Men and Mental Health
More men are seeking help, but roadblocks to treatment remain Through college, graduate school, and into an active and successful professional life in healthcare administration, Earnest Davis had grown accustomed to pushing aside emotional issues that impacted his productivity. From a stressed relationship with his mother to the challenges of fatherhood, Davis shoved unease away, […]
Prostate Problems
Treatments offer men relief for a common uncomfortable condition About 10 years ago, Steven Prosser, of Libertyville, started beating a path from his bedroom to his bathroom five or six times every night to urinate. His problem got progressively worse until Prosser, who is now 57, was waking up more and more often to go […]
Putting Treatments into Motion
Parkinson’s disease — a progressive movement disorder — has no cure, but better treatments are giving more hope If you had told Rick Mazursky 13 years ago that he would be working out most days, hitting stickers on a boxing bag while simultaneously spelling words aloud, or balancing on a stability ball while throwing punches, […]
Stolen Memories
The losses of Alzheimer’s disease mount for patients and their families Lynn Roberts first noticed her mother’s memory issues in 2007. At 70 years old, her mother still had her quick wit and independence and could fully care for her husband, who had Parkinson’s disease. But her memory was starting to wane. While driving, her […]
Electrical Stimulation for Epilepsy
Some seizure sufferers who haven’t found relief from their anti-seizure medications or other therapies may benefit from innovative devices that electrically stimulate the brain. NeuroPace’s RNS System, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013 for ages 18 and older, works for the brain like a pacemaker works for the heart. An implanted […]
Tennis Elbow: How to Avoid It and What to Do if You Can’t
Last summer, I picked up tennis after a 30-year hiatus. I joined a summer tennis club and headed to the store to buy a new racket and shoes. I eagerly signed up for lessons and drill groups and played with whoever would have me. But after three weeks of playing, I felt the first twinges […]
Varicose Veins: Not So Vain
Varicose veins are a common ailment in the United States, says Michael Shao, MD, a vascular surgeon at Swedish Covenant Hospital. But despite their prevalence, misconceptions abound. Varicose veins are caused by blood backing up in veins, usually in a person’s legs or feet. Because the veins sometimes become visible through the skin, people often […]
Integrative Cancer Treatment
From nutritional therapy to off-label drugs, holistic approaches help patients heal In this age of one-size-fits-all medicine, doctors who practice integrative therapies tailor their treatments to their patients. When it comes to cancer, integrative approaches can encompass everything from nutrition to vitamin infusions to different ways of delivering treatments. “Since the early ’80s, I have […]
Studies suggest doctors should cut back on some medications in seniors
Source: University of Michigan Medical School whatdoctorsknow.com Anyone who takes medicine to get their blood sugar or blood pressure down — or both — knows their doctor prescribed it to help them. But what if stopping, or at least cutting back on, such drugs could help even more? In some older people, that may be […]
PRP: A Promising Panacea or a Premature Procedure?
Can a patient’s own platelet-enhanced blood augment traditional orthopedic procedures and reduce post-surgical healing time? The soreness in Brent Jurceka’s shoulder was not only causing him terrible pain but getting in the way of his pitching at his college baseball games. That’s when he contacted Rush University Medical Center orthopedic surgeon Brian Cole, MD, to schedule […]
The Rare Disease that Killed a Comedic Legend
Photo by Justin Hoch [spacer style=”3″] By Rhonda Alexander Many knew Harold Ramis, but few know what killed him. The celebrated Hollywood filmmaker and Chicagoan passed away Monday at the age of 69. The cause of death was from complications related to a condition known as autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a disease that Ramis suffered from […]
When Things Get Steamy
Can Vagina Steams Aid in Vaginal and Uterine Health? By Megy Karydes Spread your legs wide, she instructed. I obliged, feeling ridiculous as I sat naked on a stool with a circular hole and a salon-style gown wrapped over me like a tent from my neck to the ground. A large, pot of boiling water […]
Marijuana Medical Clinic Is Good for Business, While Helping Patients Find Relief
Pictured above: Tammi Jacobi’s Good Intentions in Wicker Park has teamed up with licensed physician Dr. Brian Murphy to open the first medical marijuana clinic in Illinois. [spacer style=”3″] By Megy Karydes Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill on August 1 legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes in Illinois that supporters say is […]
The Unshakeable Truth
Assumptions about Parkinson’s may slow the cure’s progressBy Nancy Maes Misconceptions about Parkinson’s disease are common. The casual observer who sees a person with a hand that shakes uncontrollably assumes it’s a telltale sign of the disease, but that’s not necessarily the case. “You do not have to have a tremor to have Parkinson’s disease,” […]
Forget Your Lines
Memory Ensemble and Lookingglass Theatre use improv to help Alzheimer’s patients By Nancy Maes Physicians encourage Alzheimer’s patients to stay intellectually stimulated and socially connected, but when they are no longer working and have trouble attending their favorite leisure-time book club or volunteer activity, they have a hard time following the doctor’s orders. An improvisational […]
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Common Is It?
By Karen Schwartz These dark and dreary winter months have many Chicagoans longing for warmer climates. But hot rays and relaxing days are not all that Chicagoans may miss by living in a colder and less sunny locale. Living in Chicago may predispose numerous Chicago residents to having a vitamin D deficiency. In fact, about […]
The Chicago Blues
Seasonal Affective Disorder a far cry from clinical depression By Jenny Allen We’ve all been there. It’s the dead of winter. The alarm clock is blaring. We turn to the window with bleary eyes and… total darkness. A long workday lies ahead. Surely the lunch hour will offer some respite, but it’s 20 degrees out […]
Seeds of Cancer
Science indicates that cancer stem cells play a role in the recurrence of tumors; the challenge now is to find them In science, controversy arises from uncertainty. The role of cancer stem cells being used to treat and prevent tumors is still a far cry from certain. But new studies published early last month in […]
Access to Care
In a shifting healthcare landscape, where do you find the best and most practical care? And how in the world do you pay for it? Healthcare is a complicated business. And an expensive one. But never before has it been this complex. The intricacies of our healthcare ecology have extended into nearly every other aspect of our society. […]
Spider Veins
Can you get spider veins from crossing your legs? Or wearing high heels? Are they genetic? Well, no, not really. But genetics and your lifestyle can be partly to blame, should they show up. Spider veins often appear on the skin as fine, web-like lines on the thighs, ankles and feet. While both women and […]
A Crash Course in Celiac Disease and Children
In children, the symptoms are many and varied: chronic diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, abdominal bloating, fatigue, growth problems and failure to thrive. Undiagnosed adults might have a completely different set of symptoms including iron-deficiency anemia, infertility or osteoporosis. Or the disease might be asymptomatic, but still dangerously harmful. Those varying symptoms, seemingly disparate, can all […]
The Waiting Game
Facing down an incurable cancer with optimism and research In late November of 2006, the pain in Bill Herlihy’s back had become unbearable. At 56, he knew he was at an age when a lot of men suffer regular back problems, but the pain he’d begun experiencing months before had escalated beyond what could be […]
Uncovering Concussions
How They’re Changing Our Brains and the Game It’s nearly kickoff. Families and friends nationwide gather around the television and bundle up in stadiums and bleachers. They cheer on their sons and sports heroes as they battle over the holy pigskin. Bright lights illuminate sweat-drenched and grass-stained soldiers in their armored uniforms as they crouch, white-knuckled, ready […]
CT Scan Conundrum
Radioactive scans can save lives, but at what risk? Over the past decade, the number of computerized axial tomography scans, better known as CT or CAT scans, has increased dramatically. But their widespread use also has led to questions about their safety. “CT use has exploded,” says Dr. Daniel Appelbaum, director of nuclear medicine and […]
Critical Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Back Pain
1. Should I change my daily activities or exercise routine? 2. Are there positions or activities I should avoid at work or at home? 3. What are the potential risks associated with the proposed treatment? (This is an especially good question when surgery is involved.) 4. What are the potential risks of not treating my back pain? […]
Navigating Back Pain
The spine is, arguably, the most important structure in the human body. It is an extension of the brain, a pathway for the neurological signals that keep us beating, breathing and moving. It is the base of our skeleton, where our limbs and movements begin—it is our backbone. So, it’s no surprise that when something is wrong […]
Drugging our Kids
Will drugs cure ADHD, or are we overdosing? Who isn’t familiar with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD)? Diagnoses increase each year. TV commercials pitch medications that can curb the symptoms. Celebrities such as Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps and Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel have gone public with their condition. ADD […]
New Age of Diabetes
Rare form of diabetes being treated with new approach November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and unfortunately, the need for heightened vigilance has never been greater. More than 25 million Americans have diabetes, according to the latest statistics from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Those numbers continue to climb, and the cost of treating so many […]
Cancer’s Target
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer and most difficult to treat The announcement that Steve Jobs had died of pancreatic cancer last week brought surprise and shock to many. After being diagnosed in 2004, he underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as a Whipple procedure that removed the tumor. And although he […]
Fighting Young
When it comes to pediatric cancer, there are many uncertainties. But clinical trials are quickly saving more and more lives and letting kids, like Abigail Mendoza, live. Abigail Mendoza sat at the dinner table chewing alternating bites of homemade pizza and ranch- drenched carrot sticks. Her grin was constant. A toothy mash-up. A cross between […]
Sleeping Safe and Sound
Snoring can be a sign of life-threatening sleep apnea Loud, disruptive snoring is certainly no treat, as any afflicted spouse will attest. But snoring, especially when accompanied by occasional gasps for breath in the middle of the night and excessive daytime sleepiness, can be a sign of something significantly more serious. Obstructive sleep apnea—when a […]
The Brain at War
A Cure for Chronic Migraine Pain May Only be a Decade Away The word migraine comes from the Greek words “hemi” meaning half and “krania” meaning skull. This is a fitting name for the kind of excruciating headache that tortures one half of the brain at a time. With the pain, migraines also come with […]
Think Pink: Innovations and Advancements in Breast Health
Breast cancer and fear go hand in hand. Both the disease and its treatment can be frightening and overwhelming. But thanks to pioneering research and the tireless work of dedicated health professionals, hospitals and medical centers across the nation—some right here in Chicago—are slowly but steadily replacing that fear with hope. The challenges, of course, […]
Bone Deep: All About Osteoporosis
It’s all too easy to take our bones for granted. Day to day, they feel so strong and permanent, but in reality, our bones are alive and constantly changing. Their evolution is easy to overlook—until the day we realize how stooped our posture has become, or how easily our wrist fractured during a small and […]
