Pain management has become one of the most challenging aspects of modern medical care. In the wake of the well-publicized opioid crisis, we, as physicians, must balance effective pain treatment with responsible prescribing practices, especially when it comes to opioid medications.
A balanced approach to pain management is essential. While opioid medications play an important role in treating certain types of pain, they represent just one tool in our comprehensive treatment arsenal. Modern pain management incorporates multiple therapeutic approaches, including non-narcotic medications, physical therapy, and interventional procedures.
By Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist, ONU Healthwise Pharmacy
The term “going viral” describes content spreading quickly and broadly across social media. In 2016, Pinkfong, a South Korean entertainment company released a version of a youth song called Baby Shark with an accompanying YouTube dance video. The video has gone viral with 7.04 billion views as of November 2020, 10 billion by January 2022, and an amazing 15.34 billion by November 2024.
As quickly as these videos go viral, so have viral infections in Ohio. Ohio is one of many states experiencing a quad-demic of infections. These 4 viral infections are COVID-19, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the newcomer known as norovirus. COVID-19, flu, and RSV are all respiratory viruses, but norovirus is a gastrointestinal or gut virus.
By Lindsey Buddelmeyer
Leadership Education & Training Specialist, Blanchard Valley Health System
Did you know that one in three visits to the emergency room is due to a fall? These visits require, on average, a four-day hospital stay. They also result in some level of loss of independence and decreased quality of life. Many people who experience a fall become more afraid of the likelihood of falling, which results in them being less active and at a higher risk for nursing home placement.
There are two primary reasons that people experience a fall. Physiological factors involve a decrease in strength and balance, while environmental factors involve our physical surroundings and play a role in whether we are able to do things independently and safely. The good news is that there are some very meaningful changes that you can make to your home and routine in order to decrease your chances of falling. You will be surprised by the home hazards that are considered dangerous or a contributing factor leading up to a fall. Take this opportunity to commit to at least one change in order to make your home safer.
By Stephanie Wiseman, Student Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
ONU Healthwise Pharmacy
In the 1995 original Toy Story movie by Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures, the character Buzz Lightyear voiced by Tim Allen is roped into an “Infini-TEA and beyond” tea party by Andy’s little sister. Amazingly, Disney has been identified as a movie franchise obsessed with tea. Although Toy Story was in the top 10 Disney movies with tea as part of the picture, it is eclipsed by seven other Disney movies.
Cases on the rise in hospitals, when and how to seek care
Lima area hospital and health system leaders, as well as public health officials are reporting a significant increase in flu cases across Lima and the surrounding communities. As flu season reaches peak levels, Mercy Health – Lima, Lima Memorial Health System, Allen County Public Health, Auglaize Health and Putnam County Health Departments have come together to urge the community to take preventive measures and seek appropriate care based on symptom severity to ensure the best possible health outcomes for our residents while also preventing overwhelming our health care facilities.
Pediatricians consider medications given to newborn babies very carefully. There are generally plenty of safety data and studies evaluating if the benefits of a medication outweigh the potential harms. If we are encouraging you to give a medication to your baby, it’s because we feel that it is potentially lifesaving.
One medication recommended for all newborns is Vitamin K. Vitamin K (phytonadione) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for blood to clot. We also need this vitamin in our bodies to stop bleeding from cuts and bruises.
Vitamin K does not cross the placenta and is poorly excreted in breast milk. Also, due to differences in the gut microbiome in babies, it is poorly absorbed when we try to supplement it by mouth. The only way to give it to babies in the United States is by a one-time injection when they are newborns.
