Public Safety and Public Health: Sharing the Bike Lane
I have long said that I’m not a true Chicagoan because I haven’t been doored. If you’re not familiar with the term, you’re not a Chicago cyclist. For a cyclist, getting doored happens when a person in a car opens their door right in your path. This sends you like a rocket straight into the […]
Our Well-being: It’s More Than Personal
Shootings. Extreme weather. The Great Resignation. Depression. Anxiety. The messaging is clear: How we move with ourselves, our communities, and the earth is not sustainable. Sustainability is about living practices that honor environmental, economic, and human vitality for the thriving of all, not just for today but for generations to come. But are we ready to […]
Ask the Doc
Your embarrassing questions answered! By Dhara Bhakta, MD Q: How can I talk to my medical providers about my sexual concerns or issues? A: Talking to medical providers about sexual health concerns isn’t something most people relish. To be honest, most medical providers are just as uncomfortable talking about sex as their patients are. There are […]
High-five
The 5 supports that got me through cancer treatment Getting support during cancer treatment is essential. But finding the right support can feel like standing in one of those lottery wind tunnels — bills zooming everywhere as you’re frantically trying to grab what you can. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, life feels like a whirlwind — the […]
Repeat Performance
The medical consequences of gaming and esports The call of Call of Duty — a top-selling (400 million copies worldwide), first-person shooter video game — has kept Gabriel Dimperio seated for eight to 10 hours at a time, waging battle in virtual worlds. And he’s felt it in his back. “It’s something you power through,” […]
Owning Disability
By talking about their differences, children can self-advocate and build confidence Tommy O’Leary appreciates a good joke. Occasionally, when a curious kid asks about his prosthetic leg, he says a shark attacked him. To Tommy, the made-up version is more exciting than the real story. MaryKay O’Leary, Tommy’s mom, feels differently. She reminds him that […]
Time to Chill
The effects of stress on heart health At 28, I got into an argument with my boyfriend and ended up collapsed in my apartment stairwell, clutching my chest. I wasn’t being dramatic. My heart was racing at about 200 beats per minute — two to three times faster than a standard heart rate. It was […]
Restless Nights?
A sleep disorder may be a hidden precursor to Parkinson’s disease Otis Peeples always had vivid dreams. So vivid, in fact, that he regularly acted them out in his sleep. From dreaming he was driving a car to reenacting a Western movie, his movements and behaviors sometimes endangered himself and his wife, Linda. “One day, […]
Losing Control
Pelvic floor physical therapy can improve quality of life for men and women For years, Park Ridge resident Amanda Key, 24, planned her activities around bathroom access. She would avoid fun road trips to prevent accidents. On plane rides, she tried not to drink anything and always booked an aisle seat for a quick run to […]
Tough Teen Talks
Connection and communication help prevent adolescent suicides On a rainy day last winter, the principal of a suburban Chicago high school read the morning announcements over the intercom. As she reported that a student died by suicide that morning, her tone of voice didn’t fluctuate. She noted that the school’s psychologists were available to speak […]
Is Sitting Worse Than Smoking?
Build more activity into your day How much time do you spend sitting? Probably more than you realize. The average American adult sits for more than nine hours a day. All that sitting means that more than 75% of us, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), aren’t getting the recommended amount of exercise. […]
Finding Refuge
Organizations and medical professionals step up to help the newest Chicagoans When the Taliban reclaimed Afghanistan in 2021, 2.6 million people fled the country, seeking refuge in other places across the world. Nearly 2,000 of those refugees made their way to Illinois, many of them landing in Chicago, where local organizations helped them resettle in […]
Managing Pain in Orthopedics
People tend to seek orthopedic care for one root reason: They’re experiencing pain. Whether from an acute sports injury or after enduring years of joint aches and stiffness, orthopedic specialists see people looking for relief. But when should you seek care? How do you figure out the cause of your pain? And what options do […]
Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago
Fertility Specialists When seeking exceptional reproductive specialist care in Chicago, Illinois, people trust the caring and distinguished providers at AFCC. Our team features some of Chicago’s best reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists — experts who leverage the most innovative technology for clinical care, while maintaining deep investment in your specific family-building goals. Patients exploring fertility […]
Keeping Track
Wearable tech lets people monitor their health in real-time Using a small, personalized device to access complex health information isn’t the stuff of futuristic science fiction. Here we are, with our trackers masquerading as bracelets and smart watches worthy of Dick Tracy. Technology advancements and people’s openness to them has created a burgeoning segment of personalized health […]
Plant-Based Doctor
Finding inspiration in his grandmother’s recipes, local physician creates his own cookbook Growing up in the Milwaukee suburbs, Sheil Shukla, DO, would watch his grandmother — the family cook — create her own recipes. Back in India, she had joined cooking competitions, and Shukla calls her “an inspiration for my own cooking.” Shukla’s grandmother returned to […]
Quality Supplements
What to look for in a label Choosing a supplement can be confusing. Not all brands are equal, and how do you know that you’re actually getting what the label says? “Quality matters if you hope to see a benefit and reduce the risk of harm,” says Melinda Ring, MD, executive director at the Osher […]
