Advancing Sound Clarity in Public Venues Briefs

Advancing Sound Clarity in Public Venues

Some technology goes unnoticed until you need it. That includes hearing loops, which make a big difference to people with…

Diagnosis Unknown Features

Diagnosis Unknown

By Katie Scarlett BrandtErin O’Donnell is a freelance health and science writer, parent, and graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of…

We Asked…You Answered Ask The Doc

We Asked…You Answered

We asked readers to share on social media and in our weekly newsletter the most important thing they do for…

Medical Mission Charities

Medical Mission

Doctors helping local patients and teaching local doctors in Nepal When a medical team from the U.S. planned a visit…

In Their Words Charities

In Their Words

Three hospital chaplains share their thoughts on gun violence Hospital chaplains play a pivotal role in providing care, comfort, and…

Explore the Mysteries of Medicine in These Acclaimed Books Features

Explore the Mysteries of Medicine in These Acclaimed Books

At first glance, mystery novels and books about medicine may seem like two vastly different genres, but in fact they…

Who Gets Diagnosed in Illinois? Features

Who Gets Diagnosed in Illinois?

Not Everyone, and Not Well Enough The numbers don’t lie, but they do reveal an ugly truth: There are major…

Too Soon Features

Too Soon

Pediatric diseases can be tough to diagnose for many reasons Instead of always looking for the fantastic in dream interpretation,…

Lost Trust Features

Lost Trust

For years, many Black patients have mistrusted doctors and the healthcare system. How are physicians rebuilding that trust?  While on…

The Importance of Second Opinions Features

The Importance of Second Opinions

After a tiny lump on his tongue quickly swelled to the size of a golf ball, Chicago singer Hector Nuñez…

Misdiagnosed Features

Misdiagnosed

Patients turn to doctors for answers, but what happens when the answer is wrong?  When Jessica Gray was 16, numbness…

Life After Death Features

Life After Death

Some answers only reveal themselves after a person dies. For those paying attention, the information can change perspectives and save lives.…

How to Keep a Symptom Diary for the Most Accurate Diagnosis How To

How to Keep a Symptom Diary for the Most Accurate Diagnosis

When you’re dealing with an illness you can’t figure out or if you visit multiple doctors, a symptom diary is…

How To Avoid Self-Diagnosis How To

How To Avoid Self-Diagnosis

In an ideal world, if you notice something wrong with your body, you could immediately get a medical appointment —…

Healthcare Power of Attorney: An overlooked college essential Briefs

Healthcare Power of Attorney: An overlooked college essential

When teens turn 18, they’re legally classified as adults. But with nearly half a million 18-year-olds starting college this year, guardians…

Have You Heard?Briefs

Have You Heard?

Adults who believe they have mild or moderate hearing loss can now buy over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids without seeing a…

New Health Laws Briefs

New Health Laws

Bodily Autonomy Ordinance This new Chicago law prohibits city departments and agencies from participating in investigations or proceedings related to…

Private Practice Physicians Disappearing Briefs

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.…

Primary Care at Home is on the Rise Briefs

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…

Get “Pinched”, in Private: New Company Serves Two Growing Needs Latest News

Get “Pinched”, in Private: New Company Serves Two Growing Needs

Ever looked in the mirror and thought you wouldn’t mind looking more well-rested, or refreshed? Maybe you’d like to eliminate…

Helping Sick Kids Get Their Magic Back Briefs

Helping Sick Kids Get Their Magic Back

There’s magic in the air in Chicago. Open Heart Magic, a local nonprofit organization, brings interactive bedside magic to children…

Immersive Therapy Charities

Immersive Therapy

By Megy KarydesErin O’Donnell is a freelance health and science writer, parent, and graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.…

The Need for Screening Family Health

The Need for Screening

While men may be reluctant to see the doctor, they should consider these important preventive tests How do you think…

Sunscreens at a Glance Briefs

Sunscreens at a Glance

When it comes to preventing skin cancer, sunscreen is essential. There are two main types of sunscreen — chemical and…

Creating Friendship and Combating Isolation Briefs

Creating Friendship and Combating Isolation

Friendship is essential for all of us. But during the pandemic, children with intellectual disabilities have needed friends more than…

Over-the-Counter Birth Control Briefs

Over-the-Counter Birth Control

People in Illinois can now access birth control via a consultation with a trained pharmacist, rather than a prescription from…

Menstrual Health Equity Briefs

Menstrual Health Equity

Being unable to access menstrual products takes a mental and physical toll on students, says Em Rabelais, PhD, RN, a…

Drifting Away Family Health

Drifting Away

If your child dislikes reading, vision convergence insufficiency could be to blame When a child dislikes reading, parents may brush…

‘Oh, My Aging Feet’ Uncategorized

‘Oh, My Aging Feet’

Addressing foot problems in older adults  Our feet take a pounding every day. But for many older adults, aging feet…

The Power of Prevention Features

The Power of Prevention

When it comes to our health, we tend to treat disease instead of warding it off in the first place. …

Food as Medicine Features

Food as Medicine

Chicago groups find creative ways to provide fresh food and build healthy communities On an unseasonably warm December morning, volunteers…

How to Be Heart Smart Features

How to Be Heart Smart

Give your heart a head start by knowing — and reducing — your risks Preventive medical advice sometimes feels like…

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Features

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Making lifestyle changes now can help stop or reverse the disorder It was a few weeks before Christmas 2019, and…

Weight-Loss Success Features

Weight-Loss Success

Initiatives  — whether surgery, medication, or diet — help people conquer obesity and improve their health Weight loss is a…

Breathing Easy Features

Breathing Easy

Preventing asthma starts by understanding triggers and, perhaps, by changing the way we eat A few months ago, I discovered…

Preventing Overdose Deaths Features

Preventing Overdose Deaths

Now, more medications treat opioid use disorder Drug-related deaths hit an all-time high in the United States recently, with most…

Eliminating Cervical Cancer Briefs

Eliminating Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer in Chicago occurs 39% more often and has a 60% higher death rate than the national average, according…

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body Briefs

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

Everyone knows that brushing your teeth prevents cavities and tooth decay. But many people don’t realize dental care is an…

Genetic Testing Informs Medical Choices Briefs

Genetic Testing Informs Medical Choices

Genetic testing for everything from rare disorders to common cancers empowers people to make informed medical decisions — possibly preventing…

Building Strong Anesthesia Teams, Delivering Exceptional Patient CareLatest News

Building Strong Anesthesia Teams, Delivering Exceptional Patient Care

Covid-19 has forever changed how clinicians deliver quality care. As the healthcare landscape continues to shift, one thing is certain:…

Respite Care Offers Double the Good Feelings Latest News

Respite Care Offers Double the Good Feelings

Tired caregivers may not always know where to turn when it comes to supporting a beloved older family member. Respite…

Looking for a Powerful Low-Vision Device? Turn to Your Smartphone Latest News

Looking for a Powerful Low-Vision Device? Turn to Your Smartphone

Have you ever found yourself in a dark restaurant, unable to read the menu? Maybe you forgot your glasses. Maybe…

‘Zombie’ Brain Cells Keep on Kicking After Death Briefs

‘Zombie’ Brain Cells Keep on Kicking After Death

While some brain cells disintegrate moments after we die, others actually grow, report researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago. The findings,…

A Robust Blend: Coffee and Hope Briefs

A Robust Blend: Coffee and Hope

When patrons at the Sip of Hope Community Coffee Bar order a cup of coffee, they get a signature blend:…

The Army at UChicago Briefs

The Army at UChicago

In a tactical maneuver, active-duty Army medical personnel are now embedded at the University of Chicago Medicine. They’re stationed not…

Book Beat Briefs

Book Beat

We asked local physicians for their health-related book recommendations. Here’s what they said:   The Mind-Gut Connection By Emeran Mayer,…

Men and Mental Health Men's Health

Men and Mental Health

More men are seeking help, but roadblocks to treatment remain Through college, graduate school, and into an active and successful…

Drinking Age Family Health

Drinking Age

With the pandemic and an increase in wine culture, more women are drinking — to excessive levels Women drink. A…

Death with Dignity Aging

Death with Dignity

Illinois groups push for medical aid in dying as an option for people with terminal illness When we imagine the…

Isolation’s Impacts Pediatrics

Isolation’s Impacts

Helping kids cope with the pandemic’s emotional and behavioral legacy Before the pandemic, Patrick DeFors brought his children, then ages…