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Weekend Doctor: Headaches

By Loreen Morris, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

Although cephalgia (headache) is considered one of the most prevalent health complaints, the substantial societal and individual burden associated with headaches is often overlooked.

In fact, it is estimated that headaches account for approximately 20 percent of lost workdays and cost an average of $100 million per year. 

Knowing the different types of headaches and their treatment modalities can help manage and potentially prevent headaches.

Types of headache pain
Tension headaches - The most common type of headache, often described as a tight band around the head. These headaches typically result in mild to moderate pain and are often stress related.

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Gold Glove

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

On Saturday May 13, we had tickets to see the Cleveland Guardians play the Los Angeles Angels at Progressive Field.  The first 10,000 fans received replicas of the Golden Gloves being awarded that night to four Guardians players.  This was the first time in franchise history for four players to receive the award in one year.  The Gold Glove trophies were given to outfielders Steven Kwan and Myles Straw as well as pitcher Shane Bieber.  The final award went to Andres Gimenez for his performance at second base.  

Weekend Doctor: Fit pregnancy tips

By Crystal McGrain, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology

Physical activity is important in all stages of life, pregnancy included! Many women desire to adopt a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy or maintain their current fitness level. In most cases, this is achievable and desirable for the overall health of mom and baby. Here are 10 tips to keep in mind to have a fit pregnancy. 

Talk with your provider
Most pregnant women can exercise! In the absence of medical complications, physical activity in pregnancy is safe and desirable. In fact, inactivity and excessive weight gain have been recognized as risk factors for pregnancy complications. 

Consider modifications to your current exercise regimen
Your body will be going through major changes as your pregnancy progresses, including weight gain and a shift in your center of gravity. Balance and posture are affected. Exercises that have been extensively studied and found to be safe in pregnancy include walking, stationary cycling, aerobic exercises, dancing, resistance exercises, water aerobics and swimming. 

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First in the world

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of Guinness Breweries in Dublin, Ireland, contemplated how one could verify who was first in the world. The Guinness World Records were born. His idea intrigued twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter to publish the Guinness Book of World Records. The first book hit the bestseller list by Christmas of 1955. The book is currently published in 100 countries in 23 languages. The publisher maintains over 53,000 records. 

On May 5, 2023, the coronation of King Charles III was celebrated. King Charles set the record for the longest term as heir-apparent for the British monarchy. His record started at the age of 3 when his mother became queen on February 6, 1952. King Charles III waited 70 years and 214 days to accept the crown. This surpassed his great-great-grandfather Edward VII’s record of 59 years and 73 days in replacing Queen Victoria. 

On May 3, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was the first in the world to approve the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. The FDA approved the GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) RSV vaccine with the brand name of Arexvy. The FDA approved the vaccine prior to other countries evaluating the clinical data including Europe and Japan. After years of research, GSK will produce the first in the world RSV vaccine. 

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Weekend Doctor: Burnout?

By Stephanie Rodriguez, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, North Baltimore Medical & Diagnostic Center

Catch up

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

The idiom to catch up means to reach a standard or to move faster in order to reach someone or something moving in the same direction.  This idiom can mean anything from a competition of catching someone who maybe running a race or it can mean a meeting with a friend to catch up on the latest news.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on April 24 “The Big Catch-Up” program to coincide with World Immunization Week.  This new campaign is driven by the decrease in pediatric vaccines prior to and during COVID-19.  Routine childhood vaccines declined in over 100 countries during the pandemic.  This is the largest sustained decline in 30 years.

The CDC reports a decline in pediatric immunizations during COVID-19 in the United States. The start of the 2022 school year had the lowest vaccine rates for kindergarten children at 93%.  Experts believe the disruption of routine physician visits and the misinformation about vaccines contributed to the falling numbers.

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