- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhether it’s coffee to start the day, a cold soda to revive the afternoon, or a beloved pumpkin spice latte to embrace the season, caffeine is a popular pick-me-up for many. However, while these caffeinated drinks can provide a much-needed boost, excessive consumption can have negative effects on your health. In rare instances, it can even be fatal. That’s why it’s important to know the facts. What is caffeine? Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that affects your central nervous system, helping you feel more awake and alert. It’s found in coffee beans, tea leaves, kola nuts, yerba mate, guarana berry, and cacao beans. Safe limit for caffeine: How much is too much? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, most healthy adults can consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day without any dangerous or negative health effects. If you are pregnant, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests keeping your caffeine intake below 200 milligrams a day. The amount of caffeine in beverages can vary greatly, making it easy to consume too much caffeine. Here are some typical caffeine ranges for beverages: An 8-ounce cup of coffee has between 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine. An 8-ounce cup of green or black tea has between 30 to 50 milligrams. A 12-ounce/regular-size can of caffeinated soda has between 30 to 46 milligrams. An 8-ounce energy drink has between 40 to 300 milligrams. Many energy drinks only come in 12-ounce or 16-ounce cans that can contain up to 400 milligrams of caffeine—the safe daily limit. When adding up your caffeine intake for the day, make sure you include all caffeine sources. Caffeine can also be found in chocolate and baked goods, like cookies. It’s even in some medications, such as those for headaches. And decaffeinated coffees and teas may still contain between two to 15 milligrams of caffeine. Whenever possible, read all package labels to see how much caffeine a product contains. Side effects of too much caffeine Side effects that you have had too much caffeine include: Agitation or irritability. Fast heart rate. Feeling anxious or restless. Increased urination, which can lead to dehydration. Insomnia or trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Muscle twitches, such as eye twitches. Nausea or upset stomach. Can you overdose on caffeine? Consuming around 1,200 mg of caffeine at one time can cause toxic effects on your health, according to the FDA. While rare, it is possible to overdose on caffeine, which can lead to death. Severe side effects of too much caffeine include: Cardiac arrest. Disorientation. Hallucination or psychosis. Irregular heartbeat. Muscle breakdown, called rhabdomyolysis. Seizures. The overdose risk increases if you use dietary liquid or powdered caffeine supplements, which often contain high concentrations of caffeine. For example, just one teaspoon of powdered caffeine has the same amount of caffeine as 28 cups of coffee. Why you should space out your caffeine intake When you consume caffeine, it takes 45 to 60 minutes before you start to feel it. The stimulant effects can last between three to five hours. Consuming too much caffeine all at once or having caffeinated products too close together in your day can lead to bothersome and dangerous side effects. Remember, limit your caffeine intake to 400 mg a day. And when possible, space out your caffeine intake by three to five hours, to reduce the risk of side effects. To keep caffeine from interrupting your sleep, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends avoiding caffeine at least six hours before bedtime. So, if you go to bed at 10 p.m., stop consuming caffeine by 4 p.m. Who should avoid caffeine? Some medical conditions may make it more likely to have side effects from caffeine. Talk to your doctor about what amount of caffeine is safe for you if you have: Cardiovascular disease, especially irregular heartbeat. High blood pressure. Severe anxiety. Peptic ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Liver or kidney disease. Seizures. The bottom line on caffeine Different people can experience the effects of caffeine differently. If you experience side effects from caffeine, see the specialist team at Luminis Health. They can help figure out why you may be more sensitive to caffeine. Waseem Hussain, MD,is Associate Regional Director of Primary Care at Luminis Health who has expertise in all areas of family medicine including intense management of neurologic, pulmonary and cardiac diseases as well as diabetes and gynecologic care.
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogVirtual Urgent Care: A Fast and Convenient Alternative No one likes to wait, especially when you’re home sick, feeling miserable, and the last thing you want to do is leave the house for a doctor’s appointment. While traditional urgent care can be convenient, long wait times are often the norm. Why wait when there’s a faster option? Luminis Health is proud to introduce CareConnectNow, a virtual urgent care service that lets you receive high-quality care from the comfort of your home. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer to connect with a skilled Luminis Health provider in real-time. Since this is relatively a new service, you may have questions. Here are some answers to help you make the right decision for you and your family. What kinds of things can CareConnectNow providers diagnose and treat? For true emergencies, such as life-threatening injuries or conditions, call 911 or visit the nearest Emergency Department. Virtual urgent care is ideal for addressing many other health concerns, including: Acid reflux Constipation Cough, cold or sore throat COVID screenings Eye problems, such as pink eye Fever or flu Headaches or migraines Insect bites or poison ivy Seasonal allergies Shingles Sinus problems Skin rashes and infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Vertigo They can also prescribe medications or refer you to a specialist when needed. Is CareConnectNow available to everyone? Our CareConnectNow providers are ready to see patients 13 and older—and you don’t have to be an established Luminis Health patient to get virtual urgent care. Keep in mind, you must be in the state of Maryland at the time of service. Most insurance providers cover virtual urgent care appointments, but it is a good idea to confirm with your provider first. Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham also partners with Children’s National Hospital for emergency pediatric needs should your child require additional or complex care. The urgent care you need in the palm of your hands With CareConnectNow, accessing urgent care has never been easier. You can schedule an appointment with our providers weekdays from 8 am–9 pm ET and weekends from 9 am–4 pm ET. The best part? You can often see a provider in under an hour, often times within minutes. Get a diagnosis, personalized care plan, and prescription, all from the comfort of your home. Schedule a live visit today. Visit LuminisHealth.org and click “Find Care”, go directly to LuminisHealth.org/CareConnectNow or call us at 443-951-4270 from your smartphone. Authors Waseem Hussain, MD, is Associate Regional Director of Primary Care at Luminis Health with expertise in all areas of family medicine. He specializes in the management of neurologic, pulmonary, and cardiac diseases, as well as diabetes and gynecologic care.
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, routine screening can reduce the number of people who die from colorectal cancer by at least sixty percent—and that’s just one type of screening. Whether it’s blood sugar for diabetes, mammograms for breast cancer or even monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol for heart disease, screenings are tests that look for diseases before you have symptoms. We refresh and renew our homes like clockwork when spring arrives, but what if we spring clean our health in the same way? A checkup with your primary care provider can help you learn what screenings and tests you might need and when you need them. Screenings help spot problems early, when treatment may be easier and more effective. So, which screenings are for you? Depending on your age, family history, health and risk factors, women may benefit from routine screening for: Cholesterol. Healthy adults should have their cholesterol tested at least every four to six years since high cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. Blood pressure. This should be checked at least once every two years since high blood pressure increases risks of heart and kidney disease and stroke. Breast and cervical cancers. Your age and health history determine how often women need tests, like mammograms and PAP tests, that screen for breast and cervical cancers. Sexually transmitted infections. If you’re sexually active and have risk factors, it is important to be screened for sexually transmitted infections. Diabetes. If you have high blood pressure or are on blood pressure medication, you should get screened for diabetes. Colorectal cancer. Most adults should have their first exam at age 50. Your provider can guide you as to which of several available tests is right for you. Osteoporosis. Women should have a bone density scan at least once beginning at age 65. There’s a lot of varying information out there that really does depend on your family history and risk factors. It’s usually best—and you’ll likely feel more comfortable—if you develop an honest, open relationship with your primary care provider as your health partner, so you know what tests are needed and which are not. Remember, it’s a great time for spring cleaning AND spring screenings. Author Schedule your appointment with a primary care provider today and take the first step toward better health.
- Surgery, Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRobotic surgery allows surgeons to see and perform better. It can lead to less pain and faster recovery. Nicholas C. Lambrou, MD, chief of gynecologic oncology at Luminis Health, is widely recognized as an expert and instructor in robotic gynecologic surgery. He answers a few common questions below. Is robotic surgery new? Robotic surgery has been in use since 2006, so it is not new. I’ve used robotic surgery in more than 4,500 cases. It can perform a hysterectomy, and it can replace the majority of open surgeries for gynecologic oncology. What are the benefits of robotic surgery? Robotic surgery minimizes pain and discomfort. It leads to a shorter recovery period. Patients don’t need an overnight hospital stay, and they recover in two weeks instead of four to six weeks. Many hospitals that use robotic surgery also follow ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery) protocols. These protocols help reduce stress before and after surgery and help with recovery. What are the risks? The risks for robotic surgery under an experienced surgeon are the same as with conventional surgery, such as anesthesia complications, bleeding and infections. Ask your doctor about the specific risks you should consider. What are the advantages? The advantages of robotic surgery include improved sight and a more specific technique. It’s important to understand that the robot is not performing the surgery. It’s essentially an upgrade on surgical tools that allows the surgeon to see and operate better. How will I know if robotic surgery is right for me? You can ask your doctor if robotic surgery is an alternative option for you. Robotic surgery is not new or unusual, and it can help surgeons achieve the best results. If you have surgery coming up, talk to your doctor about the options available to you. Authors Nicholas C. Lambrou, MD, FACOG, FACS, is the chief of gynecologic oncology at Luminis Health. Dr. Lambrou’s areas of interest include the treatment of women with gynecologic cancer, cancer prevention strategies and advanced gynecologic surgery.
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