Denton County Living Well Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 34
Tips To Eat Healthier – And Skip
A Trip To The ER For Stomach Pain
By Michelle Underwood, RN, MBA, BSN, CEN, VP Emergency Services, HCA North Texas Division
I
• Watch portion sizes and keep
t’s so easy to stray from good
track of what you eat – try to stay
eating habits or to overindulge
within the recommended calorie
on occasion. Who hasn’t suffered
intake guidelines for your age,
a bit from a few too many spicy
gender, and frame.
chicken wings at a game-day
party, or stuffing ourselves like a
• Drink more water – limit sugary
Thanksgiving bird, or reverting back
sodas and alcoholic beverages.
to our inner kid over a super-sized
• Stop when you’re full – save or
helping of ice cream?
take home the leftovers for a next
day’s meal.
A fact of life is that as we age, our
metabolisms change. Overeating or
not following dietary restrictions for
certain chronic medical conditions
can set a person up for real trouble,
especially if the condition is
undiagnosed. Suddenly, that third
trip around the buffet line may wake
you up in the middle of the night
with severe stomach pain.
• Make healthier choices – load
up on the veggies and fruits,
and eat fewer fatty meats and
starchy carbs.
• Check ingredient labels when
cooking, and ask how food is
prepared when eating out –
reduce your intake of foods that
are high in fat, salt and sugar, and
if you have food allergies avoid
ingredients that can trigger a
reaction.
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• Fainting, dizziness, confusion,
or difficulty waking.
• Tenderness or dist