'Time for Me' Lecture Series Offers a Forum to Learn More About Various Health Issues

The following are summaries of presentations prepared by Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) physicians for the annual fall lecture series slated for the month of October. The four, FREE, 90-minute seminars each start at 6:30 p.m. and take place in the Civiletti Conference Center located in GBMC’s Physicians Pavilion East. To cover the series, to set up interviews, or for further details, call John M. Lazarou at 443-849-2126 or email jlazarou@gbmc.org

• Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Surgery
• Behavioral Health: When to ask for help
• Thyroid Issues…When is Surgery Necessary
• Own The Bone…Taking Care of Our Aging Bones

Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Surgery (Tuesday, Oct. 2)

Imagine having the frequent urge to go to the bathroom at unexpected times. Not being able to play with your children because of the fear that you might experience urinary leakage or that you can’t exercise due to pelvic pain or extreme discomfort. That’s what life is like for the nearly 24 percent of U.S. women who are affected with one or more pelvic floor disorders, according to research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study found that pelvic floor disorders affect about ten percent of women ages 20 to 39, 27 percent of women ages 40 to 59, 37 percent of women ages 60 to 79 and nearly half of women age 80 or older. Stephanie Jacobs, M.D., a urogynecologist and member of the GBMC Center for Female Pelvic Floor Disorders, can offer provide advice, common causes, symptoms and risk factors associated with PFDs. A broad range of available conservative surgical and non-surgical treatment options will be highlighted by Dr. Jacobs and she will also discuss why decisions about the optimal treatment for an individual are patient-driven and a personal choice.

Thyroid Issues…When is Surgery Necessary (Tuesday, Oct. 9)

According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), approximately 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Women are up to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems, with one in eight women expecting to develop an issue in her lifetime. The thyroid gland plays an integral role in regulating blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate and producing hormones that help the body regulate its metabolism. Ryan H. Sobel, M.D., a surgeon at Johns Hopkins Head and Neck Surgery, located at the GBMC Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Center, can discuss what people need to know about thyroid disorders, offer a brief overview of the most common conditions of thyroid disease; discuss how a diagnosis is made and how to manage routine and complex pituitary disorders. He can also discuss what is thyroid surgery, why it is done, what to think about when considering surgery, any possible risks or complications and what to expect after surgery.

Behavioral Health: When to ask for help (Tuesday, Oct. 16)

Depression is one of the most common disorders in the world. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) approximately16 million American adults—almost seven percent of the population—had at least one major depressive episode last year with women more likely than men to experience depression. Unfortunately, many people with depression do not get the treatment they need, sometimes because they are ashamed to talk about how they feel and sometimes because they don't want to take medication. Penny L. Timmons-Lemmerman, LSW and Catherine L. Harrison-Restelli, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry at GBMC, can outline the many factors which contribute to depression such as social pressures and responses to stress. They can also outline signs and symptoms of depression, social and psychological causes of depression; treatment of depression in women and how it differs than men; offer simple lifestyle changes that can help overcome depression.

Own The Bone…Taking Care of Our Aging Bones (Tuesday, Oct. 23)

Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the removal of old bone which can result in bones becoming weak or brittle. It is a progressive condition that can cause bones to fracture under mild stress mostly in the hip, wrist and spine. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) approximately 54 million U.S. adults, age 50 and older, are affected by osteoporosis and low bone mass. James C. Johnston, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon with GBMC Health Partners and the Orthopaedic Specialists of Maryland’s Own the Bone Fragility Fracture Prevention Program, can discuss factors which can contribute to osteoporosis, outline symptoms, treatment options, prevention advice, bone health tips and lifestyle changes. Johnston can also explain why women are at greater risk for osteoporosis than men and why women lose bone mass more quickly than men as they age.




Learn more at the "Time for Me" webpage.