Deciphering Speech/Language Therapy
By Emily O’Brien Many people seek the services of speech/language therapists—some during early childhood and others well into their senior years. In order to determine whether speech/language therapy is needed, one must first get a better understanding of what that form of therapy is and what the treatment entails. According to the Nemours Center for […]
The Healthy Budget
It’s possible to eat well without overspending “Essentially, all produce is nutritious, regardless of whether it is fresh, canned or frozen,” says Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDE, national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The remark may surprise some shoppers who insist that fresh, organic and local is the healthiest. However, “We […]
News In Brief
Enrollment for Obamacare Continues Despite Government Shutdown Among technical and congressional glitches, the Affordable Healthcare Act’s mandated health insurance registration continued throughout its first day yesterday. Illinois’ health insurance marketplace, Get Covered Illinois did not experience any major setbacks. The Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, goes into effect in January 2014. For the approximately […]
A Breast Cancer Q&A
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Terri Yablonsky Stat talked to Dr. Nora Hansen, surgical oncologist, Breast Surgery Division at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine about what every woman should know about preventing and treating breast cancer. TYS: What can women do to prevent breast cancer? Dr. Hansen: The biggest thing is being aware […]
Stimulating Touch
Astym treatment heals pain for the active and overweight The treatments for ankle sprains, muscle strains and other problems in the soft tissues of the feet and legs are well known: rest, cold compresses, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. But sometimes the standard remedies don’t get rid of the pain. That’s when a lesser-known therapy […]
Chemical Deal
Chemicals in Our Products are Wreaking Havoc on Our Health By Megy Karydes Most of us blindly buy products sold in major stores, certain that they have been tested for safety. Why would we think the soap we use to bathe our kids or the products we clean our homes with might be slowly killing […]
Sexuality, Aging and the Rise of Sexually Transmitted Infections
By Rhonda Alexander During teenage and young-adult years, sexually transmitted infections (STI)—and how to prevent them—is a regular topic of discussion, but what happens to the discussion after the age of 40? “There are no kid gloves in my office,” says Dr. Monique Jones, obstetrics and gynecology specialist in Hazel Crest. “We talk about it […]
Illinois Prepares for a New Insurance Marketplace
Will healthcare for the uninsured really happen?By Morgan Lord Illinois is planning on more than a million uninsured residents receiving healthcare on Jan. 1, 2014. Some think it’s going to happen; others think it’s a long shot. Back in March 2010, President Barack Obama signed a healthcare reform bill—the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act […]
Marijuana Medical Clinic Is Good for Business, While Helping Patients Find Relief
Pictured above: Tammi Jacobi’s Good Intentions in Wicker Park has teamed up with licensed physician Dr. Brian Murphy to open the first medical marijuana clinic in Illinois. [spacer style=”3″] By Megy Karydes Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill on August 1 legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes in Illinois that supporters say is […]
Time to Grow Old
Through the good and the bad, it’s by grace that we age We’re all getting older, and fast. By the time you finish this sentence, you’ll be one moment closer to your last. But, you’ll have gained another moment, too. You see, we think of aging in relative terms: “I’m old enough for this.” “I’m […]
The Prevention Column
The Hard Truth on Soft Drinks By Anthony Bonazzo There’s a great concern about the amount of sugary soft drinks that Americans consume and its effects on our national health. So much so that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried banning NYC restaurants and stores from selling sodas or sugary beverages larger than 16 […]
Considering Your Cancer Diagnosis
Knowing what you can do, might just save your life By Morgan Lord According to the Mayo Clinic, about half of all men and a third of all women in the United States will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives. Whether you’re a man, woman or a child, a diagnosis like […]
Options Against the Flu
This season’s flu shots will be more individualized, but immunization can begin in summer By Megy Karydes Patients who have avoided getting the flu shot because of their fear of needles or allergies to eggs (egg protein is among the ingredients of some influenza vaccines) will have other options this season: seven of them. According […]
Probiotics
One Bug You Want On Your Side Our guts are teeming with billions of bacteria essential to our gastrointestinal health and our ability to ward off chronic disease. When these bacteria work in our favor, we don’t give them a second thought. But when our natural balance is off, many of us question the role […]
Not Quite the End of the Road
Palliative and hospice care are more about family-centered care that provides comfort and compassionBy Karen Schwartz When Tom Donausky’s mother Frances took a turn for the worse at Smith Crossing, a nursing home in Orland Park, where she was first admitted in November 2011, the professionals suggested hospice. But it wasn’t quite time for that. […]
Innovation and the FDA
Walking the line between the frontier of medicine and responsible regulation By Patrick Kenney The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a major role in all of our lives. Every day, you consume products that have been scrutinized by the FDA, the safety and efficacy of which they have endorsed. It’s a big job, […]
The Power of Knowledge
Does knowing your predisposition to developing Alzheimer’s give you an advantage or just bad news? By Alex Lubischer “How will I die?” Would you want to know the answer to the question? For many, the decision to know or not know would hinge on the answer to a second question: “Can I change my fate?” […]
Injuries of the Overused
By specializing in a single sport year-round, young athletes are at risk for injuryBy Eve Becker The three-sport athlete—someone who played soccer in fall, basketball in winter and baseball in spring—used to be the star of youth sports. But with the proliferation of club sports and the push for sports specialization at an early age, […]
Chicago Health’s Mediterranean Salmon and Vegetables
A healthy dish cooked with citrus and herbs, fresh ingredients and big flavor. Perfect for an easy lunch or a light dinner. Serves 4. Per Serving: 345 Cal | 41 Carbs | 12g Fat | 21g Protein | 281mg Sodium | 11g Sugar Ingredients: 8 oz Salmon 2 cups Linguini 2 medium Zucchini (cut into […]
Pump It Up: All your heart-healthy ingredients are right around the corner
By Donna Shryer From spring’s first warm breeze through summer’s last blast of hot, hair-frizzing humidity, Chicago’s 77 communities serve up one food fest after another. Taste sensations drenched in fat, salt, sugar and calories may pump up your taste buds, but they weigh down your heart muscle and increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. […]
An Eye For Business: Taking A Look At Lasik, America’s Favorite Surgery
By Patrick Kenney No elective surgery has attained as widespread an appeal and acceptance as has LASIK. Over the last couple decades, particularly since the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval in 1999, the procedure of laser in-situ keratomileusis has corrected the vision of millions of people, giving the rather extraordinary process a mundane quality—like a […]
Above and Beyond
By Megy Karydes Learning that someone you love has cancer often unleashes a whirlwind of emotions from fear to anger. Then reality hits: You need to figure out how to take care of, and provide support for, your loved one, or, if you’re the one diagnosed, you have to start searching for answers. The last […]
Critical Questions: When is it time to consider palliative or hospice care?
By Karen Schwartz Dr. Gordon Wood, assistant medical director at Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter and director of palliative medicine and supportive care at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, suggests that if you answer yes to any of the following, hospice or palliative care may be beneficial to you. Review the following questions and talk with […]
The Unshakeable Truth
Assumptions about Parkinson’s may slow the cure’s progressBy Nancy Maes Misconceptions about Parkinson’s disease are common. The casual observer who sees a person with a hand that shakes uncontrollably assumes it’s a telltale sign of the disease, but that’s not necessarily the case. “You do not have to have a tremor to have Parkinson’s disease,” […]
Critical Questions about ACA Fallout: Flips in Price and Power
You do have options. Don’t you?By Tom Mullaney With more people moving into high-deductible health insurance programs, it will pay to become a smarter consumer of health services. The questions that follow should help you save money as healthcare providers begin to adapt to a more consumer-friendly world. Answers are provided by Michele Kadlec, CEO […]
Considering Your Cancer Diagnosis: Critical Questions to Ask Your Doctor
A Homemade TreatmentBy Morgan Lord There are many cancer patients who want to get right back to their personal and professional routines following treatment. Thankfully, there are healthcare providers in place for just this reason, such as ALC Home Health Care. After chemotherapy treatments conclude, ALC’s specially trained IV infusion nurses visit the patient at […]
ACA Fallout: Flips in Price and Power
By Tom Mullaney The biggest overhaul since Medicare nearly 50 years ago will soon be upon us. Come January 1, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) adds an additional 29 million uninsured people and upwards of 17 million Medicaid recipients to America’s healthcare rolls. By 2015, employers with more than 50 full-time employees must provide them […]
Health Mastery
Vibrant sex through the years Ladies! Really? Booty duty? Have we climbed the corporate ladder, become super athletes and supermoms only to become victims of self-perceived obligation in the bedroom? No way.It’s time to saturate in pleasure and sensuality, and create for our enjoyment—in bed and out. Move into your forward with vibrancy; it’s the […]
Doctor’s Orders
Vaccinations don’t cause autism, they save lives By Dr. Gena Vennikandam For a lot of kids, a trip to the doctor is a dreaded experience that quickly turns mom or dad into a reviled villain. Only the meanest of parents would subject their child to the evil doctors wielding their torturous needles. At least, that’s […]
The Prevention Column
Back Pain is Crippling America By Anthony Bonazzo Back pain has become a trendy ailment in American culture. Many people diagnose themselves with having back pain, but the problem is that the majority of self-diagnoses are wrong because most of the time, people don’t understand what is going on with their bodies. In many cases […]
Health Tech
6 Health Tech Smartphone Apps to Keep You HealthyBy Megy Karydes Access to accurate health information has become as easy as making a few swipes on your Smartphone. Want to know what medicine your child has allergies to? There’s an app for that. Or how to effectively monitor your glucose levels, lose weight, stop smoking? […]
Too Hot To Handle
A reality check to help cool down summer stresses that can ruin the season and harm your healthBy Donna Shryer “During the summer, there’s more pressure to get out and enjoy every minute. But for many of us, we lose perspective.” So says Dr. Jennifer Klapatch, PhD, BCBA, director of Applied Professional Practice, department of […]
The Menopausal Appetite
By Nancy Maes For some women the triumvirate of binge eating, weight gain and menopause are intricately intertwined. This excessive uncontrollable overeating, the accumulation of too much body fat and the changes that occur during the natural biological process of menopause influence each other in various ways and become part of a never-ending cycle. “Binge […]
Prenatal Dangers
There are a lot of things that can go wrong during pregnancy, but doctors help reduce the risk by doing a lot of things right By Nancy Maes When a woman learns that she is pregnant, happy visions of decorating the nursery and choosing pint-sized clothes can soon be overshadowed by fears of complications for […]
Flex Time
More patients are spending less time recovering from joint-related surgeries By Nancy Maes Ron Allen was born with an improperly formed hip joint. While the problem didn’t stop him from going to college on an athletic scholarship, it was causing him such excruciating pain that by age 40, he opted for replacement surgery on his […]
Biking Ahead for Safety
Tips for protecting your child’s head with the perfect-fitting bike helmetBy Nancy Maes Parents can’t just buy the bike helmet their children like best, plop it on their heads, buckle it up and assume the youngsters will be safe. The protective gear has to meet the standards of the Consumer Safety Commission and be fitted […]
The Theater of Teeth
Delta Dental’s Land of Smiles Bolsters Oral Health Through Children’s TheaterBy Alex Lubischer Nate Ross loves his job. The 24-year-old Chicago-based actor spent the last two springs performing in the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s (DDILF) traveling children’s theater production, Land of Smiles. The foundation—the charitable arm of Delta Dental of Illinois—unveiled Land of Smiles […]
Not In Vain
Plastic surgery exists for those who don’t want the attention By Megy Karydes Not everyone who seeks out plastic surgery is looking for breast augmentation or rhinoplasty services. In fact, for wounded veterans or burn victims, just looking like themselves and being able to function in society are among the reasons they undergo hours of […]
Coping with Kidnapping
How do our bodies react and recover from horrific experiences like the one in Cleveland? By Nancy Maes The names of recently released kidnap victims Amanda Berry, who is now 27, Georgina DeJesus, 23, and Michele Knight, 32, are imprinted on our brains. But how do we begin to understand the psychological impact that nearly […]
Growing Up with Tragedies
Terribly violent storms, like the one witnessed in Oklahoma this week, can leave lasting damages much more permanent than a shredded earth. This is especially so for children. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in kids and adults. Mayo Clinic Children’s Center anxiety prevention expert and psychologist Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D., offers tips to help conquer weather-related fears. […]
Forget Your Lines
Memory Ensemble and Lookingglass Theatre use improv to help Alzheimer’s patients By Nancy Maes Physicians encourage Alzheimer’s patients to stay intellectually stimulated and socially connected, but when they are no longer working and have trouble attending their favorite leisure-time book club or volunteer activity, they have a hard time following the doctor’s orders. An improvisational […]
Camping with Food Allergies
It’s no one’s favorite activity, but some kids have to face food allergies at summer camp By Nancy Maes Summertime is the season for carefree fun at camp, but parents of children with food allergies have to be extra vigilant to make sure that their youngsters will be safe during their time away from home. […]
The FDA’s Problem with Blood
Despite evidence contrary to its reasons, the FDA still discriminates against gay blood By Alex LubischerI was 17 the first time I donated blood. I did well. The nurse said I had good veins and I think I puffed out my chest just little. She pressed a cotton ball onto my antecubital, secured a band […]
The Equality Equation
Using Your Head
Mayo Clinic finding a way to diagnose concussions with more certainty By Riley Andersen At the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, neurologists are discovering new ways to diagnose concussions. Research shows that autonomic reflex testing, which measures involuntary changes in heart rate and blood pressure, consistently shows significant changes in those with concussions. The findings were […]
Diagnosed with Infertility: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Dr. Mary Wood Molo, a physician at Women’s Health Consultants and director of the IVF program at Rush University Medical Center, recommends that patients undergoing infertility treatment ask their doctors the following questions: What is your background? Inquire about relevant training, board certification and experience. How much and what kinds of diagnostic testing are performed […]
The Pap Education
Are women demanding unnecessary tests? By Megy Karydes A cancer that starts the day after a negative Papanicolaou (Pap) test, under the new guidelines, may have three years to develop before the next Pap test detects it. An annual Pap test for a healthy, sexually active woman used to be the norm as a preventive […]
A Perfect Match
LifeSource teams up with Blackhawks for blood/marrow drive By Alex Lubischer LifeSource, Chicagoland’s Blood Center, teamed up with the Chicago Blackhawks for a blood drive and marrow registry in honor of 14-year-old leukemia patient and Blackhawks fan Emma Gomez on Saturday, March 23. A total of 640 life-saving units of blood were collected at the […]
Divided Attention
Kids with ADHD can become adults with ADHD and other problems By Nancy Maes A new study by researchers at Mayo Clinic reveals that there is no cutoff age for attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and describes the risks of this neurodevelopmental condition when it persists into adulthood. “In the past, we thought that ADHD was […]
Doxil Drama
The FDA’s approval of generic Doxil has begun to ease shortages of the cancer drug By Patrick Kenney Over the last couple years, our healthcare system has been plagued by nationwide drug shortages that have threatened the lives of thousands of patients. The consequences of these shortages have been particularly dangerous because many of the […]