Health

By Julie Russell, RDN, LD, CDCES
Outpatient Dietitian/Diabetes Educator, Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists of Northwest Ohio

It’s that time of year again and the holidays are quickly approaching. The holidays are a busy time, and it can be easy to get off track with your eating habits. Even though you get busy, don’t forget to take time to eat throughout the day. When you skip a meal, it can lead to overeating at the next meal. Try to plan out your meals for the day or, even better, the week. When you plan a meal, think of the food groups to ensure you get a balanced meal.

When attending holiday parties, be selective of your food choices. Take smaller portions by using a smaller plate. Remember, you can have leftovers at another meal, so don’t feel the need to overfill your plate. Pick your most favorite carbohydrate foods, try to keep portions to a quarter part of your plate, and fill in with non-starchy vegetables. If you are concerned that there are not going to be any healthy dishes, then bring one to share.

By Andrius Giedraitis, MD
Pain Management, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

Chronic pain: A persistent challenge
Chronic pain is a complex and often debilitating condition that affects more than 50 million Americans nationwide. Unlike acute pain, which serves as your body’s alarm system responding to injury or illness and then typically subsides as the underlying issue heals, chronic pain lingers for an extended period, often lasting for months or years. It can manifest from head to toe, including persistent headaches and neck pain to neuropathic pain in your feet and anywhere in between. If left unchecked, chronic pain significantly impacts a person’s quality of life. It is important to understand that chronic pain is not merely a symptom but a distinct medical condition that requires comprehensive management.

Root causes and complex cases
Chronic pain can result from a myriad of underlying causes, including injury, illness, or conditions like arthritis and neuropathy. The complexity arises from the fact that often, people with chronic pain have multiple other health ailments that must be navigated and considered. Given the complexity many patients in the community may present, a pain management team uses various diagnostic tools including MRI, X-rays, physical maneuvers, and other specialized examinations to identify the cause(s) of people’s pain.