Up for Grabs
An adventure through the evolving science of organ transplantation By David Himmel It is late morning in early May 2014. Ozzie Rivero’s pager buzzes. The message reads: “heart offer.” Rivero takes action. Within the next 24 hours, he will be part of a harried effort to retrieve a still-beating heart from a deceased donor’s body […]
Stress In Chicago
Since 2007, the American Psychological Association has conducted a national survey on stress. In 2012, the survey charted stress levels in different cities and found that in Chicago, stress levels were at their lowest since 2008, putting residents on a par with the national average. The survey found that while Chicagoans have the same stressors […]
Know Your Panic
Understanding how to control the way you lose it By Nancy Maes When Richard Harper’s* oldest daughter flew off to college with her mother for her freshman year in the fall of 2013, he was left to make the nine-hour drive to campus to deliver her belongings. On the road, he could feel the stress […]
Supplements: Finding the Edge While Avoiding Snake Oil
There’s no shame in wanting to look better naked. But do shortcuts exist, as the $96 billion global supplement industry would have us to believe? Supplement shelves are flooded with products promising to deliver everything from washboard abs to more energy. But how do you know which of them are worth your time and dollars? […]
Restless Children
Many kids find sleep elusive, due in part to an ADHD misdiagnosis By Nancy Maes Youngsters of all ages need a good night’s sleep, but for some, that good night is elusive. In fact, it is estimated that more than two million children today have some type of sleep disorder. It takes some detective work […]
When Everything Hurts
Diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia are often elusive By Nancy Maes Diagnosing this disease isn’t easy. It usually takes years, following chronic widespread pain and fatigue and sometimes sleeplessness, depression, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome and brain fog. People who suffer from this disease often spend three to five years consulting one doctor after another seeking a […]
It’s Winter: Take Your Workout Outside
Frigid Chicago winters often make us cower inside, afraid of venturing outdoors, especially for exercising. But the truth is, the bitter cold doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Last year, I learned to embrace the cold. Granted, it took a trip to polar territory—Marquette, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula—to do so. But there, I […]
The Food Buzz
Getting the scoop on mindful eating Mindful eating may be called New Age, but the practice of being present with our food has been around for centuries. In today’s fast-paced, on-the-go world we often multitask, eating in the car, in front of the TV or at our desks. Eating with awareness and purpose can allow people […]
Diabesity: Giving a name to the abusive relationship between obesity and diabetes
By Dr. Gena Vennikandam Ever hear the biblical proverb, “If you find honey, eat just enough.”? These words to the wise warn of overindulgence and gluttony, which can lead to illness. Unfortunately, for many, this warning goes without heed, and obesity that leads to diabetes is becoming commonplace. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death […]
Hospitals: Hazardous to Your Health?
One in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC offers these recommendations to help minimize your risk: 1. Keep hands clean: Be sure everyone who comes in contact with you washes their hands with soap. 2. Know the signs of infection: […]
Want to Reduce Stress? Here’s How
Patricia Normand, MD, a psychiatrist at Rush University Medical Center and director of its Mindful Life Program, says that in order to reduce stress, she teaches students to focus on the sensation of their breath. When people know what it feels like to quickly shift focus away from what is causing them stress and onto […]
Healing Spices
It may be winter, but herbs can grow in flowerpots indoors year-round. Fresh herbs not only look and smell great, but their medicinal benefits can help build your body’s defenses against many viruses and diseases. “Fresh cilantro contains high levels of antioxidants which acts as a digestive aid and helps prevent urinary tract infections,” says […]
Cure to Stress Found in Canadian Waters
Last summer, my love and I canoed the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. It was beyond exquisite. The trip was truly life-altering, though not for the reasons you might assume, like the beauty, serenity, accomplishment, the unplugged, the man vs. nature. My life changed last summer because I experienced stress that threatened to ruin […]
From Routine Surgery to Family Nightmare
By Anthony Bonazzo In June 2012, my sister, Jennifer, called me from New Jersey. She told me not to worry but that my father, John, was going to the ER. He was nauseated and short of breath. Later, after being admitted to the hospital, we learned that he had had a minor heart attack. The […]
Health Apps and Wearables: The Next Stage
By Tom Mullaney We live in a time of technology disruption. Airbnb has revolutionized the rental markets model. Uber and Lyft have impacted the taxi industry, which, depending upon how you look at it, is either a good or a bad thing. Technology is similarly poised to disrupt healthcare. Healthcare has been slower than other […]
I Don’t Want to Be Like Derrick
We want to play like our favorite sports stars, but we don’t want to be injured like them By Laura Drucker You don’t have to be a serious athlete to get a serious sports injury. Strains, sprains, tears and general pain can happen to weekend warriors and elite athletes alike. In fact, nearly two million […]
An Important Adjustment
Physicians are slowly changing views on chiropractic back care By Karen Grimaldos As an ironman athlete and personal trainer, Lori McGraw has a high tolerance for pain. But something felt wrong when she was lifting weights during a recent strenuous workout. “The pain in my back was excruciating,” she says. “I couldn’t even bend down.” […]
Above and Beyond: Rape Victim
Above photo courtesy of Rape Victim Advocates Rape Victim Advocates Supports Survivors By Megy Karydes What would you do if you found yourself in a hospital’s emergency room after being raped? Should you demand an evidence collection kit? Did you know that a nurse cannot let the evidence collection kit out of her sight or […]
Deconstructing Grief
Ways to help yourself and othersBy Katie Morell Grief is a topic difficult to discuss, but it’s universally felt. Intense grief can surface from a variety of circumstances; from the death of a loved one to the feeling of loss over disastrous current events. Symptoms Processing grief can be difficult. Some people prefer not to admit […]
If I Should Die Before I Wake
Sleep apnea can lead to far worse things than snoring By Megy Karydes It’s been two years since Barbara Wolke, 68, slept in the same bedroom as her husband. Her snoring was so loud that she could be heard throughout her two-story house. She woke herself up so often that she needed four to five naps throughout the […]
