In the world of cancers, you don’t often hear much about cancers that affect the digestive system. When Steve Jobs lost his battle with cancer last week, we began to hear much more about pancreatic cancer. The truth is, cancer can strike any part of the digestive system: the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, intestines, rectum and anus. With increased attention on pancreatic cancer, many are beginning to wonder just what the pancreas is, and if they are at risk for getting pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is a gland that lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine. Its …

Putting bumpers in a baby’s crib are just one of the things you can do that would unintentionally put your baby in danger. Whether Maryland moves forward or not in banning the sale of bumpers, I advise against them, as well as other items in the crib like stuffed animals that could suffocate a baby. Giving babies a safe place to sleep may sound fairly simple, but the fact is, unsafe sleep environments are the top cause of infant deaths in Baltimore County. Each year in the county, an average of 10 infant deaths are sleep-related. This accounts for more than half of all infant deaths. What’s …

It is estimated that as many as one in 133 Americans have celiac disease. But because symptoms can vary so much, it can be hard to diagnose. In fact, many individuals with celiac disease don’t even know they have it.   Celiac disease can affect both children and adults, and unlike other diseases, there’s nothing you can do to prevent it. And contrary to what some people believe, it’s not a food allergy, so there’s no chance that you’ll grow out of it. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that has been found to be more common within families, so if your parents or siblings have it, there’s …

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness month. And there’s a good reason to keep this type of cancer top of mind. According to the American Cancer Society, one in six men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. The disease is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men and the second most common type of cancer in men (after skin cancer). The good news is, when found early, prostate cancer can be treated effectively. The disease often causes no symptoms in its early stages, however, making routine screening a must. Men should begin talking with their primary care physicians …

With summer nearing its close, many of us begin looking back at our New Year’s resolutions. We think maybe if we’d just gotten to the gym one more day a week (or month), we could have fit into those pants we’ve been saving for when we drop those extra few pounds. We try to eat right and exercise, as we should, but one thing we don’t always consider—but should—is portion control. Caloric Intake Sure, those 100 calorie packs of various snack foods are fun, and what’s 100 calories? Well, consider this: consuming an extra 100 calories daily for a year, without using them up through extra physical…

Summer in full bloom leads many of us to think about eating a little healthier and dropping a couple of pounds for bathing suit season. The summer heat has not only brought beautiful sunny days, but it also has provided us with a season of delicious fruits and vegetables that are sure to please anyone’s palate. Here are five tips that will allow you to enjoy the summer while watching what you eat: 1. Buy local. Not only is local food often better priced, but it also provides better vitamins and minerals. Plus, you will be supporting your local farmers. Find your local farmers market and try …

Childhood obesity has received a lot of media attention lately. The spotlight has been focused on First Lady Michelle Obama’s efforts to fight the epidemic, the recent announcement that several fast food chains have agreed to offer healthier items on their kids’ menus, and the idea proposed by one physician, who compared childhood obesity to child abuse and stated in some cases, obese children should be taken from their parents. Most recently, McDonald’s announced an overhaul to their Happy Meals to make them healthier. Childhood obesity is inarguably a growing problem for our nation. It is, …

One way to tolerate the summer heat is to take a dip in some cool, refreshing water. But if you or your children are spending a lot of time swimming, you may be at risk for swimmer’s ear. Otitis externa, more commonly known as swimmer’s ear, is a painful outer-ear infection that occurs when moisture in the ear breeds bacteria. The ear canal becomes red, swollen, itchy and scaly, and may ooze greenish or yellow fluid. Symptoms may also include ear pain, which worsens when you pull on the outer ear, and hearing loss.While it can happen at any age, swimmer’s ear is especially common among …

While most people don’t welcome stress in their lives, it is a natural part of life. The body can handle short-term stress fairly well. In fact, our bodies are designed to respond to those types of stressful situations in a timely and decisive manner. But stress can build up to the point where you feel you can’t take it anymore. When that happens, sleep is often the first thing out the window and the last thing on the priority list. It’s easy to get stuck in a vicious cycle. When you’re feeling stressed, you may have trouble falling asleep at night or wake up too early in the morning. Or you …

Polio, diphtheria, measles – they’re all diseases of the past, right? Wrong. So far this year, 156 confirmed cases of measles have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—triple that of the previous year. In Europe, Africa and Asia, it’s much worse. The majority of U.S. cases were people who had traveled abroad and had not been vaccinated against the disease; half of them ended up in the hospital. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can cause fever, runny nose, coughing and sneezing, watery red eyes and rashes of small flat spots. Like a …

We all know that smoking is bad for your health. Tobacco smoke is full of toxic chemicals and its list of harmful effects is endless: many types of cancer, emphysema, stroke, heart attack, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and, for women, infertility, premature birth, low-birth-weight babies, miscarriages, early menopause and osteoporosis. In fact, cigarette smoking is the greatest cause of preventable deaths in the United States. Still, a tobacco addiction is just that—an addiction. And even though you know it’s bad for your health, it can be hard to quit. Now comes a reminder …

With the hot days of summer already here, and schools letting out next week, Dr. Adrienne Suggs, director of pediatric emergency and inpatient services at Franklin Square, reminds parents how they can help keep their children safe throughout the season. Preventing sunburn Sunburn is not only painful, it can increase your child’s chance of skin cancer later in life. Make sure to apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to children at least 30 minutes before they go outside, whether it’s a sunny or cloudy day, and reapply it every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Even with sunscreen, …

Americans own 73 million dogs, and many consider them a part of the family. They provide companionship, entertainment and protection. But “man’s best friend” bites more than 4.7 million people a year. More than half of them are children. And every 40 seconds someone seeks medical attention for a dog bite. The annual cost of medical treatments for dog bites total $165 million. Dog bites can leave you physically and emotionally scarred for life. But many are preventable. As a reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon, I’ve seen my share of serious injuries from dog bites. While some bites—…

Asthma affects about 20 million Americans today, and it can be particularly common in children. Research shows that 1 out of every 10 children in the United States has asthma. In fact, it’s the most common chronic illness affecting kids and is the leading cause of missed school days. Additionally, childhood asthma places more limits on activity in kids than any other health condition. Childhood asthma can have a huge impact on the entire family. For parents, there’s the stress of worrying about your child’s health, understanding and sticking to complicated treatment plans, getting medications…

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures, causing bleeding into the brain. When that happens, the affected part of the brain starts to die. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third-leading cause of death in the United States. With approximately 800,000 strokes each year, that means about every 40 seconds someone in America will experience either a new or recurrent stroke. Despite this high frequency, many people do not recognize stroke as a medical emergency, as they would a heart attack.  Recent studies reveal…

Spring is here! And after a long winter, many of us are anxious to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. If you are active, but your busy schedule doesn't allow for routine exercise throughout the week, you may be considered a weekend warrior. Weekend warriors are non-professional athletes who love sports and outdoor activities and can't wait until the weekend so they can get out and compete. But while physical activity is good for you, it can be dangerous for those who don't do it regularly. By exercising intermittently, weekend warriors run the risk of a sports injury that can keep them …

In the summer of 2008, Franklin Square Hospital Center launched its “Be Square, Be Green” program. This week, in honor of Earth Week, the hospital is celebrating the program's successes. The hospital’s “Green Team,” composed of members from various areas in the hospital, share what has been accomplished in just more than two years, and offers tips on how others can be green at their own workplace. The first major step in Franklin Square’s efforts to go green was the opening of a new waste management building, aka “the Green Building.” This allowed the hospital to separate non-infectious and …

Imagine mowing the grass with a lot fewer symptoms. Or being able to play with cats and dogs and not cough, wheeze and sneeze. If you suffer from allergies and medications haven’t worked, or you don’t want to continue taking them forever, you may want to consider allergy shots—also known as immunotherapy.   An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system has a reaction to a substance. This substance is called an allergen. Around this time of year, the allergen that bothers most people is pollen, or hay fever. Allergens also include dust mites, molds, pets and stinging insects. Allergy shots …

The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) recently designated Franklin Square Hospital Center as one of the state’s 23 “Cardiac Interventional Centers.” Franklin Square is also a Joint Commission and MIEMSS-certified Primary Stroke Center. Dr.  Michael Pipkin, chair of emergency medicine at the hospital, explains why that can help you in the event of a heart attack or stroke, when every second counts. Basically, these designations means that Franklin Square has been approved, based on its compliance with state standards, to receive by ambulance all suspected heart…

The test just revealed it's true: You are pregnant! The next 40 weeks will be filled with excitement and anxiety as you share the news and prepare for a new baby. Planning for a healthy baby, however, starts before you even find out you are pregnant. "You may not realize when you first become pregnant, so you should refrain from drinking alcohol or smoking if you think you are pregnant or are planning to start a family," advises Nicola London, MD, an OB/GYN with Franklin Square Women’s Care. "Even over-the-counter medications can be harmful to your developing baby." A full-term pregnancy is …