Anne Arundel Medical Center | Living Healthier Together

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theexperts

Health and Wellness Advice From AAMC

Ann Caldwell, RD

, is a

registered dietitian at

AAMC.

443-481-5555

Barbara Semakula, MD

is a sports medicine

specialist at Orthopaedic

and Sports Medicine

Center.

410-268-8862

Jonathan Altschuler, MD

is a cardiologist with

Cardiology Associates in

Annapolis.

410-573-6480

ARTHRITIS

I have arthritis. How can I

safely exercise?

Many people cite arthritis as the

main reason why they don’t exercise.

But exercise is good for people with

arthritis. Regular exercise can make your

joints less achy, boost your energy and

help you do day-to-day tasks more easily.

Before you begin an exercise program,

heed this advice: Talk to your doctor. Ask

what activities are best for you. Start out

slow with each exercise. And listen to

your body. If you feel pain, stop.

Here are some other suggestions:

Make some muscle.

Strong muscles

help support joints. For example, for

knee arthritis you should strengthen

your quadriceps. You can use handheld

or machine weights to build up your

muscles. Or work out with an elastic band.

Be flexible.

Limber up with shoulder

circles, leg swings and knee-to-chest pulls

(done lying down). Stretching also can

help reduce stiffness. Be sure to hold each

stretch for about 30 seconds.

Get moving.

Aerobic exercise is good

for your heart, lungs and mood, and it

can help you control your weight.

So take a walk—on a trail or treadmill.

Hop on a bike or into a swimming pool.

Water takes a load off your joints during

aquatic exercises, and many people with

arthritis say it offers significant pain relief.

HEART HEALTH

What are the risks and benefits

of statins?

When cholesterol numbers edge

outside the healthy range, doctors

often recommend that patients make

some smart diet and exercise changes.

But when those remedies fail to bring

cholesterol back in line, the next step is

usually prescription medication—often

one of the drugs known as statins.

Statins are powerful medications that

curtail the amount of cholesterol made

in the liver. In so doing, these drugs can

slow the formation of arterial plaque.

But like all medications, statins can

pose some risks to certain users. Possible

side effects include:

›

A slight risk of higher blood sugar

levels and type 2 diabetes

›

Muscle weakness due to interactions

with other drugs

›

In rare instances, memory loss

or confusion

Just for you

Here are a few things to keep in mind if

you’re prescribed a statin:

›

Be sure your doctor knows what other

medications you take.

›

Follow up with your doctor. He or

she may want to monitor your glucose

levels after you begin taking a statin.

›

If you feel confused or have other side

effects, tell your doctor right away.

›

For your heart’s sake, keep up with

your healthy diet and exercise program.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

KIDNEYS

What is a kidney-friendly diet?

Eating the right foods is especially

important when you have kidney

disease. Here’s why: Some foods are better

for your kidneys than others. And choosing

the right ones can help slow your disease.

So what are kidney-friendly foods?

For one thing, they’re low in sodium,

a key component of salt. The National

Kidney Disease Education Program

advises everybody with kidney disease to

limit sodium intake to less than 1,500

milligrams daily. This safeguard helps

control blood pressure, which can help keep

kidney disease from getting worse.

To go easy on sodium, eat fresh foods

more often—packaged foods are often high

in sodium—and check the nutrition facts

label on packaged foods for sodium. A daily

value of 20 percent or more means the food

is high in sodium.

Your doctor may also tell you to reduce

the amount of protein, potassium and

phosphorus in your diet. Avoiding foods

that are high in these three P’s may also help

your kidneys stay healthier longer.

It’s important that a kidney diet is

individualized to your specific needs, so talk

to your doctor about what’s best for you.

Additional source: Academy of Nutrition

and Dietetics

AAMC is offering a new free class,

“Kidney 101: Taking Care of Your

Kidneys.” It meets every fourth

Wednesday of the month. For more

information, see page 8 or call

443-481-5555

Need a doctor? Have a medical question? Get advice from nurses you trust. Call our nurse advice line at

443-481-4000