Health

By Megan Gushrowski, Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

If someone uses the idiom to “take it with a pinch of salt,” they are asking you to consider or evaluate a statement because one may be skeptical about the truthfulness. Others may think of a pinch of salt when it is used in cooking. However, a pinch of salt (sodium chloride) does have an impact on one’s health.  

A diet high in sodium is a known contributing factor to high blood pressure and a recent study shows it may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. A study published by the Mayo Clinic in November 2023 asked people whether they always, usually, sometimes, or never/rarely added salt to their food and then followed these people to see if they developed type 2 diabetes. 

By Grace Eberly, DO
Pediatrician, Caughman Health Center, Pediatric Associates of Northwest Ohio

It is a well-studied but often-forgotten phenomenon that each year during the winter months, up to 10 million Americans will experience symptoms of depression. As its name implies, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disturbance thought to be caused by the effect of shorter days and decreasing amounts of sunlight on the brain. 

For most people who experience these “winter blues,” spring brings with it renewed life and increased optimism. However, some will have persistent symptoms that carry on long after the flowers have begun to bloom. Now is as good a time as any to check in on your loved ones and offer them support.