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Weekend Doctor: Vertebrogenic back pain

Posted by Staff on Sunday, August 25, 2024

By Thomas Kindl, MD
Blanchard Valley Pain Management

For many people, chronic low back pain originates from the space between the disc and the vertebra, which is known as the vertebral endplate. This type of pain is known as vertebrogenic pain. Of the 30 million people in the United States with chronic low back pain, one in six is likely to suffer from vertebrogenic pain.

Vertebrogenic pain patients often describe their pain as located in the middle of their lower back, and the pain gets worse during physical activity or prolonged sitting, and when bending forward/bending with lifting.

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Take My Breath Away: Cleaning products and asthma

Posted by Staff on Thursday, August 22, 2024

By Ryan Davenport, Student Pharmacist and Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Songwriters Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for the Best Original Song in 1986. Take My Breath Away was written for the movie Top Gun and was sung by the group Berlin.  

Asthma can take your breath away, but can cleaning products cause more problems?

Asthma is a common long-term disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the airways. This results in the narrowing of the airways, which can cause a person to struggle with breathing. Asthma may cause them to wheeze, cough or have tightness in their chest.

Over 27 million people in the United States have asthma, which is about every 1 in 12 people. Asthma can cause breathing problems for people even when doing simple everyday activities such as cleaning. Some household cleaning products, such as bleach, ammonia-based cleaners and even cleaners labeled as organic, can cause a person’s asthma to flare up. 

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Weekend Doctor: Sleep medicine

Posted by Staff on Saturday, August 17, 2024

By Erika Manis, MD
Daniel J. and Maria H. Sak Sleep Wellness Center

Do you frequently have trouble falling or staying asleep? Taking longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep or being awake for more than 30 minutes after falling asleep may be abnormal when persistent and associated with daytime impairment such as fatigue. 

A discussion with a healthcare professional can help first assess for frequent comorbid sleep or psychiatric disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, or substance use that could be causative or contributory. Other known risk factors for insomnia are female gender and family history. 

Evaluation may include a sleep study depending on information revealed from a detailed history, including a review of medication and a physical exam. You will likely be asked to keep a sleep diary and/or wear an actigraph (if available), which is similar to a wearable fitness tracker. This is used, in part, to look for sleep patterns that may represent a circadian rhythm disorder that would be approached differently. 

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Glory Days: Protein and aging

Posted by Staff on Thursday, August 15, 2024

By Ava Ehlinger, Student Pharmacist and Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Sometimes as we age, we look back at our younger years. In 1985, Bruce Springsteen released his song Glory Days, which talked about looking back. He recorded 21 studio albums and is affectionately known as “the Boss.” Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.  

What things can we do to age gracefully?

A healthy, balanced diet is very important and one of the most widely recommended lifestyle changes to lower your risk of different diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, and heart conditions and better lifestyle living. 

But what exactly does a balanced diet mean?

Harvard’s Nutrition Source outlines a healthy plate of food with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy oil and healthy protein. Protein is often a misunderstood nutrient. Protein plays a major role in several areas of your body’s health by keeping your bones strong and helping build muscles.

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Weekend Doctor: Making a birth plan

Posted by Staff on Saturday, August 10, 2024

By Brittany Berens, DO
Obstetrics & Gynecology, OB Hospitalist Program at Blanchard Valley Hospital

Preparing for childbirth can feel like an enormous task. A written birth plan can help the birthing person organize their thoughts. If you or your loved one is considering writing a birth plan for an upcoming delivery, what should you know?  

A birth plan is the birthing person’s written set of preferences and wishes. This is not a requirement prior to delivery. However, writing a birth plan can help the birthing person collect their thoughts and communicate with their partner, family, and birthing team. A birth plan typically involves preferences regarding labor, delivery and postpartum care while in the hospital setting. There are many online tools to help draft a birth plan. Patients should pick one from a reputable source that best fits their preferences. Prior to arrival at the hospital, it is important to take the time to compare and consider various options regarding care.  

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Jack and the Beanstalk: Soy and health

Posted by Staff on Thursday, August 8, 2024

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

The fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk is believed to originate in the 1700s.  The story tells the tale of young Jack trading his family cow for magic beans. After planting the beans, he climbs the beanstalk and comes face to face with the giant. Jack is able to get away by chopping down the beanstalk.  

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