? Remind yourself of these reasons when you are having a difficult day. </li> <li> Create specific, reasonable goals and reward yourself when you meet them (but not by taking an extra smoke!) </li> <li> Throw away things that make it easier to smoke. Get rid of: <ul> <li> Ashtrays </li> <li> Lighters </li> <li> Leftover cigarettes </li> </ul> </li> <li> Try to surround yourself with nonsmokers and come up with alternative ways to use the time and money you would have spent smoking. The cost of smoking a pack each day can exceed $2,300 per year (that could pay for a vacation, more holiday gifts for loved ones, or a donation to your favorite charity). </li> <li> Build up a support system of people to encourage you and to keep you accountable </li> </ul> Even if you quit smoking decades ago, tobacco use can still be impacting your health. Problems from chronic lung disease – persistent cough, shortness of breath, and increased susceptibility to bronchitis and pneumonia – may persist or worsen over time, even after stopping smoking. But other smoking-related diseases, particularly cancer, may not have early warning signs, allowing the disease to progress to an advanced stage before symptoms occur. The earlier you stop smoking, the less your risk of severe damage, and the greater the potential for reducing the risk of serious illness. Your primary care provider may help you quit smoking, and also may detect or prevent these smoking-related diseases. <br> <br> It's important to know that there is no safe amount of smoking and there is no substitute for quitting. GBMC’s primary care practices have behavioral health and substance use resources available to help you with quitting and there are many programs throughout the community such as <a href="https://mdquit.org/" target="_blank" alt="MDQuit.org">MDQuit</a> and the <a target="_blank" alt="smokingstopshere.com" href="http://smokingstopshere.com/">Maryland Tobacco Quitline</a>. For more information about GBMC's primary care providers, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mygbmcdoctor.com/">www.mygbmcdoctor.com</a>. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
Halloween is here! A holiday filled with two words: costumes and CANDY! This is a time when little ones (big and small) dress up for trick-or-treating to fill their bags and bellies with candy. For most of us, we don’t think twice about what candy we take from the bowl at the front door. But for some, this may be “tricky” to pick a treat for the “picky eater” child, or maybe the child that does not eat by mouth at all. Did you know that 25% of all children have a feeding or swallowing disorder? Feeding and eating is a developmental skills that begins day one of life. As a role of a Speech-Language Pathologist working in pediatrics at GBMC, we share the opportunity to help establish successful feeding skills in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for our premature infants. Premature infants (Preemies) may not receive the same positive “first” experiences with feeding as full term infants do. This can lead to negative feeding habits later in life. According to the research (Hawdon et al., 2000), 40% of children referred to outpatient specialty clinics due to concerns with feeding or growth are former Preemies. We must build a foundation for positive experiences with feedings and eating habits that go well beyond just breastfeeding or bottle, but skills that can last a lifetime. It is a critical time for our infants when they are in the NICU to grow and develop. GBMC is proud to announce a new training that is evidenced based and has been implemented across the globe as a standard practice to provide the best care possible our NICU infants and families. Infant-Driven Feeding training has begun here at GBMC to promote positive feeding exercises that is driven by the infant’s feeding cues. We are excited for the success it will bring to our families and infants! Our infants are dreaming about the candy and yummy treats in their future! For more information about the program check out InfantDrivenFeeding.com P.S. A helpful tip for Trick-or-Treat night, hand out non-food items such as bubbles for those children that cannot eat the candy/treats. Follow the Teal-Pumpkin Project, by placing/painting a teal pumpkin at your door so that for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option, can have a treat keeping Halloween a fun, and positive experience!
<p class="article-body"> Halloween is October 31, but most kids have had their costumes picked out since July, anxiously awaiting the opportunity to dress up, trick-or-treat around the neighborhood and collect lots of candy. We have compiled tips, suggestions and ideas to help make your family’s Halloween fun, safe and even healthy! <br> <br> <strong>Keeping it Safe</strong> </p> <ul> <li> To avoid trips and falls around the neighborhood, be sure your child’s shoes are well-fitting and that his or her costume does not drag on the ground </li> <li> Don’t let young children go trick-or-treating alone; instead, travel in groups with neighbors </li> <li> Always use the sidewalk, not the street, when trick-or-treating </li> <li> Only ring the doorbell of homes with the lights on, and teach your children that they should never go inside a stranger’s home </li> <li> If there are no streetlights where you live, consider carrying flashlights with you and attaching reflective tape (found at sporting goods/craft stores) to your children’s costumes </li> <li> Before applying any face paints to the child’s face, first test a small amount on your child’s wrist a few days before Halloween to make sure no skin irritation occurs </li> </ul> <strong>Keeping it Healthy</strong> <ul> <li> Parents should always inspect all candy before allowing a child to consume it; it is also advised to discard any homemade treats or candy with opened wrappers </li> <li> While you may be tempted to restrict children from eating Halloween candy, allowing them to indulge in a small amount is fine in moderation. Doing so will teach them to view sweets as a rare treat that can be part of a healthy diet </li> <li> Decide in advance the amount of candy you will allow your child to eat after trick-or-treating and communicate that to your child to manage his or her expectations </li> </ul> <strong>Keeping it Fun!</strong> <ul> <li> Decorate brown bags with stickers, markers, feathers and any other craft materials you like. Divide up leftover candy and portion out a small amount into each treat bag. Use the bags as a reward for good behavior, such as finishing vegetables at dinner or reading for an hour instead of watching television </li> <li> Consider a family service project! Operation Gratitude, an organization that facilitates letters of appreciation and care packages for our troops overseas, will send your extra candy to a deployed service member </li> </ul> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> What’s more intimate, iconic and identifying than the sound of someone’s voice? Just think of those on the radio, to start. And yet singers and radio personalities aren’t the only professional voice users. Teachers, lawyers, salespeople, receptionists — anyone whose job entails speaking to communicate, connect or cajole relies on voice as a primary tool. <br> <br> If someone’s voice changes, then, it can affect a person’s entire life, including their sense of self. That’s where laryngologists and speech pathologists — like those at the Johns Hopkins Voice Center, part of the Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Centers at Greater Baltimore Medical Center — come in. In this highly collaborative and specialized practice, restoring someone’s voice is the priority. <br> <br> “We are focused on functional outcomes,” explains Lee Akst, M.D., medical director of the Voice Center and director of laryngology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “We are focused on preserving voice.” <br> <br> <strong>A typical day at the Voice Center</strong> <br> <br> On any given day, Jessica Silinonte, a speech-language pathologist at the Voice Center, may be administering therapies for someone recuperating from vocal cord paralysis, or examining someone suffering from a hoarse voice. <br> <br> For each diagnostic visit, Silinonte performs a general health history and intake. Then she takes special measurements using acoustic analysis software and gets a baseline recording of the patient’s voice. She may view the larynx (voicebox) internally with a flexible endoscope. And then the laryngologist comes in to discuss treatment options, hand in hand with the speech pathologist. <br> <br> Only a small percentage of patients go to the operating room, Silinonte explains. “For the vast majority, we get them in the therapy frame of mind and see where we get.” <br> <br> A lot of what Silinonte then does is simple education. “The first thing we do is bring awareness to what your voice demands are, professionally and personally,” says Silinonte. Then she uses proven therapies to optimize the voice and limit vocal abuse. <br> <br> “Voice is a little abstract,” Silinonte explains. “If you see someone who loves to run, limping, you’d say ‘Oh no, what happened?’ If you hear someone with a raspy voice, you don’t think of it in the same way.” Her goal is to help people to think of their voice as something they can rehabilitate, the same way one might rehabilitate from a sports injury. <br> <br> <strong>More than just hoarse</strong> <br> <br> “A number of patients find us with a symptom, rather than a diagnosis,” explains Dr. Akst. <br> <br> Indeed, patients come in with a wide variety of issues, most indicated by hoarseness or loss of voice. It could be vocal cord paralysis. It could be nodules or growths. It could be spasmodic dysphonia — involuntary spasms in the larynx. It could be chronic cough. <br> <br> “In one room is a patient, a singer with new voice problems,” explains Kenneth C. Fletcher, M.D., director of laryngology at GBMC. “In the next, someone with lesions waiting to be treated. In the next room, Botox.” (Botox injections are used to relax the larynx.) <br> <br> Another common issue is respiratory papilloma, a typically benign precancerous condition where a patient might need to come to the Voice Center as often as every six to eight weeks to deal with new growths on the vocal cords. This is where the benefits of in-office procedures, which are relatively quick and minimally invasive, really play out. <br> <br> <strong>Beyond your typical ENT</strong> <br> <br> Indeed, a primary benefit of the Voice Center is its access to technology, including lasers, that make possible in-office procedures, as opposed to general anesthesia surgery. <br> <br> This is particularly important to those with respiratory papilloma. <br> <br> Patients who in the past had to have surgery can now have growths lasered away in about 30 minutes, explains Dr. Fletcher. <br> <br> “Everything old is new again,” he adds. “Decades ago, prior to general anesthesia being as easy and safe as it is now, laryngeal procedures were done in the office.” <br> <br> Another primary benefit of the Voice Center is the speech pathologist who works closely with the laryngologist. The Voice Center’s six pathologists bring their unique training and personal experience to their practice. <br> <br> “We have the luxury of specializing within a specialty,” explains Marisa Sanders, senior speech pathologist, who, in a previous lifetime, was an actress. “The transition to the voice world was fairly fluid as I’d been working on my own professional voice in theater for years,” she says. <br> <br> Sanders’ area of interest is breathing dysfunction — she’s currently pursuing certification in a breathing treatment called Buteyko Method. “Many of these individuals have nodules on their vocal folds. These are phonotraumatic lesions caused by overuse or misuse of their voices.” Meanwhile, two other colleagues, singers themselves, tend to the many singers who visit the Voice Center. <br> <br> The specialization, and the collaboration between laryngologists and speech pathologists makes for a dedicated team for each patient and voice problem. <br> <br> “It’s a team approach, explains Dr. Akst. “And it’s on purpose, not by accident.” <br> <br> — Laura Lambert for Greater Baltimore Medical Center </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r5_kKbH1fCs" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Finding out that you have breast cancer is something no one wants to hear, and many women avoid scheduling a mammogram for fear of the diagnosis and potential treatments. GBMC’s primary care practices and the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center at GBMC want to change the way people think about breast cancer because getting an annual mammogram screening is one of the most important things you can do for your health. <br> <br> October is breast cancer awareness month, but any time of year is a good time to talk about the disease with your primary care provider. Your physician will work with you to decide how often you should be screened depending on your individual risk factors (age, family history, body mass index, etc.). If necessary, a mammogram will be recommended for you, which can be performed at the Advanced Radiology practice located conveniently on the GBMC campus. <br> <br> In the event a breast cancer is diagnosed, one should remember that most breast cancers are curable when detected early and when small. GBMC’s Breast Care Center offers a multidisciplinary approach to treatment that is tailored to each patient’s needs in a healing and supportive environment. A team of experts in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, plastic surgery, lymphedema, nutrition, and genetics works together closely to get patients the information and care they need. If your doctor determines that you meet clinical criteria for genetic testing, you will have access to a full evaluation with our specialists at The Harvey Institute for Human Genetics. A nurse navigator and Oncology Support Services staff members are also available onsite to guide patients through the journey. <br> <br> Fear of needing multiple or complex surgeries is another reason why some people may avoid breast cancer screening. In the past, a breast cancer diagnosis almost always resulted in a mastectomy, but that is no longer the case. Improved surgical techniques have made it so that the majority of breast cancer surgeries are small outpatient procedures. It is now the standard of care that women undergo breast-conserving therapy defined as a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy for small tumors in the breast. Reconstructive surgery is often not needed. Dr. Sara Fogarty, DO, Associate Director of the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, recently sat down with Gina Crash, Co-host of Today's 101.9 Morning Show, to share updates in breast cancer care and the many services her team provides. </p>
<p class="article-body"> There are a lot of myths surrounding the topic of vaccines and it's important to know the truth about them. Getting vaccinated has a hugely positive effect on your health and the health of those around you. Vaccines are the reasons that we no longer have to worry about many dangerous diseases like polio and smallpox and they greatly reduce your likelihood of catching the flu, pneumonia, shingles, and other viruses. <br> <br> Contrary to what you may have heard, vaccinations do not cause autism in children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no link between the two, and leaving your children unvaccinated puts them at risk when they are most vulnerable. Diseases that may make a healthy adult uncomfortable for a couple of days can be devastating to young children, especially those with a compromised immune system. <br> <br> There is a small population of children unable to get vaccinated due to other health problems; they are particularly vulnerable. One of the ways that we can protect them is through what is called "herd immunity." This is when the majority of the population becomes immune to a disease, stopping its spread and protecting those who can't be vaccinated. However, it only works when healthy people get vaccinated. <br> <br> Many people have heard that getting a flu shot actually causes the flu. As stated by the CDC, this simply isn't true. You may experience some side effects, but the mild and short-lived symptoms are nothing compared to coming down with the full-blown flu virus. <br> <br> If you had chickenpox as a child or were never given the vaccine, you are at risk for getting shingles, a painful, blistering rash that appears on your skin. Shingles mostly occurs in adults over the age of 50 and is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you were infected when you were young, it's possible for the virus to reactivate and cause shingles. <br> <br> Another easily preventable disease is pneumonia. A majority of pneumonia cases are caused by a bacterial infection that can most often be prevented by the pneumonia vaccine (however, vaccination does not prevent pneumonias caused by a viral infection). Pneumonia frequently causes complications for the elderly and for those who are already ill and is the number one cause of vaccine-preventable deaths in the United States. This fact can be easy to disregard if it isn't relevant to your situation. However, the purpose of vaccines is prevention. Getting vaccinated not only prevents infection in the future, it can give you peace of mind knowing that you've done what you can to protect yourself and others around you. <br> <br> If you have not been vaccinated against the flu, pneumonia, or shingles, or you are not sure, speak to your primary care physician about scheduling an appointment for vaccination. Your doctor will consider your risk factors and advise you about when it’s appropriate to receive each vaccination. If you don’t have a primary care physician, visit <a href="http://www.mygbmcdoctor.com/" target="_blank">www.mygbmcdoctor.com</a> or call 443-849-GBMC (4262) to find one who is right for you. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Our voice is a large part of who we are. It is our vocal signature. And when it goes awry it can be upsetting to say the least. For someone who relies on their voice to make their living, even the slightest vocal pathology can be devastating. <br> <br> A voice problem (dysphonia) can result from a myriad of medical and non-medical issues. Benign vocal fold lesions such as nodules, cysts and polyps may lead to hoarseness. Faulty breath control and coordination from asthma and COPD can also undermine voice quality. Muscle atrophy due to nerve weakness or the natural aging process can leave a voice weak and unpredictable. Hormonal changes in body chemistry such as thyroid deficiencies and menstrual cycles can negatively impact the voice. And reflux can contribute to dysphonia in some cases. People with voice problems often complain of persistent hoarseness, frequent fatigue when speaking or singing, loss of range, running out of breath as they speak, even pain when speaking. Some voice problems require medical or surgical intervention, i.e., anti-fungal medication, mucolytics or antihistamines, or excision of a lesion. Usually, the most effective treatment of a voice problem is combined medical and behavioral therapy. <br> <br> Vocology is a niche specialty in speech pathology dealing with habilitation and rehabilitation of the voice. Once a laryngologist recommends a patient for voice therapy it is the charge of the voice pathologist to help a person “get their voice back.” This is no small task given that our voice and our personality are so closely linked. Voice therapy is not about changing a person’s voice. It is more often about changing the biomechanics of voice production to facilitate vocal fold wound healing and/or allowing the vocal folds to vibrate without overpressure. Ultimately, we want the best sound possible with the least amount of effort without undue trauma to the vibrating edge of the vocal folds. Voice therapy is both a learning and an unlearning process. The voice is an effect—the result of coordinated motor activities in the body. The power source for the voice is the air we breathe. This air must be coordinated with laryngeal muscular activity and shaped by the structures above the vocal folds to produce what we know as the voice. People with vocal problems have often ‘forgotten’ how to use their bodies in this coordinated fashion to produce sound. One important element of voice therapy is to help someone stop doing things that hinder free, easy voice production. Once any underlying respiratory and laryngeal motor issues begin to improve, there are numerous exercises someone can do to regain vocal strength, flexibility and stamina. Generally, most vocal exercises for singers and non-singers alike are geared toward re-directing vocal tension away from the throat by developing or enhancing one’s proprioceptive awareness. <br> <br> The vocal folds are the vibration source. That vibration travels upward through the pharynx and oral cavity and out into space, and we form words in the mouth on the way out. At its most basic level, the process of voice therapy teaches people to allow their voice to flow out on exhaled air and be shaped—and sensed—in the resonating cavities of the mouth, nose, facial and/or skull bones. There are certain bodily sensations that are associated with healthy vocal fold vibration. Recognizing and guiding these sensations in everyday speech and in singing is a major goal of voice therapy. Therefore, practicing awareness is as important as practicing any specific exercises. One of the keys to successful voice therapy is to bring patients more actively into their own bodies so they may use themselves better in speech and song. Overall, a better use of ‘self’ means a better voice. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> If you or someone you love was born between 1945 and 1965, it's time to consider getting screened for Hepatitis C. The Hepatitis C virus causes an infection that directly affects the liver. When left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, or the need for a liver transplant. In the vast majority of patients, once infected, the virus persists indefinitely, but quietly, potentially leading to severe liver damage before it is finally detected. There is no vaccine to protect anyone from becoming infected. As the disease is not associated with symptoms until advanced, it is possible to unknowingly pass the virus to others. The only way to know if you've been infected is to get screened by your primary care physician. <br> <br> Spread through blood and other bodily fluids, Hepatitis C is thought to have a high rate of occurrence in Baby Boomers, who grew up during a time when infection control practices were not standardized and blood products may not have been screened thoroughly. <br> <br> Risk factors for Hepatitis C include: </p> <ul> <li> Being part of the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1945 and 1965) </li> <li> Having received a blood transfusion or an organ transplant before 1992 </li> <li> Having received a blood product to treat clotting problems prior to 1987 </li> <li> Being on long-term kidney dialysis </li> <li> Having ever injected illicit drugs (even just once) </li> </ul> The good news is that most people diagnosed with Hepatitis C are cured after treatment. Talk to a primary care physician about your risk, appropriate testing and ways to protect yourself and your family members in the future. If you do not have a primary care physician, visit <a href="http://www.mygbmcdoctor.com/" target="_blank">mygbmcdoctor.com/</a> to find one who is right for you. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/brandpublishing/health-matters/bal-video-5-key-exercises-to-improve-your-mobility-20170722-story.html" target="_blank">Watch the video demonstration here</a> <br> <br> Mobility involves the body’s ability to move a joint freely and efficiently through its range of motion. When mobility is reduced, our strength diminishes and we’re more likely to suffer injury. <br> <br> Mike Wah, PT, DPT, OCS, and Joe Palmer, PT, DPT, OMPT, CSCS, CMTPT, are physical therapists specializing in orthopedics and manual therapy, in private practice as well as part of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center system. Here are five exercises they recommend adults do every day to improve and preserve mobility. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> In honor of Father’s Day on June 18, GBMC wants to remind men how vital it is to see their primary care physician for the preventive healthcare they need. <br> <br> A significant amount of published research has shown that, on average, men have higher mortality rates than women for fatal illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and AIDS. “Men need to make their health a priority. Being healthy requires maintaining a normal body weight, exercising, and not smoking,” says Kevin Ferentz, MD, lead physician for GBMC at Owings Mills. <br> <br> According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, more than 50 percent of men in the U.S. haven't visited their family physician in the past year, and men make half as many doctor visits for disease prevention than women. <br> <br> “The longer you put off seeing a doctor, the more likely it is that you will have to see a doctor on a regular basis for problems that were preventable,” warns Dr. Ferentz. He recommends that men discuss the following health screenings with their primary care physicians: </p> <ul> <li> <strong>Blood pressure:</strong> Every man age 18 or older should have his blood pressure checked annually. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If your numbers are higher, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medication or monitoring. </li> <li> <strong>Cholesterol:</strong> Men ages 20 to 35 with a cardiovascular disease risk factor – like smoking or a family history of heart disease - should be screened. After age 35, men should be screened once every 5 years if normal, or more often if levels are elevated. </li> <li> <strong>Colon cancer:</strong> Men should be screened regularly starting at age 50 or younger, especially if there is a family history of colorectal cancer. </li> <li> <strong>Heart disease:</strong> According to the CDC, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (49 percent) have at least one of these three risk factors. </li> <li> <strong>Prostate cancer:</strong> Men should discuss prostate screening with their physician. </li> <li> <strong>Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm:</strong> Men between the ages of 55-75 should consider this screening if they have a risk factor like smoking. </li> </ul> Along with health screenings, there are several vaccines that men should discuss with their physicians to protect themselves and their loved ones from serious illnesses like flu, shingles, pneumonia, whooping cough and, for men up to age 26, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. <br> <br> Father’s Day is the perfect time to remind all the men in our families to schedule an annual health review or see a doctor about a health problem. Visit <a href="http://www.mygbmcdoctor.com/" target="_blank">www.mygbmcdoctor.com</a> to find a primary care physician who is right for you. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Too young for cancer? Think again. It’s true that most new colorectal cancer diagnoses occur in people 50 or older, which is why organizations like the CDC and American Cancer Society recommend routine colonoscopies to screen for it beginning at that age. But, as you may have seen in the headlines recently, cases are increasing in young adults. <br> <br> A Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) study found that colon cancer rates among people age 20-39 are increasing 1-2.4% per year. The incidence of colon cancer in people 40-49 is increasing more rapidly than for any other age group. Some physicians and researchers believe this alarming trend could be the result of poor diet, inactive lifestyle and simply not knowing the risk factors for or symptoms of colorectal cancer. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap3r43Z0UPs">Watch Robert Donegan, MD, medical oncologist at GBMC, discuss this topic on ABC2 News</a>. <br> <br> <strong>You are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer if you: </strong> </p> <ul> <li> have a family history of colorectal cancer </li> <li> have a history of colorectal cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease yourself </li> <li> are African American or Jewish of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi) </li> <li> have type 2 diabetes </li> <li> smoke </li> <li> drink alcohol heavily </li> <li> are overweight or obese </li> <li> are physically inactive </li> <li> consume a diet high in red meat and processed meat </li> <li> have a certain genetic condition (such as Lynch syndrome, Turcot syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome) </li> </ul> <strong>Physicians want you to know that, regardless of your age, </strong> <ul> <li> there are no early warning symptoms of colon cancer or polyps. Screening before symptoms begin gives the best opportunity to prevent cancer by detecting and removing the pre-cancerous polyps. Detecting cancer during screening tests greatly increases the chance that the cancer is in a curable stage. </li> <li> once symptoms occur, if there is a cancer, it is more likely to be a more advanced cancer, and is less likely to be curable </li> <li> symptoms that should warrant an investigation at any age include: <ul> <li> Persistent, significant change in bowel function (diarrhea or constipation) </li> <li> Rectal bleeding </li> <li> Persistent abdominal pain </li> <li> Rapid, unexplained weight loss and new onset fatigue (It’s important to note that these may be features of advanced cancer from any source and are not specific to colorectal cancer.) </li> </ul> </li> </ul> If any of the risk factors apply to you, or if you experience one or more of the symptoms listed above, take action! Talk to your <a href="http://www.mygbmcdoctor.com/" target="_blank">primary care physician</a> about the different types of colorectal cancer screenings and find out which one is best for you. When colorectal cancer is detected early, surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy can provide effective treatment! <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> If you suffer from the spinning sensation of vertigo, dizziness or a loss of balance due to inner ear problems, a neck injury or other medical conditions, specialized physical therapy may offer just the help you need. <br> <br> Loss of balance is a common issue that can lead to falling and potentially significant health consequences, particularly for older people. According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, one in every three adults age 65 and older experiences a falling episode, with one in five falls resulting in serious injury. <br> <br> “Unfortunately, the older we get, the worse our balance becomes,” says Michael Wah, PT, DPT, OCS, founder of Active Life & Sports Physical Therapy, which has three locations in Maryland — including Greater Baltimore Medical Center’s main campus in Towson. <br> <br> </p> <blockquote> “Our staff is dedicated and trained to provide not only an excellent patient experience, but also a positive patient outcome” </blockquote> But fortunately there’s hope. “Physical therapists are trained to evaluate the body’s different systems to identify which ones are causing the balance problem,” Wah says. “They can then establish a program that will either help that system improve, or strengthen other systems to compensate for deficits.” <br> <br> A specialized physical therapy called vestibular rehabilitation helps manage, compensate and correct for dizziness and imbalance. Creating a treatment plan starts with a thorough assessment of the vestibular system (the inner ear’s way of measuring and maintaining balance), along with evaluation of the patient’s vision and joint awareness. <br> <br> “Frankly, patients with vestibular problems feel miserable,” Wah says. “A precise diagnosis allows the vestibular therapist to rid patients of their symptoms as quickly as possible.” <br> <br> A specialized therapist with the appropriate testing equipment can quickly determine whether the patient’s symptoms stem from the vestibular system. If so, they can localize the specific part of the system that’s involved. Movements of the eyes, observed with specialized infrared goggles, help physical therapists pinpoint the cause of vertigo and dizziness. <br> <br> “The assessment of your inner ear is made by observing your eyes and how they react to positional changes of your head and body,” explains Joe Palmer, DPT, OMPT, CSCS, a physical therapist with Active Life & Sports. “A therapist can use positional maneuvers and gaze stabilization exercises to decrease your dizziness and resolve your spinning episodes. <br> <br> Palmer and Wah see patients referred by primary care physicians, specialists and other physical therapists, as well as by relatives and loved ones who are concerned about their loved one’s risk of falling. Treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s symptoms and needs. A plan might include simple balancing exercises such as weight shifting or head movements that challenge the various parts of the vestibular system. <br> <br> Therapists at Active Life & Sports use a specialized fall-protection system called Solo-Step, a track that runs along the ceiling with a wire attached to bearings inside. Patients wear a harness attached to the wire, which allows them to walk unassisted, re-establishing confidence and allowing therapists to lead the patients through motion exercises without having to worry about stabilization. Palmer says he’s seen the Solo-Step system help patients transition from a walker to a cane, or from a cane to no assistive device at all. <br> <br> “Our programs always focus on function,” he explains. “We want to help each patient achieve his or her goals — walking around the local mall without fear of falling, getting down on the floor to play with grandchildren, or ascending and descending stairs at home. Our job is to work with each patient and break down functional goals into attainable steps.” <br> <br> To that end, Active Life & Sports works closely with GBMC physicians to provide physical therapy services in a convenient community setting. <br> <br> <em>- Amy Lynch for Greater Baltimore Medical Center</em> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
