Melissa Kirk, RD
PeaceHealth St. John
Nutrition and
Diabetes Program
1615 Delaware St.
Longview, WA
360-636-4943
Jess Schultz, MD
Surgery
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Surgery
1615 Delaware St.,
Longview, WA
360-501-3500
NUTRITION
GALLBLADDER HEALTH
Q
Now that the kids are
back in school, how
can I get my picky eater to
choose healthy lunches?
A
It seems like almost every
family has at least one picky
eater who turns up his or her nose at
everything from apricots to zucchini.
Use any tactic necessary to help them
transform into more adventurous
and healthier fruit and veggie lovers.
Here are a few tricks you can try.
The “No, thank you” bite.
Have your child try at least one
bite of a new food before deciding
whether he or she likes it or not.
Organize a field trip.
Visit a
farmers market, where the farmers
themselves can help kids choose a ripe
cantaloupe or the best butter lettuce.
Ask your child for help.
Encourage your child to help plan
meals and grocery shop. Respecting
your child’s opinion helps reduce
power struggles. Build a balance
between nutritious foods and drinks
and those that are just for fun.
Pack light.
Rather than having
your child eat the school lunch, take
control of the choices by packing a
healthy lunch two or three (or more)
days each week. Allow your child to
choose between two options already
approved by you. For example: “Do
you want apple slices or grapes in
your lunch today?” When children are
involved in making their own lunch,
they may also be more likely to eat it.
Q
My stomach and
back often hurt after
I eat fatty foods like pizza.
Sometimes I even feel
nauseated. What causes this?
A
The symptoms you describe are
often related to a gallbladder
attack. The gallbladder is located in
the right upper abdomen beneath the
liver and holds bile, a fluid secreted
by the liver. When water is extracted
from the bile, the material left
behind can harden into gallstones.
While gallstones often have no
symptoms, occasionally the gallstones
cause pain in the gallbladder and
radiating to the back, following
a fatty meal. This is known as a
gallbladder attack.
If you are diagnosed with
gallbladder disease, there are options
for treatment. For people with mild
symptoms or those experiencing
a first gallstone attack, your
provider may simply prescribe
pain medication.
For those with more severe
symptoms or those who have
had multiple attacks, surgery
may be required. Today most
gallbladder surgery is performed
laparoscopically, using minimally
invasive surgical techniques. This
type of surgery may result in less
pain and quicker recovery.
If you need surgery, ask your
doctor if a minimally invasive
technique is available for you.
Luke Rosen, DO
Psychiatry
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Behavioral Health
600 Broadway,
Longview, WA
360-414-2236
MENTAL HEALTH
Q
Can my mental state
affect my physical
health?
A
There is a powerful tie
between mind and body.
Researchers know that unhealthy
levels of stress, depression, and
anxiety can wreak havoc with your
hormones, immune system, heart
health, and blood pressure.
Back pain, chest pain, headaches,
extreme fatigue, diarrhea, a stiff
neck, or a racing heart are just a
few of the physical symptoms that
can appear when your emotional
health is off-kilter. Tending to your
emotional health can improve your
quality of life. It also may help your
body fight infections, recover from an
illness, and prevent chronic disease.
Strengthen your mind-body
balance by trying the following:
Increase your daily physical
activity.
Exercise changes how the
body responds to stress. It improves
mood, too.
Explore healthy ways to
relax.
Some people use music, art,
prayer, woodworking, reading, or
even short walks to lower stress.
Express yourself.
Negative
feelings and fears that are bottled up
may flow out as aches and pains. Turn
to a trusted friend or seek professional
counseling if you feel stuck. Your
doctor can also suggest many ways to
improve your health and wellness—
both mental and physical.
TALK WITH
A DOCTOR
Recognizing
Depression,
and Where to
Get Help
When:
Thursday, Oct. 9,
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Where:
Women’s Health
Pavilion, 1660 Delaware St.,
Longview, WA
Info:
Luke Rosen, DO, tells
how to recognize symptoms
and where to go for help.
Register at
www.
peacehealth.org/
st-john
or by calling
360-501-3701
.
Discover
Recovery Walk
When:
Saturday, Sept. 27
■ ■
Registration 8:30 a.m.
■ ■
Walk/run 9 a.m.
■ ■
Festivities end at noon
Where:
Lions Shelter, Lake
Sacajawea, Longview, WA
Info:
A fun walk/run to celebrate
those in recovery from addiction
and mental illness.
■ ■
First 200 participants will receive
a free T-shirt.
■ ■
There will be water, snacks, raffles,
resource booths, and speakers.
Sponsored by PeaceHealth and Cowlitz
County Health and Human Services.
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