Health Equity Action
Chicago Health Editor-in-Chief moderates opening panel at the Executives’ Club of Chicago annual Health Equity Summit In its second annual Health Equity Summit held this past Wednesday, The Executives’ Club of Chicago welcomed thought leaders from throughout the city to shed light on the profound disparities in healthcare services across the Chicago metro area. […]
We Asked…
We asked readers on social media and in our weekly newsletter to share their thoughts about their most worrisome health concerns. What is one disease or medical issue for which you would most like to see a cure? Ovarian cancer. I have lost two friends to this horrible disease. The time between diagnosis and death for […]
Chicago and The Pill
One of the greatest advancements in women’s rights, equality, and healthcare was born in Chicago Fact checked by Shannon Sparks For 73-year-old Sue Straus, there is a distinct before and after in learning about the birth control pill. Before: As a high school student on Chicago’s North Side, Straus was just becoming sexually […]
The First Black-Owned Hospital in the United States
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Daniel Hale Williams, born in 1850s Pennsylvania, faced challenges from an early age. His father died when he was young. His mother abandoned him. And, in post-Civil War America, he faced racism as an African American. But Williams’ ambition exceeded his challenges. And, today, despite so many odds, he’s known […]
Medical Mission: Pediatric Neurosurgery
How one Chicago neurosurgeon teaches — and learns — unique pediatric neurosurgery techniques around the world Fact checked by Derick Wilder Sandi K. Lam, MD, head of pediatric neurosurgery at Lurie Children’s Hospital, is among the few pediatric neurosurgeons in the world who perform a unique procedure to lessen children’s seizures. The minimally invasive […]
Eating around the Clock
How intermittent fasting and circadian rhythms impact health Fact checked by Shannon Sparks There’s a rhythm to life. The tides rise and fall, the Earth revolves around the sun, and you have a sleep-wake cycle. This cycle — known as circadian rhythm — has a big impact on metabolism. Research reveals that your sleep-wake […]
A Healthier Chicago Pizza
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Deep-dish pizza, one of Chicago’s signature menu items, dates back to at least the 1940s. Depending on which pizzeria owner or corporate historian you talk to, the first deep-dish pizza was created by either Uno’s; Rudy Malnati, Sr. (Lou Malnati’s first pizza chef); or Rosati’s. But no matter how you […]
How to Avoid Gym Germs
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Why do you work out? To stay in shape? Relieve stress? Keep your weight in check? Or simply because you enjoy exercise? While we have different reasons for hitting the gym, one of the overarching goals tends to be getting, and hopefully staying, healthy. However — and you may be […]
How to Keep Moving While You Work
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Nearly all of us sit too much. Unless you work as a preschool teacher, fitness instructor, or construction worker, you probably fall into that category. But a few simple lifestyle changes can prod you to increase your movement, decreasing the risks associated with remaining stationary all day. “Whenever I have […]
Obesity Interventions
How new guidelines are helping kids and teens lose weight Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When Juan Diego Fuentes was 11 years old, his pediatrician recommended he see an obesity specialist. He was 180 pounds with a high body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure. His doctor suggested lifestyle modifications, such as exercise […]
Prostate Problems and Solutions
Aquablation offers the newest response to BPH Fact checked by Shannon Sparks About a year ago, 68-year-old Chicago native and Las Vegas resident Ellis Harris was struggling with severe benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition where the prostate is enlarged but not cancerous. A normal-sized prostate is about 25 grams, but Harris’ was well beyond […]
Male Friendship
Men often avoid developing deep friendships, but the benefits are clear Fact checked by Derick Wilder When Milan Bagel lost his wife of 55 years, he didn’t have any male friends to confide in about how lonely he felt without her. That was five years ago. More recently when Bagel, who is now 87, […]
Scheduled for an MRI? No need to worry
They’re more comfortable, faster, and easier than ever Fact checked by Derick Wilder The first time I underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — one of roughly 30 million a year in the United States — I barely got through the experience. This was 10 years ago, and the tight, clangy tube, combined with an […]
Ask the Doc
Is my increasing forgetfulness a sign of Alzheimer’s? By James Mastrianni, MD, PhD Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Q: I woke up this morning and saw that I had put the ice cream in the fridge. Am I on the road to developing Alzheimer’s disease? A: It’s common for people to do things without paying attention. Your […]
Why Do Men Get Cancer More Than Women?
Researchers have found one possible reason and continue to investigate ways to manage risk Fact checked by Derick Wilder Andrew Lane, MD, PhD, was researching leukemia in 2017, sequencing the cancerous cells’ genomes, when he noticed a higher rate of leukemia in men. The occurrence was something doctors had recognized in other cancers since […]
Why Chicago Became Such a Great City for Medical Innovation
Fact checked by Derick Wilder I am a history buff. So when I heard about the theme for this issue of Chicago Health, I sought out fellow history buff Edward B.J. Winslow, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. To be clear, when I call Winslow “buff,” I’m talking 1980s […]
Awe May Be Just What the Doctor Ordered
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Awe is awesome and can be inspired by both good and bad. Good: the Cubs winning the World Series (super awesome!). Bad: 9/11. In both instances, men, women, the young, and the elderly felt an extraordinary connection that, for the Cubs winning, carried us in celebration, and for the latter, […]
Chicago Connection
Five books about medicine with a Windy City link Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Chicago has seven medical schools, multiple highly rated hospitals and academic medical centers, and numerous healthcare associations. This hub of medical excellence has also played a role in key events in medical and public health history. If you’re curious about […]
Diagnosing Breast Cancer with AI
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing breast cancer detection. Georgia Spear, MD, division chief of Breast Imaging at Endeavor Health, incorporates computer-aided detection — a form of AI — for breast cancer screening, with mammography and automated breast ultrasound for dense breasts. Spear has seen AI’s crucial role in identifying potential […]
Studying Human Behavior — at a Museum?
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Most of us resolve to exercise more or eat healthier, but it’s hard to get our behavior to conform to our goals. Mindworks — a combination research lab and science museum in the heart of downtown Chicago — may be able to help. “Mindworks uses interactive exhibits to make vivid […]
Fatherhood?
No Thanks, Some Men Say Fact checked by Shannon Sparks A growing number of men are saying no to fatherhood. The number of men who don’t want children has doubled over the past two decades, according to a 2022 study. Although the study doesn’t explore the men’s reasoning, Michael Goldstone, a social worker and associate director […]
New Health Laws
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Extra Help with Prescription Costs Effective January 2024 Many seniors on Medicare who need extra help paying for medications, premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other healthcare costs may now qualify for help under Medicare’s expansion of the Extra Help program. Income limits to qualify are $22,590 for an individual and $30,660 […]
Dental Care on Wheels
Mobile Care Chicago’s Dental Van meets young patients where they are — at school Fact checked by Derick Wilder Mobile Care Chicago is celebrating a milestone this summer: the 10-year anniversary of the Dental Van program. To celebrate, Mobile Care Chicago launched a campaign to expand dental care access, with a goal of adding another dental van […]
Break out of Your Workout Rut
The importance of a balanced exercise routine Fact checked by Derick Wilder Mary Dreiser, 74, of Downers Grove, has been working out regularly for almost 20 years. “I started getting serious when I was about 55,” she says. Her children had grown up and moved out. “I had empty nest syndrome, and I had […]
From Thought to Movement
A bionic leg increases mobility by responding to brain power Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Stephen Littig had to have his left leg amputated above the knee when he was 65. Afterward, he went to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for rehabilitation. The goal: to increase his strength enough to use a prosthetic leg — […]
The Vaccine Controversy
Why some still shun one of the most important healthcare advances in the history of the world Fact checked by Shannon Sparks What is the greatest accomplishment in the history of public health? One word, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): vaccines. Vaccines have eradicated some of the worst diseases on the […]
Promise Out of Reach
New therapies revolutionize sickle cell treatment, but who can afford the price tag? Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two milestone treatments for sickle cell disease at the end of 2023, the community rejoiced. As a potential one-time therapy, the treatments might put an end to […]
As the Heart Beats
Chicago’s Rich History of Cardiology Pioneers Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Chicago has a rich and fascinating history of heart-related firsts, from the first open-heart surgery to the invention of gel electrodes used in electrocardiograms. How did these groundbreaking developments come to reality, and where might they lead us next? Whatever the future holds […]
Dr. Ronna Fisher, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA
Hearing Health Center Founder & President “You let me keep doing what I love! Thank you to the Hearing Health Center for making that possible.” –Roger Daltrey, The Who “My father’s hearing problem didn’t just affect him, it impacted our entire family, his work, and his relationships. He missed too much of my life, and it didn’t […]
Women Rising
How Chicagoans have historically shaped, and continue to transform, healthcare Fact checked by Derick Wilder Our story begins 160 years ago, during the Civil War era. Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., had graduated only 15 years earlier, in 1849. Blackwell was exceptional; most institutions at the […]
Do No Harm
Exploring Chicago’s rich history of physician activism Fact checked by Derick Wilder The day that physician residents and fellows at Northwestern Medicine voted 794 to 148 to unionize, some shared their joy on social media. “So proud of the community of residents and fellows who made this happen. Unions increase workers’ democratic voice; raise […]
Preserving Future Children
Fact checked by Derick Wilder As childhood cancer survival rates improve, a common concern crops up for families: the child’s future fertility. Ten years ago, Lurie Children’s Hospital launched a groundbreaking fertility preservation program that gives families a chance to retain that fertility. The team has performed preservations for more than 360 children so far. It […]
Travel Nurse Perks
Many travel nurses opt for temporary assignments because of the autonomy and opportunities − not just the big boost in pay Ivan Gan, University of Houston-Downtown Travel nurses take short-term contracts that can require long commutes or temporarily living away from home. Time and again, they have to get used to new co-workers, new protocols and […]
Online Child Safety Laws Could Help or Hurt – 2 Pediatricians Explain What’s Likely to Work and What Isn’t
Image: Kids need to be protected online. The trick is figuring out how. Justin Lambert Creative/DigitalVision via Getty Images Society has a complicated relationship with adolescents. We want to protect them as children and yet launch them into adulthood. Adolescents face risks from testing out independence, navigating peer relationships, developing an identity and making mistakes […]
Weighted Fitness
Military trainees have practiced rucking — walking with a loaded backpack — for centuries. And now, this intensive technique has turned fitness trend. Certain branches of the military, such as special forces, train for longer and more grueling rucks in a variety of weather, terrain, and operational conditions. After all, what better way to move […]
Measles 101
As measles cases in Chicago remain low and vaccinations increase, here’s what to know about the latest outbreak While her sons played one Sunday evening in early March, Yulia* tried to locate a suitcase. The family was staying at the Pilsen migrant shelter, but they had plans to move north, to reunite with Yulia’s husband, […]
The Kid Question
Authors Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli explore reproductive choices with climate change at the door On a warm, February afternoon in Chicago (a line that, having grown up here, I never imagined I’d write), I spoke with authors Meghan Elizabeth Kallman, PhD, and Josephine Ferorelli about their new book, The Conceivable Future, which explores […]
Processed Food Nation
How to combat our addiction to ultra-processed eating The Standard American Diet (SAD) is packed with ultra-processed foods. These sugary, salty, and fatty food products make up more than half of the total dietary energy consumed in high-income countries like the U.S., and they were a hot topic at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ […]
Crisis Response
Texas has sent more than 34,000 asylum seekers to Chicago since September 2022. Here’s a look at how local organizations have been responding to migrants’ health needs since the humanitarian crisis began. Anna was 34 weeks pregnant when she arrived in Chicago. She’d boarded a bus in Texas, which dropped her off in the U.S.’s […]
Our Top 10 Stories of 2023
We’re celebrating the new year by taking a look back at our 10 most-read stories of 2023. These stories covered a range of topics — from ADHD to the health benefits of trees. Many came from our Fall/Winter 2023 issue: Where Health and Environment Meet. But our no. 1 story of the year returns us […]
Living and Learning Deaf Culture
No culture is a monolith, including the Deaf community. Most people, however, want to communicate. Humans have an innate drive to understand and be understood. But people with deafness have a history of being cut off and ostracized from the community at large. Here, Karla Giese, EdD, coordinator of training and education at Chicago Hearing […]
Nuisance Noise
Noise pollution takes a toll on heart health. Learn how to keep your ears — and your heart — safe. Road traffic, trains, construction — these all make up Chicago’s soundscape. They are also contributors to noise pollution — the buzz of city that can take a toll on your health. The World Health Organization […]
Trash to Treasure
Local residents are taking recycling into their own hands, protecting their health, the health of the planet, and the city’s budget. Do you ever think about what happens to your gnarled toothbrushes, lifeless water filters, or cruddy plastic bags after they plop into your trash bin? Sherry Skalko did. During the pandemic, Skalko, who lives […]
How Surgeons Can Show Respect for a Patient’s Tattoos
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.
Cultural Cancer Care
Northwestern Medicine’s new breast cancer clinic focuses on Hispanic women Erika Aleman, of Berwyn, was diagnosed in 2022 with triple negative breast cancer — a particularly aggressive form of the disease. She received care at the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine, where Spanish-speaking nurses and doctors helped her better understand the treatment process. Aleman […]
Painting a Pandemic
Pulmonary critical care physician finds solace through art during the Covid-19 pandemic In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Justin Fiala, MD, was feeling whiplash. He split his time between quarantine at home and seven-day stretches in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. As a pulmonary, critical care, and sleep […]
We Asked…
We asked readers to share on social media and in our weekly newsletter: In what ways have environmental changes in the Great Lakes region impacted your health? Thank you to all who responded. Here’s what you said…. I am not sure how it impacts my health. I would say maybe mentally because the seasons […]
Reaping Rewards
How environmental volunteer opportunities take people outside of themselves Eriko Kojima readily admits that she used to be a couch potato. “I was an indoorsy person. I didn’t like to exercise, and I had bouts of depression,” she says. Then, one July day in 2015, she went on a hike and learned that the Forest Preserves […]
Medical Mission
One Chicago doctor takes his compassion and skills south of the border In his desk at Shriners Children’s Hospital Chicago, Peter Smith, MD, keeps a drawing that a child in Colombia made for him. The drawing shows a doctor in scrubs with angel wings on his back. The drawing humbles Smith and reminds him of why […]
Smart Tracking
5 ways to use your smartphone (or smartwatch) to track your health When a woman on a cross-country flight fell ill recently, the pilots focused on staying calm and getting her safely to medical attention on the ground. They radioed the airport where they would land, and a physician there walked them through what to […]
