Teens & Opioids
Conversation starters and strategies to guide young people toward treatment If opioids hijack your teenager, keeping them safe while they use can be the buoy that saves them. Telling a teen in the throes of an opioid addiction to just stop or say no won’t work once cravings, withdrawal, and other elements of addiction have […]
The Art of Practicing Yourself
I couldn’t believe that my editor deleted the phrase “practice yourself” from my last column. She said readers wouldn’t understand the concept. I balked, then remembered that in 2009 when I offered a course called The Art of Practicing You, I received no responses. Nada! Zippo! So I ask: Do you know what it means to […]
Private Practice Physicians Disappearing
The American Medical Association (AMA) last year noted that most patient care physicians now work outside of physician-owned medical practices. This marked the first time physicians in private practices dropped below 50%. The AMA study cited contributing factors to the shift, including practice closures and job changes. Marco Fernandez, MD, founding member of the Association […]
Primary Care at Home is on the Rise
Advances in portable medical technology, care reimbursement models, and changing consumer preferences are bringing more healthcare into the home. Modern house calls provide care to medically complex people or those who have trouble getting to a doctors office. And the Chicago Department of Public Health offers a form of home healthcare with Covid-19 and flu vaccine […]
Planet Diet
How plant-based meals benefit people and planet March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme — Fuel for the Future — focuses on using food to nourish not only ourselves but the planet. The key: Opting for plant-based meals and snacks, which can make a difference in managing and preventing chronic diseases — all […]
Healthcare Surrogates
Turning 18? Graduating high school? Make sure your medical affairs are in order with a healthcare power of attorney. Like every mom, I want my children to be safe and healthy. But as I packed up my oldest to attend college more than 2,000 miles away this past fall, I realized I was losing control […]
Medical School Reflections
From dream to disillusion, writer Hana Ahmed navigates the first year of medical school. To make it through medical school, being a doctor nearly must be your calling. For me, I thought it was. I crack jokes with my parents, reminding them that they got lucky: They never had to abide by the Asian immigrant […]
Op-Ed: Preventing Cervical Cancer
How HPV vaccination decreases cervical cancer risk. Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. Studies predict it may be possible to eliminate cervical cancer by 2120, primarily by implementing health strategies focused on high rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for children […]
Our Top 10 Stories of 2022
Happy 2023! We’re celebrating by taking a look back at our top 10 most-read stories of the past year. Covid-19 no longer tops the list (or fills it completely, as it did in 2020), but a couple of our top stories this year did deal with Covid-19, specifically the virus’s long-term impacts. Stories on disease […]
Emergency Ready
Prep your first-aid kit, keep yourself safe, and respond to emergencies and accidents Make a resolution to brush up on first-aid skills. Even if you’ve taken a course before, refreshing your skills or reviewing what you learned will ensure you respond effectively to an accident or emergency situation. “The American Red Cross recommends that people […]
Beyond Bullets
Can changing the way we medically treat gunshot wounds stem gun violence? If you watch local news in Chicago, you can’t escape stories about the city’s gun violence. But the stories don’t often go beyond the shootings themselves — and neither do most medical treatments. As of early December 2022, gun violence has killed 583 […]
Traditional Foods
Trailblazing chef Jessica Walks First is reclaiming healthy Native American culinary traditions Jessica Walks First was feeling tired one day in early November — exhausted actually, but inspired to be doing work she felt called to do. November is Native American Heritage Month, and Walks First, a Menominee chef, had been in high demand. As […]
Fresh Access
Englewood’s Go Green Fresh Market reimagines food security and prioritizes community engagement At the corner of South Racine and 63rd Streets, just down the street from a boarded-up CTA green line station, Go Green Community Fresh Market has changed what it means to be a convenience store. Fresh Market replaces traditional convenience store items, such […]
Maxed Out
When shopping becomes an addiction Do you spend a lot of time thinking about shopping? Do you hide purchases from loved ones? Compulsively buy and then return items you never use? Do you continue to accumulate consumer debt from your shopping habits? If so, you may have a shopping addiction. About 20 million Americans have […]
I Took My Daughter to an Amusement Park. Then a Shooting Happened
This story originally ran on Healthline in September. Cathy Cassata is a writer for Chicago Health and Healthline. Going to Six Flags Great America amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois, has been a part of my life since I was a kid. My sister and I had season passes throughout our teen years in the ’90s and now […]
Teaching Hospitals
Chicago area hospitals take steps to increase patients’ overall health through health literacy Greg Banks had one month in which he walked less and ate more cookies than he intended. And he knew Zaundra Boyd would have a conversation with him at their monthly check in about doing better. “I slacked off, I have to […]
Health Literacy
Roughly half of American adults read below a sixth grade level. Yet, most health information — educational pamphlets, discharge instructions, medication details — is written at a 12th-grade level. This gap leaves room for misunderstandings and mistakes for patients, which can lead to poor health outcomes and increased medical costs. At the broader public level, […]
From the Frontlines
We asked nine area healthcare professionals to answer… What is the most important thing about healthcare that you wish more people were aware of? “That we care for them.” —Frances Terry, LPN, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center Patients need to recognize that public health is really, really important. We can’t only think about our own individual […]
Healthcare Guides
Health literacy nonprofits highlight crucial need for patient advocacy The U.S. healthcare system is daunting, and often people have to navigate it when they’re feeling their worst. Patients need to understand what their doctors tell them and to ask questions if they want more information. But they’re not always capable of doing this — and […]
Reason to Smile
Chicago-area dentist travels to rural Mexico to care for patients At a make-shift dental clinic in Mexico’s Southern Sierra Madre Mountains, adults and children sat in portable wooden and plastic chairs, their heads tilted back and mouths open wide. While an assistant shined a flashlight into patients’ mouths, James Orbon, DDS, worked primarily on extractions. […]
Denying Depression
Expanding mental health literacy in the Black community It’s an understatement to say that coming to grips with my mental health has been an uphill battle. For years, I trained myself to suppress my mental illness to cope with these unwanted feelings. Professional help never crossed my mind. Black people don’t go to therapy, I’d […]
Breaking Barriers
Interpreters and community health workers build healthcare connections A confused, non-English speaking patient arrived for chemotherapy at a local community hospital one afternoon. She wanted to know why she always felt worse after treatment. Perplexed, the woman’s care team called an on-staff interpreter to help both sides understand what was happening. The interpreter deduced that […]
Heading Home
Planning for hospital discharge Hospital discharge — the process when a patient heads home after a hospitalization or procedure — brings a sense of relief for some, a moment to celebrate for others, and a time fraught with problems and worry for many. No two discharge experiences are alike, due to so many moving parts, […]
Take Charge of Your Numbers
Your blood contains secrets about your overall health. It can indicate whether you’re at risk for heart disease, show that your kidneys aren’t functioning correctly, or reveal that you are developing diabetes. That’s why annual exams typically include a blood draw. In fact, blood work ranks among the most common diagnostic methods. Looking at lab […]
Records Request
How to access your medical records Your medical records are a gold mine of information about your health. They contain details about your doctor appointments, tests, medications, hospital visits, surgeries, and more. The question of who owns those records is a little hazy. Federal law hasn’t decided, and ownership laws vary by state. In Illinois, […]
A Simple Test for Fentanyl
Even in tiny amounts, the synthetic opioid fentanyl can be deadly. Dealers cut it into everything from heroin and cocaine to counterfeit versions of Xanax and Adderall, in attempts to stretch quantities and increase potency. In fact, four out of every 10 fentanyl-laced pills contain a potentially lethal dose, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement […]
New Health Laws
Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act – HB3739 This law upgrades Illinois’ outdated water infrastructure and protects human and environmental health. Illinois’ high percentage of lead service lines — an estimated 1 in 6 — contaminate drinking water. Lead, a heavy metal and neurotoxin, causes brain damage in children and heart disease and kidney […]
Chronic Migraines — Better with Botox?
Pounding, debilitating, chronic migraines may qualify for an unexpected treatment: Botox. Merle Diamond, MD, director of the Diamond Headache Clinic, has used Botox for more than 10 years to treat patients’ migraines. She considers the drug safe, easy, and affordable — decreasing the number of headaches people experience by more than half. Private insurance and Medicare […]
Creating Jobs, Smoothies, and Community
Misericordia, a care community in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood, opened the Hearts & Flour Bakery and Café in April 2022, hoping to foster independence for its residents through jobs. The cafe employs 12 of Misericordia’s 600 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live within the 34-acre campus and 14 surrounding homes. In the spacious, […]
Virtual Reality Transforms Occupational Therapy
Imagine an occupational therapy session next to a beautiful lake or in an art studio. When Michael Swayne goes to therapy at OSF Rehabilitation in Peoria, he might catch virtual fish or create an imaginary masterpiece. With a virtual reality (VR) technology called REAL y-Series, launched in 2022, occupational therapist Anne Horowitz helps Swayne improve […]
Public Safety and Public Health: Sharing the Bike Lane
I have long said that I’m not a true Chicagoan because I haven’t been doored. If you’re not familiar with the term, you’re not a Chicago cyclist. For a cyclist, getting doored happens when a person in a car opens their door right in your path. This sends you like a rocket straight into the […]
Our Well-being: It’s More Than Personal
Shootings. Extreme weather. The Great Resignation. Depression. Anxiety. The messaging is clear: How we move with ourselves, our communities, and the earth is not sustainable. Sustainability is about living practices that honor environmental, economic, and human vitality for the thriving of all, not just for today but for generations to come. But are we ready to […]
Ask the Doc
Your embarrassing questions answered! By Dhara Bhakta, MD Q: How can I talk to my medical providers about my sexual concerns or issues? A: Talking to medical providers about sexual health concerns isn’t something most people relish. To be honest, most medical providers are just as uncomfortable talking about sex as their patients are. There are […]
High-five
The 5 supports that got me through cancer treatment Getting support during cancer treatment is essential. But finding the right support can feel like standing in one of those lottery wind tunnels — bills zooming everywhere as you’re frantically trying to grab what you can. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, life feels like a whirlwind — the […]
Repeat Performance
The medical consequences of gaming and esports The call of Call of Duty — a top-selling (400 million copies worldwide), first-person shooter video game — has kept Gabriel Dimperio seated for eight to 10 hours at a time, waging battle in virtual worlds. And he’s felt it in his back. “It’s something you power through,” […]
Owning Disability
By talking about their differences, children can self-advocate and build confidence Tommy O’Leary appreciates a good joke. Occasionally, when a curious kid asks about his prosthetic leg, he says a shark attacked him. To Tommy, the made-up version is more exciting than the real story. MaryKay O’Leary, Tommy’s mom, feels differently. She reminds him that […]
Time to Chill
The effects of stress on heart health At 28, I got into an argument with my boyfriend and ended up collapsed in my apartment stairwell, clutching my chest. I wasn’t being dramatic. My heart was racing at about 200 beats per minute — two to three times faster than a standard heart rate. It was […]
Restless Nights?
A sleep disorder may be a hidden precursor to Parkinson’s disease Otis Peeples always had vivid dreams. So vivid, in fact, that he regularly acted them out in his sleep. From dreaming he was driving a car to reenacting a Western movie, his movements and behaviors sometimes endangered himself and his wife, Linda. “One day, […]
Losing Control
Pelvic floor physical therapy can improve quality of life for men and women For years, Park Ridge resident Amanda Key, 24, planned her activities around bathroom access. She would avoid fun road trips to prevent accidents. On plane rides, she tried not to drink anything and always booked an aisle seat for a quick run to […]
Tough Teen Talks
Connection and communication help prevent adolescent suicides On a rainy day last winter, the principal of a suburban Chicago high school read the morning announcements over the intercom. As she reported that a student died by suicide that morning, her tone of voice didn’t fluctuate. She noted that the school’s psychologists were available to speak […]
Is Sitting Worse Than Smoking?
Build more activity into your day How much time do you spend sitting? Probably more than you realize. The average American adult sits for more than nine hours a day. All that sitting means that more than 75% of us, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), aren’t getting the recommended amount of exercise. […]
Finding Refuge
Organizations and medical professionals step up to help the newest Chicagoans When the Taliban reclaimed Afghanistan in 2021, 2.6 million people fled the country, seeking refuge in other places across the world. Nearly 2,000 of those refugees made their way to Illinois, many of them landing in Chicago, where local organizations helped them resettle in […]
Managing Pain in Orthopedics
People tend to seek orthopedic care for one root reason: They’re experiencing pain. Whether from an acute sports injury or after enduring years of joint aches and stiffness, orthopedic specialists see people looking for relief. But when should you seek care? How do you figure out the cause of your pain? And what options do […]
Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago
Fertility Specialists When seeking exceptional reproductive specialist care in Chicago, Illinois, people trust the caring and distinguished providers at AFCC. Our team features some of Chicago’s best reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists — experts who leverage the most innovative technology for clinical care, while maintaining deep investment in your specific family-building goals. Patients exploring fertility […]
Keeping Track
Wearable tech lets people monitor their health in real-time Using a small, personalized device to access complex health information isn’t the stuff of futuristic science fiction. Here we are, with our trackers masquerading as bracelets and smart watches worthy of Dick Tracy. Technology advancements and people’s openness to them has created a burgeoning segment of personalized health […]
Plant-Based Doctor
Finding inspiration in his grandmother’s recipes, local physician creates his own cookbook Growing up in the Milwaukee suburbs, Sheil Shukla, DO, would watch his grandmother — the family cook — create her own recipes. Back in India, she had joined cooking competitions, and Shukla calls her “an inspiration for my own cooking.” Shukla’s grandmother returned to […]
Quality Supplements
What to look for in a label Choosing a supplement can be confusing. Not all brands are equal, and how do you know that you’re actually getting what the label says? “Quality matters if you hope to see a benefit and reduce the risk of harm,” says Melinda Ring, MD, executive director at the Osher […]
Expert Perspective: Fertility and You
If you want to start a family but experience obstacles in your reproductive health, a lot can feel beyond your control. Emotions run high — from sadness to fear, anger to frustration. Here, Michelle Catenacci, MD, obstetrician, gynecologist, and fertility specialist with Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago, shares her view of what people can control […]
Under an Urban Canopy
Chicago’s tree ambassadors teach residents about the crucial role trees play in health and health equity. In North Lawndale, on Chicago’s southwest side, Annamaria Leon will be talking with her neighbors about one thing this fall: not crime, not politics…but trees. As a neighborhood tree ambassador with training from the city, she educates others about […]
Probiotics, Fermented Foods, and Your Gut
Fermented foods and beverages are trending. But many of their biggest fans aren’t aware that they’ve been around for thousands of years. Before refrigeration, people cultured dairy products and fermented meat, fruits, and vegetables to prevent spoilage. As a food ferments, naturally occurring antimicrobial compounds block the growth of organisms that can cause foodborne illness. […]