The Diabetic Misconception
Being young and thin is not a free pass from diabetes There’s an assumption that diabetes is only for the old and overweight. It’s not true. Today, the young and thin are being diagnosed with more convoluted versions of the disease. November is American Diabetes Month. Designed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to bring […]
Researchers Develop New Potential Solutions to Concussions
A group of researchers has developed the first potential solution to reducing sports-related concussions that doesn’t involve helmets—a simple collar worn by athletes that compresses vessels in the neck to increase cranial blood volume, thereby reducing internal movement of the brain. The medical community has known for a while that helmets do not offer total […]
Private Wellness in the Workplace
In a society concerned with personal privacy, do wellness programs at work cross a line? In corporations across the country, workplace wellness is the new mantra. Companies are investing in preventive health practices, such as health risk assessments, weight management programs and screenings for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. They’re also instituting workplace competitions and […]
Step-By-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part VI
Recap Over the last several weeks, we have been following 26-year-old Emily Randazzo as she trained for her first marathon. We learned what this kind of training can do to the body and the mind as well as a functioning social life. Now that the race is over, we wanted to share with you how […]
Cancer’s Target
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer and most difficult to treat The announcement that Steve Jobs had died of pancreatic cancer last week brought surprise and shock to many. After being diagnosed in 2004, he underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as a Whipple procedure that removed the tumor. And although he […]
The Power of Pink
Chicago is home to a range of organizations raising breast cancer awareness and offering assistance to those affected by the disease It’s October, and that means it’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During these next few weeks, Chicago will be awash in a now-familiar pink hue—on display everywhere from the Bears’ team uniforms to the […]
Born Safe
Concern for what’s best for mother and baby could birth new legislation More women are choosing to have the baby at home, rather than bringing it home. According to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics, home births increased by 5 percent from 2004–2005 in the United States. “People have very […]
A Quiet Killer
HPV awareness can save lives The Human Papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, is quietly claiming the lives of thousands of women each year. What makes this stealthy killer so dangerous, besides the fact that there are almost always no signs of infection, is the reluctance of the American public to recognize infection can be prevented. […]
Understanding Adult Acne
Half of women fight with adult acne. Doctors aren’t sure of the cause but are finding better treatments. When Donna Bertoncini was in the 7th grade, she developed acne and treated it with the typical over-the-counter products that all teenagers count on. She thought it would eventually go away. She was wrong. “You think you’re […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part V
The Final Push The last few weeks have proved mighty busy (and a little painful) for Emily. Two weeks ago, she ran the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) 20-miler only to realize a few miles in that she had outpaced herself. “I signed up for the 9-minute pace group when I first registered for the […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part IV
Finding Serenity With only a few weeks left before the race on Oct. 9, Emily ran her first 20-miler over Labor Day. The weekend was busy with a friend in town, but she woke up on Saturday morning and, in 80-degree heat, started her run in Evanston. “Shawn moved up there because he is now […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part III
Training Nutrition Last week, Emily was nervous about training while away in Kansas City, Kan., for her mother’s birthday. She got there on Friday, woke up early on Saturday morning, and she and her boyfriend, Shawn, hit the road for a five-miler. “It was crazy hot and is very hilly around my parent’s house, but […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part II
Part II – Going the Distance The last time we checked in with Emily, she was recovering from a difficult 17-miler (most of it run through the rain). And even though she lost a toenail “it was black and blue and just fell off,” she was ready last week to get back on the run […]
Fighting Young
When it comes to pediatric cancer, there are many uncertainties. But clinical trials are quickly saving more and more lives and letting kids, like Abigail Mendoza, live. Abigail Mendoza sat at the dinner table chewing alternating bites of homemade pizza and ranch- drenched carrot sticks. Her grin was constant. A toothy mash-up. A cross between […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary
Welcome to our new “Step-by-Step” column. Every two weeks, we will check in with 26-year-old Emily Randazzo, a consultant and resident of Lincoln Park, who is training for her first Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Oct. 9. Part I – The Starting Line Introducing Emily A longtime soccer player, Emily is used to physical fitness, […]
Change of Heart
Incredible new technologies keep the heart pumping On a multiple-choice quiz, a fair amount of people would be able to correctly select Christiaan Barnard as the first doctor to perform a human heart transplant in 1967. That milestone in cardiac surgery is now a commonplace procedure that no longer makes the headlines. But it doesn’t […]
Sleeping Safe and Sound
Snoring can be a sign of life-threatening sleep apnea Loud, disruptive snoring is certainly no treat, as any afflicted spouse will attest. But snoring, especially when accompanied by occasional gasps for breath in the middle of the night and excessive daytime sleepiness, can be a sign of something significantly more serious. Obstructive sleep apnea—when a […]
Sneezing Season
Allergies may be here to stay, but they can be kept in control Following a pretty brutal winter and a slow-to-start summer, Chicago is finally enjoying some nice weather. Warmer temperatures provide an opportunity to get out of the gym and run or bike along Lake Michigan or perhaps a trail in one of Chicagoland’s […]
Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon
Questions compiled by Eve Becker as suggested to her by Dr. Gregory Dumanian and Dr. David Song • Are you board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? • What procedures do you specialize in? • Why is this procedure the best one for me, rather than a similar one? • What is […]
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Reducing the inflammation and painful, swollen, tender joints in rheumatoid arthritis not only gives much greater comfort but also reduces progression of the disease. On the other hand, patients need to be fairly certain that they do have active rheumatoid arthritis and not some other condition that resembles it including lupus, fibromyalgia and others. Many […]
Sleep Apnea: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Questions compiled by Eve Becker as told to her by Dr. Babak Mokhlesi and Dr. James Wyatt • Are you board certified in sleep medicine? • Is your sleep disorders center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine? • What type of specialists work at your sleep center? • Do I have a sleeping disorder? […]
When Help Is Needed
Assisted living offers much more than care—it offers a life When Chicagoan Laura Kimmel started looking at retirement communities in the city for her parents, Saul and Simmie Liberman, they weren’t interested in making the move. The octogenarians were adamant about staying in the house in Lincolnshire they had called home for more than 30 […]
Restoring the Human Form
Reconstructive plastic surgery heals…and beautifies Look beyond the full lips, smooth skin and straight nose. Plastic surgery is about more than just a pretty face. Reconstructive plastic surgery focuses on improving the functionality of life, above the pure aesthetics of cosmetic surgery. Some top plastic surgeons in the Chicago area go beyond tummy tucks, liposuction […]
The Long Road Back
Much of you is required to rehabilitate after a stroke Life is unpredictable. Most of us go about our days concerning ourselves with immediate tasks. What to pick up at the grocery store for dinner. Getting the kids to soccer practice on time. Meeting that deadline at work. Rarely do we consider the possibility of […]
Great Pains
The key to living with arthritis is good pain management Each year, 27 million Americans suffer from the chronic disease, osteoarthritis (OA). The cause of OA is still not completely understood, and there is no known cure. What is known is that arthritis hurts. Osteoarthritis can be either primary or secondary. Primary OA is a […]
Magnetic Nurses
How the Magnet Recognition Program for nurses affects your hospital When we think about what makes for a great hospital, we tend to think about the doctors, the equipment and even the cost. And, nurses? Well, we just hope they’re not too overworked and grumpy to get the doctor and morphine when we need them. […]
Know Your Stats
Men can do well in dealing with prostate cancer Most men can rattle off all sorts of statistics about sports; football, baseball, ultimate fighting… But many of them have no clue about a particularly important and potentially life-saving number: their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score. The PSA score, determined by a simple blood test, may indicate […]
Heartful
Finding top cardiac hospitals is no longer a guessing game When shopping for the best heart hospital for you and your family, you no longer have to pick one and hope for the best. Statistics are at your fingertips. Places like the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care website (www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov), launched […]
The Brain at War
A Cure for Chronic Migraine Pain May Only be a Decade Away The word migraine comes from the Greek words “hemi” meaning half and “krania” meaning skull. This is a fitting name for the kind of excruciating headache that tortures one half of the brain at a time. With the pain, migraines also come with […]
Health Mastery
Hippocrates said, “I would rather know the person with the disease than the disease the person has.” Let me know if I am taking liberties with this quote. I believe that what he’s saying—who we are; how we present ourselves, face and perceive our lives—is integral to our health and to the treatment of what […]
Critical Questions: Infertility
New techniques have been developed to increase the chances of having a healthy baby. Dr. Ilan Tur-Kaspa, founder and director of the Institute for Human Reproduction (IHR), points out that when couples undergo in vitro fertilization, a procedure called preimplantation genetic diagnosis PGD can test the embryo for genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, […]
Hip and Knee Replacement: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Arthritis of the Hip and Knee: The Active Person’s Guide to Taking Charge, a book co-authored by Dr. S. David Stulberg, Director of The Joint Reconstruction and Implantation Service at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, offers hip and knee replacement patients a list of important questions to ask their surgeons. To take charge of your healthcare, consider […]
Smart Testing: Health Screenings for Women
Yes, yes. You know you’re overdue for your annual physical. And when was the last time you visited your dentist? Most women know that routine tests can be essential to maintaining good health, but our packed schedules and overflowing to-do lists often shove suggested medical screenings to the side. Still, a short talk with your […]
The Anatomy of Health: An Integrative Approach to Wellness
When I was in my very active 20s—dancing, biking, hiking—I had severe back and hip pain. I was studying for a dance degree at the time, and one of my very wise teachers witnessed my pain and frustration and told me that turning 30 would change my life. Yeah, right… Well, she was right. Today, […]
Inside Infertility
Every year, nearly seven million couples deal with the heartbreak of infertility. Rather than enduring it alone, most seek the counsel of a fertility specialist. Calling on physicians with high levels of experience and expertise and an array of available treatments, many women who previously thought becoming pregnant was impossible have been able to bear […]
Critical Choices: Which Hospital and Physician is Best for You?
When you want to buy a car, you can test-drive a variety of vehicles before you make your choice. When you need a new pair of jeans, you can try on styles by various designers in pursuit of that perfect fit. But when you have a health problem that cannot be ignored, you can’t give […]
Out of Joint: Hip and Knee Replacement
Joint stiffness and pain, particularly in the hip and knee, can have a serious impact on a sufferer’s quality of life, limiting both athletic pursuits and everyday physical activities. When the pain and loss of function are severe, the culprit is often osteoarthritis, which is caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Though such a […]
Knowing the Signs: Identifying Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is one of a few diseases known as a “silent killer” because it lacks specific, concrete symptoms. But according to physicians and recent studies, the disease does present warning signs that women, especially those at high risk, shouldn’t ignore. In particular, the U.S. Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the […]
The Invisible Killer: Lung Cancer Revealed
The pink ribbon that represents the fight against breast cancer is perhaps one of the most recognizable symbols. But can you name the color of the badge that supports lung cancer? It’s not surprising if you can’t. The looped ribbon is actually transparent (some have even dubbed it invisible) to underscore a pronounced lack of […]
Diagnosed with Osteoporosis: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Dr. Pauline Camacho, director of the Loyola University Health System Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease Center, encourages patients to approach their doctors with the following questions: If you have not been diagnosed with osteoporosis: Do I need a bone density test (also known as a DEXA scan)? Necessity differs based on sex, timing of menopause, […]
Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Dr. Diane Yamada, principal investigator at the University of Chicago for the Gynecologic Oncology Group, encourages ovarian cancer patients to approach their physicians with the following queries: If there is a suspicion of ovarian or fallopian tube cancer based on a worrisome looking mass on ultrasound: • How suspicious am I for ovarian cancer, and […]
Diagnosed with Lung Cancer: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Dr. Malcolm DeCamp, professor and chief of the division of thoracic surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, encourages lung cancer patients to approach their doctors with the following queries: What stage is my cancer, and how was that confirmed? Keep in mind that pathologic staging (which may involve biopsies of lymph nodes or […]
Diagnosed with Breast Cancer: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Breast cancer treatment is a partnership between the patient and several types of doctors. Patients should first make sure that they see a medical oncologist, who designs an overall treatment program. Patients should learn as much as possible about treatment options; don’t be afraid to ask questions, take notes, employ tape recorders or ask for […]
Smart Testing: Health Screenings for Men
All right, guys, let’s be honest. Where does scheduling an annual physical exam rank in its level of importance? If you’re under 40, probably somewhere between “cleaning the garage” and “not at all,” right? Not too long ago, my wife was having a follow-up visit with her new internist after recovering from surgery to remove […]
Think Pink: Innovations and Advancements in Breast Health
Breast cancer and fear go hand in hand. Both the disease and its treatment can be frightening and overwhelming. But thanks to pioneering research and the tireless work of dedicated health professionals, hospitals and medical centers across the nation—some right here in Chicago—are slowly but steadily replacing that fear with hope. The challenges, of course, […]
Bone Deep: All About Osteoporosis
It’s all too easy to take our bones for granted. Day to day, they feel so strong and permanent, but in reality, our bones are alive and constantly changing. Their evolution is easy to overlook—until the day we realize how stooped our posture has become, or how easily our wrist fractured during a small and […]
At Your Service: Perspectives on Concierge Medicine
In the great healthcare debate, the loudest argument seems to be about the “haves” and the “have-nots”—about who can afford what kind of care, and about who is responsible for getting something to those who can’t afford anything. These days, a new trend is trying to take the headache out of personalized health care by, […]