Body & Mind

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Keith Roach, M.D. Chronic vs. Acute Pain

--DEAR DR. ROACH: What is the difference between chronic pain and acute pain? How can I best describe my chronic pain when it is variable in intensity but negatively impacts so much of my life and my activities? Are there things my doctor should consider or suggest in my treatment or in communicating with me? -- P.P.C. ANSWER: Acute pain is usually due to an injury or infection, and we expect healing to occur relatively quickly. Chronic pain is expected to go on for at least six months. In some people, acute pain is not treated adequately at the time of injury, and the brain and body learn to be in pain chronically. The reason for pain is perfectly obvious in some cases, but in others, it is not possible to identify the exact cause of pain. Most times, pain is due to damaged nerves (neuropathic pain); injury or degeneration in the musculoskeletal system (osteoarthritis and many kinds of back pain); infl ammatory pain (due to infection or infl ammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis); and compressive pain (such as kidney stones or cancer). Chronic pain affects many parts of your life, as you correctly note, and an experienced doctor will ask about the effect of pain on your social life, mood (depression is very common), relationships, sleep, exercise and occupation. People with more severe problems will have limitations in their activities of daily living. Many people with chronic pain have almost given up communicating the scope of the problems they have, as they don’t like “complaining” all the time, or they feel their loved ones are tired of hearing about it. However, getting a thorough history of the effect of all these dimensions of pain is important for your doctor. Questionnaires like the Brief Pain Inventory address more areas of function than a typical 1-10 pain scale, and may be useful to monitor response to treatment. Experts in pain management are more likely to have the knowledge and experience to communicate about pain effectively, and truly effective treatment for chronic pain requires understanding it. There can be pain without suffering. Suffering is the emotional component brought on by fear: “How bad am I going to hurt today? Will I ever be able to work again? All of my relationships are suffering.” Learning to live a function-centered life is key in the treatment of chronic pain. It isn’t easy and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The time of prescribing pain medications, especially opiates, without a comprehensive plan for long-term pain management, should be over.

*** Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. © 2021 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

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We Care About Your Smiles

by Dr. Steve Sokolovskiy

DEALING WITH DRY MOUTH AT NIGHT

Dry mouth may seem like an easy problem to solve–just have a glass of water! However, it is not that simple, especially while you are sleeping. Since dry mouth can be a symptom of other conditions such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease, it is best to ensure you are doing everything you can to treat the underlying cause fi rst. If the problem persists, try cutting out spicy and acidic foods as they can exacerbate the issue. Keep your caffeine intake to the morning hours and avoid alcohol close to bedtime. Adding a cool mist humidifi er to your nightstand is a good idea as well, as is using a mouthwash developed for dry mouth relief after brushing your teeth at night.

At BATAVIA FAMILY DENTAL, our purpose in presenting this column is to exhibit the virtues of professional care in achieving and maintaining a healthy, vibrant smile. Through a combination of sound ideas, proven techniques and innovative technology, plus communication and compassionate concern, we attempt to move our patients toward an optimum state of oral health. When was your last dental checkup? Now is a good time to schedule an appointment for comprehensive dental care, including help with dry mouth, cleanings, restorations, cosmetic work, or gum disease treatment. Call us at 6 Batavia City Centre, 585.343.4246. P.S. Dry mouth may not be a sign of another disease, but the result of a bad habit. Smoking is a huge contributor to the problem and quitting may resolve the issue completely. www.bataviafamilydental.com

(Fami l y Feat ures) He re a re thre e thi ngs you c a n do to he l p prote c t your mobi l e de vi c e s a nd your i de nti ty: Pa ssw ord prote c t your de vi c e . A r e c e n t st u d y b y J a ve lin St r a t e g y a n d Re se a r c h f o u n d t h a t e ve n t h o u g h ma n y sma r t p h o n e s a r e b e in g u se d t o h a n d le se n sit ive f in a n c ia l in f o r ma t io n , o n ly 33 p e r c e n t o f sma r t p h o n e o w n e r s pa ssw o r d - p r o t e c t t h e i r d e vi c e s. I f yo u r p h o n e f a l l s i n t o t h e w r o n g h a n d s, yo u c o u l d m a ke i t ve r y e a s y f o r so me o n e t o a c c e ss yo u r p e r so n a l in f o r ma t io n a n d st e a l yo u r id e n t it y. Re vi e w your soc i a l ne tw ork pri va c y se tti ngs. It ’ s n o t j u st a d ve r t i se r s t a ki n g a d va n t a g e o f t h e p e r so n a l in f o r ma t io n yo u in c lu d e o n yo u r so c ia l n e t w o r k sit e s. A s t h e u se o f so c ia l n e t w o r kin g c o n t in u e s t o i n c r e a se , it ’s exp e c t e d t h a t t h e u se o f ma lw a r e w ill r ise , t o o . Cyb e r c r imin a ls a r e a lw a ys lo o kin g f o r w a ys t o st e a l in f o r ma t io n an d mo n e y. So yo u n e e d t o r e vie w yo u r p r iva c y se t t in g s f r e q u e n t ly, b e c a r e f u l o f w h a t a p p s yo u in st a ll, a n d n e ve r “f r ie n d ” so me o n e yo u d o n ’t kn o w . Consi de r ge tti ng e x tra prote c ti on. Th e r e a r e a g r o w in g n u mb e r o f t o o ls a va ila b le t o h e lp yo u mo n it o r a n d p r o t e c t yo u r id e n t it y a s w e ll a s r e st o r e yo u r n a me a n d c r e d it , sh o u ld yo u r id e n t it y g e t st o le n . Fo r e xa mp le , M o b ile Rh in o is a sp e c ia lt y in su r a n c e p r o g r a m t h a t n o t o n ly in su r e s yo u r d e vic e , b u t a lso o f f e r s a n I d e n t it y M o n i t o r in g Se r vic e th a t a le r t s yo u o f a n y c h a n g e s t h a t c o u ld in d ic a t e so me o n e e lse is u sin g yo u r in f o r ma t io n .

DON’T LET SUNBURN DERAIL SUMMER FUN

Many people fi nd it impossible to think about summer without conjuring visions of spending endless hours outdoors from morning until evening, whether beachside, on the open water or even fl oating in a backyard pool. Although a certain measure of sun exposure is required for some natural functions of the body, it’s well documented that too much time in the sun can be hazardous to one’s health. That’s why summer frolickers need to exercise considerable caution each time they step outside. Taking sunburn for granted can be a big mistake. Many people wouldn’t risk burns from a hot stove or open fi re, but they won’t think twice about being unprotected under the very hot rays of the sun. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than one-third of adults and nearly 70 percent of children admit to suffering from sunburn within the past year. Depending on the intensity of the sun and the amount of time spent outside, sunburn can be a fi rst- or second-degree burn. In fi rst-degree burns, damage affects the topmost layer of skin. However, sunburn can even affect deeper layers and cause blistering in addition to redness and pain. Sunburn also can cause some irreparable damage that goes unseen. According to WebMD, ultraviolet light from the sun can alter DNA, prematurely aging skin or even contributing to skin cancers. It can take years before symptoms become noticeable. Therefore, it is best for people of all ages to exercise caution when spending time in the sun. Sunburn is one of the most easily prevented summertime ailments. It’s also important to note that sunburns are not just limited to the hot weather or when it is sunny outside. Ultraviolet damage can occur at any time of the year, and also from artifi cial UV sources, such as tanning beds. Preventing sunburn is simple. DID YOU KNOW?

Aerial yoga is a relatively new form of the Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline of yoga. Inspired by aerial gymnastics, calisthenics, pilates, and, of course, yoga, aerial yoga is sometimes referred to as “antigravity yoga.” This unique form of yoga involves the use of hammocks suspended from the ceiling that support practitioners’ bodies, allowing them to work against gravity. Popular aerial yoga poses include aerial lunges, the half boat pose, the reclining angle pose, and the one-legged king pigeon pose. Though aerial yoga is a recent phenomenon, those interested in pursuing this unique form of exercise can seek more information at local yoga studios. Unlike traditional yoga that many people can practice at home without supervision, aerial yoga participants should only perform the poses under the supervision of professionals.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

By JoAnn Derson

* Dill planted near tomatoes will draw caterpillars away from the fruits. And it’s delicious. * Potato salad will have more fl avor if you whisk together all the dressing ingredients and add it to the potatoes when they are warm. The potatoes will absorb the ingredients better, and the fl avor will develop even more during refrigeration. * “I love to grill, and when it’s nice out, we grill every weekend. I always put on extra and use the leftovers through the week. Chicken in salad, a nice fl ank steak for fajitas, etc. And it means less cooking for me!” -- Y.L. in Maryland * Here’s a great recipe for an icy treat: Freeze orange juice or apple juice in ice trays. Throw a handful in the blender for a fruit slush that can’t be beat on a hot day. * “A lot of smoke was coming off our grill, and our patio doors were wide open. Long story short: It swamped the living room with smoke. The smell was a little overwhelming. After we closed the door, my neighbor doused a kitchen towel with white vinegar, wrung it out and waved it around the room. It cleared out the smoke smell right away, and the vinegar smell went away just as quickly. What a miracle!” -- F.F. in South Carolina * Got poison ivy? The maddening itch might fi nd relief from coffee grounds or a cooled cuppa. It contains anti-infl ammatories.