Mental health care starts with a first step, but that first step can be intimidating. Maybe you don’t want to let others know what you’re dealing with, or you’ve heard about friends having poor experiences while seeing a mental health provider.

Susan Hanson, DSW, LCPC, a psychotherapist at OSF HealthCare, is debunking misconceptions about therapy so you can feel comfortable and get the most out of your care.

• Myth: Seeing a therapist is scary.
  
  Fact: “People quickly learn it’s a safe place to talk about trials, tribulations and conflicts. It’s a very warm and inviting place,” Hanson says. She adds that even group therapy shouldn’t be intimidating. Group work can help build empathy and a sense of belonging. When you see others going through the same issues, you can often feel less alone.
   
• Myth: My private health information is at risk of becoming public.
  
  Fact: Hanson says this comes up often with her patients. They don’t want to talk about certain things with friends and family, but they’re also wary of talking with a provider. Hanson reassures that all health care providers abide by confidentiality and use software that keeps your information secure and private. She says the only reasons a provider must breach that confidentiality is if the person is a danger to harm themself or others or if there is evidence of child endangerment.
   
• Myth: I’ll be back to normal after just a few sessions.
  
  Fact: It’s usually not a quick fix, Hanson says. Therapy is something you need to buy into and stick with. Success is often seen after awareness, acceptance and internal structural changes in terms of emotional regulation and setting healthy boundaries.
  
  “Some people can come in and have a quick fix. Maybe they’re nervous about moving. Or they have test-taking anxiety, and we can work through skills for that,” Hanson says. “But many other people have more complex trauma that might take longer to work through.”
   
• Myth: Medication will fix me, and therapy is an easy way to get it.
  
  Fact: Hanson stresses that mental health care providers are not medication dispensaries, nor will medication alone likely heal you.
  
  “Sometimes medication is appropriate if there’s a biological basis [an issue innate within someone’s body, in other words], complex trauma or a diagnosis like ADHD or major depression. The medication can help enhance the talk therapy,” Hanson explains. She adds that a therapist can put a timeline on things. If, for example, anxiety symptoms aren’t improving after a few sessions, the provider could look into medications that could help.
   

• Myth: I’ll see my therapist then go back to normal life.

  Fact: Hanson says you have to put what you learn at therapy into practice. Common activities outside of a session include journaling, meditation, grounding exercises and finding a trusted person who you can go to if, for example, you’re having an anxiety attack. Some of Hanson’s patients have also benefitted from emotional support animals, she says.
  
  “Reframing thoughts around a certain situation can be a good goal. Learn positive word choices. Rewrite the story around a situation,” Hanson says. Reducing anxiety is another big goal she’s seen with patients.
  
  “Therapy is not a straight road. I like to see it like a dance. Two steps forward, one step back,” Hanson adds. “I also tell my clients that this bridge will take you halfway there. The rest, you walk alone. There’s only so much any one person can do for another person. We need to learn how to develop some of the skills outside of a therapy session.”

Learn more

Read more about mental and behavioral health care on the OSF HealthCare website. Mental health care at OSF includes providers like Hanson on the local level and the to-be-built Meadowview Behavioral Hospital in Peoria, Illinois, for people who need a higher level of care.

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Being open and honest about mental health

From misconceptions about symptoms to stereotypes about drugs like Adderall, there’s a lot to parse out when getting treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects attention, impulse control and activity levels. ADHD is seen in all ages and can overlap with other issues like depression and anxiety.

“ADHD is different from lack of interest or just not paying attention. It includes emotional dysregulation, chronic impatience, restlessness and constant fidgeting. There’s difficulty managing, planning and organizing things,” says Maghav Sharma, MD, an OSF HealthCare psychiatrist. “That leads to difficulties at home or work. It can cause relationship difficulties or difficulties with bosses. Maybe the person is not completing work on time or are impatient with the result of the work.

“We see symptoms of hyperactivity mostly in kids. They’ll run around their classroom. It’s a common reason why teachers and parents send their students to the doctor to get ADHD treatment,” Dr. Sharma adds. “In adults, that anxiousness and restlessness is not outwardly projected. It’s more inside. A person can feel overwhelmed. They are fidgety, restless or on edge.”

All this is why it’s important to get a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Seeing someone like Dr. Sharma would be a good first step. He says therapy can teach skills, like how to plan and be organized, that can help cope with everyday ADHD issues and, at the same time, help if there are other issues present, like depression. For example, if ADHD is causing you to procrastinate on work projects, you could feel anxious about getting in trouble or sad about missed opportunities to move up the corporate ladder.

“We do quite often see people with symptoms of depression or anxiety, but they have underlying ADHD as well,” Dr. Sharma says. “It’s hard to tell sometimes which symptoms are related to anxiety and which are related to ADHD. So we tend to treat the conditions together. Treatment for anxiety and depression can sometimes alleviate the symptoms of ADHD.”

ADHD treatment “never should be just medication,” Dr. Sharma says. But if ADHD is making daily life difficult, medication can be paired “thoughtfully” with other treatment, he says. Stimulants like Adderall and Vyvanse are often starting options for adults. For kids, health care providers might try methylphenidate (Ritalin is a common brand name). A provider could change your medication if side effects are a problem. They could try a non-stimulant like clonidine or guanfacine.

Lifestyle changes also play a big role in ADHD management, Dr. Sharma says. Sticking to a routine – everything from when you sleep to when you leave for work – can help. Exercise, staying hydrated, eating a healthy diet and getting outside to pursue hobbies or be around others can also help your mood.

Learn more about keeping your mind healthy on the OSF HealthCare website.

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Click here for more stories on mental health care on the OSF Newsroom.

Signs you might be having a reaction to mold: runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, tiredness, brain fog and itching or burning around your mouth. These symptoms could be worse if you have a condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If the symptoms don’t get better in a few days or you notice them in a certain location (for example, you only feel bad when at a certain house), it’s time to act.

“There are steroids taken through the nose or mouth. There are antihistamines,” Dr. Zasada says, outlining what a provider might prescribe. “There are anti-mold antibiotics, but cases are usually not that severe.”

Dr. Zasada says if mold exposure isn’t treated quickly, in rare cases it can progress to more serious health issues. One is pulmonary fibrosis, where scarring of the lungs makes it hard to breathe.

Getting rid of mold hotspots

“A fungus likes to grow in areas that are damp, dark and have a stable room temperature,” Dr. Zasada says. Two hotspots he points out are showers and air conditioning units. He adds that mold can be more prevalent in the south and southeast United States where it’s warmer and more humid.

If you see brown, black or fuzzy white spots, you might be looking at mold. A stale, musky odor is also a sign.

“Bleach and water in a one to 10 ratio is actually very effective in removing mold,” Dr. Zasada says. One to 10 refers to one part bleach and 10 parts water. “If you can spot one area that’s less than 10 square feet or so, you can clean that yourself. But if you don’t see one area and you’re still having symptoms, it might be time to call a professional mold remediator.”

Clean and ventilate your home regularly, too. Get rid of dead leaves from household plants. Consider buying a dehumidifier. It’s all to prevent dirty, dusty environments where fungi can thrive, Dr. Zasada says.

For air conditioning units, Dr. Zasada says to change the filter at least once per year. In between, do a few checks to see if moisture has built up inside the unit. Depending on the unit, that could be as simple as popping off the front panel and shining a flashlight inside.

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Mental health challenges in young people

Brittany Algee, APRN, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner at OSF HealthCare, says people Jamie’s age – late teens to mid-20s – have unique mental health challenges.

“It’s the transition phase into adulthood. They’re transitioning into college or a career. They’re starting a family. They have the pressure of being successful. There are financial constraints. They’re figuring out their lives,” Algee says. “They have this unrealistic expectation at 18 to have everything together. It’s very overwhelming.”

That can lead to anxiety and depression, and Algee says social media can make it all worse. Daily, symptoms can look like a lack of motivation, intrusive thoughts, worrying, eating too little or too much, irritability and poor hygiene. Parents should be on the lookout for all these.

“Maybe the child doesn’t want to talk as much. The child is self-isolating. You ask what they did over the weekend, and they say they stayed in bed. Or, they’re not going to class. Maybe the parent is getting a letter saying the child is on academic probation,” Algee says. “Those are red flags to ask ‘What’s going on? Why are we feeling that way?’

“Ask about sleeping habits, too,” she says. “Are they sleeping too much or not enough? Is there substance abuse going on? They could be doing that to self-medicate.”

If parents identify a problem, Algee suggests getting the child in to see their primary care provider, who could provide short-term help like medication while referring them to a mental health provider.

Some other tips from Algee and the Boones:

• Get outdoors to clear your head.
  
  “Exercise. Do some hiking or biking. Find hobbies and things you like,” Algee suggests. “I tell my patients not to wait until you have a buddy to do something you like. Nine times out of 10, you’re going to find some like-minded person you’re going to get along with. So if you want to go hear live music, go do it. There will be people there who like live music, too. That will help you meet new people.”
   
• When talking to a loved one about suicide, Johnny Boone says don’t be afraid to get specific. Ask if they have weapons at home. If so, ask to take them or change the combination to the gun safe, for example.
   
• Be mindful of how you talk about mental health and suicide, too. For example, Anita Boone suggests steering clear of phrases like “committed suicide” or “afflicted with mental health” because the person might feel judged.

Grieving a loss

Since Jamie’s death, Anita and Johnny have been in counseling, and Anita hasn’t returned to her accounting job at the University of Illinois. It’s proof that everyone grieves differently, and there’s no schedule for it, Algee says.

“There are numerous stages of grief,” Algee points out. “It’s imperative that you work through all of those stages. Seeing a mental health professional is going to be very beneficial in helping you get through those stages effectively and process the grief.

“Losing a child is absolutely horrific,” she adds. “It’s not something you can put a timeline on. You’re not going to get through it in a few weeks or years. It’s a void that’s difficult to fill. So just make sure you have resources like a therapist, medication and an overall support system.”

For the Boones, grieving involved changing their routine. Driving through the University of Illinois campus where Jamie once thrived is tough, so they steer clear when they can. A hobby of theirs – camping – is out in favor of a simpler outdoor activity – kayaking. Sometimes the couple talks while on the water. Sometimes they just float and cry.

There are even unconventional ways to grieve, as long as you do them safely. When Anita and Johnny need to get emotions out, they’ll take a baseball bat to a plastic pail in their backyard. Neighbors will peek over the fence, and Johnny will flash a thumbs up to show that no one is in danger.

The Jamie Boone Project

Johnny and Anita are still grieving, but they have turned pain into purpose by founding a nonprofit, the Jamie Boone Project. The pair spends hours toiling in their living room, assembling J.A.M.I.E. bags. It stands for Just A Mental Inventory Everyday. The bags contain things to take your mind off the world (stress balls, fidget spinners, journals and coloring books) and also steps to get long-term help, like information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the 741741 Crisis Text Line. Johnny and Anita take the bags to schools, hospitals and anywhere else that could use them.

“We know it’s not curative. It’s just one way to get them through the moment,” Anita says. “For example, some people in a mental health slide might struggle to journal about positives in their life. Instead, the J.A.M.I.E. bags ask you to write down three things that didn’t stink today. It could be something as simple as ‘the car started this morning.’”

The couple has also visited schools and had students write what they call S.A.G.E. words. That stands for Student Affirmations of Grace and Encouragement and is a nod to the Monticello High School mascot, a sage owl. Through S.A.G.E. words, students write things they like about their classmates. Johnny compiles the comments and gives them to each child, sometimes at a milestone event like graduation. It emphasizes a simple message, one that’s on a sign outside the Boone home: you matter.

“We always hear the negative things about us,” Johnny says, speaking generally about how words can hurt. “We need to be more intentional. We need to hear positive things. You don’t realize how much you mean to people.”

“I’ve not had anybody not give us positive feedback on all our work,” he adds. “Monticello and the area have embraced us.”

“I think what the Boones are doing is absolutely phenomenal,” Algee says.

Learn more

If you are experiencing mental or behavioral health issues, such as depression, anxiety or addiction to alcohol or drugs, there are resources available.

• The OSF HealthCare website lists resources such as support groups and SilverCloud, an anonymous online platform available to people 18 and up living in an area served by OSF, even if you’re not an OSF patient.
   
• The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The lifeline encourages veterans to press one to be linked with resources unique to that group.
   
• The 741741 Crisis Text Line, similar to 988. This hotline’s website encourages you to reach if you simply “need to vent.”
   
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA.
   
• The Jamie Boone Project website lists other resources and hotlines.

“Talk to somebody. A professional, a friend,” Johnny urges. “Make a mental health safety sheet. Write down what things calm your spirit and who you can talk to. Anything that will help you get through a stressful situation. When you’re in the middle of the stressful situation, you’re not going to remember that you like to listen to a certain music to calm you down. You need to write it down. And make sure you give a copy to a friend or family member you talk to a lot. That way, they can spot the warning signs.”

“It’s OK to not be OK. You’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to have the hard conversation because suicide does not discriminate,” Anita says.

Interview clips - Johnny and Anita Boone

Interview clips - Brittany Algee

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Additional B-roll

Johnny Boone explains the Jamie Boone Project

Johnny Boone explains the J.A.M.I.E. bags

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• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
  
  “This helps you work on your mind space and teaches ways to be more self-aware of your thought process. But it also helps behaviorally. You learn the triggers that make your body feel a certain way,” Elliott says. “Be aware your heart rate is increasing and that you’re irritable. Then you learn to build those coping skills and protective factors to not let something like misophonia affect the way we function at outings.”
   
• Meditation
   
• Know your limits. This is where loud, crowded holiday parties come into play.
  
  “Make sure you’re separating yourself [from the other partygoers] if that’s what you need to do,” Elliott suggests. “As a host, you can play background music or have a TV going for background noise. That can help muffle those other sounds that might be irritating.”
  
  Separating yourself could mean eating your meal in a separate room or just sitting at the opposite end of the table from the friend who’s a loud chewer. Either way, Elliott says to be self-aware and collect yourself before jumping back into the social swimming pool.

Learn more

Read more about healthy thoughts and behaviors on the OSF HealthCare website.

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November, December and January bring bountiful holiday meals.

While it’s tempting to chow down, experts are cautioning about how overindulgence can make you feel mentally and physically crummy in the moment, plus open the door to long-term unhealthy eating habits.

Have the right mindset

Andrew Zasada, MD, provides emergency department care at OSF HealthCare. He says avoiding stuffing yourself starts before you sit down for the meal.

“If you come to the meal hungry, you tend to try to make up for not having breakfast. You load your plate up, which is going to cause you to overeat,” Dr. Zasada says. “Instead, have a light snack an hour or two before you sit down to the meal.

“Put the food in one room and sit down in another room to eat. That necessitates you going there rather than having food available for another fill.”

The meal itself

Enjoy holiday meals, Dr. Zasada says. It’s not a race.

Grab a smaller plate, and take smaller portions of each item. Pretend you’re filling the plate up for a child. You wouldn’t take five rolls and two big slabs of meat for a youngster, so don’t do it for your adult self.

Other tips: Chew slowly. Between bites, put your utensil down, take a drink of water and talk to someone. This allows your stomach to fill up and tell your brain that you’re full.

When you finish eating, leave the table, and go to another room. Staying next to the food increases the temptation to keep nibbling.

If you can’t help it

Dr. Zasada says despite our best efforts, sometimes you overeat during holiday meals. Maybe you don’t want to offend your aunt by not having a slice of her famous pie.

If that happens, Dr. Zasada says there are two pitfalls to avoid: Drinking alcohol and lying down right after the meal.

“That opens up the sphincters of your stomach, slows down digestion and increases the chance for heartburn,” Dr. Zasada says.

Try tea or coffee after a meal instead of alcohol. But if you must indulge in a spirit, Dr. Zasada says to wait at least 90 minutes so your stomach can partially empty.

Instead of lying down for that post-meal nap, sit upright, talk to people or play a game. If the weather is nice, go for a walk.

A word on more serious eating issues

Holiday meals may be difficult for people who suffer from eating disorders, such as binge eating (eating a lot in one sitting and feeling you can’t stop), anorexia nervosa (an unwarranted fear of being overweight which leads to things like starvation) or bulimia nervosa (taking unhealthy steps to avoid weight gain like purging your food).

Dr. Zasada says, in the moment, you should have someone you trust who can help you through the holiday meal and check in with you later. Long term, he says these are serious issues that should be talked about with a health care provider.

“Repeated bulimia will damage your teeth. It’s corrosive. You lose electrolytes when you vomit,” Dr. Zasada says. “You become sick. If you do this repeatedly, you will lose weight in an unhealthy way. You will possibly dehydrate. You will start losing muscle mass.

“It’s just not a good thing.”

Bottom line: Don’t get discouraged

Dr. Zasada says one day of extra eating may make you feel bad, but it isn’t going to derail your overall health.

“One day won’t make you fat,” he says.

Get back into your healthy eating habits the next day while enjoying those leftovers in moderation. If you feel you are struggling to maintain a healthy weight or body image, talk to your primary care provider. They may refer you to a specialist like a dietitian or mental health provider. From there, plans could include a diet and exercise regimen, medication or, in rare cases, weight loss surgery.

Interview clips

Pneumonia.

It’s a hard enough word to spell, let alone remember how to prevent and treat it. With respiratory illness season here, it’s time for a reminder about how to avoid this possibly deadly condition.

The basics

Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who treats people at OSF HealthCare, says pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a virus or bacteria.

“The most common bacteria that causes it is strep pneumonia [in medical terms, streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus]. The viruses that cause it are things like RSV [respiratory syncytial virus], flu [influenza] and COVID-19 [coronavirus],” Dr. Burke says.

In other words, you could get the flu, and it could progress to pneumonia. The phrase double pneumonia means it’s impacting both lungs. Dr. Burke says people with pneumonia could experience coughing, fever, chills and weakness.

“It can cause a consolidation in the lungs. That interferes with air movement,” Dr. Burke says. “You can also get fluid buildup and scarring in the lungs.” Consolidation refers to inflamed cells that form a mass.

Diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Burke says when someone comes to the emergency department with pneumonia symptoms, a health care provider could do a chest X-ray or CAT scan to confirm the diagnosis.

“If we find it’s from a viral infection, people have to ride it out. There’s no treatment for [the ailment itself]. But we can treat the symptoms. We can give Tylenol for fever or an inhaler for shortness of breath or wheezing,” Dr. Burke explains. “If it’s from a bacterial infection, we give antibiotic medication.”

The person could take antibiotics by mouth for one to two weeks. Or, if they are having trouble breathing, the medicine would be given through intravenous (IV) therapy. Either way, the goal is to stop the bacteria in the lungs from growing.

Another tactic is a bronchoscope, where a pulmonologist inserts a tube down your throat to break up mucus in your airways.

But Dr. Burke cautions: don’t let the guidance of some “ride it out” fool you. Pneumonia is a common cause of hospitalization and death worldwide.

“One complication is sepsis, when the infection spreads to the blood. That can cause organ failure,” Dr. Burke warns. “Pneumonia can also cause respiratory failure [when the lungs aren’t working properly]. Those people might require additional oxygen. Or if it serious enough, they might require intubation [a breathing tube down the throat] or be placed on life support.”



Is it contagious?

Yes, pneumonia can spread from person to person, Dr. Burke says. It’s often transmitted through respiratory droplets (coughing or sneezing on someone), but it can spread on surfaces as well. A child could touch a dirty doorknob then put their hands in their mouth, for example.

That’s why everyday hygiene is important. Wash your hands with soap and warm water thoroughly and often. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Stay home and away from others if you’re sick. These are especially important for people at higher risk for pneumonia: people with a history of strokes or seizures, people suffering from substance abuse, people with a compromised immune system (those with HIV or a transplanted organ, for example), smokers and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also outlines the guidelines for the pneumococcal vaccine. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions about the shot.

“The vaccine comes from evidence-based medicine. Experts have done studies. It’s shown to be very effective in decreasing the severity of pneumonia,” Dr. Burke explains. “I would recommend people take the vaccine.”

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Diabetes: a recap

Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, recaps Types 1 and 2 diabetes and where Type 1.5 fits in:

• Type 1: Dr. Ogun says the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
  
  “Insulin is a hormone that brings glucose from food from the blood to the body’s cells for energy. So in Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas isn’t producing insulin,” Dr. Ogun explains. “This type of diabetes is usually seen in childhood and adolescence. It’s sudden onset. Symptoms are increased urination, increased thirst, weight loss and blurry vision. A lot of these people are dependent on insulin shots.”
   
• Type 2: The pancreas is producing insulin, but the body doesn’t recognize it. Dr. Ogun says these patients are typically age 40 and up, and the disease has a gradual onset.
  
  “Management is lifestyle modifications, like a healthy diet and physical activity,” Dr. Ogun says. “And there are medications to help control blood sugar like Metformin and Jardiance®, plus insulin shots.”
   
• Type 1.5: This is also called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).
  
  “It’s a slow progressing form of Type 1 diabetes. It’s autoimmune like Type 1, but it’s usually seen in adults,” Dr. Ogun says. Symptoms are similar to Type 2 diabetes: fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Or, Dr. Ogun says some people may have little to no symptoms.

More on Type 1.5

So, if Type 1.5 diabetes can mimic Types 1 and 2, how do providers pin down a diagnosis?

Dr. Ogun says it’s something providers are learning more about and getting better at. She says providers will take a blood sample to look at your blood glucose and antibodies. Providers can also sample your blood or urine to look at your C-peptide level. C-peptide is a byproduct of insulin production, and if it’s low it’s cause for concern.

Treatment is similar to Type 2 diabetes: oral medication or an injectable GLP-1 medication like Ozempic®.

“But eventually once the autoimmune destruction happens, the person will need regular insulin,” Dr. Ogun says. “One good thing is that if you are aware the person might have Type 1.5, starting insulin earlier is a little bit better. Maybe that can preserve some of the cells in the pancreas and preserve some pancreas function.”

Shoring up your diet and exercise can also help.

Prevention

Dr. Ogun says since Type 1.5 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, there’s no bonafide way to prevent it. She adds there is a genetic component, meaning a child of someone with Type 1.5 is at a higher risk to get in themselves.

But, Dr. Ogun says sometimes education can be the best prevention. She says she’s happy Lance Bass has spoken out. Bass is active, fit and has diabetes – a sign that it can happen to anyone, and you should be aware of the disease.

Learn more

Read more about preventing and managing diabetes on the OSF HealthCare website.

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We’re approaching the late summer-early fall period when respiratory illnesses begin their annual upswing. The latest news from federal health officials concerns a new variant of COVID-19, NB.1.8.1. Some people impacted have reported severe sore throats, almost like there’s a razor blade in there.

Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare, says illnesses like COVID, RSV and the flu will always be around. It’s just a matter of taking precautions to avoid serious illness. So, what’s the level of concern with this new COVID variant as we begin to make fall plans?

The razor’s edge

Any sore throat is an annoyance. But Dr. Burke says you should monitor severe cases closely.

“You’re less likely to want to eat or drink, which can lead to further dehydration,” he says.

You can manage sore throats at home with Tylenol or ibuprofen, chloraseptic spray, warm tea and throat lozenges. Dr. Burke says if you have trouble keeping food or fluids down, feel lightheaded or dizzy or have trouble breathing, see a health care provider right away.

COVID precautions

Dr. Burke says this new COVID variant isn’t linked to as much severe illness as other variants. But, he says it’s more easily spread.

“The average healthy person might get through it with some [figurative] bumps and bruises and little to no symptoms. For people with comorbidities or who are immunocompromised, the virus might be a little bit more detrimental,” Dr. Burke says.

Getting vaccinated and practicing good hygiene are two big tools to avoid serious illness, he adds. Wash your hands and high touch surfaces, like doorknobs, often, don’t cough or sneeze into the open air and stay home and away from others when you don’t feel well. If you’re in a crowd, especially if you have a comorbidity like diabetes, Dr. Burke says you should consider wearing a mask.

“If you’re going to have a gathering, whether at home or somewhere else, you can also recommend people take a home test to make sure they don’t have COVID prior to going,” Dr. Burke suggests. Those at-home tests can usually be found over the counter at a pharmacy.

For vaccines, recent preliminary guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends the shot this fall for people 65 and up. For others, the shot is recommended for people who have a compromised immune system or a comorbid condition like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, lung disease or depression. The website for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, has a broader recommendation. When in doubt, Dr. Burke says to talk to your primary care provider.

Learn more

Explore other resources to keep yourself safe from COVID on the OSF HealthCare website, blog and newsroom.

Interview clips

A pinched nerve can also be a culprit.

“The most common cause [of a pinched nerve] is arthritis. Over time, a disc [in your spine] dries out and starts to bulge. Arthritis builds up in the joints of the neck. That can start squeezing on the nerve,” Dr. Syed explains.

“Certain activities can increase the risk for all that,” he adds. “You do something that requires moving your neck a lot. You do a lot of strenuous work. That can cause things to happen a little bit faster. It can also happen if you’re sitting at a desk at an uncomfortable angle for prolonged periods.”

Pain from a pinched nerve can travel down your body and into your hand, for example.

Treatment

Regardless of the cause of your neck pain, Dr. Syed says a good physical therapy program – both in the doctor’s office and continued at home – can take care of many cases before surgery is discussed. He estimates only around 10% of his patients need surgery.

If it does get to surgery: “A lot depends on which nerves are pinched and where,” Dr. Syed says. “For some people, we go in from the back of the neck to free up the nerve. For some, we go in through the front of the neck. Some surgeries are fusion surgeries. Some are what we call motion sparing. Rather than taking the individual bones of the neck and turning them into one bone, we’re able to keep them free. That preserves [the person’s] motion.”

Prevention

Here's an alert to put in your phone for morning, midday and evening: stretch. Stretching often can keep your neck limber. Five to 10 repetitions of up/down and side to side motions can go a long way, Dr. Syed says.

Practicing good posture goes hand-in-hand with stretching. Sit up straight at your work desk, and take breaks to walk around. Dr. Syed says research is still in progress on how much a standing desk or sitting on a big bouncy ball helps. But he says if those decrease your pain, go for it.

“If you work at a very physically involved job, make sure you have good ergonomics [good workplace behaviors]. If something is a two-person lift, grab someone. Don’t try to lift heavy things by yourself,” Dr. Syed implores.

A diet high in protein, vitamins and calcium is another must-do. Calcium helps prevent osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more prone to breaking.

And lastly, manage chronic illnesses, and drop the cigarettes.

“We know from a lot of studies that smoking damages bone metabolism. It accelerates arthritis. It’s bad for blood supply and nerves,” Dr. Syed warns.

Learn more

Read more about how to keep your body in top shape on the OSF HealthCare website.

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A mother is speaking out about water bead safety after her 14 month-old daughter swallowed a bead and wound up in the hospital.

Hannah Reif of Iowa tells Good Morning America that her child was vomiting, and doctors later found a one-inch water bead in the girl's small intestine.

Water beads are tactile toys that are marble-sized and water-absorbing. They are often used to reduce stress and anxiety while helping to develop focus and attention. The National Poison Control Center and the American Academy of Pediatrics say water beads can expand inside a person and cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage.

This latest incident with Reif's family is a reminder to know the signs of poisoning and choking and the steps to reverse the effects of each, says Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare in Champaign, Illinois.

“Make sure there are no loose coins around  - no small toys they can pick up and swallow,” Dr. Ogun advises as a first step. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a list of recalled products.

Food should be cut into small bites for kids. Chemicals, like bleach used for cleaning, should be capped and stored out of a child’s reach. Cabinet locks add an extra layer of protection.

If your child does ingest something they’re not supposed to, Dr. Ogun advises taking an ambulance to the Emergency Department of your local hospital. Health care providers will assess the child, consulting with the poison control center if necessary, and decide what to do. One option is to pump the poison out of the child’s stomach. If it’s a small object that doesn’t present a grave threat, Dr. Ogun says doctors may see if it will pass naturally in a bowel movement.

Some children may swallow a poisonous liquid and not say anything, perhaps because they don’t even know the seriousness of what they did. In this case, Dr. Ogun says to watch for changes in your child’s health, like vomiting and lethargy, and see a doctor right away.

If a child is choking, Dr. Ogun says there are life-saving steps you can take at home.

For children under one, Dr. Ogun says to lay the child face down on your lap and pat their back five times. Then turn the child over and repeat the pats on their chest.

For older kids, perform the Heimlich maneuver. Dr. Ogun says stand behind the person, wrap one arm around them and place your hand in a fist between their belly button and the bottom of their sternum. Lay your other hand flat on the fist. Then make upward thrusts.

If you’re alone, you can perform thrusts on yourself or thrust your upper abdomen against the back of a chair or the edge of a counter.

Local first responders or health care organizations may offer training on these life-saving techniques.

One word of caution: “Do not put your hand in the child’s mouth to try to get the object out,” Dr. Ogun says. “That could make it worse.”

If these steps don’t dislodge the object and get the child breathing again within a couple minutes, call an ambulance and get to the Emergency Department.

“If the person is turning blue, not able to speak or gasping, those are signs to go to the Emergency Department,” Dr. Ogun says.

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Previous coverage

OSF HealthCare Library: Choking and abdominal thrusts

OSF HealthCare Library: Choking in an infant: What to do

OSF HealthCare Library: Poisons

OSF HealthCare Newsroom: Don't choke when planning for summer fun

Plans to establish a Catholic hospital in Champaign County date back to 1919. Father R.J. Flynn at St. Mary’s Parish in Champaign-Urbana requested the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary to assume responsibility for a new Catholic hospital in the community. At the time, there were no sisters available to meet the request. Sisters of the Holy Cross were available, so the hospital was named Mercy Hospital. Stakeholders held an ambitious but successful fundraising campaign to get the hospital off the ground. An October 1921 headline in the Twin City Review newspaper read, “We are going to build Mercy Hospital. For you. For me. Are you going to do your part?”

The original space that housed Mercy Hospital is no longer standing, but some historical artifacts from the structure were preserved.

In 1989, Mercy Hospital merged with Burnham City Hospital in Champaign to form Covenant Medical Center on the West Park Street site. A stone marker outside OSF Heart of Mary documents this merger. In 1997, the facility joined the Provena Healthcare system and was renamed Provena Covenant Medical Center.

In November 2011, Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care merged, forming Presence Health. The hospital in Urbana became Presence Covenant Medical Center.

In August 2017, OSF HealthCare, under the sponsorship of The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, signed a letter of intent to take ownership of Presence Covenant Medical Center. In February 2018, The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis renamed the hospital OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center to honor the legacy of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary.

“Access to quality health care and choices among providers are important decisions for residents and employers,” said Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin. “We are fortunate to have OSF Heart of Mary serving our community and congratulate the Ministry as it celebrates a century of health care at the Urbana location.”

T.J. Blakeman, president of the Champaign County History Museum, remarked on the hospital’s significance to the community: “We at the museum hope Champaign County residents join us in celebrating this milestone for OSF and the practice of lifesaving medicine in Champaign County. From its early beginnings as Mercy Hospital to the merger of Burnham Hospital and beyond, we wish to say thank you and recognize the dedicated nurses, physicians and support staff that have maintained this proud and important institution.”

OSF Heart of Mary continues to thrive in 2022, boasting 206 licensed beds, nearly 700 Mission Partners, a 24-hour physician-staffed Emergency Department, and nationwide recognition for treatment of heart failure, perinatal care and total knee and hip replacement. It is home to the area’s only inpatient Adult Behavioral Health unit.

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Shield CU, a partnership between OSF HealthCare and the University of Illinois, is highlighting its efforts to keep east central Illinois safe from COVID-19 through the quick and free administering of tens of thousands of saliva tests.

The university developed the saliva COVID test before the start of the fall 2020 semester. The COVID-19 resources OSF HealthCare also offered to the community proved to be a good match, and the Shield CU partnership was unveiled in March of 2021. As of June 12, Shield CU has conducted 77,703 tests. OSF HealthCare Mission Partners (employees) staffed the community testing sites each day. Nursing students from the U of I and Parkland College also assisted at the sites while obtaining clinical hours. OSF HealthCare was proud to partner with these local stakeholders to serve the community and slow the spread of the virus.

Aside from the general public, multiple school districts and employers used the Shield CU tests. Testers used a smartphone app to track results.

"MTD was grateful to partner with OSF and the U of I to bring a testing site to our employees,” said Karl Gnadt, managing director of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. “We were even able to open the testing to employees' household members. OSF Mission Partners made our site easy to manage, and we never had to ask twice for anything."

“The partnership between the University of Illinois and OSF HealthCare has helped to meet the needs of COVID-19 testing for our community members during the pandemic,” said Wanda E. Ward, University of Illinois executive associate chancellor for public engagement. “Our collaborative work has been guided by the university’s land-grant mission of education, scholarship, service and engagement. It is essential we continue to serve as an anchor for the community working toward enhancing overall health. ” 

“In the past couple of years, COVID-19 has put the world and our community to the test,” said Cristina Romero, supervisor of OSF digitally-enabled Community Health Workers. “Even though COVID kept us socially distanced, it has been heartwarming to see our community coming together to find ways to keep everyone safe and to combat the effects of COVID-19 through this program. We are honored that members of the community trusted us to provide them with the greatest care and love throughout this pandemic.”

As previously announced, Shield CU testing sites have closed at the end of June to correspond with the end of state funding. Residents are advised to check with their local public health department or primary care provider for COVID-19 testing options. The federal government also continues to offer free at-home tests. The latest COVID-19 information from OSF HealthCare can be found online.

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