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Need a doctor? Have a medical question? Get advice from nurses you trust. Call our nurse advice line, askAAMC, at
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theexperts
Health and Wellness Advice From AAMC
Sanjiv Saini, MD,
is a dermatologist
at MD Dermatology,
with locations in
Edgewater, Glen
Burnie and Lexington
Park.
- -
Timothy Fry, DO,
is a
family medicine doctor
with Annapolis Primary
Care.
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Kay Hoskey, MD,
is a
urogynecologist with
the Women’s Center
for Pelvic Health with
locations in Annapolis,
Bowie and Odenton.
- -
KIDS HEALTH
Q
How can I help my child make
smart choices?
A
Your child may not be able to avoid
peer pressure, but you can help
him or her prepare for it. Here’s how.
Talk about the dangers.
Ask what your
child thinks about issues like drinking,
smoking or taking drugs. Point out the
consequences, such as addiction and bad
health. And set clear rules and expectations.
Start the conversation when your child is
still in grade school—and (hopefully) before
he or she has been pressured to experiment.
Practice saying no.
From “no, thanks”
to “I can’t—my parents would kill me,”
it will help if your child has an answer or
two rehearsed and ready to go.
Model smart choices.
Your actions
will always speak much louder than your
words. If you want your child to avoid
bad habits, set that good example yourself.
Build a strong foundation.
Your child’s
very best defense against peer pressure is a
healthy sense of con dence and self-esteem.
O er praise for a job well done, spend
family time together, surround your child
with positive people, and help your child
nd activities where he or she can excel
and cultivate a sense of accomplishment.
ese steps will help instill positive
values in your child, which can help him
or her make the smart choice—even when
you’re not around to see it.
HEALTHY SKIN
Q
How can I keep my skin
looking healthy?
A
Our skin says a lot about how
healthy we are. Healthy-looking skin
is often an indication of a healthy person,
while the opposite is also true. To improve
your skin’s health:
Get moving.
Regular exercise is
important to help slow the aging process.
Staying active also helps with balance,
endurance and strength. Additionally, add
something to your routine that reduces
stress, such as tai chi or yoga.
Eat your veggies.
Fruits and vegetables
are loaded with antioxidants, which help
to keep your body healthy and aging
better. Load up on fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, lean protein, and be sure to
get plenty of water.
Get plenty of rest.
Getting poor sleep
or not getting enough sleep (seven to nine
hours per night for adults) is associated
with a poorer quality of life, according to
the National Institutes of Health.
Watch the sun time.
Sun exposure in
small amounts is needed for the body to
make vitamin D, but more than that and
you are risking skin cancer and premature
aging. Take precautions, such as wearing a
hat or sunscreen or seeking shade.
Skip the tanning bed.
According to
the American Academy of Dermatology,
research shows that using a tanning bed
increases your risk of getting a melanoma by
75 percent. e Surgeon General stated that
a 2014 analysis estimated 400,000 cases
of skin cancer may be related to indoor
tanning in the United States annually.
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Q
What is a urogynecologist?
A
A urogynecologist is a physician
who specializes in treating women
with a variety of disorders to the pelvic oor.
Before the urogynecology specialty
was created, women with pelvic- oor
disorders typically had to visit multiple
specialists and receive treatment for
problems in the urinary, gastrointestinal
and reproductive systems separately. A
urogynecologist can manage many of
these conditions comprehensively.
In addition to completing medical
school, a urogynecologist must have
completed a four- or ve-year residency
program in urology or obstetrics and
gynecology, plus an intensive three-year
fellowship in female pelvic medicine and
reconstructive surgery.
e National Institutes of Health
estimates one-third of women in the
United States will experience pelvic- oor
disorders in their lifetime. Childbirth,
repeated heavy lifting, chronic diseases,
and surgery can weaken the pelvic oor.
Inherited factors also can contribute.
While pelvic- oor disorders become
more common as you get older, they
are not inevitable. A range of treatment
options are available to minimize the
symptoms or repair the damage, including
physical therapy, biofeedback, pelvic
oor exercises, sling procedures, nerve
stimulators, collagen injections, pessaries,
graft and mesh augmentation, and surgery.
A urogynecologist also specializes in
treatment after prior surgeries have failed.