January 2016
Family Medicine Associates of Conroe Winter Newsletter, Volume 1/ Issue 3
PAINS? ACHES?
“Dreams do come true
Try HydroMassage
for those who dare to
What is HydroMassage ?
believe in themselves. ”
HydroMassage allows you to enjoy a
rejuvenating massage every day. You will
enjoy total relaxation
while remaining fully clothed, dry and
comfortably supported as you are massaged
by powerful waves of heated water.
You are in complete control of your
massage experience so you can target the
areas where you need it most.
- Bryant McGill
In This Issue

HydroMassage

Goal Setting

Ideal Protein Best Diet of 2015

Stop Yourself from Overeating

Strategies to Help with Stress

Sclerotherapy

Smoking Cessation

Headache Management
"It is not enough to be busy; so
Book Your Appointment Today!
are the ants. The question is:
What are we busy about?"
Henry David Thoreau
Winter Fun Facts:
1. The coldest temperature ever
recorded was -128 in Antarctica in
Goal Setting for 2016
Health...Fitness...Financial...
Spiritual...Relationship...Career...Personal
Many people feel as if they're wandering aimlessly in the world. They
work hard, but they don't seem to get anywhere worthwhile.
1983…. and we complain about the cold
weather here in Texas!
2. The tallest snowman ever built was
in Bethel, Maine, in 2008 and measured
122 feet and 1 inch!
3. The world record for the largest
snowfall in one day was set in the US
when Georgetown received 63 inches of
snow….. That’s over five feet!!
A key reason they feel this way is that they haven't spent enough time
thinking about what they want from life and haven't set themselves
formal goals. After all, would you set out on a major journey with no real
idea of your destination? Probably not!
4. Average snowflakes fall at 3.1MPH.
5. Ten inches of snow melts down to
The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in
life. By knowing what you want to achieve, you know where you have to
concentrate your efforts. You'll also quickly spot the distractions that can,
so easily, lead you astray.
15 inches wide and 8 inches thick.
Sacrifice-Ask Yourself Why
8. The biggest hailstone recorded fell
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and
expecting a different result. Ask yourself the right questions and be honest
with your answers. Stop making excuses and decide what you are willing
to sacrifice in order to reach your goals.
No Pain-No Gain
Everyone has setbacks in life. Emotional, physical, and financial
setbacks will take over if you allow them to. Have some strategies in place
to help cope with these set backs. Push through the situation at hand and
keep your eye on your goals.
Hard Work = Measurable Progress = Results
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
You have to go through the process to get to the promise.
There are hundreds of quotes that tell you that you have to work hard to
achieve your goals. There is no greater truth than that. Work hard, get rid
of your excuses, and never give up!!
only one inch of water.
6. The largest snowflake recorded was
7. The record for the most snow angels
made at one time was set in Canada in
2004. A couple of schools joined to
create 15,851 snow angels!
in 2010 and was the size of a ball,
weighing almost 2 pounds!
Want to lower your percentage of body fat?
Want to lose 3-5 pounds per week?
Try our medically supervised weight loss program with proven results.
Smart Weight Loss Program
Our Smart Weight Loss Program has produced great results. Our dieters are losing fat,
weight, and a lot of medicine. The program uses Ideal Protein food and supplements,
weekly counseling sessions, and our state of the art body composition analyzer each week
to measure progress.
Many of our dieters have been able to discontinue the use of their Type II diabetes
medicine, lower their blood pressure medicine, and stop their cholesterol medicine after just
a few short weeks on the program. In addition, their cholesterol numbers have improved as
well as their A1-C. Many of our dieters report less joint pain, fewer headaches, and a lot
more energy!!!
Want to lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and cancer???
Make a healthy choice and call Ally today to schedule your initial consultation.
936-441-2003
9 Ways to Stop Yourself from Overeating
From “Hello Healthy,” November 16, 2015
1. Clear distractions. Turn off the TV, get away from the computer and turn your cell phone on silent. It’s hard to tune
into your body’s quiet cues with digital distractions making noise and taking your focus off of the task at hand: eating. Sit at the
table with a chair and use a plate to put yourself in a good environment and mind-set for eating intuitively.
2. Drink water or iced tea before a meal. Filling your stomach with a glass of water or tea can take the edge off of
hunger so that you don’t rush into your meal and eat too fast.
3. Eat when you’re hungry … not starving. Beginning a meal at a 3 instead of a 2 or 1 on the Hunger Scale is key to
getting in touch with your intuitive self. If you’re too hungry, it’s easy to go from starving to stuffed in a matter of minutes.
4. Determine your hunger level before a meal. Before you take that first bite, rate your hunger on a scale from 0–10
with 0 being starving and 10 being stuffed. If you rate yourself “overly hungry,” be extra careful about how fast you are eating
and recognize that it may be easier to overeat. Take it slowly so you don’t pass the “satisfaction” point without even noticing.
5. Engage your senses. Enjoy the sensual aspect of food. Does your food have visual appeal? Notice the colors and
arrangement of the food on the plate. What does it smell like? Does it remind you of anything? Enjoy that moment. Take a bite
and savor the taste, flavor, and texture of the food. Make mental notes of the experience or even talk about these qualities
with the person you’re dining with. It makes the meal much more enjoyable, and you’ll find that you begin to notice fullness
more easily.
6. Take a time-out. During the meal, pause and put your fork down. This gives you more time to pace yourself and
check in to gauge how full you are. Engage in conversation if you are with someone. Take several deep breaths and drink
some water. Repeat this several times during the meal. It may be smart to give yourself visual reminders after you have
finished a quarter of your food to set the fork down and so forth.
7. Determine your level of satisfaction mid meal. It’s easy to recognize when your plate or bowl is half empty, so use
this midway point to your advantage. When you are halfway through with your meal, stop eating and give yourself a hungerfullness rating. Ask yourself, “How many more bites do I need to satisfy my hunger?”
8. Assess your fullness post-meal. When you are finished with your meal, rate your level of fullness. If you passed by
“satisfaction” and are “full” or nearing uncomfortable, assess the cause. Did you just really love the food? Were you overly
hungry, and you ate too fast? If you’ve finished your meal and you don’t feel physically satisfied, assess if you had a balance
of nutrients—carbs, fats, and proteins. Give yourself permission to get more food if you’re still hungry. Trust that as long as you
are eating what your body truly needs, you are not overeating. The only caveat is that you make sure your hunger is truly
physical and not emotional.
9. Give yourself time. Remember that relearning to eat intuitively takes time, and for some people it can take a long
time. Recalibrating your hunger and fullness can be a process of a month to several months. Also, know that it’s common to
become familiar with hunger faster than it is with fullness. Distinguishing the subtle changes between satisfied and full can take
longer to develop and put into practice.
Healthy Habits to Help with the Management of Stress
Healthy habits can protect you from the harmful effects of stress. Here are 10 positive healthy habits you may want to develop.
Talk with family and friends.
A daily dose of friendship is great medicine.
Call or write friends and family to share your feelings, hopes and joys and ask them to share theirs.
Engage in daily physical activity.
Regular physical activity can relieve mental and physical tension. Physically active adults have lower risk of depression and loss of mental
functioning. Physical activity can be a great source of pleasure, too. Try walking, swimming, biking, or dancing every day.
Embrace the things you are able to change.
While we may not be able to do some of the things we once enjoyed, we are never too old to learn a new skill, work toward a goal, or love
and help others.
Remember to laugh.
Laughter makes us feel good. Don't be afraid to laugh out loud at a joke, a funny movie, or a comic strip, even when you're alone.
Give up the bad habits.
Excessive alcohol, cigarettes, or caffeine can increase blood pressure. If you smoke, decide to quit now. If you do drink alcohol, do so in
moderation.
Slow down.
Try to "pace" instead of "race." Plan ahead and allow enough time to get the most important things done without having to rush.
Get enough sleep.
Try to get six to eight hours of sleep each night. If you can't sleep, take steps to help reduce stress and depression. Physical activity also may
improve the quality of sleep and life in general.
Get organized.
Use "to do" lists to help you focus on your most important tasks. Approach big tasks one step at a time. For example, start by organizing just
one part of your life — your car, desk, kitchen, closet, cupboard, or drawer.
Practice giving back.
Volunteer your time or spend time helping out a friend. Helping others helps you.
Try not to worry.
The world won't end if your grass isn't mowed or your kitchen isn't cleaned. You may need to do these things, but right now might not be the
right time.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice and effectively treats spider veins.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the vein. The sclerotherapy solution causes the vein to scar,
forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins. The collapsed vein is reabsorbed into local tissue and eventually fades.
After sclerotherapy, treated veins tend to fade within a few weeks. Occasionally, it may take a month or more to see the
full results. In some instances, several sclerotherapy treatments may be needed.
Why is it Done?
Sclerotherapy is often done for:
Cosmetic purposes — to improve the appearance of spider veins.
The procedure also can improve related symptoms such as:




Aching
Swelling
Burning
Night cramps
Sclerotherapy is typically done in your doctor's office and doesn't require
anesthesia. It generally takes less than an hour to complete the
procedure.
For the procedure, you'll lie on your back with your legs slightly elevated. After cleansing the area to be treated with
alcohol, your doctor will use a fine needle to slowly insert a solution into the appropriate vein.
The solution, usually in liquid form, works by irritating the lining of the vein, causing it to swell shut and block the flow of
blood. Some solutions contain a local anesthetic called lidocaine.
Eventually, the vein will become scar tissue and disappear. Sometimes a foam version of the solution may be used,
particularly when a larger vein is involved. Foam tends to cover more surface area than liquid.
Some people experience minor stinging or cramps when the needle is inserted into the vein. If you have a lot of pain,
tell your doctor. Pain may occur if the solution leaks from the vein into surrounding tissue.
Once the needle is withdrawn, your doctor applies compression and massages the area to keep blood out of the
injected vessel and disperse the solution. A compression pad may be taped onto the injection site to keep the area
compressed while your doctor moves on to the next vein.
The number of injections depends on the number and size of veins being treated.
After the procedure
You'll be able to get up and walk around soon after the procedure. Walking and moving your legs is important to prevent
the formation of blood clots.
You'll be asked to wear compression stockings or bandages — usually for about two weeks — to maintain compression
on the treated veins.
Most people return to their normal activities on the same day, but it may be wise to have someone drive you home after
the procedure. Your doctor will probably advise you to avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks after the procedure.
You'll also want to avoid sun exposure to the treated areas during that time. The inflammation caused by the injections
combined with sun exposure can lead to dark spots on your skin, especially if you already have a dark skin tone.
Want to Stop Smoking?
Family Medicine Associates of Conroe offers
Smoking Cessation appointments. Start the new
year by stopping smoking! Schedule your
appointment and get started now! We offer a
whole assortment of treatments from behavior
management alone to Chantix, nicotine patches,
nicotine gum, and nicotine lozenges.
Are Headaches Interfering with Your Daily Life?
Headaches are one of the most common reasons that patients present to a clinic. A
majority of the population will complain of headache type pain at some point in their
lives. While the most common type of headache is a tension headache, it usually is not
disabling enough to interfere with daily activities. If a headache is bad enough to
interfere with work or daily activities, there is a higher chance that it is a symptom of
a migraine. Migraine attacks are more than just head pain but can present in odd ways
including nausea and sensitivity to light. I am pleased to announce that we currently
offer treatment for headaches including:
Establishing a diagnosis (typically without labs or need for imaging)
Providing preventative, abortive, and rescue therapies
Follow up appointments to ensure that you are getting the most
relief possible from your headaches
Goals of treatment:
Preventative - to decrease the severity and frequency of headache attacks and allow
the abortive medication to work better.
Abortive -to be pain free in two hours.
Rescue - to administer injections and peripheral nerve blocks (done in this office) when
the abortive medication did not work.
It is important to know that not all headaches are the same. Please schedule an
appointment to talk with Dr. Grissom about your headaches and start on your path
to understanding more about your treatable condition.