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A pinch of salt: Health effects

Posted by Staff on March 7, 2024 - 6:00am

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. 

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Weekend Doctor: About bipolar disorder

Posted by Staff on March 2, 2024 - 6:00am

By John Aziz, MD
Psychiatry, Psychiatric Center of Northwest Ohio

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mood disorder that affects about 1% of the U.S. population. Although bipolar disorder is highly genetic, there is no specific mode of inheritance of the disorder from an affected parent to their children. That means if the father or the mother has bipolar disorder, the children might have a higher risk of having bipolar disorder, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that any of them will definitely have the disorder at some point in their lives.

As the name “bipolar” implies, there are two ends of the “pole”: the higher end and the lower end.

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Changes: Niacin heart effects

Posted by Staff on February 29, 2024 - 6:00am

By Karen L. Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

In 1971, David Bowie released his Grammy Hall of Fame song Changes. This song is considered one of his top 5 songs. In the lyrics, Bowie writes “time may change me.”  How have our thoughts changed on niacin over time?

Niacin is known as vitamin B3 and is commonly found in foods such as meats, fish, nuts, brown rice, seeds and bananas. Many cereals, grains, flour, and breads are enriched with niacin. 

A deficiency of niacin results in a condition called pellagra. The term comes from the impact on the skin involving rashes and sensitivity to the sun. Other symptoms can include weakness, confusion, and stomach pain. Alcohol consumption can reduce niacin levels in the body as well as the prescription drugs, phenytoin (Dilantin) or valproic acid (Depokote). 

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Weekend Doctor: Seasonal depression

Posted by Staff on February 24, 2024 - 7:54am

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. 

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Cold Heart: Weather and the heart

Posted by Staff on February 23, 2024 - 10:15am

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

Due to COVID-19, Elton John suspended his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2020. During the pandemic, he formed collaborations with other artists including Dua Lipa. They did an upbeat remix titled Cold Heart, which hit number 1 in 12 countries. 

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My Heart Will Go On: Heart health

Posted by Staff on February 15, 2024 - 6:00am

By Karen L. Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

Celine Dion released the single My Heart Will Go On as part of the Titanic movie sound track in November of 1997.  The song hit the top of the charts in 25 countries and was the best-selling single in 1998.  The song dominated the 1999 Grammy Awards and won an Academy Award.  

Celine is known for her powerful voice with strong technical skills.  She recently has suspended all shows due to her developing a rare disease known as stiff-person syndrome.  It was announced in January of 2024 that Amazon MGM Studios will be releasing a documentary about this topic titled I Am: Celine Dion. 

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