Magic Medicine?
Patients are turning to ketamine and other psychoactive drugs for mental health treatment Sarah Jones, a 42-year-old stay-at-home mom in Woodstock, has struggled with depression since childhood. She’s tried multiple antidepressants and therapies over the years, and last fall, her medications once again quit working. Then Jones heard a radio ad about a new approach […]
Advances in Radiation
Targeted, pinpointed treatments may mean better control and fewer side effects Radiation therapy is a standard treatment for many types of cancer, as it can successfully destroy cancer cells. But it can also come with downsides: skin damage, fatigue, nausea, long-term side effects and long treatment schedules. Fortunately, advancements in targeted and pinpointed radiation therapy […]
Keeping the Beat
Understanding the irregular patterns of heart arrhythmia Charlie Hildestad didn’t feel well during a preseason run with other members of the Illinois Wesleyan University lacrosse team. But the 19-year-old kept running, completing seven of 10 laps. He then left the campus field, entered a nearby restroom and fainted. Hildestad, a graduate of Saint Viator High […]
Prepping to Stop HIV
With new medications and better support, the epidemic could be nearing its end Twenty-nine-year-old Terence Steward II oozes potential and possibility. By day, he is a receptionist at the Chicago branch of a posh social club. He dreams of international travel and a life untethered, one where he can meet as many interesting people as […]
Riding the Waves of MS
Advancements in multiple sclerosis treatments are catching up but can’t cure or prevent the disease In 2001, Nicolette Fendon was all set to see the world from the deck of a 50-foot wooden ketch sailboat, part of a documentary miniseries with a crew of seaworthy misfits from all corners of the globe. Reviewing the contract late one […]
Male Menopause?
Andropause — a gradual decrease in testosterone — can affect men over 40 As a man reaches his 40s and beyond, he may realize that his sex life is no longer as good as it used to be and his waistline is expanding. He might have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, get irritable quickly or feel depressed. […]
Data Meets Drugs
New discoveries are changing the ways medicines are developed and tested At the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Savas Tay, PhD, is working on something that could change the game in terms of how drugs are developed and prescribed. They’re called organoids, and they may be the key to safely evaluating the […]
The Importance of Mentorship
Friends of the Children and Doors Open Dishes show the power of partnering up Kenyetta Curtis remembers when her 8-year-old son was too shy to interact with other kids or when he’d become angry and not know how to control himself. Ocassionally, though, he would open up to a trusted adult. “Sometimes he was more […]
Ditching Dairy Milk?
Plant-based beverages are a hot trend that’s here to stay So, you want an alternative to dairy milk? You’re not alone. Dairy-free, plant-based beverages have exploded onto the food scene and will likely continue to do so as the demand increases. But move over soy milk and almond milk — the dairy-free universe has expanded […]
Roasted Cauliflower is the Veggie You Need Now
Your mother was right: Eating your veggies — especially cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower — is good for your health. For one of the biggest boosts to healthy eating, increase the amount of fruit and veggies in your diet. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends filling half of your plate with vegetables and fruit. Cruciferous […]
What Are You Weighting For?
A basic strength routine can change your life Above photo Terrence Terrell, personal trainer. Photo by James Foster Strength training isn’t just about getting six-pack abs and big biceps. Along with stretching and elevating your heart rate with cardio, strength training is key to maintaining a healthy and active life. “Building muscle helps improve […]
The Battle Within
After decades of war, an increasing number of veterans are facing PTSD Heather Yang didn’t enroll in the Army reserves for combat and action. The Chicago resident enlisted while still in high school in New York, during a relatively peaceful time in the mid-’90s. The September 11 attacks hadn’t yet happened, and the U.S. had years […]
Healthcare Outside of the Hospital
3 remote monitoring devices are transforming how we track health Sometimes the most innovative medical breakthroughs come in the smallest packages. Remote monitoring technology allows medical professionals to monitor a patient’s chronic health conditions around the clock without the need to visit a hospital for tests. These small devices use tiny technology and data analytics to […]
Regenerating Health
What can stem cell and platelet-rich plasma treatments do for you? What if you could put your own body to work healing itself? That’s the basic premise of regenerative medicine, which is being used in various ways to restore damaged tissues and speed the body’s healing process. Regenerative medicine — which uses cells to create […]
Advocating for Better Care
Leveraging your resources when a loved one is in the hospital I’ll never forget the night of January 20, 2019. A total lunar eclipse graced the sky, and my father was in the operating room undergoing a lung transplant. The surgery — though incredibly risky and with a high chance of fatality — was a success. […]
Bioprinting Bones
3D printing could be the answer to better replacements In 2017, Deborah Stoneburner was driving back from the Illinois State Fair in Springfield when a horrific accident occurred. She and her boyfriend struck a tree near their home, and Stoneburner suffered numerous injuries, including a crushed talus. The talus is the primary link between the lower leg and […]
Vax Facts
As vaccination rates decline, old diseases are making a sharp comeback In less than two decades, the rate of unvaccinated children age 19 to 35 months has quadrupled, growing from 0.3% of toddlers in 2001 to 1.3% of toddlers in 2015. The increase in the anti-vaccination movement is partially responsible for the steep decline in […]
Geriatric Emergency Departments Offer Specialized Care
As baby boomers reach their golden years, an increasing number are arriving in emergency rooms in need of urgent care. In response, hospitals are opening geriatric emergency departments, which provide specialized emergency services for adults 65 and older. “Older adults often have multiple underlying medical complexities and may be taking many different medications that can […]
“Where’s My Mammogram?”
Women over 40 are heeding the advice of their physicians and getting regular mammograms. In 2015, 65% said they’d had a mammogram in the previous two years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The next challenge: getting women to bring their prior mammogram records to follow-up specialist appointments. A woman’s medical history isn’t always […]
Need Medical Equipment? A Lending Closet Can Help
People often donate clothes or books they no longer need so others can use them, so why not donate durable medical equipment? That’s the concept behind medical lending closets, independent organizations that offer used walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility and home healthcare equipment for individuals to borrow or rent at a reasonable cost. Lending closets […]
During Cancer Treatment, Feel More Like You
Cancer treatment is tough enough. On top of it, some of the visible side effects — hair loss, dry skin, changes in nails — can take their toll. And those external changes can affect how cancer patients feel internally. A new pharmacy and beauty service at Walgreens is focused on helping patients through the medical […]
The Cool Dad
I like to think of myself as a man of action. Drop me in any situation that needs some doing or sorting out, and I’ll confidently dive head first into the challenge. I’ll sweat, I’ll stress, but I’ll take care of business. Anticipation is where I struggle. The ignorance of life’s changes is where the crippling […]
Beating the Odds
Thanks to new treatments, many women are living longer with ovarian cancer Aurora native Deanna Caudill, 46, was shocked to receive a diagnosis of stage 4 ovarian cancer in January 2018. “It threw me for a loop,” she says. Caudill got two rounds of chemotherapy near her home in Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, where she worked […]
Can Achieving Well-being Be as Easy as Brushing Your Teeth?
If you knew that your daily thoughts and actions directly impacted brain circuitry and cells that influence your well-being, would you choose to act and think in ways that support and nurture your highest good? Neuroscientist Richard Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, suggests in an […]
