Scott Palmer, MD
Scott Palmer, MD, Personal Physician Scott Palmer, MD, is a board- certified physician in internal medicine and a graduate of the University of Michigan and Rush Medical College. Dr. Palmer did his internship, residency, and chief residency at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois (now Rush University Medical Center), receiving the resident of the year award all three years. […]
The Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Just the thought of biting into a square of chocolate might make you smile. And, chances are, it really will enhance your mood. There’s scientific evidence to back the idea that chocolate is good for your mind. Researchers in Australia discovered that, in healthy people, cocoa polyphenols have a positive impact on mood. Some participants […]
Burning Fat
Keto diet changes how food is turned into energy While it may seem like the newest weight-loss trend, the ketogenic (keto) diet has been around for more than 100 years. Allowing few carbohydrates, the keto diet changes the way the body turns food into energy. It induces the fat-burning state of ketosis, a metabolic process […]
Finding Balance
Therapeutic yoga provides relief for body and mind Therapeutic yoga is nothing new for Lisa Clarke. Clarke, 63, has spent the past 10 years stretching her body and clearing her mind during one-on-one sessions with Lela Beem, co-owner of Grateful Yoga in Evanston. And when Clarke was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, she used […]
Out of the Shadows
Breaking the silence of domestic violence — and how healthcare providers can help Like a lot about domestic violence, the health effects are hidden and not really talked about. But when you do start to talk about it, you’re stunned at what’s there. Yes, there can be bruises, broken bones and lost teeth. But domestic violence, […]
Robots in the O.R.
Better operations through the use of intelligent machines The future of surgery is here, and it’s in the hands of robots. Well, sort of. The first robotic surgery system, the da Vinci robot, produced by Intuitive Surgical, was approved by the FDA in 2000. The robot, now in its fourth generation, has become a mainstay […]
The Cardiac-Sleep Connection
Why a good night’s rest is crucial for your heart We constantly hear about the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep. Well here’s a new one: It can reduce the risk of heart disease. Researchers in Hong Kong and Taiwan recently published the results of an 18-year study into the connection between sleep and […]
Sex After Cancer
Helping female survivors regain their sexual satisfaction and confidence After Naomi’s breast cancer treatment — the lumpectomy, the chemotherapy, the 33 radiation treatments — she lost her desire for sex. But she wanted to please her husband, so she had sex with him. And bled for three days. “The bleeding was unbelievable, and the pain was […]
Headaches From Hell
New drugs may help prevent migraines Marcie Zeldin, 63, doesn’t remember when she experienced her first migraine. She recalls having severe headaches as early as childhood, but it wasn’t until her first pregnancy at age 26 that the dozen or so headaches she experienced each month were diagnosed as migraines, a chronic neurological disorder. “It […]
Using Stem Cells for Spine Surgery
Sifting through claims to find the benefits Jessica Roby was used to pain. As a former gymnast and diver, she had learned to live with it. “It’s not that I didn’t take it seriously, but being an athlete, you’re in pain a lot because you’re in training. Sometimes, it’s difficult to differentiate between that and […]
Check In Instead of Stressing Out
The other day I was speaking with a friend, the father of a sophomore at one of our prestigious Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high schools. His son is achieving a 96 percent to 98 percent in most of his academic subjects. In one class, he has only a 90 percent. The student is also involved […]
Dreaming of Meaning
It was the night before my brother’s wedding. I was getting ready for the rehearsal dinner. One last check in the mirror to make sure my discount haircut looked not so much so. I smiled. Hair was good. But my teeth. … There was a fissure running horizontally in my front left tooth. I gently […]
Changing the Conversation About Mental Health
Our minds are one of the most powerful things about us. Everything from our physical health to our sense of belonging in the world is connected to our mental wellness. And yet, the conversation around mental health is too often surrounded in a cloak of silence. Talking about mental health is the first step in […]
Facing Fears with Virtual Reality Therapy
You’re on an airplane in the middle of a storm, lightning flashing outside the window, your seat rocking. “I’m scared,” says the passenger next to you. Your own anxiety, already high, rockets — even though you know you aren’t really on an airplane at all, but sitting safely in a therapist’s office in suburban Chicago. […]
No More Pain. Period.
Helping women with endometriosis find relief Endometriosis is a women’s health issue that has long remained in the shadows. Even though the condition can cause intense pelvic pain, it’s often overlooked, with symptoms chalked up to menstrual discomfort. Many doctors are not well-trained in this chronic condition, which occurs when cells similar to those inside […]
Treating Depression
From telehealth to magnetic stimulation, innovative therapies provide alternatives At the end of the 19th century, it wasn’t uncommon for those suffering from depression to spend a stint in a sanitarium. Never mind that it would have been framed that they’d “gone to visit relatives.” A century later, more than 16 million people in the […]
Healing the Hurt
Chicago programs help young victims of trauma find their way forward “What happened to you?” Asking troubled children that question instead of, “What’s wrong with you?” is the basic premise of trauma-informed care. Childhood trauma occurs when a youth experiences an event that is emotionally painful or distressful, such as gun violence, sexual abuse, domestic […]
Managing the Highs and Lows
Families ride the roller-coaster of type 1 diabetes Managing type 1 diabetes is not easy — especially for kids. With the daily highs and lows of blood sugar and insulin dosing, kids and their parents can feel like they’re riding a roller-coaster. Throw teen diets, growing bodies, hormones, sports and school into the mix and […]
Breaking Down Barriers
Fighting against the stigma of mental illness and advocating for parity Moments after delivering her first child, a baby girl, Kate sensed that something wasn’t right. Not with the baby, but with herself. “I really wanted nothing to do with my daughter after she was born. I didn’t have that motherly touch.” Kate was a […]
Cooling Caps May Reduce Chemo Hair Loss
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy face the distressing prospect of losing their hair. But cold cap therapy can reduce hair loss from chemo and help patients feel more like themselves throughout their cancer treatment. During chemotherapy, the patient wears a special cap that fits tightly to the scalp, explains Kim Hart, NP, a nurse practitioner at […]
Making a Difference
Community groups take action to stop gun violence Guns are the worst thing that ever happened to black people,” says Englewood resident Tamar Manasseh. “You think slavery was bad? Guns, guns are worse.” In 2017, 3,567 people were shot in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune crime team. The city also saw 674 homicide deaths. […]
The Science of Addiction
Drugs, the brain and how to fix the cycle of substance abuse Taylor was a 14-year-old high school freshman when she unwittingly used OxyContin for the first time. The South Florida teen, who asked that her last name not be used for privacy, had been having menstrual cramps in math class when another student offered […]
Bike Prosthetic Gives a Ticket to Ride
For most kids, riding a bike around the neighborhood with your pals is a rite of passage. For 12-year-old Tim Bannon, who was born without arms, it has been an unfulfilled dream — until recently. “For as long as Tim has been able to verbalize his opinion, he has always said that he wanted to […]
Electrical Stimulation for Epilepsy
Some seizure sufferers who haven’t found relief from their anti-seizure medications or other therapies may benefit from innovative devices that electrically stimulate the brain. NeuroPace’s RNS System, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013 for ages 18 and older, works for the brain like a pacemaker works for the heart. An implanted […]
Stretchable Electronics for Stroke Rehabilitation
An innovative device worn on the throat offers exciting possibilities in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. The device, developed in the lab of Northwestern University professor John A. Rogers in conjunction with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, allows patients to be monitored both while they are hospitalized and after they go home. The device’s position on […]
When Swimmers Sink
The decline in male sperm count and quality Take a closer look at a man’s sperm cells and you’ll learn about more than just his fertility. A new study, presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago in March 2018, shows that sperm count is also a good indicator of general health. The Italian […]
Teenage Breakdown
The rise in mental health issues and what parents can do Fifteen-year-old Evan Wilson likes to play video games, draw and listen to music, especially classic punk (think Sex Pistols and The Clash). He’s also dealing with mental health issues — in his case, depression with a mood component and ADHD. Many teens experience symptoms […]
Calming Effects of CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD), cultivated from the cannabis plant, is being used to relieve anxiety and promote holistic well-being, offering therapeutic effects without the high of other cannabis-based substances. “People are using CBD as a natural alternative to anti-anxiety medication and some also use it in conjunction with medication,” says Kristen LePage, ND, a naturopathic doctor and […]
Is It Appropriate to Share Health Information on Social Media?
Social media is widely used for exchanging news, photos and opinions. But today, it’s also being used by patients to share health information with their physicians. Some 65 percent of millennials and 43 percent of all adults think it’s okay to contact doctors about health concerns by posting on their social media pages or through […]
