Death with Dignity
Illinois groups push for medical aid in dying as an option for people with terminal illness When we imagine the inevitable, we often think of the best: that we will pass away while cozily tucked in bed, surrounded by our loved ones, with a peaceful smile on our faces, knowing we led a life well-lived. Unfortunately, […]
Isolation’s Impacts
Helping kids cope with the pandemic’s emotional and behavioral legacy Before the pandemic, Patrick DeFors brought his children, then ages 2 and 3, to a small in-home daycare three days a week. But when Illinois locked down in March 2020, DeFors and his wife Lisa pulled the children from daycare and kept them at home. […]
The New Normal?
5 mental health lessons from the pandemic 1. Make changes, but go slow “As we move into a new normal, there is an opportunity to consider how to shape your time and space going forward. To do that well, take some time to reflect on what changes you made during the pandemic that worked well […]
Same-Day Brain Surgery
Brain surgery is highly complex. But now, some people may be able to have brain surgery and go home the same day, says Osaama Khan, MD, a neurosurgeon at Northwestern Medicine. Khan, who spent several years developing the outpatient brain surgery protocol at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, saw the time was right to launch […]
Hot Stuff
Pungent chili peppers can boost metabolism, providing health benefits Carolina Reaper. Komodo Dragon. Devil’s Tongue Red. These are some of the hottest chili peppers in the world. Pungent chili peppers all contain a plant compound called capsaicin that’s responsible for their heat — and for the health benefits of hot peppers. Capsaicin is present in […]
So Good, It’s Scary
Chock-full of nutrition, pumpkin is the basis for favorite fall treats Pumpkin doesn’t only make attractive jack-o’-lanterns; it’s a fruit (and yes, as a squash, it’s considered a fruit) that’s chock-full of nutrition. These orange giants offer a hefty dose of fiber — good for losing weight, keeping your bowel movements regular, and reducing your risk for diabetes. […]
Battling Belly Fat
Trim the flab with at-home ab exercises If gym closings, added stress, and pandemic paralysis caused you to gain weight this past year, you aren’t alone. The Covid-19 weight gain is real. Some 61% of U.S. adults reported undesired weight changes during the first year of the pandemic, with an average weight gain of 29 pounds, […]
Creating Access
Organizations provide equipment and leadership development, promoting independence and power We hold on to household items for various reasons. We may not want to dispose of them because they evoke memories from the past or because they may be of use in the future. Often, these items are tiny trinkets, cards, or mementos. Sometimes, they […]
Black Minds Matter
What will it take to address the city’s racial disparities in mental health care? Horace Washington Howard rides the bus and the El an hour each way to get to the Heartland Health Center in Uptown, a federally qualified health center where he gets treatment for bipolar disorder. He used to walk the few blocks from […]
Graphic Medicine
Cartoons use their visual power to promote healing and acceptance M.K. Czerwiec, RN, was a brand-new nurse, still in nursing school, as excited and full of anxiety as any of her peers. She was worried about her care plans and forgetting her stethoscope. But she had something else to contend with: grief. Her father had […]
Covid Psychosis
Condition can cause serious, but temporary, psychotic episodes Ben Price, 48, from Morris, Illinois, was a loving husband, father, and a dedicated business owner and farmer. In February 2021, Ben contracted Covid-19. His symptoms landed him in the hospital for five days, during which he received the antiviral medication remdesivir and supplemental oxygen. Two days after […]
Restarting After Covid-19
Woodridge residents Bob and Gloria Pluta have spent the majority of their 44-year marriage scrunched into suburbia, surrounded by neighbors, cars, and noise. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit back in 2020, the constant closeness made them realize that something had to change. They had to find some physical and mental space. So they did. And […]
Simple and Effective Strategies for Coping with Vision Loss
Close your eyes. Now go get a soda out of the refrigerator. Are you sure you have the right thing? Maybe you wanted diet and grabbed regular. How do you know without being able to see what you are choosing? Now close your eyes and make dinner, do a load of laundry, or walk to […]
Keep Medical Records, Family History at the Ready
Mary Kay Doyle is sure that having her son’s medical records close at hand has helped his new doctors better treat him. Doyle, who lives in Frankfort, keeps a list of her son’s surgeries and medications at the ready, so doctors will immediately have background on her son Tommy, 27, who has VATER syndrome, […]
Ask the Doc
Your embarrassing questions answered! Q: I have hemorrhoids and they are, quite literally, a pain in my rear. Why are they plaguing me, and what can I do to relieve the itching and bleeding? A: Hemorrhoids are a very common problem. People ask about them all the time. Hemorrhoids are swollen or dilated blood vessels in the […]
Fear of Needles is Common. Here’s How to Work Through the Anxiety
When Charlie thinks about getting an injection, he shudders. “I am terrified of needles,” says the 45-year-old Pilsen resident, who asked that his last name be withheld for privacy. He ticks off a montage of past needle disasters: At 9 years old, he had his tonsils out. When he awoke from surgery, he was so […]
8 Ways Climate Change Affects Chicagoans’ Health
The United Nations this month released a major climate change report, the first of its kind in eight years. The report outlines what scientists know about global warming and informs policy makers how to slow the planet’s rising temperatures. All of the world’s 195 countries participated in the report’s development, with hundreds of scientists assessing studies […]
Treating Mild Sleep Apnea: Should You Consider a CPAP Device?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by repeated episodes of partial or total upper airway obstruction that result in arousals from sleep and changes in oxygen levels during sleep. OSA is one of the most common conditions I see as a sleep medicine specialist. This is not surprising, considering that OSA is estimated […]
Make It Meatless!
If you’re motivated to make a healthy change this year, consider including meatless meals. There’s never been a better or more exciting time to give them a try. Not only will skipping meat — even just one meal or one day a week — benefit your health and the environment, making meatless meals that are […]
Q&A: How Contagious Is the Covid-19 Delta Variant?
After a spring when it looked like Covid-19 was in retreat, the highly contagious delta variant is surging in the United States. The delta variant is more infectious than previous variants and poses a high risk to people who are unvaccinated. We spoke with Richard Novak, MD, head of infectious disease at UI Health, about […]
Vaccine Hesitation: Blood Clots Pose an Extremely Rare Risk
To date, more than 160 million Americans — about half of the U.S. population — have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Yet, some are still holding back due to their concerns surrounding the newness of the vaccines. Here, we take a deeper look into one potential reason for that hesitation: Covid-19 vaccines and the rare […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Understanding ‘Golfer’s Elbow’
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: About a month ago, I began experiencing pain in my elbow. I experience this almost constantly, but it is worst whenever I try to lift anything, no matter how heavy. The pain moves from my elbow down my inner forearm, and if I twist or turn my wrist or arm, it worsens. […]
Op-Ed: Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Orthopedics
Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. Many nonmedical issues affect our health — such as the conditions in which people grow up, work, live, and age, as well as the systems that shape these conditions. Together, these social determinants of […]
2021 Award-Winning Journalism from Chicago Health and Caregiving
In one of our most exciting years yet, we’re honored to share that Chicago Health and Caregiving magazines have won a host of journalism awards in 2021! Association of Health Care Journalists Kate Silver won a first place award from the Association of Health Care Journalists for her Chicago Health story, “Learning from the Dead: The enduring […]
7 Lifestyle Habits to Prevent and Treat Peptic Ulcers
Peptic ulcers come with some key telltale signs — and they’re not very pleasant. Upper abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, vomiting, heartburn, and back pain could all be signs of peptic ulcer disease (PUD). By far, upper abdominal pain ranks as the most common symptom, with almost 80% of people with PUD experiencing it. Peptic ulcers […]
Working from Home Can Be a Real Pain
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed just about everything in our lives, including the drastic increase in working from home. It’s a trend that’s bound to continue, as countless people have gotten used to the convenience of working in their pajamas without needing to commute to the office. But for some, working from home has, literally, […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Association Between Oral Health, Heart Disease Not Well-Understood
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Will taking care of my teeth help prevent heart disease? ANSWER: Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke could be linked to the inflammations and infections that oral bacteria can cause. Based on that evidence, there appears to be an association between oral health and heart disease. But the […]
The Wide World of Mushrooms
Mushrooms have been consumed and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks believed mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle, and the Romans perceived them as “food of the gods.” For centuries, the Chinese culture has treasured mushrooms as a health food, labeling them as an “elixir of life.” Traditional Chinese […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: What to Drink to Stay Hydrated
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I know I need to drink while I exercise, but what is the best fluid? I’m wondering how much I should drink and if I need to drink special water, as someone mentioned alkaline water. Is alkaline water better at rehydrating your body than nonalkaline, or plain, water? ANSWER: Staying hydrated during […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Can I Exercise When I Am Sick?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Can I continue to exercise even if I don’t feel well, or should I hold off until I start to feel better? ANSWER: The answer to that question depends largely on what’s wrong. For example, if you have symptoms of the common cold, it’s usually fine to keep exercising. It may even […]
For Strong Bones, Start Young
Brittle bones and stooped posture may seem like an inevitable part of aging, but they are not. In fact, what you do now can protect your bones and influence your risk of osteoporosis later. Most people don’t realize they have osteoporosis — which means “porous bone” — until they have a bone fracture. But increased […]
Olive Oil or Coconut Oil: Which Is Worthy of Kitchen-Staple Status?
Coconut oil has developed a cult-like following in recent years, with proponents touting benefits ranging from body fat reduction to heart disease prevention. Sadly for devotees, the evidence to support these assertions remains rather sparse. But there is plenty of research to suggest that other plant-based oils have advantages over their animal-derived counterparts, particularly when […]
A Crisis of Undiagnosed Cancers Is Emerging in the Pandemic’s Second Year
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Teresa Ruvalcaba lay on a bed in the emergency room of Chicago’s Mount Sinai Hospital, her right breast swollen to nearly twice the size of her left, the skin so thick and dimpled that the doctor examining her would note that it resembled an orange peel. Ojalá que […]
Reiki’s Healing Energy Can Spread Calm and Reduce Stress
Energy cannot be created or destroyed — but can energy help reduce stress? Believers of reiki think so. Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a complementary health approach based on an Eastern belief that energy supports the body’s innate healing abilities. During a reiki session, reiki practitioners place their hands lightly or just above a person, with […]
A Modern Take on Olden Grains
Conventional wisdom says that it’s good to be young. After all, youth is all about vigor and hope. But when it comes to whole grains, being age-old is something to celebrate. Thanks to newly “discovered” ancient grains like quinoa, teff, and spelt, the diversity of whole grains available to us has never been greater. Dubbed […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Surgery Can Eliminate Vision Problems Related to Droopy Eyelids
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My droopy eyelids have worsened significantly over the past few years, but I’m hesitant to have surgery to fix them. What are the risks of having an eyelid lift, and how long is the recovery? ANSWER: Blepharoplasty, also called an eyelid lift, typically includes removing extra skin, muscle, and fat from the […]
12 Foods with More Vitamin C than Oranges
If you chug a glass of orange juice every time you start sniffling, you may be onto something. Though studies show that consuming vitamin C can’t actually prevent colds, loading up on this nutrient may help slightly shorten the length of time you’re sick and reduce the severity of your symptoms. Thing is, a medium-size […]
When Teen Angst Turns to Pandemic Anxiety and Depression
When kids grow into teens, they generally start separating from their parents and spend more time with their peers. But the isolation of Covid-19 has rewritten the script. Remote schooling, quarantine orders, and the cancellation of sports teams and other activities have caused young people to lose contact with their peers, as well as with […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Adults Up to Age 45 and at Risk for HPV infection Can Get Vaccine
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Why is the HPV vaccine now offered to adults and adolescents? I was surprised to hear that it’s recommended up to age 45. Will the vaccine do any good for adults who already have HPV? ANSWER: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that some adults ages 27 to […]
Chicago’s Mass Vaccination Sites Are ‘Not Enough’ for Vaccine Equity
Staying up all night. Constantly refreshing the webpage. Trying to book an appointment for the Covid-19 vaccine in Chicago has looked a lot like scoring tickets to your favorite band’s concert. Ashwini Deshpande of Vernon Hills struggled for nearly one month to book appointments for her 77-year-old grandparents, who live in Chicago. With overloaded call […]
Should You Use a Hunger Scale?
Do you have a tendency to graze all day rather than eat real meals, perhaps mindlessly? Does it seem like you go from perfectly fine to hangry — hungry and angry — in the blink of an eye? Do you get wrapped up in a project, a book, or several episodes of your favorite streaming […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Long-Term Benefits and Risks of Intermittent Fasting Aren’t Yet Known
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is intermittent fasting for weight loss safe? What are the risks of short-term diets that are very low-calorie? ANSWER: Recent research has found that using intermittent fasting for weight loss may have some benefits in the short term. But at this point, we don’t know the long-term effects of this type of […]
5 Health Benefits of Almonds
Almonds are nutrient powerhouses. Whether consumed whole, chopped, sliced, or ground into almond flour or almond butter, this deliciously satisfying nut truly deserves its superfood status. Here are five research-backed almond benefits, and simple ways to incorporate them into meals, snacks, and treats. 1. Almonds are nutrient-rich. An ounce of almonds, which is about 1/4 […]
Covid-19 Vaccine Q&A: Chicago Physicians Weigh In
Even though the toll of Americans dying from Covid-19 continues to rise and Chicago specifically is seeing a surge in cases, hope is on the horizon. Scientists and public health officials expect that vaccines against the illness will eventually bring an end to the pandemic. As of late March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) […]
How to Respond to Toddler’s Tantrums
As Murphy’s Law would have it, children’s tantrums seem to happen at the most inconvenient times. Your toddler or independent-minded 3-year-old turns red, screams, stomps, and appears possessed when you’ve finally gotten everyone geared up for a family walk, or wrangled that video call you spent days coordinating with relatives to get everyone live at […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Teen’s Symptoms Require Evaluation with Healthcare Provider
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m 19, and I think I might have a yeast infection. Or it could be trichomoniasis. My symptoms are vaginal odor, unstable periods, and pain during sex. I don’t feel comfortable going to the doctor about this. Is it safe to try an over-the-counter yeast infection treatment first to see if that […]
Your Headaches Are Getting Worse. Do You Need an Imaging Test?
Headache is a very common condition that affects up to 60% of the world’s population. In general, headache can be classified into two main categories: primary and secondary headaches. A primary headache is related to increased sensitivities, but not structural alterations of brain tissues. Common primary headaches are migraine with and without aura, tension-type headache, […]
Now Is a Great Time to Start Sipping Peppermint Tea
Made from the dried leaves of the peppermint plant, peppermint tea is an herbal infusion with a fresh, soothing flavor. And unless it’s mixed with green, black, or white tea (check the label), peppermint tea is a caffeine-free, tea-free, zero-calorie beverage that packs in so many health benefits, it’s kind of wild that it comes […]
Midwife-Led Birth Centers Offer a Safe Alternative to Hospital Birth
When Tania Nava of Berwyn gave birth to her first child at a local Chicago hospital, she knew it was an experience she never wanted to repeat. “The hospital staff was really harsh on me,” she says. Throughout the process, Nava says she felt stressed and pressured to take drugs like Pitocin to hurry the […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Canker Sores Often Go Away on Their Own, Are Not Contagious
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Every few months, my teenage son gets canker sores in the back of his throat that really bother him and last for about a week. Is there something that he can do to prevent them? Will this continue throughout his life? ANSWER: Canker sores rarely pose a serious health concern. But as […]
