Health Mastery
Prescription: A Dose of Compassion By Kathleen Aharoni Recently, Louis Weiss, publisher of this magazine, sent me a YouTube video from the Cleveland Clinic, entitled Empathy: The Human Connection to Patient Care. This emotional video begins with the following quote from Henry David Thoreau: “Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look […]
Doctor’s Orders
Shattering the Stigma of Depression By Dr. Gena Vennikandam Since the mid-20th century, when cognitive psychotherapy was being introduced, depression has been talked about in hushed tones in small circles. Sadly today, depression can still be seen as the elephant in the room, a condition that is not getting the light it deserves and is gravely […]
The Prevention Column
Getting Started When You Think It’s Too Late By Anthony Bonazzo A lot of Americans have an all-or-nothing mentality, especially when it comes to fitness. Think of fitness like golf; it requires a daily commitment, and it’s never too late to pick up the game. If you’re currently living with health concerns related to being overweight or […]
Scientific Snacking
The good, the bad, and the delicious Americans love to snack, but snacking on the right foods is the hinge of good or bad health. According to a study conducted by the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, the number of snacking occasions per day and calories in snacks has increased substantially over […]
Health Tech
5 Smartphone Apps to Help You Eat Better and Exercise More By Megy Karydes In this issue, we continue our look into the personal technology that is changing the ways we manage our health. We all know the drill to becoming healthier overall: Eat better and exercise more. Easier said than done when the biggest hurdle is getting […]
What Your Body Is Telling You In Your 30s and 40s
By Morgan Lord When we women leave our 20s and enter our 30s and 40s, we finally peak—comfortable in our skin, we exude confidence. But although our minds, like whiskey and leather boots, become better with age, our bodies are working in reverse—bone mass declines, our metabolism slows, and we’re more susceptible to a slew […]
The Testosterone Effect
Testosterone is linked to men’s overall health, but levels decline with age and are lower in each new generation. Could male hormone replacement therapy provide the solution? By Patrick Kenney Testosterone is manliness and virility; muscles and hairy chests. It’s also crucial to many other aspects of a man’s life. Falling testosterone levels can leave […]
Being Cared For
Above photo: Daniel Johnson, MD, Comer Children’s Hospital at The University of Chicago Medicine Chicago boasts several nationally leading pediatric hospitals thanks to a holistic approach to healing By Rhonda Alexander Everyone needs healthcare, and for children—especially those with acute or chronic illnesses—reliable, quality holistic healthcare can mean the difference between simply managing […]
Questionable Screenings
Timing is everything in avoiding unnecessary risks that can come with cancer screenings By Nancy Maes Screenings for cancer are filled with a haunting question: what if they find something? People might be so fearful of the disease that they cling to the notion that no news is good news. But statistics from screenings should […]
Critical Questions: What to Ask Your Doctor During a Consultation
By Eve Becker Even if a doctor is in a rush, patients have the right to make sure that their questions are answered. The National Patient Safety Foundation’s “Ask Me 3” program encourages patients to ask basic questions about their care including: 1. What is my main problem? Make sure you understand the diagnosis and […]
Health Literacy
Simplifying patient communication can lead to better health outcomes By Eve Becker When patients leave the doctor’s office, the control of their care is largely in their own hands. They are responsible for taking their medication and implementing the doctor’s instructions on their own, at home. But if patients don’t adequately understand those instructions, they are […]
The Evolution of Cataract Surgery
Simple and effective, removing a cataract is the sensible and first step to better sight By Terri Yablonsky Stat Gone are the days of wearing thick Coke-bottle glasses following cataract surgery. Today’s modern cataract removal procedures not only remove the cataract, but they can correct the faulty vision underneath at the same time. A cataract is a clouded lens of the […]
Acupuncture: Getting to the Point of It
There are some amazing treatments when the Western and Eastern hemispheres treat illnesses together By Maryann Pisano Photos by James Foster Patricia Piant, MSTOM, Dipl.OM., L.Ac., is a licensed, board-certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist at NorthShore University HealthSystem. She treats patients for pain every day; all types of pain for people from all walks of […]
Repeat After Me: “Do Not Repeat”
Carpal tunnel syndrome is not just the plague of the typistBy Karen Schwartz You’re writing an e-mail, aware of a constant tingling in your wrist as you type. Or maybe you’re a musician jamming with some buddies, and you notice that there’s some numbness in your hand and wrist as you strum your guitar. It […]
Indie Docs Versus the Networks
The pros and cons of hospital groups and independent physicians comes down to groups of independent patients By Tom Mullaney Roughly 30 years ago, choosing a doctor was fairly simple. It was either the family doctor, one recommended by a friend or the physician closest to home. Today, it seems that patients now confront a […]
Critical Questions: What to Ask When Choosing Medical Care
Choosing a primary care physician is critical to your health and wellness. It can be difficult when the marketplace is full of transformations like it is today. Asking your co-workers, friends and neighbors about their doctors and healthcare choices is a start, but there are many things that the smart consumer needs to think about. […]
Long-Term Care Insurance
Why you should start considering it now By Morgan Lord The fact is, you’re getting older every day. And as long as that keeps happening, you’re going to live longer. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 70 percent of people turning 65 years old can expect to use some form […]
Above and Beyond: Nutrition
By Megy Karydes Obesity affects approximately 17 percent of children aged 2 to 19 years, and the figure has nearly tripled since 1980. There are many possible reasons why this figure continues to grow including societal changes that promote inactivity and food consumption. One study published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that […]
