By Sarah Turske, Student Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
“Puff, the Magic Dragon” was released in January of 1963 by the American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1963. The song was written by Peter Yarrow based on a poem by fellow Cornell University student Lenny Lipton. They shared writing accolades for the lyrics.
The song was the inspiration for an animated TV special with two sequels. Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton made the lyrics into a children’s book with the illustrations by Eric Puybaret. The book is still available on the market.
Peter Yarrow passed away on January 7, 2025 leaving only Paul Stookey as the remaining living member of the original group.
There are several disease states that can make it hard to take a breath or even to puff breath out. Asthma is one of the more common lung conditions. Medications to treat asthma can be effective in managing breathing issues. To date, we only have mechanisms to treat asthma and to prevent future asthma attacks. We do not have a way to prevent the development of asthma.
By Nancy Proctor, BSN, MAE
Patient Experience Educator
Move it or lose it! Anyone who has rehabbed an injury or surgery is undoubtedly familiar with this paradigm in order to regain strength and mobility. I wonder if this thinking applies to other areas of our well-being. While grabbing a coffee one day, I pulled in and saw long lines at the drive-thru. Having little patience, I parked, ran in and got my coffee. As I left, I noticed the line of cars hadn’t moved. It begs the question, why would 95% of people opt to sit in their car in line for an exponential amount of time rather than just go in and get what they want? Are we so used to convenience we completely forget there is an alternative? And, because we aren’t moving as much, are we compromising our physical and mental health? Is convenience crippling us?
By Katie (Prater) Kirby, Student Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
Jack of All Trades was released on March 6, 2012 by Bruce Springsteen. You may not be familiar with this song unless you are a true fan of “the Boss.” This song is considered in the folk-rock genre and was on his seventeenth album.
“Jack of all trades” is a saying implying someone who has skills in different areas. The newer GLP-1 medications may qualify as such.
The GLP-1s include semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and the combination of GLP-1/GIP drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Studies are evaluating their potential benefits beyond managing diabetes and weight loss. These areas include rheumatic disease, cancer and addiction.
Rheumatic diseases include gout, varying types of arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia. The impact of rheumatic diseases has led researchers to look at new treatments.
It’s always a joyful moment when a new baby is born. Everyone in the family wants to come meet the new addition. A few days later, this precious little baby is struggling to breathe and needs to be in the intensive care unit (ICU) with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis.
By Chayden Pitzer, Student Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
Elvis Presley released the song Stay Away in February of 1968 as part of the soundtrack for the movie Stay Away, Joe. This song only hit number 67 on the top 100 hits in the United States. This was unusual for the King of Rock and Roll since he had 18 number one hits and 40 top ten songs during his career.
Many of us consider our pets as family members. They are usually loving creatures who are great at lending an ear and keeping us company. But pets offer more benefits to our health than simply being good companions. Pets trained to be therapy animals have been scientifically proven to provide physical and mental benefits to owners, patients and even children.
“Pet therapy” is the umbrella term used to describe animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. One of the increasingly popular ways to utilize therapy pets is in a healthcare setting. Pet therapy helps patients cope with physical health problems, anxiety or cancer. Specifically, for those in long-term care, pet therapy can reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation, encourage communication and socialization skills, and provide comfort during stressful times. Depression and anxiety levels usually decrease in patients who receive pet therapy. This is one reason utilizing therapy animals in extended care facilities has increased in popularity: the presence of therapy animals reduces stress and anxiety and increases happiness.
