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Mellow Yellow: Benefits of turmeric

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

Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan released his 1966 hit titled Mellow Yellow. The song hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States but only reached number 8 in the United Kingdom. 

Donovan was born Donovan Phillips Leitch and he was known for his eclectic style, which combined various different types of music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Donovan had some interesting connections to the Beatles. On the Mellow Yellow soundtrack, you can hear Paul McCartney as a background reveler. It was rumored that Paul McCartney was the one who whispered “quite rightly” on the track, but this was false since it was actually Donovan’s voice. McCartney played bass guitar on the recording, but was not credited on the album. However, Donovan and Paul McCartney were friends and collaborators. Donovan was credited with helping with some of the lyrics on the Yellow Submarine. 

Donovan was credited in teaching John Lennon with a guitar technique called finger-picking. Lennon used this technique on several of his recordings. 

In Mellow Yellow, Donovan’s lyrics state, “I’m just mad about saffron.” Saffron is a yellow colored spice which is often confused with turmeric. Turmeric is a spice that comes from a rhizome or root. Saffron is produced from a flower from a different plant than turmeric. 

Weekend Doctor: Preventing heat illness

By Jason Wartgow, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, McComb Family Practice

The body normally cools itself by sweating. During hot weather, especially in high humidity, sweating isn’t enough. Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels if precautions are not taken. Workers exposed to hot and humid conditions are at risk of heat illness, particularly to those doing heavy work tasks or using bulky protective clothing and equipment. Factors that increase the likelihood of heat exhaustion include intense/strenuous work, diabetes or hyperglycemia, drug abuse, heavy/long-term alcohol use, tobacco use, obesity, medications for certain illnesses (depression, insomnia, allergies, hypertension or heart disease) or if you are over 65 years of age. 

Who Can I Turn To?

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) was a 1964 song released by Tony Bennett. The song was recorded again as a duet in 2011 with Queen Latifah and a second duet in 2012 with Gloria Estefan. Many of Tony Bennett’s songs became popular again with the help of Lady Gaga and their 2014 album and tour titled Cheek to Cheek. 

Tony Bennett passed away on July 21, 2023 leaving behind a wonderful legacy. He won 20 Grammy Awards. He set a Guinness World Record by being the oldest person to release an album with new material at the age of 95. 

Tony Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, but continued to perform until 2021. His final stage performances were at Radio City Music Hall. 

Although new medications have recently been approved by the FDA to manage Alzheimer’s disease, it is still a difficult condition to treat. We have no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but we do have evidence for ways to slow cognitive decline. 

Weekend Doctor: Asthma

By Jami Koziel, RRT, CPFT
Pulmonary Services, Blanchard Valley Health System

Asthma is a heterogeneous respiratory disease–meaning it presents in many different ways–that affects an estimated 25 million Americans, with six million being children. The financial cost of asthma exceeds $81 billion every year and despite all the resources invested, asthma is responsible for over 3,500 deaths annually in the United States. The prevalence of asthma is proven to be higher among individuals of low socioeconomic status than among those with higher socioeconomic status. 

Generally, there has been a lack of priority in the effects and differences in asthma prevalence among populations as well as the response to therapies among racial and ethnic minorities. To illustrate, African American patients respond differently to corticosteroids in contrast with White patients. One study suggests Hispanic and non-Hispanic White children exhibit better responses to increasing therapy with Long-Acting Beta Agonist (LABA), rather than higher doses of Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS), whereas African American children were less likely to respond to adding leukotriene receptor antagonists, and more likely to respond to increasing dosing of ICS.

Immunization clinic rescheduled

The Immunization Clinic for July 18 has been rescheduled to July 25 at 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Ada Presbyterian Church.

If you need an appointment this week, please call the Kenton Hardin Health Department at 419-673-6230 to make an appointment for theThe Ada Immunization Clinic for today has been rescheduled to July 25th 9:30 -2:30 at the Ada Presbyterian Church. If you need an appointment this week, please call the Kenton Hardin Health Department at 419-673-6230 to make an appointment for our clinic on Thursday July 20th in Kenton. Sorry for the inconvenience. clinic on Thursday July 20 in Kenton.

How sweet it is?

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

"How sweet it is" was a signature phrase of comedian and actor Jackie Gleason.  Born in Brooklyn, John Herbert Gleason became a success in several well-known shows such as The Honeymooners and The Jackie Gleason Show. His biography written by James Bacon was published in 1986. Jackie Gleason starred in several movies later in his life including The Hustler with Paul Newman and Smokey and Bandit with Burt Reynolds.

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