Natural High
Why getting outside does wonders for your health Do you find yourself stuck inside, reluctant to emerge from your cocoon? Here’s a reason to force yourself through the door: Older adults who spent just 15 minutes outdoors reported feeling more grateful and more optimistic afterwards, according to a recent study. Other research has found that […]
Here’s the Beef
Cutting back on red meat has an outsized impact on the environment Katherine Tellock was in no rush to give up meat. But when the Chicago resident learned that removing meat from her diet could reduce her carbon footprint even more than switching to a hybrid vehicle, she cut down her meat consumption overall and […]
Eating for Earth
Environmental nutrition offers an eating approach for your health and the planet’s Healthy eating isn’t just good for you; it can also benefit society and the planet. That’s the goal of environmental nutrition. “Environmental nutrition focuses on nourishing our population while balancing our earth’s resources,” says Beth Gordon, registered dietitian nutritionist at Northwestern Medicine. “A […]
How To Start Your Own Native Garden
Illinois looks nothing like it did 150 years ago and beyond. Only .01% of the Prairie State’s prairies remain. People, however, can reclaim some of that prairie land — and the insects and wildlife that rely on it — in their yard. “They can be these little repositories to our shrinking natural areas,” says Mary […]
Oh, Naturale!
Chicago explores the role of trees in human health and heat mitigation This is not a joke. Ready? What mitigates major chronic diseases, all while cleaning and cooling the air, decreasing stress, and beautifying neighborhoods? Trees. “If trees were a vitamin, everyone would be lining up to take it. The benefits are enormous,” says Raed […]
CAR-T Cell Therapy
A promising therapy for people with certain cancers is now available in Chicago’s northern suburbs at the community hospital level. NorthShore University HealthSystem began treating patients with CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor) cell therapy in March 2023. Since 2017, the revolutionary treatment has primarily been available at academic medical centers. David L. Grinblatt, MD, hematologist at NorthShore University […]
Ask the Doc
Am I Losing My Hair? By Victoria Barbosa, MD Q: I don’t want to seem vain, but I’m losing my hair, and I’m freaked out. Is there anything I can do about it? A: Hair loss — also called alopecia — is intensely personal for people. It has a psychological impact on their self-confidence and overall well-being. […]
Why We Forget Mass Shootings
The Highland Park 4th of July parade shooting may have faded from the national consciousness, but it hovers like a fog in this North Shore community A year and a half after the mass shooting in Highland Park, the aftermath still permeates the community. Conversation around the tragedy pierces the chatter of school hallways and downtown […]
Healing Highland Park
18 months after a mass shooting at a 4th of July parade, a community continues to mend More than a year after the 4th of July parade shooting in Highland Park, where seven people lost their lives and 48 others were wounded, Marcy Kamen, MD, family practice physician at NorthShore Medical Group, is helping people […]
Recycling is Complicated and Controversial…
But When It’s Done Right, It’s Good for Everyone When a Groot recycling facility in Plainfield burned down in 2021 due to a battery fire, no one could blame Davide Pezzini for it. Like an estimated 20% of people, Pezzini, a 46-year-old Chicago resident and professional bass player, is fastidious about recycling. He grew up in […]
Rising Concerns
Where flooding and sewage treatment meet — and how both impact people’s health Flush your toilet or rinse your kitchen sink, and you probably don’t spend a ton of time thinking about where that water goes next. Yet, wastewater treatment ranks as one of the most vital public health innovations in human history, due to the advances […]
How To Green Your Routine
Scientists expect climate change to cause about 250,000 additional deaths each year between 2030 and 2050, according to the World Health Organization. Heat stress will be one of the main reasons, so prioritizing exercise will also prime your body to handle the heat. “The heat itself will affect our ability to breathe. We get dehydrated quicker. […]
Sleep Right
Stress and environmental factors conspire against sleep, but help can make a lifetime of difference Since buying his-and-hers CPAP machines, North Park residents Wendy McClure and Chris Sienko have saved a lot of money — on soundproofing. “I used to buy these huge containers of earplugs every month,” says McClure, a 52-year-old book editor. Before […]
When Bystanders Take Action
Early intervention in a medical emergency can make all the difference. Know the steps to take. Winnetka resident John Lafferty was going through a routine examination with his physician, Robert Magrisso, MD, at his doctor’s office in town. Everything seemed normal at first, but in a matter of seconds things started to go wrong — […]
Unseen Threat
How environmental contaminants affect heart health From asthma to cancer risk, environmental contaminants affect human health in major ways. And research suggests that pollution also poses a significant threat to heart health specifically, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Pollution (including noise pollution), chemical exposure, and the weather all affect the heart in different ways. “The […]
Allergies Getting Worse?
Climate change may be the culprit As the long Chicago winter turned to spring, Lizzie Goodman threw open the windows to her home and, within a couple of days, she and her two young daughters were dealing with sneezes, stuffy noses, itchy eyes, and scratchy throats. Goodman worried they might have Covid-19, but tests came back […]
Forever Chemicals and Cancer Risk
Researchers in Chicago are studying how PFAS affect health and where people might be exposed Ken Lumb, managing partner at Chicago-based law firm Corboy and Demetrio, started getting calls from firefighters last year: men and women with kidney, prostate, and bladder cancers. They were interested in filing lawsuits based on their health issues. The very […]
Attention Dysregulation
More women than ever are being diagnosed with ADHD — what’s behind the increase? During her childhood years, writer, educator, and content creator Laura Danger, 34, of Chicago, often felt anxious, trying hard in school to overcome her challenges. At the time, she didn’t exhibit physical hyperactivity or impulsivity — two classically known symptoms of […]
Worried About Your Teenager?
Making room for adolescents’ healthy risks As anyone who has ever been a teenager or known a teenager is well aware, they sometimes take irresponsible, even dangerous risks. But some of that risk-taking is healthy, teaching them how to become independent, responsible adults. Student journalists Jubriel Chaparro, recently 20, and Jermaine Jackson, 18, take risks […]
Considering the Dangers of Breathing
On one of those first gorgeous spring days when Chicago reminds us why we live here, my eldest son, Harry, and I were driving home from school. The windows were down, and we were blasting his favorite song: Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” At a red light, a box truck pulled up next to us, […]
Fitting to Place is Healthy for One and All
Once upon a time, there were two big eyes that peered into the world from within a box. The eyes wondered about their placement, if they fit and if they were of value. As they continued to peer outside, they spotted a tree and became curious. Led by the eyes, a boy emerged from the box […]
Books Exploring the Health-Environment Link
Factors within and beyond our bodies impact our health. External factors include air quality, water quality, and access to nature. Here are just a few books examining the relationship between our environment and our physical, mental, and emotional health. A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There By Aldo Leopold Conservationist, educator, and […]
Lead Removal Resources
From gasoline and cosmetics, to paint and plumbing, when it came to the impact on human health, for decades Chicago literally buried the lead. Yet, the city has decreased lead poisoning from 25% in the 1990s to 2% today among children who are tested, according to Lead Safe Chicago. The pandemic, however, may have caused […]
Risks Associated with Dense Breast Tissue
A new regulation from the Food and Drug Administration will require all mammogram facilities in the U.S. to notify patients if they have dense breast tissue by September 2024. Dense breast tissue is an important risk factor that many people don’t know about. A radiologist determines if a patient has dense breasts, which 40% of women […]
Legal Updates
New Rules for Rock Crushers Effective March 2023 Facilities in Chicago that process construction and demolition materials must now follow the Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) new rules to reduce dust and improve air quality. Rules include continuous air monitoring and reporting to CDPH, strategic planning to address air and water pollution, and lead […]
Trucks’ Heavy Health Footprint in Illinois
Transportation produces nearly a third of Illinois’s greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers have linked diesel emissions with low birth weights, respiratory illness, and heart disease. Nearly 2 million Illinois residents — disproportionately minorities or those below the federal poverty line — live near 2,400 truck warehouses, according to a recent Environmental Defense Fund study. That includes […]
Keep the Sweet
With contradictory claims about aspartame, explore these 3 unexpected ways to add natural sweetness to your daily diet There is such a thing as too sweet — especially if you’re dealing with any chronic health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol. Many people cut back on added sugar with sugar substitutes, including aspartame, […]
Healthy Yards, Healthy People
Illinois looks nothing like it did 150 years ago and beyond. Only .01% of the Prairie State’s prairies remain. People, however, can reclaim some of that prairie land — and the insects and wildlife that rely on it — in their yard. “They can be these little repositories to our shrinking natural areas,” says Mary […]
Op-Ed: Independent Medical Groups Need Negotiation Preparation
Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. The healthcare landscape these days is vastly different than in years past, with physician shortages across numerous specialties making recruiting and retaining partners more important than ever. Complicating the landscape, private equity companies are buying […]
Air Alert
Who’s at risk when poor air quality spikes, and what can people do to protect their air? Chicagoans who gazed out their windows on a day in late June discovered an orange haze blurring their view. When they opened their front doors, the smell of smoke enveloped them. And as dusk approached, many marveled at […]
Loretto Hospital Workers Strike for Fair Pay, Safe Conditions
Roughly 200 frontline workers at Loretto Hospital, 645 S. Central Ave., went on strike this week, citing poor pay, staffing issues, and worker safety concerns. Workers include patient care technicians, mental health staff, and frontline service staff. In the first days of the strike, local and state politicians, as well as faith leaders and organizers […]
Healthiest Counties
In their annual health rankings, researchers look at the factors that influence an area’s overall health, rating the healthiest counties in Illinois and the U.S. Not all counties in the U.S. are equal. In fact, some have significantly healthier residents than others. So what sets them apart? Each year since 2011, health researchers with the […]
Announcing Our 2023 Award-Winning Stories from Chicago Health and Caregiving
Chicago Health and Caregiving magazines have won a host of prestigious journalism awards in 2023. Read them here. The results are in! We had a fantastic time this past week at the National Federation of Press Women’s annual awards ceremony. Chicago Health and Caregiving picked up multiple honors for writing, editing, and design after advancing […]
Nurturing Natives
Indigenous gardens bring health, beauty, and culture to Native Americans in Chicago A chain link fence encases a lush, unexpected garden at the corner of Pulaski Road and Wilson Avenue in Chicago. Within the fence, green stalks of corn shoot skyward, bright Indian blanket flowers dot the raised beds, and milkweed lures passing butterflies. Welcome […]
Scorched Cities
Extreme heatwaves in Chicago and the U.S. are becoming hotter, longer, and deadlier. The greatest health threat worldwide this summer isn’t Covid-19 or mpox. It’s extreme heat. Heat indexes between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit (F) — and rising — means danger: cities declaring states of emergency; pools and cooling centers filling to capacity; families […]
From Chicago to Ukraine
Many people in the Chicago area feel connected to those affected by Russian’s invasion of the Ukraine. They’re helping in various ways, and making in impact in one of the most vital areas: health. 5,000 miles — the distance from Chicago to Ukraine. Though geographically distant, many people in the Chicago area feel connected to […]
Preventing Suicide
How to talk about suicide prevention with a partner, relative, or friend. Content warning: This article focuses on suicide prevention. Coping skills, support, and treatment work for most people who have thought about ending their life. Here are resources if you or someone you care about needs support: • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline —988, which […]
Op-Ed: Tinker, Tailor, Surgeon, Sailor
How physician inventors push medicine forward Physician inventors throughout the ages have been the engine of innovation in medicine, developing some of the most important medical innovations, such as penicillin, catheters, artificial heart valves, pacemakers, and the HPV vaccine, to name a few. Unfortunately, transitioning from physician to inventor isn’t as easy as it was […]
Placing Bets
When gambling goes from fun to dysfunctional, know the gambling disorder signs to watch for — and what to do about it. Americans love to gamble. We bet in casinos and on sports, pour our money into slot machines, buy raffle and lottery tickets.… It’s an entertaining and often social activity. And now, with a […]
Advancing Sound Clarity in Public Venues
Some technology goes unnoticed until you need it. That includes hearing loops, which make a big difference to people with hearing loss. Hearing loops offer a way to connect people who use hearing aids or cochlear implants directly to a venue’s sound system. This enables the person to hear better, whether they’re paying at the […]
Diagnosis Unknown
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Looking for answers to medical mysteries Few things in life raise more anxiety than waiting on a diagnosis. And if you’re not only waiting, but trying to hunt down the cause of disturbing symptoms, you’ve likely also felt defeated, deflated, and dejected. When our health is in jeopardy, we don’t feel like ourselves. The […]
We Asked…You Answered
We asked readers to share on social media and in our weekly newsletter the most important thing they do for their health. Thank you to all who responded. Here’s what you said…. Q: What is the most important thing you do on a regular basis for your health and well-being? “‘Take care of your teeth!’ […]
Medical Mission
Doctors helping local patients and teaching local doctors in Nepal When a medical team from the U.S. planned a visit to Kathmandu, Nepal in January 2020, news traveled far and wide. It reached people in isolated, rural communities in the Himalaya Mountains who traveled by car or bus, on horseback, by donkey, or on foot […]
In Their Words
Three hospital chaplains share their thoughts on gun violence Hospital chaplains play a pivotal role in providing care, comfort, and consolation to people going through a range of medical issues. Regardless of their own theology, chaplains support people from all denominations through difficult times. These challenges include a loved one’s passing, a devastating diagnosis, and […]
Explore the Mysteries of Medicine in These Acclaimed Books
At first glance, mystery novels and books about medicine may seem like two vastly different genres, but in fact they have much in common. Instead of determining whodunit, doctors determine what is it. Instead of bringing the perpetrator to justice, health professionals go after the offending pathogen. And no matter the disease or condition, every […]
Who Gets Diagnosed in Illinois?
Not Everyone, and Not Well Enough The numbers don’t lie, but they do reveal an ugly truth: There are major disparities in who healthcare providers diagnose and treat in Illinois. Jeffrey Linder, MD, chief of internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, says most people who get in to see primary care doctors are insured. “There […]
Too Soon
Pediatric diseases can be tough to diagnose for many reasons Instead of always looking for the fantastic in dream interpretation, psychotherapist Sigmund Freud occasionally encouraged people to consider things just as they are. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, goes a saying often attributed to him. When children get sick, pediatricians and parents often […]
Lost Trust
For years, many Black patients have mistrusted doctors and the healthcare system. How are physicians rebuilding that trust? While on a road trip to Washington D.C. a few years ago, Earl Sewell blinked, and the road around him instantly blurred. The fast-moving cars and trucks on either side of his lane looked like a watercolor […]
The Importance of Second Opinions
After a tiny lump on his tongue quickly swelled to the size of a golf ball, Chicago singer Hector Nuñez found himself sitting in a doctor’s office. The news was life-altering: He had an aggressive form of tongue cancer. To treat it, he would lose his tongue with no hope of rehabilitation. No tongue would […]
6 Tough-to-Diagnose Diseases
Despite all of the modern medical tools at our disposal, some diseases remain mysterious. They’re difficult to diagnose for a variety of reasons — whether they’re good at hiding within the body or cause ambiguous symptoms. No matter the disease, Reem Jan, MD, rheumatologist and assistant professor of medicine at University of Chicago Medicine, says, […]
