Female Force
Meet the woman behind Chicago’s Women in Medicine Summit Fact checked by Catherine Gianaro Leading up to the annual Women in Medicine Summit at the Drake Hotel in Chicago this month, writer Kimberly Soenen sits down with the force behind a movement that’s elevating women’s voices in medicine. Shikha Jain, MD, holds a host of titles. […]
Read Our 2023 Award-Winning Stories
Caregiving and Chicago Health magazines’ editorial and design teams once again received many honors for their outstanding work. This isn’t just a bragging point. To us, this type of recognition fortifies our efforts to tell engaging, impactful stories that reflect our communities. Congratulations to all, and please enjoy reading through our honored entries. Oh, […]
Back-to-School Sickness
Infectious diseases spike when kids return to school − here’s what you can do about it Above image: Sick kids can spread diseases in their households and classrooms. kali9/E+ via Getty Images Ready or not, back-to-school season is here, and kids will be bringing home more than homework. They’ll be carrying germs, too. These viruses and […]
Op-Ed: Gender Inequities in Healthcare Affect All of Us
Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. Healthcare, by its very nature, is about caring for the wellbeing of our communities. Yet, a pervasive issue threatens the quality of care we all receive: gender inequities in the medical profession. This is […]
DNC Ready
How Chicago hospitals are preparing for the Democratic National Convention As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches, Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, the city’s hospitals are intensifying their efforts to ensure they can handle any situation. The city is expecting tens of thousands of delegates, media, and visitors expected to converge on the United Center — […]
Heat Hazards
Extreme heat can be dangerous for runners, cyclists and anyone spending time outdoors: 6 tips for staying safe Above photo: Think carefully before running or cycling in the heat of the day. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images When summer starts with a stifling heat wave, as many places are seeing in 2024, it can pose risks […]
Lead vs. Plastic
Lead water pipes created a health disaster in Flint, but replacing them with cheaper plastic — as some cities are doing — carries hidden costs Above image: Plastic water pipes may be cheaper, but they also come with risks. Mark Bernard/iStock/Getty Images Plus By Rajpreet Grewal, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Laodong Guo, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, […]
Cooking for the Climate
Food is a central issue in climate change mitigation. Our dietary choices and consumption patterns are critical to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which greatly impact the food supply chain. Every day our climate tells the tale of extremes — whether it’s the hottest summer on record or a polar vortex sweeping the nation. Humans in […]
Two Lungs, Two Diseases
Chicago police officer undergoes first-ever double-lung transplant due to Covid-19 and cancer The last time Arthur Gillespie spoke to his cousin was on his front porch in Beverly, but he didn’t realize they would never seen each other again. It was February 2020, and his cousin was experiencing Covid-19 symptoms. Within weeks, his cousin had […]
Animal Medicine
Animals self-medicate with plants − behavior people have observed and emulated for millennia By Adrienne Mayor, Stanford University Main image: A goat with an arrow wound nibbles the medicinal herb dittany. O. Dapper, CC BY When a wild orangutan in Sumatra recently suffered a facial wound, apparently after fighting with another male, he did something that […]
Pets and Health
Pets give companionship, cuddles and joy – and also unavoidable stresses By Emily Hemendinger, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Main image: Pets can bring joy and companionship, as well as financial worries, loss and logistical challenges. Dann Tardif/Stone via Getty Images Owning a pet can be a roller coaster. There are the highs, like […]
Future Vision
Are you one of the millions about to have cataract surgery? Here’s what ophthalmologists say you need to know Image: Cataract surgery removes the clouded lens of the eye and replaces it with a new, clear lens. Ivan-balvan/iStock via Getty Images Plus Allan Steigleman, University of Florida and Elizabeth M. Hofmeister, Uniformed Services University of […]
Health Equity Action
Chicago Health Editor-in-Chief moderates opening panel at the Executives’ Club of Chicago annual Health Equity Summit In its second annual Health Equity Summit held this past Wednesday, The Executives’ Club of Chicago welcomed thought leaders from throughout the city to shed light on the profound disparities in healthcare services across the Chicago metro area. […]
Travel Nurse Perks
Many travel nurses opt for temporary assignments because of the autonomy and opportunities − not just the big boost in pay Ivan Gan, University of Houston-Downtown Travel nurses take short-term contracts that can require long commutes or temporarily living away from home. Time and again, they have to get used to new co-workers, new protocols and […]
Online Child Safety Laws Could Help or Hurt – 2 Pediatricians Explain What’s Likely to Work and What Isn’t
Image: Kids need to be protected online. The trick is figuring out how. Justin Lambert Creative/DigitalVision via Getty Images Society has a complicated relationship with adolescents. We want to protect them as children and yet launch them into adulthood. Adolescents face risks from testing out independence, navigating peer relationships, developing an identity and making mistakes […]
Weighted Fitness
Military trainees have practiced rucking — walking with a loaded backpack — for centuries. And now, this intensive technique has turned fitness trend. Certain branches of the military, such as special forces, train for longer and more grueling rucks in a variety of weather, terrain, and operational conditions. After all, what better way to move […]
Measles 101
As measles cases in Chicago remain low and vaccinations increase, here’s what to know about the latest outbreak While her sons played one Sunday evening in early March, Yulia* tried to locate a suitcase. The family was staying at the Pilsen migrant shelter, but they had plans to move north, to reunite with Yulia’s husband, […]
The Kid Question
Authors Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli explore reproductive choices with climate change at the door On a warm, February afternoon in Chicago (a line that, having grown up here, I never imagined I’d write), I spoke with authors Meghan Elizabeth Kallman, PhD, and Josephine Ferorelli about their new book, The Conceivable Future, which explores […]
Processed Food Nation
How to combat our addiction to ultra-processed eating The Standard American Diet (SAD) is packed with ultra-processed foods. These sugary, salty, and fatty food products make up more than half of the total dietary energy consumed in high-income countries like the U.S., and they were a hot topic at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ […]
Crisis Response
Texas has sent more than 34,000 asylum seekers to Chicago since September 2022. Here’s a look at how local organizations have been responding to migrants’ health needs since the humanitarian crisis began. Anna was 34 weeks pregnant when she arrived in Chicago. She’d boarded a bus in Texas, which dropped her off in the U.S.’s […]
Living and Learning Deaf Culture
No culture is a monolith, including the Deaf community. Most people, however, want to communicate. Humans have an innate drive to understand and be understood. But people with deafness have a history of being cut off and ostracized from the community at large. Here, Karla Giese, EdD, coordinator of training and education at Chicago Hearing […]
Nuisance Noise
Noise pollution takes a toll on heart health. Learn how to keep your ears — and your heart — safe. Road traffic, trains, construction — these all make up Chicago’s soundscape. They are also contributors to noise pollution — the buzz of city that can take a toll on your health. The World Health Organization […]
Trash to Treasure
Local residents are taking recycling into their own hands, protecting their health, the health of the planet, and the city’s budget. Do you ever think about what happens to your gnarled toothbrushes, lifeless water filters, or cruddy plastic bags after they plop into your trash bin? Sherry Skalko did. During the pandemic, Skalko, who lives […]
Cultural Cancer Care
Northwestern Medicine’s new breast cancer clinic focuses on Hispanic women Erika Aleman, of Berwyn, was diagnosed in 2022 with triple negative breast cancer — a particularly aggressive form of the disease. She received care at the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine, where Spanish-speaking nurses and doctors helped her better understand the treatment process. Aleman […]
Painting a Pandemic
Pulmonary critical care physician finds solace through art during the Covid-19 pandemic In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Justin Fiala, MD, was feeling whiplash. He split his time between quarantine at home and seven-day stretches in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. As a pulmonary, critical care, and sleep […]
Keep the Sweet
With contradictory claims about aspartame, explore these 3 unexpected ways to add natural sweetness to your daily diet There is such a thing as too sweet — especially if you’re dealing with any chronic health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol. Many people cut back on added sugar with sugar substitutes, including aspartame, […]
Healthy Yards, Healthy People
Illinois looks nothing like it did 150 years ago and beyond. Only .01% of the Prairie State’s prairies remain. People, however, can reclaim some of that prairie land — and the insects and wildlife that rely on it — in their yard. “They can be these little repositories to our shrinking natural areas,” says Mary […]
Preventing Suicide
How to talk about suicide prevention with a partner, relative, or friend. Content warning: This article focuses on suicide prevention. Coping skills, support, and treatment work for most people who have thought about ending their life. Here are resources if you or someone you care about needs support: • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline —988, which […]
Op-Ed: Tinker, Tailor, Surgeon, Sailor
How physician inventors push medicine forward Physician inventors throughout the ages have been the engine of innovation in medicine, developing some of the most important medical innovations, such as penicillin, catheters, artificial heart valves, pacemakers, and the HPV vaccine, to name a few. Unfortunately, transitioning from physician to inventor isn’t as easy as it was […]
Placing Bets
When gambling goes from fun to dysfunctional, know the gambling disorder signs to watch for — and what to do about it. Americans love to gamble. We bet in casinos and on sports, pour our money into slot machines, buy raffle and lottery tickets.… It’s an entertaining and often social activity. And now, with a […]
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 […]
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. […]
The New 988
A national mental health crisis line offers an alternative to 911, alleviating the need for law enforcement response to mental health issues. The United States launched in July a national mental health crisis line: 988. People now have the option to call or text this free, confidential number instead of calling 911 during mental health […]
A Midwestern Island for Abortion Access
How changing abortion laws are impacting Illinois The Supreme Court’s June decision against abortion rights triggered a cascade of laws to prevent abortions in 13 states, many in the Midwest. But people’s needs don’t always follow changes in law. People now seeking abortions are facing longer wait times, increased travel costs, and, overall, uncertainty. In […]
Ticks, Lyme Disease, and Climate Change
Local Lyme disease experts warn: Check early and often as climate change ushers in more tick bites The Chicago area has had its share of wild weather extremes recently, from flooding and tornado warnings to deadly heat waves. Now, it’s time to add another threat of nature to your list of concerns: Lyme disease. Spread […]
The Mass Grief of 1 Million Lives Lost
Taking time and taking stock of Covid-19’s mass grief and trauma Imagine counting every second of every day for the next 11 days. That’s about 1 million seconds — a number that seems almost impossible to understand. Human brains aren’t wired to count this high, according to a 2013 study published in Cognitive Science. Instead, […]
Healthcare Workers Sound Alarm on Staffing Shortage
Concerned healthcare workers in Illinois and Indiana are calling on The Joint Commission to add a safe staffing standard to its accreditation process. Yolanda Stewart, a patient care technician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, once injured her back so badly on the job that she couldn’t work for six months. But when she talks about that […]
Long Covid Alphabet Soup
Long Covid comes with a long list of potential side effects — often in acronym form. What do all of those letters mean? Covid-19 has been part of our lives for nearly three years, and many mysteries still surround it. One of the biggest mysteries: long Covid. While most people completely recover from Covid-19 within […]
Searching for Dr. Google
How to research your health symptoms online without freaking out Whether you’re looking for a new brunch spot or researching office organization, chances are you turn straight to the internet — the first line of research for so many aspects of our lives. It makes perfect sense that it’s also the place we would go […]
