Pondering: When Cancers are Unexpressed or Stage 0
Question: If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it fall, has it made a sound? Question: Does art need to be seen by someone other than its creator to be considered art? Question: If a person is diagnosed with a cancer that hasn’t expressed itself or isn’t invasive, do they, indeed, […]
Life After Cancer
By David Himmel Above photo: Abigail Mendoza. Photo by Angela Garbot It’s been almost three years since I was diagnosed with skin cancer. It was basal cell carcinoma, the best kind of skin cancer you can get. It grows slowly and isn’t designed to kill, only maim if left untreated for too long. I was […]
Funny Bone
Originally published in the Spring 2017 print edition
Myth or Fact?
We asked leading Chicago doctors to weigh in on these common health conceptions Myth or Fact? Don’t go outside without wearing sunglasses. Fact. For good eye health, it’s important to wear sunglasses. “They should be worn all year long, even on cloudy days,” says Lisa Rosenberg, MD, an ophthalmologist at University Eye Specialists. “Ultraviolet light […]
Customized Coaching
Personalized wellness plans target health and fitness By Megy Karydes Often, a doctor will dole out a recommendation to eat right and exercise. But it can be hard to know what actions to take. Should we be sweating it out with cardio or practicing restorative yoga? What if we’re recovering from cancer or have a chronic disease […]
Cancer-Fighting Mushrooms
Mushrooms. They add a burst of umami flavor, a gourmet touch and meaty weight to dishes, and they also pack an immune-boosting punch. While Eastern medicine has used mushrooms pharmaceutically for centuries, now Western research reveals that many mushrooms boast anti-cancer, anti-tumor and anti-microbial properties, according to the National Institutes of Health. Although many medicinal mushroom […]
Necessary Rest
Respite care eases the burdens on caregivers Caring for an aging parent can be physically and mentally demanding, an around-the-clock responsibility. Sometimes caregivers just need a break—a few days when they can take care of business, address a family emergency or go on a vacation and know that mom or dad is well taken care of. […]
Making Sense of Sleep
Restless nights can ruin your days. A sleep study may be able to help Rick Bonow feels like a new man. His mood is more upbeat; he arrives at his job early and full of energy; he has started working out for the first time in years. His new energy can be traced back to one thing: […]
Gut Relief
Low-FODMAP diet may help those with stomach ills Let’s face it, when your gut is not happy, neither are you. Many people struggle daily with abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea—all hallmarks of digestive sensitivities or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The causes of distress can be hard to determine, but recent research points to […]
Wearable Medicine
New devices tackle heart disease and diabetes Above photo: CardioMEMS pulmonary artery sensor. Courtesy of St. Jude Medical, Inc. A new era in medicine is emerging. Implanted body sensors can monitor critical indicators, dispense therapeutic doses of medication and alert patients and physicians to troubling changes—all in real time. This innovative technology is offering big promise in combating top causes of […]
Seniors in the Center
Changing the way older adults access healthcare Above: At Northwestern Medicine, Anne Seltzer, social worker with the division of geriatrics, and geriatrician Sara Bradley, MD, work with patient Kareemeh Simon and her daughter, Mary. Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine. Photo by Laura Brown You know them as parents. Neighbors. The cashier at your local supermarket. Maybe even the usher at […]
OCD?
Misconceptions abound of a debilitating disorder Diana, 18, is a North Carolina high school senior who loves animals. She has six cats and a dog and is considering a career in animal care. Yet in 2016, Diana found herself obsessed with thoughts that she would harm her pets. Even though she had never hurt them, she feared […]
Like a Balloon That Bursts
Aneurysms often show no symptoms, but a rupture can be deadly Above image: Sapan Desai, MD, PhD, MBA, a vascular surgeon at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, repairs an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Computer-assisted imaging and intraoperative visualization systems are increasingly used to train the next generation of surgeons on uncommon or especially complex procedures. Photo […]
Global Warming
As temperatures rise, climate change is jeopardizing our health Climate change. Those words might conjure up visions of sea levels rising, Arctic glaciers melting and polar bears heading toward extinction. But global warming is not an abstract thing happening far away. (And it’s certainly not a hoax!) Climate change is happening here and now, and it’s affecting our health […]
5 Things Doctors Would Never Do
Ever wonder where your physician draws the line when it comes to their health or the health of their family? We asked around to find out what things doctors in Chicago would never do. Here’s what they said. “I would never let my kids ride on my lap while driving a riding lawn mower. Over […]
Art in Living Color
Art museums are institutions that celebrate color, yet people who are colorblind walk through the doors at a disadvantage, unable to fully enjoy the creations around them. Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art has a solution. MCA patrons can borrow a pair of EnChroma glasses, which allow most colorblind people to see a broader array of […]
