It’s Never Too Late to Make Yourself Superhuman or, at Least, Healthy
It’s a fight against time — our age versus our health. Getting old ain’t for the weak. It is for the persistent, those of us who can adapt to our bodies’ natural depreciation. And like the cars we drive off the lot, the machine will run much better for far longer if we keep up […]
Bringing the Wild In
I recently was contemplating the title of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers’ new book Bewilderment. Do you see it? Be wild. Be wilder. Yes! Be your true wild — immersed in your senses, grounded, present, and vibrantly alive, thriving, and connected. Can you feel, taste, hear, see, and smell nature’s abundance — fresh air scented […]
Ask the Doc
Your embarrassing questions answered! By Nicole E. Williams, MD Q: Why is my vagina so itchy? A: Vaginal itching is more common than a cold, and it usually means nothing. While most of the time an itchy vagina is transient and not necessarily anything to worry about, some conditions warrant extra attention. I tell my patients that […]
Understanding Seizures
New treatments give hope to people with epilepsy When Chicagoan Bobbi Packer, an interior designer and architect, started having episodes of unusual behavior — nausea, a blank look in her eyes, babbling mid-sentence — she dismissed them. She had no idea the episodes were short seizures and a form of epilepsy. “They only lasted 15 […]
Multiple Myeloma
Advancements improve outlook for people with blood cancer affecting the bone marrow Human resources manager Valarie Traynham was standing in front of a group of new hires when her nose started bleeding. She stepped away briefly, but when the nosebleed lasted for more than an hour, she grew concerned and went home sick. “I had […]
Millennial Movement
Despite a tendency to put off healthcare, younger generations can benefit from addressing joint pain now As a former high school volleyball player and competitive dancer, Evanston resident Stephanie Smith-Schellhorn has always been an active individual. Even now, the 37-year-old spends much of her time on the go, whether taking care of her teenage son, […]
ADHD & Adults
As diagnoses skyrocket, adults with attention disorders learn to cope Kristiana Jorge calls her North Side home “ADHD friendly.” She places sticky notes in strategic spots as reminders to clean the refrigerator or buy cereal. And she relies on timers to keep her on track, limiting video game play to an hour before she moves […]
Silent Scarring
Controlling fatty liver disease starts with losing weight Danielle Dawson, 44, was shocked to learn in July 2020 that she had fatty liver disease. The hairstylist and married mother of three in Sandwich, Illinois, had expected her doctor to tell her the right-side pain she’d been having was due to gallbladder or digestive system problems. […]
Tough Transplants
Covid-19 has caused a dramatic shift in organ transplants, with rising demand and more complex surgeries — all to prolong lives Al Brown lay in a hospital bed at the Center for Care & Discovery at the University of Chicago Medicine, in disbelief. He had contracted Covid-19 in May 2020, during the early days of […]
Stretch Yourself
Regular stretching improves flexibility and minimizes injuries If stretching is one of the good-for-you habits that you know you’re “supposed” to do but usually don’t — like flossing or applying sunscreen — it’s time to rethink your position. Stretching has numerous benefits and few drawbacks. “Regular stretching that is done properly and effectively can potentially prevent injuries,” […]
Go for Yogurt
Packed with probiotics and protein, yogurt is a stealth star in recipes Packed with protein, naturally low in sugar, and full of probiotic goodness, yogurt is one of those delicious yet super nutritious foods that has a multitude of benefits. Yogurt is tasty when served alongside fruit or granola, but it can also serve as a nutrition-packed stealth […]
Not Too Sweet
Eating excess sugar may be linked to cancer, arthritis, and other ills Not all is sweet about sugar. Sugar — the craveable substance that ignites our taste buds, brain, and cells with quick energy — causes inflammation in the body, which can lead to chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. […]
Advancements in Orthopedic Surgery
Whether stemming from a disease or an injury, many of us have orthopedic conditions that affect our joints, bones, and ligaments. Fortunately, recent advances in orthopedic care are making a difference for many Chicagoans. Orthopedic surgeons are innovators, constantly adopting new technologies — whether robotic-assisted surgery or 3D motion-analysis technology — to refine their approach, giving […]
Anthony A. Romeo, MD
At the Center for Reproductive Care, our mission is to provide you the best opportunity to create the family you dreamed of. Each patient is different and we do our best – using advanced science – to understand the unique circumstances of each patient and develop an individualized treatment plan suited to a patient’s needs.
Ready for Another Pandemic Malady? It’s Called ‘Decision Fatigue’
Most all of us have felt the exhaustion of pandemic-era decision-making. Should I travel to see an elderly relative? Can I see my friends and, if so, is inside OK? Mask or no mask? Test or no test? What day? Which brand? Is it safe to send my child to day care? Questions that once […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: What is the Best Diet for Hypothyroidism?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism and have been getting conflicting information what I should eat and drink. I love yogurt and ice cream, for instance, but one source said a calcium-rich diet was fine, whereas another said I should limit dairy. I’ve also read that I should avoid soy and iodine. […]
6 Reasons Spring Is the Best Time of Year to Lose Weight
You’ve heard the expression timing is everything, right? That’s never truer than when it comes to losing weight. And with spring underway and summer on the horizon, you’re smack in the middle of the best time of the year to drop pounds. Longer days and sunnier skies prompt changes to your brain and body that […]
Helping Sick Kids Get Their Magic Back
There’s magic in the air in Chicago. Open Heart Magic, a local nonprofit organization, brings interactive bedside magic to children at 11 local hospitals. “Wherever there are kids who are struggling to turn the corner, our goal is to give them hope and some laughter and make them feel better,” says Mike Walton, founder and […]
Immersive Therapy
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The process of creating — whether through art or cooking — helps people process grief and other pain Everyone copes with grief and pain differently. For some, therapy comes in the form of using the arts. And for others, it comes through the kitchen. Don’t expect to sit on a couch during a therapy […]
The Need for Screening
While men may be reluctant to see the doctor, they should consider these important preventive tests How do you think most men would rather spend their day: doing household chores, like cleaning the bathroom, or visiting the doctor? Survey says: Most men (72%) would rather do a chore like scrubbing the floor than see their […]
Sunscreens at a Glance
When it comes to preventing skin cancer, sunscreen is essential. There are two main types of sunscreen — chemical and physical (or mineral). Both are effective, says Tahl Humes, DO, medical director of VITAHL Medical Aesthetics in Chicago. But what’s the difference between the two? “Chemical sunscreens contain active ingredients that absorb the UV rays […]
Creating Friendship and Combating Isolation
Friendship is essential for all of us. But during the pandemic, children with intellectual disabilities have needed friends more than ever. The Friendship Circle of Illinois, based in Northbrook, pairs children with special needs with teen volunteers to create lasting bonds. The volunteers enjoy being mentors and the children, mainly ages 4 to 12, are […]
Over-the-Counter Birth Control
People in Illinois can now access birth control via a consultation with a trained pharmacist, rather than a prescription from a doctor, thanks to a new state law that went into effect in January. The law applies to all forms of hormonal birth control, including the oral contraceptive pill, skin patch, and vaginal ring. Trained pharmacists […]
Menstrual Health Equity
Being unable to access menstrual products takes a mental and physical toll on students, says Em Rabelais, PhD, RN, a health ethicist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Some students experience period poverty — when they can’t afford products such as pads and tampons. Other Chicago teens face anxiety about managing their periods […]
Drifting Away
If your child dislikes reading, vision convergence insufficiency could be to blame When a child dislikes reading, parents may brush it off, or they may think their child has attention issues or a learning disorder. But a vision problem called convergence insufficiency may be to blame. The condition, which can cause reading problems, eye strain, or headaches, […]
‘Oh, My Aging Feet’
Addressing foot problems in older adults Our feet take a pounding every day. But for many older adults, aging feet can quickly become aching feet. “Our feet change as we get older. For example, the tissues stretch out, losing strength and support,” says Lowell Weil Jr., DPM, chief executive officer of the Weil Foot & […]
The Power of Prevention
When it comes to our health, we tend to treat disease instead of warding it off in the first place. We wait to take care of our body until it demands attention through pain or another avenue we can’t ignore. Because we can’t afford the cost of healthcare, we don’t go to the doctor or […]
Food as Medicine
Chicago groups find creative ways to provide fresh food and build healthy communities On an unseasonably warm December morning, volunteers and staff from Advocate Aurora Health pull open cardboard boxes teeming with cauliflower, peppers, apples, greens, and string beans. The boxes are stacked in the Bethany Lutheran Evangelical Church parking lot in Chicago’s Calumet Heights […]
How to Be Heart Smart
Give your heart a head start by knowing — and reducing — your risks Preventive medical advice sometimes feels like it’s changing as fast as the weather whirling outside your window. And that’s especially true when it comes to preventing heart attacks. Are eggs healthy to eat, or are they too cholesterol-laden to indulge in? […]
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
Making lifestyle changes now can help stop or reverse the disorder It was a few weeks before Christmas 2019, and I was nervous. I had just been to the doctor, who told me I was 50 pounds overweight for my height. I was not looking forward to getting my lab results. My fear: a diabetes […]
Weight-Loss Success
Initiatives — whether surgery, medication, or diet — help people conquer obesity and improve their health Weight loss is a personal journey. Whether the goal is to lose weight or look and feel better, everyone’s motivation differs. Amber Cornelius’ motivation: a fear of contracting Covid-19. “I was hearing that people who were significantly overweight were […]
Breathing Easy
Preventing asthma starts by understanding triggers and, perhaps, by changing the way we eat A few months ago, I discovered I could no longer walk up the stairs. I live on the second floor of a Chicago three-flat, so this discovery was particularly troublesome. I’d been getting tired on the stairs more easily, but I […]
Preventing Overdose Deaths
Now, more medications treat opioid use disorder Drug-related deaths hit an all-time high in the United States recently, with most of those fatalities due to opioid overdoses. New medical treatments can help respond to overdoses and opioid use disorder, preventing some deaths. In Illinois, 2,944 people died from opioid overdoses in 2020, which was a […]
Eliminating Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer in Chicago occurs 39% more often and has a 60% higher death rate than the national average, according to Equal Hope Initiative, a women’s health-equity nonprofit. Latina women have the highest cervical cancer rate in Chicago. Cervical cancer, which the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes, is up to 93% preventable, according to the Centers […]
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body
Everyone knows that brushing your teeth prevents cavities and tooth decay. But many people don’t realize dental care is an essential part of overall healthcare. Dental care may help prevent conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. With poor oral health, bacteria can grow and spread through the body. Inflammation in the gums may […]
Genetic Testing Informs Medical Choices
Genetic testing for everything from rare disorders to common cancers empowers people to make informed medical decisions — possibly preventing serious health conditions in the future. Based on test results, people may choose to undergo more frequent screenings, reproductive treatments, or preventive surgery. Nadim Ilbawi, MD, a family medicine physician at NorthShore University HealthSystem, offers […]
