October 2024 Social Articles
October 2024 Social Articles Who, When, Why: Navigating Complex Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines If you are confused about breast cancer screening guidelines — how often to get mammograms and when to… Read More Allergies Getting Worse? Climate change may be the culprit As the long Chicago winter turned to spring, Lizzie Goodman threw open… Read […]
Private Practice Perspective
As large health systems dominate the landscape, two physicians in private practice share their thoughts on the pros and cons of today’s approaches to healthcare Patients have reasonable goals for their healthcare: sufficient time with their doctor, a skilled and respectful staff, ease when it comes to processing insurance claims and scheduling appointments. In this special […]
We Asked…
We asked readers on social media and in our weekly newsletter to share their thoughts about how gun violence has impacted them. Some respondents chose to remain anonymous because of the subject matter’s sensitivity; others said that even though they worry about it regularly, they chose not to share more because they felt other people […]
Play On
Chicago area flautist flouts the usual outcome of bow hunter’s syndrome Flautist Janice Frank, of Naperville, has a rare gift for woodwind instruments. She has played since age 7, has her master’s degree in music, and is the current secretary and past-president for the Chicago Flute Club. But a few years ago, when Frank was […]
Snow Sport Safety
Skiing and snowboarding offer a way to stay fit, and an adrenaline rush — but know your skill level to prevent injury Kirstin Brown started skiing when she joined her middle school ski club. School ski trips took her to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and other local resorts over the years. In high school, Brown began […]
How to Talk About Guns
Tough discussions with friends and family around gun safety Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When Bob Kristie’s daughter, Nell, would go to a friend’s house for a play date, there were three things he would always ask the other parent. “I’d say, ‘Let me see your smoke detectors, your carbon monoxide detectors, and where […]
How to Seek Help
Know the difference between types of care In an instant, everything can change — a sharp pain, an unexpected rash, or a child’s cry in the night can leave us scrambling to act. Navigating the healthcare system in these critical moments can feel like solving a puzzle. We must quickly decide: Is this a case […]
The Public Health Crisis of Gun Violence
For the first time in history, the United States Surgeon General in June 2024 declared gun violence a public health emergency. “Firearm violence is a public health crisis. Our failure to address it is a moral crisis,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, said in a public address. Murthy introduced a 39-page advisory, laying out an […]
Change Makers
The groups taking on gun violence directly — and how their efforts are evolving Chicago America’s weak gun control laws mean guns are everywhere. That’s where four unique local groups play a vital role. The groups operate separately and use different methodologies, but all four have the same fundamental goal: to stop violence from happening. […]
Aiming for More
Groups working in Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods try to reach people early on Fact checked by Derick Wilder The shooting happened in Uptown three and a half decades ago. Les Jenkins was carrying his daughter, taking her to kindergarten, when two men approached on a bicycle. Jenkins, who was 19 at the time, remembered […]
Ongoing Survival
After the nightmare of gun violence, survivors face difficult realities Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Andre Johnson was driving home from a basketball tournament, celebrating a victory, when carjackers opened fire without warning. Andre was shot four times; his best friend was killed. Andre describes what followed as a whirlwind. Overnight, he went from […]
The Role of Faith in Gun Violence Prevention
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Charnesha Collier knew she was hearing gunshots as soon as the pops started. Her mind jumped to the safety of the group of teens she had taken to work on a house in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. Collier was the crew leader then with the River City Community Development Center […]
AI in Healthcare
How do medical institutions ensure the ethical use of artificial intelligence? Fact checked by Derick Wilder Have you ever considered all the ways we use artificial intelligence (AI) that no one really thinks about anymore? (Here’s to you, Siri!) Once something becomes rote, it tends to fade from our consciousness. This is especially common […]
Soothing Sips
How cozying up with a warm cup of chai this winter can benefit your mental and physical health Fact checked by Shannon Sparks A warm cup of chai is soothing, but that’s not all. The black tea and spices used to prepare it offer many physical health benefits, too. Black tea itself can significantly […]
Sustainable Seafood
How to choose foods from the deep blue that balance nutrition and planetary health Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Seafood — also called blue food — comes from the oceans, rivers, and lakes. These foods include fish, shellfish, and seaweed. Blue foods are high on the list of foods that Americans should be eating […]
Baby, it’s Cold Outside
Maintaining a safe workout routine through winter’s ice, snow, and freezing temperatures Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Do you welcome the arrival of the winter months? Or do you dread the shorter days — the cold (sometimes bitterly so) temperatures and unpredictable snowfalls that Chicago winters can bring? Whether you revel in bracing the […]
Pedal to the Metal
Comparing the health benefits of standard bikes and e-bikes Fact checked by Derick Wilder Whether it’s older adults, work commuters, or kids behind the handlebars, there’s no doubt that e-bikes have taken the country by storm. Between 2019 and 2022, the e-bike market in the United States grew by 269%; as of 2023, the […]
The Lone Private Practice
The number of self-employed physicians has been declining for years — but why, and at what cost? Fact checked by Derick Wilder Farah Khan, MD, has been a private-practice physician for 19 years. At 52, she says most young doctors aren’t interested in running their own practice. By contrast, working in a hospital means […]
Health in Mind
Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook meets suburban youth where they are Fact checked by Catherine Gianaro At Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook, therapy doesn’t always look like you’d typically imagine: the neutral-toned room, with a therapist’s chair facing a beige couch. Often, therapists turn to alternative approaches including play, music, and art. “The demand for specialized, […]
Visionary Ophthalmologist
Eye doctor and team from Loyola Medicine improve people’s sight in rural Guatemala Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Before a recent trip to Guatemala, Charles Bouchard, MD, current chair of Loyola Medicine’s ophthalmology department, went shopping. He went to a Dollar Tree store with a $300 donation from a patient and a purpose. “I […]
Ask the Doc
Cancer and Sex By Laura Farrington, DO and Ajaz Khan, MD Q: I’m being treated for cancer. How will that affect my ability to have sex? A: The impact on your sexual functions depends on what type of treatment you’re getting and what other health conditions might already be impacting your sexual function, among other things. If you are […]
Fear of Radiation
Advancements in radiation are changing the field, but many people remain worried about treatment Kevin Connor, a 51-year-old Chicago resident, faced a daunting decision this past year when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Despite a troubling family history and his own deep-seated fears, Connor was at first adamant about avoiding treatment. “I remember telling […]
Hands-on Hearts
3D printing provides physicians a crucial tool for cardiac care Maybe you already know that nearly half of all U.S. adults have cardiovascular disease. This includes people with coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. But would you have guessed that one of the latest weapons to help fight this battle is […]
Artists on Gun Violence
“Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization’s radical voice.” — Paul Robeson, American artist, athlete, and activist As the cumulative toll of gun violence in the U.S. continues its grim climb year after year, writers, visual artists, and composers have explored the issue in plays, collaborations, and music. They’re addressing gun violence’s impacts […]
A Reimbursement Blow to Anesthesiologists
In a controversial policy change, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) no longer reimburses anesthesiologists for physical status modifiers that classify the complexity of patients. The new policy went into effect in August 2024 for BCBS plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Complex patients typically have multiple or severe health conditions; they may require advanced […]
Table Tennis Offers Powerful Play for Parkinson’s
A novel program at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital and Edgewater Fitness Center is helping people with Parkinson’s disease improve mobility and social connections: ping-pong, formally known as table tennis. The program began in late 2023 as a collaboration between Mike DeBartolo, who has had Parkinson’s for more than a decade, and Linda Egan, the Parkinson’s […]
Latest Options for Colon Cancer Screening
The second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. is actually highly treatable — when caught early. Of the 52,967 people who died from colon cancer in the U.S. in 2022, as many as 20% were not up-to-date with their screening. The gold standard of screening is a colonoscopy, which the American Cancer Society recommends […]
New Health Laws
Medical Debt Relief Effective January 2025 Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Medical Debt Relief Act in July, enabling the state to purchase medical debt from hospitals, healthcare providers, and collection agencies. This will then erase medical debt for an estimated 300,000 residents. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services will run the pilot program. […]
Long-Covid Apps Offer Connection and Hope
In the pandemic’s wake, many — perhaps more than 60 million worldwide — are still suffering from long Covid. The condition involves chronic symptoms such as brain fog and extreme fatigue that last for months or indefinitely. Long Covid’s newness means there isn’t yet a gold standard for treatment. This leaves people searching for appropriate […]
The Pursuit of Happiness
Our Founding Fathers’ gift of health and freedom Fact checked by Shannon Sparks The pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right — and not just because the Declaration of Independence says so. This health-inducing, prosperity-promoting tonic is available to all, limitless in supply, with the power to benefit us personally and globally. Happiness, according […]
Talking Guns with a First Grader
Fact checked by Derick Wilder When I was a kid, my parents had simple parenting fears. Dad was anxious for my brothers and me to find a career path that inspired us and afforded us the life we wanted. Mom, that we’d get cancer or die in a car crash. While those things concern me […]
Emergency Response
ER physicians battle on the frontlines of gun violence response Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When someone gets shot in Chicago, the effects echo far beyond the wounded person. They envelope the person’s family and friends, the first responders on the scene, and the physicians and medical teams who treat them in the hospital. […]
Hope in Sight
A new artificial intelligence tool helps identify diabetic retinopathy Fact checked by Shannon Sparks During an appointment with her primary care physician this past July, Amy Morrow, an executive assistant and patient at OSF HealthCare, learned she had prediabetes. Moments later, Morrow walked down the hall and placed her chin onto an artificial intelligence (AI) […]
The Diet-Disease Link
Diet-related diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in the US – yet many doctors receive little to no nutrition education in med school By Nathaniel Johnson, University of North Dakota and Madeline Comeau, University of North Dakota Above photo: Nearly 60% of respondents to one medical school survey said they received no nutritional […]
Animal Therapy
From cow cuddling to goat yoga, discover how four-legged friends are transforming health and well-being for people of all ages. Fact checked by Catherine Gianaro Oakbrook resident Amy Kopp, 41, had been sick for several years when she decided to try something called cow cuddling. Kopp had stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer of the pancreas that […]
Female Force
Meet the woman behind Chicago’s Women in Medicine Summit Fact checked by Catherine Gianaro Leading up to the annual Women in Medicine Summit at the Drake Hotel in Chicago this month, writer Kimberly Soenen sits down with the force behind a movement that’s elevating women’s voices in medicine. Shikha Jain, MD, holds a host of titles. […]
Read Our 2023 Award-Winning Stories
Caregiving and Chicago Health magazines’ editorial and design teams once again received many honors for their outstanding work. This isn’t just a bragging point. To us, this type of recognition fortifies our efforts to tell engaging, impactful stories that reflect our communities. Congratulations to all, and please enjoy reading through our honored entries. Oh, […]
Back-to-School Sickness
Infectious diseases spike when kids return to school − here’s what you can do about it Above image: Sick kids can spread diseases in their households and classrooms. kali9/E+ via Getty Images Ready or not, back-to-school season is here, and kids will be bringing home more than homework. They’ll be carrying germs, too. These viruses and […]
Op-Ed: Gender Inequities in Healthcare Affect All of Us
Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. Healthcare, by its very nature, is about caring for the wellbeing of our communities. Yet, a pervasive issue threatens the quality of care we all receive: gender inequities in the medical profession. This is […]
DNC Ready
How Chicago hospitals are preparing for the Democratic National Convention As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches, Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, the city’s hospitals are intensifying their efforts to ensure they can handle any situation. The city is expecting tens of thousands of delegates, media, and visitors expected to converge on the United Center — […]
To Vaccinate or Not?
Researcher Caitlin Fields explores how people decide whether to get the Covid-19 vaccine. When the Covid-19 vaccine first became available, Caitlin Fields was puzzled. After a series of lockdowns, social distancing and masking, and hundreds of thousands of deaths from Covid, she struggled to understand why there was so much hesitancy and debate about getting […]
Heat Hazards
Extreme heat can be dangerous for runners, cyclists and anyone spending time outdoors: 6 tips for staying safe Above photo: Think carefully before running or cycling in the heat of the day. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images When summer starts with a stifling heat wave, as many places are seeing in 2024, it can pose risks […]
Lead vs. Plastic
Lead water pipes created a health disaster in Flint, but replacing them with cheaper plastic — as some cities are doing — carries hidden costs Above image: Plastic water pipes may be cheaper, but they also come with risks. Mark Bernard/iStock/Getty Images Plus By Rajpreet Grewal, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Laodong Guo, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, […]
Plant Power
Little Apothecary plants the seed of ‘people’s medicine’ in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood In the middle of a community garden in Englewood sits a red box, labelled “free medicine.” Inside the box is a treasure trove of herbs and salves: mugwort, beeswax, yaro, and other natural ointments for various conditions. This Free Little Apothecary is the […]
Cooking for the Climate
Food is a central issue in climate change mitigation. Our dietary choices and consumption patterns are critical to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which greatly impact the food supply chain. Every day our climate tells the tale of extremes — whether it’s the hottest summer on record or a polar vortex sweeping the nation. Humans in […]
Two Lungs, Two Diseases
Chicago police officer undergoes first-ever double-lung transplant due to Covid-19 and cancer The last time Arthur Gillespie spoke to his cousin was on his front porch in Beverly, but he didn’t realize they would never seen each other again. It was February 2020, and his cousin was experiencing Covid-19 symptoms. Within weeks, his cousin had […]
Animal Medicine
Animals self-medicate with plants − behavior people have observed and emulated for millennia By Adrienne Mayor, Stanford University Main image: A goat with an arrow wound nibbles the medicinal herb dittany. O. Dapper, CC BY When a wild orangutan in Sumatra recently suffered a facial wound, apparently after fighting with another male, he did something that […]
Pets and Health
Pets give companionship, cuddles and joy – and also unavoidable stresses By Emily Hemendinger, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Main image: Pets can bring joy and companionship, as well as financial worries, loss and logistical challenges. Dann Tardif/Stone via Getty Images Owning a pet can be a roller coaster. There are the highs, like […]
Future Vision
Are you one of the millions about to have cataract surgery? Here’s what ophthalmologists say you need to know Image: Cataract surgery removes the clouded lens of the eye and replaces it with a new, clear lens. Ivan-balvan/iStock via Getty Images Plus Allan Steigleman, University of Florida and Elizabeth M. Hofmeister, Uniformed Services University of […]
Hearing-Balance Link
Most people don’t connect their hearing ability with falling. But what you hear — and don’t hear — directly affects your balance. Research shows that even a small decrease in hearing triples your risk of falling, and the worse your hearing gets, the more likely you are to fall. So how are the two connected, […]
