One of the best things about the new year is reviewing our most-read articles from the previous year. This exercise gives us an opportunity to find out what our readers most wanted to read, to remind ourselves of the health events that unfolded, and to review our breadth of coverage and our writers’ talents. This past year, our top 10 include stories on inequities, hospitals’ preparation for the Democratic National Convention, ongoing vaccine controversies, and more. Check out the pieces you’ve missed, or take another look. We’re already well underway on an exciting list of stories for 2025.
Healthcare, by its very nature, is about caring for the wellbeing of our communities, writes Shikha Jain, MD. In this op-ed, she talks about how gender inequities in healthcare impact more than women or the medical workforce. This community health crisis affects every one of us. The disparities that female physicians face have far-reaching consequences on patient outcomes, and Jain makes the case for addressing these inequities for the betterment of our healthcare system.
In its second annual Health Equity Summit, 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. Our editor-in-chief moderated the opening panel.
As Chicago prepared for tens of thousands of delegates, media, and visitors — including the President, Vice President, and other high-level officials. Plus, an anticipated 20,000 or more protesters. Local hospitals took extensive measures to maintain their operations and safeguard the health of everyone involved.
Healthcare institutions have used 3D printing since the late 1990s, and it’s been a regular part of cardiology since 2010, creating detailed models of patients’ hearts, generated from MRI and CT scans. This enables doctors to study the intricate structures of a patient’s heart in three dimensions. It’s also used to develop and test new cardiac devices, giving physicians a crucial tool for cardiac care.
Vaccines have eradicated some of the worst diseases on the planet (think: smallpox) and greatly reduced the harm and havoc caused by other diseases, such as Ebola. They’re tightly controlled, carefully tested, and closely monitored. Yet, many people are still reluctant to get them or to allow their children to receive them, shunning one of the most important healthcare advances in the history of the world.
Men’s reluctance to share their emotions, thoughts, and struggles with other men is not unique, so much so that the American Psychological Association has issued guidelines that explore the challenges boys and men face in developing close male friendships. And although men often avoid developing deep friendships, the benefits are clear.
It’s easy to understand how seeing a miniature horse wearing shoes or a dog walking the hall can distract one from boredom, pain, or missing friends, family, and pets at home. Therapeutically, petting or brushing a dog or horse also can assist with range of motion and fine motor skills. And the endorphins that humans release as a result — serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin — relieve pain, lower stress, and promote a sense of wellbeing: an automatic relaxation response. From cow cuddling to goat yoga, discover how four-legged friends are transforming health and well-being for people of all ages.
There’s a rhythm to life. The tides rise and fall, the Earth revolves around the sun, and you have a sleep-wake cycle. This cycle — known as circadian rhythm — has a big impact on metabolism. Research reveals that your sleep-wake cycle regulates how your body uses sugar and fats, and how it burns calories. Here’s how intermittent fasting and circadian rhythms impact health.
Complex patients typically have multiple or severe health conditions; they may require advanced anesthesia techniques from subspecialty-trained anesthesiologists during a procedure. But in a controversial policy change, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) announced in 2024 that they will no longer reimburse anesthesiologists for physical status modifiers that classify the complexity of patients. The new policy went into effect for BCBS plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. According to BCBS, the new policy streamlines costs and improves overall efficiency, but critics argue that the move jeopardizes patient safety, limiting access to experts.
By Victoria Shanta Retelny, RDN, LDN — December 2024
There’s no doubt that food influences how we feel, but how we feel also influences our food choices. The emerging field of nutritional psychiatry explores the intricate relationship between dietary and mental health. Several factors influence your pattern of eating: life experiences, social contexts, beliefs, values, and expectations. And there is increasing evidence of a strong association between poor diet and mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, and other neuropsychiatric conditions.
By Ronit Rose
Ronit Rose is a freelance writer, based in Chicago. She has a special interest in health, healthcare and preventive medicine.
