Innovation in Medical Pricing
HealthEngine lets patients compare costs of procedures Healthcare accounts for 18 percent of the gross national product in the United States, a number that is more than two-and-a-half times that of most other developed nations. As Americans shoulder greater healthcare costs, they are hungry for more transparency and better price information. A local company is […]
Gaining Strength
Post-op exercises help breast cancer survivors win control When a woman is first diagnosed with breast cancer, it can feel like her body is under assault with endless procedures: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and reconstruction. Fortunately, many local medical centers have programs that emphasize regaining movement and strength after breast cancer surgery. Postoperative programs for women […]
The Funny Bone
Originally published in the Fall 2016 print edition
Brain Boosts
Nourish Your Noggin with Lifestyle Changes Your brain needs to be well fueled, exercised and nurtured to be at its healthiest. While supplements and iPhone games might promise quick boosts, lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on your brain’s health. Here are the easiest ways to keep your brain youthful and strong—no phone app purchases required. Infographic by […]
Erie Family Health Center
Innovative program trains medical residents; helps community members Luis Rivera, MD, Erie Family Health Center. Photo by James Schnept As a child growing up in South Chicago, Luis Rivera, MD, dreamed of becoming a physician and helping families in underserved communities. Today, Rivera is living that dream as a resident physician at Erie Family Health […]
ABCs of Learning Disorders
Students’ issues can be hard to detect Cheri Easterwood first noticed one of her twin daughters struggling in kindergarten. Both girls received speech therapy through their Northwest Side Chicago Public School, but it became increasingly obvious to Easterwood that one was having a harder time than the other. “At first I blew it off as different kids […]
Almost Home Kids
Facility bridges the gap between hospital and home Mary*, 9 months old, with skeletal dysplasia and chronic respiratory failure, was getting ready to be discharged from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, yet her family wasn’t quite prepared with the services and caregiver training they would need to take their daughter home. That’s where Almost Home Kids stepped in. The […]
The Doctor Is In
Ear infections were du jour in my house when I was growing up. If one of us had ear pain, my mother would pack us into the car for a trip to the doctor. After a poke and prod by our friendly family physician, we picked up amoxicillin (the wonder drug of the ’80s) and […]
Sneak in Fitness
Kick the sitting habit with exercises for body and soul Above photo: Mary Lou Cerami paddleboarding “Sitting is the new cigarette,” says Angie McDermott, certified athletic trainer and owner of Konscious Body in Kenilworth, relating a popular thought among health professionals. “I get what they mean.” Most of us think of exercise as something we […]
Your Integrative Medical Home
Programs combine traditional and complementary medicine Often, medicine seems like it operates in separate silos, especially when it comes to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Your oncologist, nutritionist and acupuncturist may all work out of different buildings. It seems that none of them interacts and consults each other about your care. In response to that separation, programs […]
Heart Monitors
Area hospitals move to noninvasive tests for cardiac disease Amit Patel, MD, seen through a CT scanner. Photo courtesy of University of Chicago Medicine. Move over stress test. The treadmill test for heart disease, though common, can be costly and time-consuming; sometimes with inaccurate results. Now, new noninvasive options for heart disease testing are […]
Seeing a Future
Advances help age-related macular degeneration Just because you can read the words on this page now doesn’t mean that will always be the case. An aging population in the United States is facing an ocular health epidemic—but many people don’t yet see the problem. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes vision loss in more people […]
Putting It to the Test
Navigating genetic screening before and during pregnancy Sequencing the human genome has led to new advances in genetic testing before and during pregnancy. With new, noninvasive technology, women have more choices—and more decisions—regarding their potential offspring and genetic mutations. Genetic testing became widely available with the completion of the Human Genome Project in the early 2000s. […]
Myth or Fact?
We asked leading Chicago doctors to weigh in on some common health conceptions MYTH OR FACT? Vitamin D deficiency is associated with heart disease, osteoporosis and depression. FACT. While many people know that vitamin D deficiency can be associated with decreased bone strength (osteoporosis), it can also be associated with heart disease, depression, diabetes and even […]
Rolling with the Punches
Steve Hamlin works with his personal trainer at rock Steady Boxing. Photo by James Foster Steve Hamlin’s arms weren’t swinging when he walked, and he was starting to stoop over and shuffle. “I had a lot of discomfort in my back and legs, and I was having a hard time multitasking and remembering what […]
Pure Oxygen Helps Wound Healing
Normal wounds often heal quickly on their own. However, the healing process can be more complicated in certain compromised wounds—like those in patients who have diabetes, trauma or radiation therapy for cancer. Damaged small blood vessels or capillaries can cause local tissue oxygen starvation, which stalls the body’s healing process. Fortunately, there’s a way to […]
Safe drug lowers diabetes risk in women with PCOS
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: My daughter has polycystic ovary syndrome. Her new doctor prescribed metformin. But she doesn’t have diabetes. How is metformin helpful? A: A little background on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) first. Normally the ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone and only a small amount of testosterone. […]
Sciatica often resolves with time and treatment
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with sciatica. I didn’t have much pain initially, but it has been extremely painful the past few days — usually when I’m sitting. Would physical therapy be an option for treatment? I don’t like to take medications for pain. Are there other treatments […]
Five ‘bad’ foods you should be eating
Spend enough time with a friend who is a registered dietitian, and sooner or later, she’ll probably reach for the peanut-butter jar — the full-fat, natural kind. You might be shocked — after all, isn’t peanut butter high in fat? — but just because peanut butter is high in fat doesn’t meant it’s fattening. Remember […]
Effects of alcohol increase after gastric bypass surgery
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: After undergoing gastric bypass surgery last year, having a glass of wine affects me much more than it used to. Is this typical? ANSWER: Yes. In fact, the effects of alcohol are nearly doubled in people who have had gastric bypass surgery, compared with those who haven’t had the procedure. Gastric bypass […]
Can you use homeopathic products to relieve your child’s illness?
The Kid’s Doctor By Sue Hubbard, M.D. I am sitting here writing this while sucking on a honey-lemon throat lozenge and drinking hot tea, as it is certainly cough and cold season and unfortunately I woke up with a scratchy throat. I am trying to drink enough tea to drown it out. While I am […]
Cultures for Health: The Benefits of Fermented Foods
For centuries, fermented foods have played a large role in many cultures. Ancient Greeks thrived on yogurt, ancient Chinese sipped on kombucha, Eastern Europeans craft sauerkraut, Koreans make kimchi and Middle Easterners whip up labneh or yogurt cheese. Fermented foods not only last longer but also typically have robust flavors and offer nutritional benefits from […]
Can you be held responsible for your parents’ long-term-care costs?
When an older adult racks up unpaid long-term-care bills, who’s responsible for paying the debt? In a growing number of cases, adult children are being held legally responsible for their parents’ nursing-home or other care expenses. The reason: More than half of U.S. states have “filial responsibility” laws obligating adult children to financially support their […]
Rare syndrome causes overly flexible joints, fragile skin
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was recently diagnosed with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. My doctor said there’s no cure, and that it’s genetic. What can be done to treat this? I have two young children. Should they be tested for it? ANSWER: Although it’s true that there is no cure for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, physical […]
Calcium is crucial for long-term bone health
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Should all postmenopausal women take calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis, or are there other things I can do to prevent it? Also, I know caffeine is bad for bone health, but can eating a high-protein diet also hurt my bones? ANSWER: Calcium is crucial for long-term bone health. A […]
De-stress your life
How stressed-out are we? Consider this: In some cities, “rage rooms,” sometimes known as anger rooms, allow customers who are fed up with work, politics or the stress of everyday life to smash old furniture, TVs, dishes and other breakable items. At the Anger Room in Dallas, prices range from $25 for five minutes of […]
Beyond Opioids: New guidelines offer safest ways to control pain
In the past, if you had minor surgery or an injury your doctor would often prescribe an opioid pain killer to ease your discomfort. But, that is less likely under new guidelines for physicians. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the first federal opioid prescription guidelines. They are written for primary […]
POLST Orders Help Patients Advocate for Their End-of-Life Care
My grandfather did not want to die. From hospital to home, back to hospital and finally to hospice, he angrily fought against the realities of the cancer that would eventually end his life. Many years before his battle with cancer, I remember sitting in the car with him, discussing assisted deaths. I was home for […]
What can you do when your child has a cold?
The Kid’s Doctor By Sue Hubbard, M.D. Although it is just getting really cold across the country, it feels as if we have been in full cold and cough season for a while. The office sounds like what I call “kennel cough,” as every child seems to be coughing; even those who are just coming […]
Healthy lifestyle choices can slow the rise of pancreatic cancer
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I recently heard about two friends diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. And I seem to be reading about more celebrities with the disease. Is it becoming more prominent? Is there a screening test? A: It occurs slightly more often in men compared to women. Although pancreatic cancer accounts […]
How much artificial trans fat is still in our food?
Harvard Health Blog I felt guilty. I looked like any other health-conscious customer in the grocery store, perusing Nutrition Facts labels. But I was really there to hunt down a dangerous ingredient on store shelves called artificial trans fat. It’s the worst type of fat in our food supply — so bad, in fact, […]
Five natural ways to fight constipation
Environmental Nutrition Americans spend nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars a year trying to deal with constipation. It’s a side effect of certain drugs, a complication of some medical conditions, and a common complaint of aging, but constipation can also be caused by dehydration, a low-fiber diet and/or a sedentary lifestyle. Here’s what you […]
Is the “valentine” pheromone real or a myth?
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I haven’t yet picked a Valentine’s Day gift for my girlfriend. I was thinking about a pheromone-containing perfume. Do they really work? A: Experts don’t agree on whether pheromones exist in humans, and whether they influence our behavior. However, it has been documented that some animals […]
Women who start menstruation, menopause later more likely to live to 90
The number of women living to age 90 in the United States has increased significantly in the past century. Currently estimated at 1.3 million, this demographic is expected to quadruple by 2050. A new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that women who start menstruation and experience menopause […]
Low Risk of Staph Infection from Pets
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I have been taking care of my brother’s dog while he was hospitalized to treat an infection in his leg. I just found out it was MRSA. What is MRSA? Could the dog be infected and pass it to me? A: MRSA is short for methicillin resistant […]
Get eczema relief with simple home remedies
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: What is eczema? Are there home remedies that I can use to help my skin? A: Eczema refers to several conditions that share a pattern of changes in the surface of the skin. It’s the most common cause of skin inflammation. There are many types of eczema, […]
When a cough just won’t go away
Harvard Health Blog Who has never had a cough? I bet no one can raise their hand. We see this in clinic all the time. But chronic cough — one that lasts at least eight weeks — can be hard for patients to deal with and difficult for doctors to figure out. In the October […]
Eating resolutions to keep, ditch
Many of us vow to get healthier as a New Year’s resolution, but if you’re trying to do so by completely overhauling your lifestyle, you’re probably setting yourself up to fail. Instead, try making resolutions you can actually stick to — and ditching those that are unattainable. Here’s help! Three resolutions to make 1. Eat […]
Good hearing essential to physical and emotional well-being
Harvard Health Blog For many years, it was clear that my father was becoming hard of hearing. Normally gregarious and the life of the party, he became increasingly withdrawn because he couldn’t hear well enough to partake in conversations around the table. He began to walk with a shuffling gait. He was declining in front […]
Reverse fatty liver with exercise and diet
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I recently had an ultrasound that showed a fatty liver. What causes this? Is it dangerous? A: The largest organ inside your body, your liver performs hundreds of vital functions. It converts food into fuel, processes cholesterol, clears harmful toxins from the blood, and makes proteins that […]
Brain science suggests ‘mind wandering’ can help manage anxiety
Harvard Health Blog When we think of anxiety disorders, we generally think of them as uncomfortable emotional responses to threat. These responses may include symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling or absolute paralysis. While there is nothing inherently wrong in thinking about anxiety this way, a recent study pointed out that there […]
Four cancer myths busted
Environmental Nutrition About a third of America’s most common cancers can be prevented through healthy eating, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. But the wide range of cancer myths can make it hard to figure out what those healthy eating choices involve. EN addresses top […]
Parents: How smart are you about antibiotics?
Harvard Health Blog Out of all the visits children make to health care providers, 1 in 5 result in a prescription for antibiotics. That’s about 50 million prescriptions a year. But here’s the worrisome part: 10 million of those prescriptions are for respiratory illnesses that antibiotics aren’t likely to help. Basically, 1 in 5 of […]
Children Exposed to Pesticides Have Increased Risk of Blood Cancers, Study Says
Pesticides seem necessary to keep the home free from ants, cockroaches and other insects, but the toxic chemicals may do more harm than good. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics reports that youngsters exposed to a chronic, low level of residential insecticides may have an increased risk of developing childhood blood cancers. Researchers […]
Low Testosterone Can Cause Declines Throughout the Body
Our bodies are complex centers of communication. And testosterone is a hormone with a lot to say. Almost every tissue in a man’s body has testosterone receptors, says Laurence A. Levine, MD, a urologist and professor of urology at Rush University Medical Center. That means that testosterone has some say in what goes on in […]
Finding Relief for Chronic Migraines
Marie Syzdek, 54, grew up thinking that migraines were a normal part of life. Ever since she was a teenager, Syzdek suffered from migraines—a constant low-grade headache, that peaked several times a week into a painful, throbbing, full-blown attack. When she got married and had children, her family often would find her lying on the […]
A Deadly Skin Cancer, Melanoma Can Spread Throughout Body
What makes melanoma more dangerous than other forms of skin cancer? Unlike basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma is considerably more likely to spread throughout the body, experts explain. While all forms of skin cancer are harmful, melanoma’s potential to travel to the lungs, liver, bones and brain is particularly dangerous and potentially […]
Camp Courage Comforts Children Who Have Lost Loved Ones
Joanna Bodigor was only six years old in the spring of 2000 when her father died of a pulmonary embolism. “It was so sudden and unexpected, and since I was so young, it was difficult for me to understand what was truly happening,” she recalls. “I just remember wondering why everyone was shaking at the […]
Be the Death of Me
Heroin deaths are rising as state-funded treatment falls in Illinois August 29, 2015 Nick Gore is sick. It’s like the flu, multiplied. His stomach is near eruption. Muscles and bones ache deeply. Tears stream down the 27-year-old’s face. He’s sneezing, dizzy, light-headed. Traffic on I-290 only makes it worse, as he drives the daily (or […]
Sleep Deprivation Can Lead to Excess Snacking
Tired and hungry? Sleep deprivation may be contributing to your junk food cravings. Sleep is more than just a time to rest your eyes; it’s vital to your overall health and wellness—even your waistline. Studies have shown that being sleep-starved can lead to overeating. A recent University of Chicago study, published in the journal SLEEP, […]