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 […]
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 […]
