Patient Education

Dermatomyositis Treatment

The goal of treatment in Dermatomyositis is to bring down the immune system so that it stops attacking the healthy tissues in the muscle. There are many side effects of the medication, Prednisone, that is used to treat myositis diseases, so the patient won’t stay on it for long. Scientists and doctors are still looking for alternative medicines that are more effective and less harmful. In this video series, Dr. Eleni Tiniakou, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, explains the treatment options for Dermatomyositis.

Yoga for Arthritis : An Introduction

Through research conducted at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center and elsewhere, yoga has shown promise for improving arthritis symptoms, physical fitness, mental health and quality of life. However, in order to be safe and effective, yoga must also be appropriate for people living with arthritis. While there are many ways that yoga poses can be adapted, a chair is a readily available tool that makes yoga more accessible. Dr. Steffany Moonaz will guide you through these videos, which can be used one at a time or in sequence, depending on how much time you have and what you want to practice. It includes information on posture, breathing, movement, yoga poses that are done seated and standing, and a relaxation.

10 Tips for Staying Safe in the Era of COVID-19

See more Coronavirus (COVID-19) information from Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Vaccinations for the Arthritis Patient

Vicky Ruffing, RN, shares some useful information on biologic medication vaccinations.

Discussing the Risk of Infection in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

Patients with a rheumatic disease are at a higher risk for infection due to their disease or medications. Dr. Chris Mecoli from the Division of Rheumatology speaks with Dr. Erika Darrah about steps a patient could take in order to prevent infections.

Side Effects of Methotrexate

Nurse Victoria Ruffing reviews possible side effects of taking the medication Methotrexate, a drug commonly used for treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Diagnosing Lupus – Lupus Education Series

Diagnosing systemic lupus is complicated in the sense that you need to look at the entire picture of a patient’s presentation and their laboratory workup. In this video, Dr. Stojan with the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, discusses the process of diagnosing Lupus.

Scleroderma Treatment

In this fourth video of our series on Scleroderma, Johns Hopkins Rheumatologist Johns Hopkins Rheumatologist Dr. Zsuzsanna McMahan shares how Scleroderma is treated.

Dermatomyositis Lifestyle Options

Exercising, avoiding the sun, and maintaining a relatively stress-free lifestyle are three ways to stay healthy and avoid flares. In the last episode of this five-part video series, Dr. Eleni Tiniakou, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, explains the steps to living a normal life after a Dermatomyositis diagnosis.

Yoga for Arthritis : Chair Yoga for Improved Mobility

In this yoga sequence, Dr. Moonaz takes you through the movement of all major joints of the body. This can be a great activity for mornings to reduce stiffness or as a warm-up to any kind of exercise or a longer yoga practice. You can also use any of these movements throughout the day if you are starting to feel stiff or just need a little bit of movement in your day.

5 Tips to Wearing a Mask the Right Way

Masks are required almost everywhere you go. Whether it’s the grocery store, the bank, or walking down the street, understanding the basics of wearing a mask is essential.

Before you put your mask on, make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Make sure your mask covers your nose, mouth, and chin and is comfortable around your ears. Wash or dispose of the mask after each use, and be sure to wash your hands after removing the mask.

Preventing Tick Bites and Lyme Disease

Each year, roughly 300,000 cases of Lyme Disease are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it is estimated that this represents a small portion of actual cases of the Disease. Methods of diagnosis and treatment have been, for the most part, inadequate at speaking to the complex needs of these patients.