Are vaccines safe for pregnant moms?
The Kid’s Doctor August is National Immunization Awareness Month and a great time to discuss childhood vaccines, but it’s also a good time to discuss vaccines for adults. Adult vaccines help to protect our children, especially the Tdap vaccination during pregnancy. Immunizations may protect a newborn, and this is accomplished by immunizing the mother during […]
Prebiotics, to feed your good bacteria
From yogurt to kombucha to supplements, probiotics appear to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, literally and figuratively. Probiotics are live bacteria and are believed to have properties that improve digestive health. Lactobacillus found in yogurt and other fermented foods is just one example. Though the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health expresses […]
What to Eat (and Not Eat) for Healthy Skin
Skin is the largest organ in your body, making up 10 percent of your body weight and spanning a total area of about 20 square feet. Taking good care of it is essential to your health. You may not realize it, but your skin helps regulate your body temperature, allows you to sense hot and […]
Make strength training part of your exercise routine
Q: I walk for at least 45 minutes every day. Recently I read that strength training may be more important for overall health. Should I change my routine? A: I wouldn’t say that strength training with weights or machines provides more health benefits than brisk walking or other aerobic exercise. But for too long, strength […]
How much radiation is your child exposed to?
Radiation exposure, and the cumulative radiation a child receives, continues to be a topic of research and study. The less radiation a child receives the better. Ultrasounds are an imaging modality that does not expose a child to radiation. There are more and more instances where ultrasounds are being used rather than X-ray or CT […]
What Parents Need to Know About Lead in Baby Food
The Kid’s Doctor I know many of the parents of the children I care for are concerned about the latest news from the Environmental Defense Fund, which showed that about 20 percent of baby food samples tested over 11 years had detectable levels of lead. This nonprofit group looked at data that the Food and […]
10 ways to move more
If you’re like a lot of people, you don’t move as much as you should. The average American spends at least 10 hours a day planted in a chair: watching TV, surfing the internet, talking on the phone and reading. That means we’re not meeting the goal of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per […]
Relief from dry eyes may not require special treatments or eye drops
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My eyes have gotten drier as I’ve gotten older, and I’ve tried eye drops for relief. But some eye drops feel irritating, and others seem to have a rather thick consistency. What options do I have? ANSWER: Dry eyes occur when your tears — a mixture of water, fatty […]
The health benefits of gardening
Gardening is a great excuse to get outside and be active. And whether you grow fruits and vegetables or flowers and greenery, gardening offers a bounty of benefits. Here are a few. Gardening helps you keep a bright outlook Gardening shifts your focus away from passing negativity and helps you look forward to years to […]
Sweet treats for diabetes
Environmental Nutrition Newsletter If you have diabetes, managing blood sugar levels is critical, but careful planning and some creative swapping can allow you to enjoy the sweetest of treats. In proper portions, of course. Diabetes or not, health experts recommend reining in added sugars (not the natural type found in milk and fruit). That’s because […]
Teen Depression Rising, Especially Among Girls
The teen years have always been a trying time, but now they are more stressful than ever. And the incidence of depression in teens is rising. The percentage of teens age 12 to 17 experiencing major depression during a 12-month period jumped from 8.7 percent in 2005 to 11.3 percent in 2014, according to a […]
When to worry about your child’s fever
Fevers worry parents; they scare them sometimes. I understand why. After all, a fever can be a sign of something serious — and at the beginning of one, it’s hard to know whether it’s going to turn out to be something serious. Most of the time, it isn’t serious. Fevers are very common. They are […]
Keeping your smartphone nearby may not be so smart
Imagine you were asked to complete a series of math problems, ones just hard enough to require your attention and focus, but nothing you couldn’t handle. Now, imagine you were intermittently interrupted from these math problems and asked to remember a random list of letters. This might be even tougher. It’s reasonable to assume your […]
Major link between low levels of vitamin D, aggressive prostate cancer
Northwestern Medicine research showed deficient vitamin D blood levels in men can predict aggressive prostate cancer identified at the time of surgery. The finding is important because it can offer guidance to men and their doctors who may be considering active surveillance, in which they monitor the cancer rather than remove the prostate. “Vitamin D […]
Could you have a heart attack and not know it?
Harvard Health Blog Here’s a surprising fact: Nearly half of people who have a heart attack don’t realize it at the time. These so-called silent heart attacks are only diagnosed after the event, when a recording of the heart’s electrical activity (an electrocardiogram or ECG) or another test reveals evidence of damage to the heart. […]
Problems with your gums pose a risk to your overall health
Q: I recently had my usual teeth cleaning. My gums are a bit inflamed with gingivitis. The dentist said if it gets worse, it could affect my overall health. What can happen and why? A: Gum disease begins when sticky, bacteria-laden plaque builds up around the teeth. Gingivitis is the mild form of gum disease. […]
Chicago Consumers’ Checkbook
Top Hematologists/Oncologists Reprinted with permission of Chicago Consumers’ Checkbook magazine Looking for a cancer doctor? This list of top Chicago-area hematologists and oncologists is provided by the nonprofit Chicago Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org. To identify these doctors and other top specialists, Checkbook regularly surveys all practicing physicians in the 53 largest metropolitan areas in the […]
Small changes to upgrade your health
Here’s a secret: It’s easier to outsmart human nature than to overcome it. To do that, try these easy-to-adopt habits to help you live healthier every day. Pack your workout clothes Keep a grab-and-go set of workout clothes or walking gear nearby at all times. That makes it easy to be spontaneous about working out […]
Encouraging Innovation in Technology that Helps Older Adults
Less than a decade ago, the field of aging was a sleepy sector of innovation. Now, with the recent rise of advances in medical technology, coupled with the surge of baby boomers, aging is ripe for innovation. An estimated 3.6 million Americans will turn 65 every year until 2029. That fact has awakened the market […]
Heart disease is a woman’s disease
Environmental Nutrition In the U.S., 1 in 4 women will die from heart disease — almost half a million deaths each year — yet the perception that heart disease is primarily a man’s disease persists. An American Heart Association survey found that fewer than one-half of American women are aware that heart disease is their […]
Association between genetics and suicide is complicated
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Why does it seem that suicide tends to run in families? Does it have anything to do with genetics? ANSWER: The association between genetics and suicide is complicated. Research has shown that there is a genetic component to suicide. But it is only one of many factors that may […]
Loss of balance could signal underlying medical condition
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My grandmother, who is 82, has no major health issues, but she’s become rather weak and frail over the past several years, and her balance isn’t very good. Several weeks ago, she fell in her bathroom. Although her injuries were minor, my family is worried. Is there something we can do to […]
Biking to work linked to reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, and early death
Harvard Health Blog Harvard Medical School (HMS) has a bicycle-friendly campus. Faculty, staff and students who commute by bike can park their wheels in secured cages, wash off road grime in showers, buy new helmets at a discount, and receive a monthly reimbursement for bike maintenance costs. HMS encourages bicycle commuting not just to relieve […]
The scoop on fructose
If you were a natural foods enthusiast in the early 1980s, you might recall cookbooks that used fructose instead of table sugar as a sweetener. Fructose is a natural sugar in fruit, so it was viewed as a healthier option. Plus, fructose is sweeter than table sugar, potentially enabling you to use less in recipes […]
Scientists find new path in brain to ease depression
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a new pathway in the brain that can be manipulated to alleviate depression. The pathway offers a promising new target for developing a drug that could be effective in individuals for whom other antidepressants have failed. New antidepressant options are important because a significant number of patients don’t adequately improve […]
Realistic rules for better sleep
You’d have to live in dreamland to follow most popular sleep advice: Turn your bedroom into a spa-like sanctuary, don’t drink caffeine after 2 p.m., and never bring your laptop into the bedroom. You can imagine our surprise when “Sleep Doctor” Michael Breus, Ph.D., admitted that he drifts off with the TV on and his […]
Fighting Obesity With Calorie Counts and Community Efforts
A federal regulation that would have given consumers a better idea of their calorie consumption at chain eateries has been delayed — again — by the Food and Drug Administration under pressure from restaurant trade groups. The rule, which had been set to go into effect this week, would have required restaurants with 20 or […]
Snored to death: The symptoms and dangers of untreated sleep apnea
Harvard Health Blog Sleep is a critically important component of human existence. On average, humans spend about 25 percent to 35 percent of their lives sleeping. Sleep allows both the body and brain to rest and recover from the stress of daily life. As such, trouble sleeping can cause a range of health problems, and […]
Minimally invasive treatment available for plantar fasciitis
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it true that plantar fasciitis sometimes can be treated with ultrasonic energy? How does that work? ANSWER: Yes. The treatment you are referring to is called percutaneous ultrasonic fasciotomy, which uses ultrasound technology to treat plantar fasciitis and other soft tissue problems. The treatment is showing promising results in patients who […]
Diet can impact migraines
Eliminating that morning cup of joe, consuming processed foods high in nitrites or monosodium glutamate (MSG), and enjoying too much alcohol are potential headache triggers for individuals battling migraines, says Vincent Martin, M.D., professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine. There are two different approaches to […]
A spoonful of motivation helps the medicine go down
We have all done it. We are prescribed a medication to help us, but we don’t take it as directed, or at all. Sometimes we don’t even fill the prescription. Why? Things get in the way of getting to the pharmacy. One last phone call at work or one more math problem with your child. […]
6 Things to Know Before Starting Infertility Treatments
It’s a surprising statistic: One in every eight couples has trouble getting pregnant. With National Infertility Awareness Week approaching (April 23-29), it’s important to educate yourself so you can be prepared when facing fertility struggles or best support those who are going through infertility treatment. Many couples who’ve struggled to get pregnant turn to infertility […]
Build an action plan for Alzheimer’s
People who are newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease typically experience a tsunami of emotions: disbelief, fear, anger, depression, sense of loss. But after the initial shock, a person can assert some control over the future by creating an action blueprint that will guide the patient and caregivers as the disease progresses. “When someone is still […]
Top 10 sources of sodium in food
The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that Americans consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day — yet most of us get far more sodium in a day than that. And while you might assume that a lot of the extra salt we consume comes from having a too-liberal hand with the salt […]
When to Worry About Fatigue
Q: I have been quite fatigued over the past two weeks. I don’t have any other symptoms. How long should I wait before seeing a doctor about my fatigue? A: That’s a great question, but one that does not have a scientific answer. We all go through periods when our energy level is down. It […]
Every new parent should take CPR classes
I was seeing a newborn the other day, and the parents had a great idea. Their baby had spit up, and they were concerned about how to clear his airway. When we discussed how to hold the baby to clear the airway they had the great idea of having a CPR “teaching party” for a […]
Don’t ignore the subtle signs of ovarian cancer
It’s called “the whispering cancer,” and it often goes undetected until too late. “Ovarian cancer is a silent killer. It has few early warning signs and those can be non-specific, like bloating, indigestion, nausea or weight loss. A woman with these symptoms probably won’t think, ‘this could be ovarian cancer,’” said Jayanthi Lea, M.D., a […]
Food as Medicine
How what you eat affects your mood “You are what you eat” may seem like a casual saying, but, in fact, the foods we choose to consume can affect how we feel. While finishing off a pint of ice cream when you’re depressed, fatigued or irritable may seem like a perfect way to improve your […]
Going abroad? Check your health coverage
With the world as their oyster, many retirees take the opportunity to travel far and wide. But before you go, review your medical coverage. Medicare beneficiaries who have a health emergency outside the U.S. could be in for a big surprise. Retired Kiplinger editor Ken Dalecki, 74, who lives in the Washington, D.C., area, didn’t […]
How to treat a dog bite
The Kid’s Doctor I am a dog lover. We have always had a dog in our house, even before we had our children. But some dogs will bite and, unfortunately, there are more than 800,000 people every year who receive medical care for a dog bite. More than half are children. Children are also more […]
Healthy eating and exercise strategies to take on the road
One of the pleasures (and perils) of travel is depending on your meals being prepared by someone else, and a pretty unavoidable change in your exercise routine. That can be part of the joy of the experience — you never know what’s next, so it’s always a surprise! — but it can also derail the […]
Limiting weight gain could help to reduce risk of these cancers
There’s yet another reason to maintain a healthy weight as we age. An international team of researchers has identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity: stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, ovary, meningioma (a type of brain tumor), thyroid cancer and the blood cancer multiple myeloma. Limiting weight gain over the decades […]
Chicago Tech Start-up Spurs Weight Loss
At the start of every new year, Americans’ number one resolution is to lose weight. It’s a sensible commitment considering almost 70 percent of Americans are classified as overweight or obese, a condition related to many types of cancer and other chronic illnesses. Obesity’s annual medical cost in the United States is between $147 billion and […]
Consider incorporating ground flaxseed into your diet
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have heard that adding flaxseed to my diet could improve my health, but I know nothing about it. What’s the best way to take it? ANSWER: Flaxseed is a nutritional powerhouse. Its health benefits come from the fact that it’s high in fiber and is a rich source of a plant-based […]
Weekend-proof your diet
Finally, the weekend. After watching what you eat all week, it’s natural to want to indulge a little. But once you loosen the reins, it’s easy to lose control. To keep that from happening, try these stay-strong strategies. Friday: Happy hour You’re in the mood to unwind, but the more you drink, the more you […]
Eating for kidney health
Environmental Nutrition Newsletter Nearly one in seven American adults has chronic kidney disease (CKD), and millions more are at risk. “The incidence of CKD in the U.S. is definitely increasing,” says Michael Conrad, M.D., senior member of the Center for Kidney Care in New Jersey, “and since the major risk factors for CKD — diabetes, […]
Home remedies to relieve nighttime leg cramps
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I recently developed cramps that wake me from sleep. When it affects my leg, it aches for the next day or two. What causes this? How can I prevent them? A: Leg cramps at night (also called nocturnal leg cramps) are very common. An estimated one in […]
The Future of Rehab: RIC’s Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
When the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago looks to the future, it sets its sights high. In this case, high is its impressive new home: the 27-story Shirley Ryan AbilityLab that aims to rethink the future of research and patient care. After eight years and $550 million, RIC will celebrate the grand opening of its new […]
Tools for the healthy kitchen
To make your kitchen an enjoyable, easy place to work, make sure your tools and ingredients are handy, your sink is cleared out and your work surfaces are clean. And, like any good workspace, your kitchen needs good tools. Here’s help assembling a tool kit of kitchen utensils that you can use to prep healthier […]
Medications for arthritis can improve quality of life
Q: Do pain medications prevent arthritis from worsening, directly or indirectly? If I choose not to take medications for chronic arthritis pain due to a concern about potential side effects, am I allowing the arthritis to worsen? A: It depends upon the type of arthritis. The most common reason people take arthritis medications is to […]