38 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • MARCH 7, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
5 tips for coping with chronic pain
Pain can impact nearly every aspect of
your daily life from cleaning the house to
going to work or playing with your kids. In
fact, according to the Institute of Medicine,
100 million Americans, or more than 30
percent of the population of the United
States, suff er from chronic pain, which is
pain lasting 3-6 months or longer.
Most oft en, chronic pain is treated
using prescription opioids. However, the
National Institutes of Health estimates 2
million people in the U.S. suff er from substance
use disorders related to prescription
pain relievers, while 60 people die
every day as a result of opioid overdoses,
according to the National Safety Council.
“Th e country is facing intertwined crises
of opioid misuse and chronic pain
management. Non-opioid, non-pharmacological
treatments such as acupuncture
and other similar interventions can
be essential in handling patients’ pain
management as a complement to lessen
dependency on opioid prescriptions
and serve as a more eff ective holistic
therapy for chronic pain,” said Dr. Kory
Ward-Cook, chief executive offi cer of
the National Certifi cation Commission
for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
(NCCAOM). “Th e care provided by
NCCAOM National Board-Certified
Acupuncturists is essential in continuing
the movement toward greater integrative
and complementary pain care, especially
as a non-pharmaceutical alternative to
harmful opioid prescriptions.”
To help treat your pain with a non-opioid
solution, consider these tips:
Set Goals for Yourself
Setting realistic, measurable goals that
focus on functional health and quality of
life is essential to managing chronic pain.
Outline specifi c, measurable goals you
hope to achieve, such as exercising for 30
minutes three days a week or cleaning at
least one room in the house twice a week
and track your progress toward reaching
them.
Use Relaxation Techniques
Th ere are a variety of techniques,
including meditation and deep breathing,
that can help your body relax by slowing
breathing, lowering blood pressure and
instilling feelings of well-being. Giving
your muscles a chance to relax can release
tension, which may ease pain. Practicing
yoga or tai chi, which involve a series of
physical postures in addition to breathing
and relaxation techniques, may also help
reduce pain.
Consider Non-Pharmaceutical
Treatment Options
With concerns mounting about the
prevalence of opioid use and abuse in
the U.S., complementary, natural treatments
such as acupuncture can help alleviate
pain and reduce the number of opioids
prescribed. Using practices derived
from traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncturists
stimulate specifi c points on
the body, most oft en by inserting thin
needles through the skin. For example,
National Board-Certifi ed Acupuncturists,
whose credentials can be verifi ed through
the NCCAOM, are affi rmed to have the
education and training necessary to competently
deliver acupuncture services. To
learn more about how acupuncture can
help with pain management or addiction,
or to fi nd a practitioner in your area, visit
nccaom.org.
Focus on Nutrition
A well-balanced diet is vital to overall
health and well-being and can also infl uence
chronic pain. As food choices can
increase or decrease infl ammation, which
leads to many chronic diseases, consider
a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates that
includes fresh, organic fruits and vegetables;
lean, grass-fed meats; legumes; nuts;
whole grains; and organic dairy products.
Keep Track of Progress
To eff ectively manage and treat your
pain, consider keeping a journal to note
your pain level on a scale of 1-10 each
day. Also track your activity during the
day - including time on your feet, exercise
and even sitting at your desk - so
you can identify patterns based on what
you do and how you feel aft erward.
Th en use the connections you’ve made
to modify your environment and schedule
as necessary.
Courtesy Family Features
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Chapin Home for the Aging
Chapin is a non-for-profit, missiondriven 220-bed
skilled Nursing Home and Rehabilitation facility
serving the New York City and Long Island
community at its Jamaica Hills location since 1869.
We are proud to celebrate our sesquicentennial
anniversary. Over the last 150 years Chapin has
evolved into the highest quality (CMS 5 Star Rating)
skilled nursing facility that continues to embrace the
humanity of our residents.
Chapin Home’s guiding principle throughout its
history has been to provide the aging men and
women who have come to live here, a true home,
Where they may find the serenity and security that
have always been envisioned as essential and
appropriate to the latter part of life.
We provide Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care,
Short-Term Rehabilitation, IV Hydration 8:
Antibiotic Therapy, Hospice, Respite, Palliative Care,
Memory Care, Nutrition Services, Dental Services,
Ophthalmology/Optometry, Podiatry, Audiology,
On-Site Beauty Parlor and Adult Day Health Care.
If you wish to learn more about Chapin or would like
to schedule a tour, please call us at (718)739-2523 or
Visit our website at www.chapinhome.org
/nccaom.org
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.chapinhome.org
/www.chapinhome.org
