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According to the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, more that 40 percent of American adults have not received a flu shot this year and don't plan to do so.  That's despite pleas from federal, state and local heal...

Tis' the season to be jolly, but it doesn't mean your belly needs to be as big as Santa's. Sure, the temptations are as plentiful as the array of food that will greet you at every holiday party and family dinner. However, a little will power and s...

It’s estimated that Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD for short, affects 5-million to 8-million people a year in the United States particularly in the colder, winter months when days are shorter and nights are longer. It is thought to be related ...

The holiday season is upon us, along with everything that comes with it – decorations, celebrations, shopping, special meals, and for many, a big side of stress. According to a poll by the American Psychological Association, nearly a quarter of Ameri...

As we gather with family and friends during the holidays, health care providers want you to think about discussing more than just what flavor of pie to serve or who is bringing what to the gathering. It’s a perfect time to discuss what your wishes...

An OSF HealthCare leader with more than two dozen years of experience in governmental relations says a divided Congress will not likely move on significant health care reforms or reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid. Those two government pro...

This week the American Heart Association wrapped up its annual Scientific Sessions meeting – a conference that gathers leading cardiovascular clinicians, scientists, and researchers to learn, present and discuss all things heart. Two of the largest s...

As an Indiana family prepares to bury their three children, the conversation about school bus safety and distracted driving is at the forefront. A 9-year-old girl and her 6-year-old twin brothers were killed in late October after being struck as t...

The Great American Smokeout rolls around every year during the third week of November and it has helped millions of people quit since it started in the early 1970s. The idea is not necessarily to make people stop cold turkey on that day, but rather t...

We're not talking about the kind of time change Cher refers to in her hit song. No, we're talking about the change back to Daylight Saving Time (DST) and it'll officially happen at 2 a.m. this coming Sunday.  Potentially, setting clocks back should g...

A new large scale study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is lending new motivation for people to get up and moving. It shows inactivity can be worse for you than smoking, diabetes or having heart disease. Researc...

There has been increased attention to a rise in the number of cases of acute flaccid myelitis in recent weeks, with more than 100 confirmed or suspected cases in 22 states reported so far this year, including two cases treated at OSF HealthCare Child...

It’s that time of year – time when it seems almost every food product has been infused with pumpkin spice. With every Halloween that passes, the orange gourd’s popularity seems to explode beyond the previous year's long list of foods with added pumpk...

This time of year there is no need to go door-to-door to get a Halloween candy fix. From overstuffed grocery store shelves to breakroom treats left by well-meaning coworkers, we are surrounded by sugar. Kaela Ketcham is a registered dietitian at O...

Halloween isn’t always a treat for the millions of kids across the country who have food allergies. According to the organization Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), in the U.S., one in 13 children has a food allergy – that’s roughly two i...

Women over 30 have another option to be screened for cervical cancer and it allows testing less often. According to Dr. Haley Ralph of OSF Medical Group in Kewanee, a new test screens for evidence of the cause of 90 percent of all cases cervical c...

The numbers are sobering: A 2017 survey by Kronos Incorporated of more than 250 nurses working in hospitals across the U.S. found 98% said their work was physically and mentally demanding; 63% said their work has caused nurse burnout; and 44% worried...

There’s a new trend that’s taking off, and food industry experts say you’ll be seeing more of it -- probiotic-enhanced foods. Producers are starting to put probiotics in items such as ice cream, coffee, tea, soups and even beer. Make-it-yourself Komb...

You're feeling a little rundown. You're sneezing and have a stuffy nose. Must be a cold. Or is it an allergy? Following a tough spring allergy season - along with a wetter-than-normal summer, fall allergies are already impacting the Midwest. No...

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition that develops when the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the arms and legs become completely or partially blocked as a result of atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque). PAD can increase the risk o...

The head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is now calling youth vaping an "epidemic." Dr. William Tillis, an OSF HealthCare Pulmonologist, agrees. “There actually has been a decrease in smoking among young t...

After two years off the market, the nasal FluMist is once again available as a vaccination against the influenza virus. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) both say there is no difference in protection b...

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), car crashes the leading cause of death for children four years and older in the United States. A properly installed, age appropriate car seat is the best protection you can give your child whe...

Kids are growing up in the age of electronics. From cell phones and tablets to smart watches and laptops, these devices are an integral part of our lives. Now that school is back in session, these devices also play a key role in the classroom. Man...

School has once again started for kids across the region, and one of the major back-to-school battles that plagues parents is the daily wake up call. Getting your kids out of bed early after a summer of sleeping in can be a tough task. Dr. Sarah Z...

The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common virus that will infect most people at some point in their lives –about four out of five people. An estimated 80-million Americans are currently infected with 14-million new infections diagnosed each year....

It began nearly a year ago. Manufacturer slowdowns led to an injectible opioid shortage at hospitals across the nation. That meant pain relievers like hydromorphone (dilaudid), morphine and fentanyl - used primarily in surgery or the emergency dep...

From BBQs to beach time, families are spending the last days of summer break having outdoor fun. However, as the summer days wane, the need for sunscreen protection remains. Parents need to make sure their kids are covered, and there are plenty of SP...

For expectant parents, the list of to-do’s can seem long. From finding the perfect paint color for the nursery or researching the best bottles for baby, there is a lot to prepare for. However, a new study published in the journal Pediatrics found les...

An infant in the home usually means some sleepless nights for mom and dad. Now new research has found that babies introduced to solid foods early might sleep longer and wake less frequently at night than those exclusively breastfed for the first six ...