Health

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By Katie Prater Kirby, ONU PharmD Candidate 2025 and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of  ONU Healthwise Pharmacy 

In March of 1972, Todd Rundgren released one of his more popular songs titled I Saw the Light. As a solo artist, he was best known as a progressive rocker. Rundgren was also known as a prolific songwriter and producer. I Saw the Light has been covered for over 4 decades by various artists. Many may not realize he wrote the musical score for the 911 movie titled A Face to a Name. He was a pioneer in using the internet to distribute music in the 1990s.

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By Gina Bailey, BSN, RN
Infection Preventionist, Quality/Infection Control, Blanchard Valley Health System

Did you know our bodies are always working to fight off viruses and bacteria that can cause us to become sick? Our lungs, stomach, muscles, bones, and nerves are constantly working to fight infection. 

For example, a sneeze is a coordinated effort between the lungs, muscles, bones and nervous system that activates when the lining of the nose is irritated. Coughs are a repetitive reflex that helps clear breathing passages of irritants, viruses, and bacteria. When you cough, there are three stages: inhalation, forceful exhalation against closed-up vocal cords and a violent release of air following the opening of the vocal cords. 

The average person breathes in about 2,000 gallons of air daily, exposing our bodies to possible infectious pathogens. Everyone is familiar with and likely has had influenza (the flu) and COVID-19, but did you know that there are approximately 200 known pathogens that can cause illness and impact the respiratory system differently?

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By Katie Prater, ONU PharmD Candidate 2025 and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of ONU Healthwise Pharmacy 

In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus released his song Achy Breaky Heart. Originally, this song was written by Don Von Tress in 1990 and initially released as Don’t Tell my Heart by the Marcy Brothers in 1991. Billy’s version of this song talks about protecting his heart from a romantic perspective, but how could this apply to the overall health of our heart? Many of us do not want any type of ‘achy breaky heart,’ whether it be from heart break or illness. So what can you do to help protect your heart health?

We often hear all about the things that can negatively impact our heart health, but what can we do to help protect our heart? Recent research has found the shingles vaccine may help. 

Many diseases can impact our heart health and research is showing shingles may be one that does. Shingles occurs when the virus causing chickenpox reactivates in the body, causing a painful rash along a nerve. Commonly the rash presents around the side of the body and can potentially lead to serious complications like long-term nerve pain.

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By Ashley O’Flaherty, CMA
Supervisor, Blanchard Valley Medical Practices

The flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40% to 60%. It has also been proven to help reduce the risk of hospitalization from flu, making it one of the most effective tools we have in preventing severe illness during flu season.

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By Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

The English rock band Deep Purple recorded Smoke on the Water in December of 1971. The recording was based on true events from the fire at the Montreux Casino in Switzerland where the band was recording an album. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017.

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By Heather Auxier, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic neurological condition that causes severe pain in a limb. The pain is disproportionate to the injury or trauma that caused it. This affects roughly 200,000 people in the United States. 

CRPS is believed to be caused by malfunctioning of the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS). Your peripheral nervous system relays information from your brain and spinal cord to your organs, arms, legs, fingers, and toes. The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The abnormal functioning results in an overreaction to pain signals that your body can’t turn off. 

The main symptom of CRPS is prolonged and excessive pain. Other symptoms include the following:

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