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Weekend Doctor: About gastroenterologists

March is colorectal cancer awareness month

By Jay Babich, MD, FACG, Gastroenterology Associates of Northwest Ohio

A gastroenterologist is an internist who has gone on to complete an additional three-year fellowship in digestive disease disorders.

Common ailments that gastroenterologists treat are reflux, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, change in bowel habits, irritable bowel syndrome, as well as inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, we work with providers with interest and expertise in liver disease as well as disorders of the gallbladder, biliary tree and pancreas. 

Procedures that we commonly perform are endoscopy as well as colonoscopy, along with specialized endoscopic procedures of the biliary tree and pancreas.

Every Breath You Take

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1983, the Police released their number one hit Every Breath You Take. The bestselling single was from their last studio album Synchronicity. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and in 2015, the band was awarded for the most played song in radio history.

Gordon Sumner aka Sting left the band in 1985 to pursue a solo career. Sting was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000 and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2014. In March of 2021, he released Duets with 17 tracks collaborating with superstars such as Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige, and Annie Lennox. In 2021, he had a role in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez.

Weekend Doctor: Common hockey injuries

By Ryan Ingley, AT, ATC*
Sports Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Since hockey is a high-speed, collision sport, there can be opportunities for injury. For players, parents, and coaches alike, it is important to be aware of the most common injuries that can happen on the ice.

I Can See Clearly Now

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1972, Johnny Nash released his number one hit in the United States, Canada and South Africa titled I Can See Clearly Now. Johnny was a rhythm and blues singer who was influenced by the reggae sound. He collaborated with Bob Marley, one of the pioneers of reggae, to sing and produce records. Johnny was a very prolific song writer throughout his career. Interestingly, he sang the theme song for the animated cartoon series The Mighty Hercules that ran from 1963 to 1965,

So why the message to see clearly now?

Researchers have made some significant advances in eye health specifically with macular degeneration in the last few years. Several of these discoveries have completed clinical trials and have been forwarded to the FDA for approval in the United States.

Weekend Doctor: Type 2 diabetes and physical activity

By Jay Salyer, APRN-CNP
Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists of Northwest Ohio

Type 2 diabetes is an illness that interferes with the way in which your body utilizes blood sugar. The human body is made of trillions of cells (brain cells, muscle cells, skin cells, hair cells, etc.) and all of those cells need sugar to function properly. Sugar is transported to body cells with the help of the hormone insulin. If your body stops making insulin (type 1 diabetes) or stops responding to insulin appropriately (type 2 diabetes), sugar can elevate in the bloodstream rather than getting to the cells where it belongs. Insulin resistance, a major contributor to the development of type 2 diabetes, can be improved through regular physical activity, which dramatically improves diabetic control by reducing the amount of medication needed to treat the disease.

Benefits of activity 
Regular physical activity helps to prevent and/or improve a variety of chronic illnesses including heart disease, osteoporosis, various cancers, depression, anxiety, as well as type 2 diabetes. With a focus on diabetes, activity increases the effect of insulin within the body. Medications used to treat the disease are also more effective with regular activity. These improvements are not only witnessed during activity itself, but last for several hours following exercise completion. Additionally, long-standing increase in insulin sensitivity happens from increased muscle mass, reduction in fat tissues, and changes within the liver all of which, in turn, significantly improves blood sugar control.

Considerations before, during and after exercise
It is important for those with diabetes to consult with their healthcare team before engaging in strenuous activity to ensure safety. If deemed safe, individuals should maintain hydration with plenty of fluids before, during and after activity. It’s crucial to ensure they wear well-fitting shoes to prevent sores to feet. Monitoring of blood sugars before, during and after activity is also important, as fluctuation can be expected. It would be sensible to keep rapidly absorbed carbohydrates (juice, glucose tablets, etc.) on hand should low blood sugars occur, particularly for those using insulin. 

Rockin’ pneumonia

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1957, Huey “Piano” Smith and The Clowns released the song Rockin’ Pneumonia and The Boogie Woogie Flu. The song was a reference to the 1957 and 1958 pandemic of the Asian flu. Although, the lyrics are really about approaching a woman at a nightclub and really do not provide any suggestion to the pandemic. I remember the remake version by Johnny Rivers in 1972.  The song hit number six on the United States Billboard Hot 100 in the winter of 1973.  

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