When Gordon Ramsay raises his voice, it’s usually about an undercooked dish.

But in 2024, the celebrity chef was calling for help after a scary bicycle accident.

“It really shook me,” says the avid cyclist in a June 15, 2024, Instagram post. “Honestly, I’m lucky to be here.”

Ramsay says he didn’t suffer any major injuries, but he’s bruised and on the mend. And he’s again joining health care professionals in stressing the importance of wearing a helmet and biking within your means.

“I don’t care how short the journey is,” Ramsay says.

Biking accidents in the emergency department

Kurt Bloomstrand, MD, an emergency medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare, has treated people who have fallen off a moving object. It could be a bicycle, scooter or motorcycle. Sometimes it’s a child who’s learning their way. Or it could be an adult who didn’t hit the brakes in time.

“A lot of times what happens is they fall off the bike, put their arm out to protect themselves and injure their arm,” Dr. Bloomstrand says.

“But most importantly, we also see head injuries. We know that people who get in a bike accident have better outcomes if they’re wearing a helmet. People that are not have a higher risk of head injuries and traumatic brain injuries,” he adds.

Those head injuries are not something to take lightly, Dr. Bloomstrand says. Traumatic brain injuries can result in lifelong complications or death.

“When we see people in the emergency department who have suffered from a bicycle accident, we’re going to do a rapid trauma assessment,” Dr. Bloomstrand explains. “We’re going to pay special attention to the head. We’re going to make sure there are no signs of skull fracture or neurological abnormality. Depending on the severity of the injury, we may do a CAT scan [also called a CT scan] to make sure there’s no internal injury like bleeding on the brain. Those internal injuries are life-threatening emergencies that need to be addressed quickly.”

Advice

Check these off your list the next time you get on a bicycle or something similar:

• People of all ages should wear a helmet while biking. Young kids who are learning to ride should also wear knee elbow pads.
   
• Long shirts and pants and closed toe shoes (not sandals) are better than bare skin if you fall and skid on pavement (commonly called “road rash”).
   
• Be alert when riding. Don’t ride while tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you’re listening to music, consider having one ear free so you can hear your surroundings.
   
• Don’t ride above your means. Choose a speed and terrain that fits your skills.
   
• Keep your bike in good condition and configured to match your height. Your feet should touch the ground when seated. This should be true for all ages. A child should not “grow into” a bike. 
  
  At night, a headlight, reflectors, flag and a horn help you to be seen and heard. Bright-colored clothing also helps your visibility at night.
   
• Look closely before crossing an intersection, and obey all traffic laws. This typically includes riding on the right side of the road. Use universal hand signals: left arm straight for a left turn, left arm bent up for a right turn and left arm bent down for a stop. Make eye contact with the driver of a vehicle before passing in front of them.
   
• One person should ride a bike at a time, and keep both hands on the handlebars. Put items like books in a backpack or basket. Don’t try to carry items and ride.
   
• If you or someone you’re with suffers a bike injury, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Interview clips

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After years of chronic pain stripped away his active lifestyle, 36-year-old Tyler Stratman of Clinton, Illinois, says he has finally reclaimed his life thanks to a specialized spine procedure now available in Central Illinois.

Stratman, who once ran several miles a day while living in Chicago, says his life changed dramatically when persistent back pain began about two and a half years ago. What started as discomfort escalated into debilitating immobility.

Active lifestyle disrupted by chronic back pain

The pain prompted Stratman to completely stop his habit of running four to five miles a day.

“Even walking down the street to get Starbucks, my whole entire body would just kind of charley horse. I would have to stop in between blocks and kind of do hamstring stretches and things like that. And you know I was only 33 years old. And so, it was a huge, huge part of my life taken away.”

An MRI eventually revealed a severe herniated disc in his lower spine. At its peak, Stratman describes unbearable pain and sleepless nights.

 “I don’t think I slept for probably four to five days,” Stratman explains. “I would have to go out in the middle of the night. We have a treadmill and I would have to go out at like three or four in the morning to walk just to relieve something – just so I wouldn’t feel pain.” 

Minimally invasive spine surgery offers new option in Central Illinois

After exhausting non-surgical options including physical therapy, steroid injections and chiropractic care, Stratman was referred to neurosurgeon Sohail Syed, MD, who specializes in minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery.

Spine surgeons at OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute (OSF INI) Spine Institute perform approximately 1,000 spine surgeries each year, more than any other hospital system in the area and is the second largest program in Illinois. OSF HealthCare began using new minimally invasive spine surgery technology in June 2024, expanding treatment options for patients with certain spinal conditions. Since then, fellowship-trained spine surgeon Dr. Syed has performed 50 non-invasive spine surgeries using this advanced approach.

The endoscopic approach uses a small camera and specialized instruments inserted through a narrow pathway, avoiding the need for large incisions or significant tissue disruption.

Dr. Syed notes that in traditional spine surgery, surgeons often must remove bone and move a nerve aside to reach the problem area – steps the endoscopic technique can often minimize or avoid.

Endoscopic spine surgery reduces damage and recovery time

“Rather than going through all that, you can sneak underneath the nerve. And the endoscopic camera has an angle on it so it lets you look around the corner and work in the natural hole that exists in the spine without removing any bone or tissue and go right to the disc, remove the disc that’s pushing on the nerve or the bone spur and be in and out just using a one to two centimeter incision.” 

Dr. Syed emphasizes that surgery is typically a last resort after conservative treatments fail but says Stratman was an ideal candidate due to both his condition and mindset.

“He was a great candidate for endoscopic spine surgery because of the type of disc herniation he had, the location, his age and his attitude,” Dr. Syed emphasizes, “He was really willing to do the work required after to get the best benefit from the surgery.” 

For the surgery he underwent at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Illinois, Stratman ultimately chose the less invasive option that allowed surgeons to access his spine through a natural pathway while he remained partially awake. Though initially daunting, he says the decision became clear after years of suffering.

It offered him hope and following a two-and-a-half-hour procedure, the results were almost immediate.

Finding immediate relief

“It was an instant relief. The kind of like nugget charley horse I just felt like I had in my back for those years – it was just gone. I didn’t feel it anymore,” he explains. 

Stratman was also relieved he didn’t have to travel to St. Louis or Chicago for the innovative surgical approach. He was back home the same day – seven hours after his surgery.

Dr. Syed notes that while some people experience immediate improvement, recovery timelines can vary depending on the severity and duration of nerve compression.

Surgery removes whatever’s causing an injury, but Dr. Syed reminds people the procedure doesn’t repair injury.

The body has to heal on its own, and that can take time. For some older patients, Dr. Syed cautions it could mean a few months before they feel significantly better.

“While the nerve is being hurt, so is the muscle, so is the skin and for all of that to recover, it can take time – especially for older patients. So, if you wake up feeling great, that’s awesome. But if you don’t, give it at least three months.” 

Now several months post-surgery, Stratman says he feels stronger and more mobile than ever.

“I’m better than I’ve ever been. I feel stronger than I ever have. My mobility is better than it ever has been. I feel more flexible and [I’m] sleeping fantastic.” 

Stratman is not ready to start running again. Instead, he has adapted his routine with other forms of exercise, such as strength training and fast walking. He remains focused on long-term health.

For others facing similar decisions, both Stratman and Dr. Syed stress the importance of persistence, trust and informed care.

And for Dr. Syed, the ultimate goal is simple: meaningful improvement in patients’ lives.  You can learn more here about non-invasive spine surgery available through OSF HealthCare.

Tyle Stratman who underwent non-invasive spine surgery

Dr. Sohail Syed, neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery

B-roll-Non-invasive spine surgery-follow-up exam

A new generation of 3D Virtual Reality (VR) imaging technology at OSF HealthCare is giving surgeons a clearer view of cancer than ever before – and in some cases, completely changing surgical plans. For OSF HealthCare thoracic surgeon Richard Anderson, MD, that level of insight recently made the difference between removing part of a patient’s chest wall and preserving it entirely.

Dr. Anderson, chair and Norman Estes Professor of Surgery at University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, says the leap from standard imaging to 3D modeling is transformative for surgeons.

A better view

“So the real difference between a 2D and 3D is, just imagine looking at something on a piece of paper with two different pictures, looking at it from side to side, as opposed to having a model in your hand and being able to take that model and move it all around in all different directions, upside down, inside out, even open up things within the model and look at it. It’s really the difference between 2D and 3D.” Dr. Anderson adds, “It’s really quite impressive.”

The technology allows his team to isolate tumors, peel away layers of anatomy, and examine the intricate relationships among bones, vessels, and muscle before they ever enter the operating room. That clarity is especially crucial in complex thoracic oncology, where anatomy is delicate, variable and easily injured.

For Dr. Anderson and others who use 3D imaging, it increases the surgeon’s confidence.

“In the more complex oncology cases, it can make a big difference. It can help the surgeon really identify what structures they have to worry about during the operation, what structures they might have to sacrifice, before they actually do the operation and gives them a little bit more level of confidence going into the operation than probably they would have before.”

A tumor in a rare location

That level of detail proved critical in a recent complex thoracic oncology case. Thoracic surgery presents unique challenges because of the delicate and complex anatomy of the chest.

“The arteries aren't made the same, and so they're easier to tear. They're much more delicate. Lung tissue is sometimes like tissue paper, too. It’s easy to injure and tear. You have got to be very careful when you do the dissections in thoracic surgery. That's what makes it so challenging.”

Dr. Anderson treated Jake Wilson, a 69-year-old retired farmer and former prison guard from Central Illinois. Wilson’s case was challenging. He was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer and in August of 2025 began a series of chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the aggressively growing tumor.

Still, as surgery approached, Dr. Anderson was challenged with removing a nearly six‑centimeter tumor (about the size of a small egg) situated high in the chest, closely hugging the first three ribs. Standard 2D scans suggested the cancer had invaded the bone – a scenario that would typically require removing three ribs to ensure the cancerous tumor was completely removed.

Seeing is believing

But when Wilson became the first adult patient with lung cancer to have his case analyzed using advanced 3D modeling and virtual reality, the picture changed dramatically. The technology revealed that his ribs were not invaded at all. The tumor, though large and aggressive, was confined to muscle.

Sister M. Pieta Keller, Connor Davey, and Reid Jockisch, innovation engineers at Jump Simulation worked to segment the tumor for 3D viewing in virtual reality. Sister M. Pieta recently showed Wilson the 3D rendering. It was something he’ll never forget as she displayed his chest wall anatomy in vivid color and manipulated the images to reveal why Dr. Anderson could spare all three ribs.

“That was one of my biggest fears was losing my ribs,” Wilson explained. “Just the concept of that,” he said as his voice trailed off. Sister M. Pieta explained, “And your recovery and your pain would have been a lot higher,” to which Wilson responded, “I’m sure.” Sister M. Pieta added, “So this was quite the gift.”

After years of lung scans due to his history of smoking, seeing the vivid digital model after his successful surgery made the size and seriousness of the tumor undeniably real. Having only retired from farming six months earlier, Wilson admitted that going into the surgery, he was really scared.

“That put the fear of God into me, needless to say, because I’m an active person. I’m a farmer. I thought, ‘I could see being debilitated for the rest of my life.’”

A recovery that surprised everyone

The new imaging technology altered not only the surgical approach, but Wilson’s experience afterward. Instead of the severe pain typically expected after chest wall removal, his discomfort was minimal; it was largely limited to the area where an intercostal muscle was removed.

Wilson required only mild pain medication and never needed supplemental oxygen after losing half of his lung, something his care team described as highly unusual.

Even more astonishing, follow‑up imaging showed his remaining lung tissue had expanded far faster than expected. His post‑surgical biopsies revealed a remarkable result: the tumor was completely non‑viable (dead) at the time of removal.

A message about screening

Today, Wilson is cancer‑free and sharing his story. He credits many people along the way, including his primary care doctor, who five years ago, when Wilson was still smoking, encouraged him to get an annual CT screening to detect lung cancer.

“I thought, ‘I’m the one that’s stupid enough to do this to myself I ought to at least be smart enough to use a little preventive maintenance.’” He added, “And thank God I did because I might already be gone.”

But above all, Wilson returns to the strength of his faith which he credits with leading him to Dr. Anderson and his care team at OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria and OSF Cancer Center in Bloomington. He is sharing his story to show the power of prayer and faith, and to instill hope.

“I know for a fact that the most important thing a person can have in these ordeals is hope because without hope you give up. And this is one time you can’t afford to give up because if you give up, you’re done,” Wilson declared.

For Dr. Anderson, the case represents the promise of 3D technology not just to guide surgeons, but to change outcomes. He calls that, “A good day at work.” And for Wilson, it represents something even bigger: a second chance he intends to use to encourage others to seek preventive screenings, face fear with hope and share gratitude for every day.

Video clips with Dr. Richard Anderson

Video clips with oncology patient Jake Wilson

B-roll of 3D imaging and Dr. Anderson

Despite years of public health efforts, most U.S. adults with high blood pressure are still not meeting current treatment targets, a gap that new national data continue to highlight.

Jason Trager, DO, a cardiologist with OSF HealthCare in Bloomington says the findings underscore why recent hypertension guideline changes were necessary and why controlling blood pressure remains one of the most effective ways to prevent serious cardiovascular events.

Under updated guidelines, the long-standing 140/90 mm Hg is now considered stage 2 hypertension, and a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg is considered stage 1.

“Which is a fairly low goal yet, when you compare 130/80 to the 140/90 and you treat these people, it resulted in about 15% risk reduction in all-cause mortality. So again, there’s good data to back it up.” 

Dr. Trager says lowering the threshold for diagnosis of high blood pressure can make a difference in preventing heart attacks and strokes. However, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2021-2023 data, 79.1% of adults with hypertension did not have their blood pressure within the 130 mm Hg systolic and 80 mm Hg diastolic threshold recommended by guidelines.

Trager said the reasons are complex and often overlapping.

“Well, it’s a little bit difficult to tell,” according to Dr. Trager. “And sometimes it could be access to the care where the patients aren’t getting in to see their primary care docs and doing the primary care prevention type of stuff. Sometimes it could be related to the cost of the medications that are required, or some people just have high blood pressure, but they don’t know it.” 

Lifestyle changes can make a big difference

He adds that lifestyle factors also play a major role in whether patients achieve control.

Smoking cessation, he emphasizes, could have the single greatest impact.

 “Quitting smoking decreases your risk of having heart attack and strokes by 50%. I mean, it’s almost better than any medication that I can give you, it’s just, it’s just not to smoke.” Dr. Trager adds, “The other thing we see a lot is sleep apnea and treatment of the sleep apnea – that can really reduce someone’s blood pressure significantly too.” 

For many patients with stage 1 hypertension, medication is not the first step. Instead, Trager believes in introducing lifestyle changes that can significantly reduce blood pressure.

“If someone decreases their salt intake, and there’s this DASH diet, we can see about a 10-point blood pressure reduction,” Dr. Trager says. “If someone starts exercising, we all see about a five-point reduction in blood pressure. If someone ends up losing, you know, just 10 pounds, you would also see about a five-to-10-point blood pressure reduction.” 

Even among patients taking medication, control remains elusive. Trager point out that half of people with high blood pressure are unaware they have it, and even among those treated, only about half reach current targets.

Check blood pressure regularly

“With these newer guidelines, about one in five people will be controlled,” he says. “So, in other words, come in, bring in your blood pressure cuff, see your primary (care provider), or see your cardiologist, because you will probably need to do some tweaking of the medications now.” 

Trager recommends taking a blood pressure reading once a week at home. And he stresses the importance of accurate blood pressure measurement, including proper cuff placement and body positioning. He suggests avoiding wrist cuts because he says they can be notoriously inaccurate. Also, make sure you are placing the cuff high enough on the arm – about where your heart is and ensure you don’t have arms or legs crossed and you’re in a relaxed state.

Because hypertension often causes no symptoms, regular monitoring is key. For patients with a history of cardiac disease, he says it’s really important to treat anyone close to the 130/80 range. Hypertension is often referred to as the “silent killer” because someone might not have any symptoms until it’s too late.

With a family history of cardiac disease, he also recommends getting a calcium score test or coronary artery calcium scan which is a non-invasive CT scan that detects calcium-containing plaque in the coronary arteries. It measures the risk of heart disease or future heart attacks. It takes 10–15 minutes, involves low radiation.

Here is more information about getting that test.

Video Clips of Dr. Jason Trager

When watching a basketball game on television, you may hear coaches and announcers say the star player is missing time with a hernia.

A sports hernia is different than a hernia suffered in everyday life, says Raman Kumar, MD, a colorectal surgeon and general surgeon at OSF HealthCare. But each should be taken seriously.

Hernia

Dr. Kumar says a hernia is when an internal organ or piece of fat goes through a hole in the abdominal wall. The most common type – around 80%  – is an inguinal hernia, when a part of the intestine pushes through the abdominal wall in the lower belly (also called the groin). Anyone can get a hernia, even newborns. But Dr. Kumar says they are seen more in older men. Symptoms include a bulge or swelling in the abdominal area and pain when moving.

“A lot of chronic heavy lifting,” can cause hernias, Dr. Kumar says. “Other things weaken the abdominal wall such as diabetes and smoking. Being obese causes a lot of weight hanging down on the abdominal wall. If you’ve had surgery in the past, that’s also a risk factor.”

So be mindful when lifting objects, Dr. Kumar advises. Lift with your knees, not your back, and don’t try to lift heavy items. Get a cart or a partner to help. Eat healthy and exercise to avoid obesity and diabetes. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes.

Dr. Kumar says an exterior wrap known as a hernia belt or abdominal binder can be a short-term solution. But surgery is often the endgame.

“If you have a hole or defect, it needs to be closed,” Dr. Kumar says. “The reason we fix hernias is because we don’t want a loop of intestine or bowel to get into the hernia, twist off and die.”

That would make a person very sick and possibly threaten their life, Dr. Kumar says.

Sports hernia

Dr. Kumar says a sports hernia is a muscle tear in the groin area. They’re seen in athletes due to all the twisting, turning and bending that comes with competition.

“Stretch before you do any type of activity. Work and develop your core muscles, including your abdominal and hip muscles.” Dr. Kumar says. “If the muscles are strong, they are less likely to tear.”

Athletes who complain of groin pain should immediately leave the competition and get checked out by a trainer or doctor. Resting and icing the groin will help, but a combination of medication, physical therapy or surgery will likely be needed to fully heal.

Be proactive

If you have symptoms of a hernia or sports hernia, see a health care provider right away.

“Nine times out of 10, we can determine you have a hernia just based on a physical exam,” Dr. Kumar says.

But for more complicated cases, your doctor may order an ultrasound or CT scan. Then, the provider will develop a treatment plan.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

Hernias: More common than you think

Prevention

Delaney works with her athletes on good throwing mechanics and building strength in your whole body.

“They understand that when they’re throwing, it’s all about speed. But they think it’s all in the shoulder. It’s not,” Delaney says. “It’s in your upper back, core and hips.”

Other tips:

• Delaney says when kids are just starting baseball, their growth plates (areas of new bone growth) are not yet solid. So, throwing extra hard or mixing up pitches can lead to injuries. At young ages, she says to concentrate on mechanics. Start with a good fastball down the middle of the zone, and learn other pitches when you’re a little older. This allows bones and muscles to mature.
   
• Do a proper warm up and cool down. Delaney has her baseball players jog a couple laps around the field to warm up, followed by dynamic stretching (stretching with active movements, not just touching your toes). The Throwers Ten program is one she uses to wake up the muscles.
  
  After the game, stretch again, and ice sore body parts if needed.
   
• Empower kids to speak up if they are hurt and need to head to the bench. They shouldn’t fear losing their spot in the lineup.
   
• Make sure your child’s league has a pitch count to avoid overuse injuries. Organizations like Little League and Major League Baseball have guidelines that local leagues can work from.

Learn more

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

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A shin-termission: Navigating lower leg pain

Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a casual runner, repetitive use of your legs (especially long distances like a 1600 meter run at a track event) can bring pain, swelling, tenderness or soreness along the shin bone (the tibia). The medical term is medial tibial stress syndrome.

“It’s usually because they’re increasing the frequency or intensity of their workouts,” Delaney says. Changing surfaces can also play a role. Delaney says she’s seen shin splints in football players who run on soft grass transitioning to basketball season and a hard court.

Diagnosis and treatment

Delaney says health care providers might take an X-ray or a CT scan to determine the extent of your injury. From there, the advice is typically to rest and ease back into competition.

“If you’re in a high impact sport, alternate days and do low impact work like pool workouts or getting on a stationary bike,” Delaney suggests.

Icing the leg can also help. A trick, Delaney says, is to freeze some water in a paper cup and tear away some of the cup so you have exposed ice. Then, massage your leg with the ice block.

“It gets a lot deeper into the soft tissue as opposed to just putting a cold pack on the leg,” Delaney says.

Delaney says rushing back into competition could cause the shin splint to progress to a stress fracture, or a tiny crack in the bone. That could mean an extended time on the sideline.

Prevention

Talk to any orthopedic provider, and you’ll be told the right footwear goes a long way to prevent injuries. Delaney agrees. She says to talk to an expert, like an athletic trainer, to find the right shoe for you. Flashy and expensive isn’t always best.

“Foot mechanics play a role,” Delaney adds. “Do you have flat feet? People with no arch support in their feet typically get shin splints. It’s a hard impact as opposed to having an arch to absorb the shock.” If this is the case, you might need a shoe insert (also called an orthotic or insole).

Get on a workout plan to strengthen your midsection and legs, and stretch before and after running. Delaney also says you can try leg compression sleeves. These can help prevent swelling and muscle fatigue and increase blood flow.

Learn more

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

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Fall and winter could be renamed “coughing season” with seasonal illnesses in the air. But there’s more to coughing than the brief but annoying impact on your day.

Some coughing is normal. But you should see a health care provider quickly when you cough up things you shouldn’t.

The basics: Why do you cough?

Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, says coughing is one way your body protects your lungs and airways from irritants. You expel the bad stuff out of our system, she says.

Some everyday things that can make you cough: breathing in smoke, allergies and mucus dripping down to your throat and irritating it. Or, you may just wake up in the morning and cough a few times to lighten your chest. These shouldn’t alarm you, Dr. Ogun says.

“We have cough receptors in our airways and lungs,” Dr. Ogun explains. “If we have mucus or an irritant, there’s a signal sent to our brain. The brain activates those receptors to have the cough action happen. So that’s why you clear your throat or cough in the morning. You’re trying to clear out your airways.”

If your cough is associated with an illness (like a cold, flu, RSV, COVID, bronchitis or pertussis, also called whooping cough) or a chronic condition (like asthma or COPD), you should be seeing a provider as often as needed to learn how to manage things.

Coughing up things you shouldn’t

Watch for signs that your cough may be linked to a more serious problem, Dr. Ogun says.

• Mucus: Our airways produce mucus to trap irritants, Dr. Ogun says. So it’s not out of the ordinary to cough up mucus from time to time. But if the mucus is thick or a different color (green or yellow), it could be a sign of pneumonia or bronchitis.
  
  “When it’s persistent [cough with mucus] and it’s affecting your breathing, you definitely want to be seen [by a provider,]” Dr. Ogun says.
   
• Vomit: Dr. Ogun says sometimes, you just cough hard enough to bring up some vomit. If it’s a “one-off,” as she calls it, you should still see a provider, but it may not be cause for great concern. But persistent vomiting while coughing could be a sign of whooping cough, acid reflux or aspiration (when food or drink gets into the lungs).
   
• Blood: Coughing blood brings a high level of concern, Dr. Ogun says.
  
  “Sometimes you have the common cold, you’re coughing for a long period and you irritated your airways. Maybe you nick the capillary artery [leading to coughing blood.] That’s fine,” Dr. Ogun says. “But more serious conditions would be a blood clot in the lung or tuberculosis.”
  
  Heart failure, lung cancer or infections are also associated with coughing up blood.
   

Diagnosis and treatment

When you see a provider for an abnormal cough, they’ll ask about your health history, specifically about your cough. How long have you been coughing? Did something trigger it? What are you coughing up? Do you have other symptoms, like a fever?

“Then the provider could do a physical examination. They look at the back of your throat. They listen to your lungs to see if they hear anything concerning. Depending on what they find, they could order a chest X-ray or a CT scan to see what’s going on inside your chest,” Dr. Ogun says.

Treatment will depend on what the provider finds. For example, acid reflux can be tamped down by an antacid or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). For an infection like pneumonia, you’ll get an antibiotic. If it is just an irritating tickle in your throat, you may get a steroid like Flonase.

What you can do

Some advice from Dr. Ogun to ensure coughs don’t derail your health:

• Parents should keep a close eye on kids and their coughing.
   
• No matter the age, don’t shake off one instance of a bad cough and assume things will go back to normal. See a provider right away.
   
• While vaccines don’t prevent coughing, Dr. Ogun says they are critically important to stomp out the illnesses associated with coughing. Talk to your health care provider about when you’re due for flu, COVID, RSV, pneumonia and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccines.
  
  “Pertussis is dangerous in immunocompromised people and kids,” Dr. Ogun warns. “RSV is highly contagious, as well. It’s life-threating in infants and older adults.
  
  “What vaccines do is help prevent getting to the very severe stage [of an illness,]” she adds. “You’re trying to prevent ending up in the hospital. You’re also reducing the risk of infection. And you’re protecting people around you who may be sicker than you.”
   
• Daily hygiene habits also go a long way. Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue. Wash your hands often. Stay home and away from others when sick. Again, these don’t prevent coughs. But they can help prevent the spread of illness that brings those rough coughing fits.

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In his year-long battle with cancer of the esophagus, Jim Corby encountered many nerve-wracking moments.

But when asked about it, one memory comes to mind for the retired construction worker from Alton, Illinois. One that happened far away from a doctor’s office.

On July 27, 2022, Corby was chosen to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Alton River Dragons baseball game. Members of care team at OSF HealthCare Moeller Cancer Center in Alton, James Piephoff, MD, and Manpreet Sandhu, MD, were at his side. Also watching was a group of young women Corby coaches on the softball diamond.

“He knew if he didn’t throw a strike, he would never hear the end of it from the girls on his team,” Dr. Piephoff says.

No pressure, Jim.

Esophageal cancer: The basics

Dr. Piephoff, a radiation oncologist, says around 20,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with esophageal cancer each year. The cancer claims around 16,000 lives in the U.S. each year.

There are two types. The most common (around 70% of U.S. cases) is adenocarcinoma in the lower esophagus. The other type is squamous cell carcinoma, typically above where the airway separates into the lungs.

Both types are associated with excess smoking and drinking, something Corby found out the hard way.

“I smoked two-and-a-half to three packs of cigarettes a day,” Corby says. “The day I went in for surgery, I threw them out the window. I haven’t smoked since.”

Obesity is also a risk factor for adenocarcinoma.

“Obesity leads to increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease,” Dr. Piephoff explains. “It’s the acid churning up in the lower esophagus that leads to the risk of developing what’s called Barrett’s esophagus. That’s a precancerous condition.”

Screening isn’t common for cancer of the esophagus, so Dr. Piephoff says it’s important to watch for symptoms, which can mimic those of heartburn. See a doctor if symptoms won’t go away.

“Know your body. Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctors about it. Don’t try to minimize your symptoms,” Dr. Piephoff urges. “If there’s a change you notice, you need to convey that to your doctor.”

On treatment, Dr. Piephoff says he typically sees a person go through chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the cancer followed by surgery to remove the tumor. During surgery, instruments are sent down the throat and not through the chest, meaning an easier recovery for the person. Early detection could mean surgery only.

“There are some patients who are not able to have surgery because of medical conditions like a bad heart or bad lungs,” Dr. Piephoff says. “They get treated with radiation and chemotherapy without surgery.”

Immunotherapy is also a part of the treatment plan for some people. This involves changing how your immune system works so it can fight cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

Jim’s journey

Corby says he started having pain in his midsection last year when he ate. Treatment for heartburn and acid reflux didn’t help. An ultrasound and CT scan didn’t get his doctors any closer to a solution. All the while, Corby says it hurt so much to eat, he started losing weight.

In September 2021, doctors examined Corby’s esophagus with a camera.

“The doctor came in and sat down, which I knew was not a good sign,” Corby recalls.

“That day was when my life changed,” he says.

The exam found a cancerous mass in Corby’s lower esophagus. The next few months were a whirlwind.

“It happened real fast,” Corby says.

“They got me here [to Moeller Cancer Center] to see Dr. Piephoff and Dr. Sandhu. They came up with a program to try to get me going,” Corby says. “I went through chemotherapy and radiation first. Then they sent me over to St. Louis, and in January I had surgery.”

The surgery to remove the cancer preceded a nine day stay in the hospital where Corby says he couldn’t eat or drink aside from the occasional ice cubes or water sopped from a sponge.

Sometime later – Corby can’t remember exactly when – he was back at OSF Moeller Cancer Center meeting with Dr. Sandhu.

“She said ‘Your scan came back. You’re cancer free.’” Corby says.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Corby adds. “How many times do you hear about people who have cancer who die? You hear more of that than you do cancer free.

“The odds were against me 100%, but I guess I beat the odds.”

The first pitch

Corby’s first pitch at the River Dragons game went – where else? – right down the middle of the plate, eliciting a cheer from his support system and all the fans learning his story for the first time. For Corby, it was a sigh of relief. No need to worry about razzing from his softball players.

“I got lucky,” Corby says, fighting back happy tears.

Learn more

Visit the OSF HealthCare website to learn about cancer treatment. This includes the new OSF Cancer Institute in Peoria, Illinois, which will serve the entire OSF service area will the latest treatment, education and more.

Interview clips - Dr. James Piephoff

Interview clips - Jim Corby

Terminology

David Rzepczynski, MD, an OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist, says it’s important to first lay out some similar sounding terminology.

• Diverticulum (singular) or diverticula (plural): These are the bulges that form when an inner part of the colon sticks out through a weak spot in the colon wall.
   
• Diverticulosis: This is the name of the condition when the bulges occur.
   
• Diverticulitis: This describes when the bulges become inflamed.

Causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Dr. Rzepczynski says diverticulosis occurs when your colon is trying to push stool forward, and the organ is not as bulky as it should be. The diverticula bulges then form.

The condition has been more common in people over 60, but Dr. Rzepczynski says health care providers are seeing a rise in cases in people in their 40s and 50s.

Diverticulosis can run in families. It’s also tied to your lifestyle.

“A diet that has more red meat, less grain and less fiber might put you at a higher risk,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

Smoking, excess alcohol and obesity are also risk factors.

Symptoms of diverticulosis include abdominal pain or constipation. But it often comes with no symptoms and is found during a colonoscopy.

Treatment

Dr. Rzepczynski says in mild cases, a provider may tell you to change your lifestyle, such as getting more fiber in your diet. This makes bowel movements smoother.

“Often, people will look to use fiber supplements,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “The amount of fiber intake from supplements pales in comparison to what you can get from your diet.”

Also, eat a healthier diet overall. Dr. Rzepczynski says there used to be a myth that nuts, popcorn and seeds would get lodged in the colon bulges. He says studies have shown those foods are not a risk factor.

Other lifestyle tips: exercise and cut out tobacco and alcohol.

Dr. Rzepczynski says more serious cases of diverticulosis can come with two complications. One is bleeding.

“You could have a blood vessel on the outside of the diverticulum. If it ruptures into the diverticulum, it could cause sudden bleeding from the rectum,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

Dr. Rzepczynski says bleeding from diverticulosis is not common. He ballparks it at around one in 2,000 cases. People on blood thinning medication who develop diverticulosis have a higher risk of bleeding.

While unpleasant, Dr. Rzepczynski says most bleeding cases resolve on their own.

The second, more serious complication is diverticulitis, or when the diverticula bulges become inflamed. This happens when there is a tear in the diverticulum, and bacteria from stool leaks. And it can lead to a host of other problems: pockets of pus known as abscesses, issues passing stool and a urinary tract infection.

Symptoms of diverticulitis include pain in the lower left abdominal area, abnormal bowel movements, nausea and vomiting. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to been seen by a health care provider quickly. A doctor may order a computed tomography scan (commonly called a CT scan) to diagnose diverticulitis.

Dr. Rzepczynski says it’s not common for diverticulosis to progress to diverticulitis, and most cases of diverticulitis can be treated at home with oral medication. But, he says 12 to 15% of diverticulitis patients spend time at the hospital. Treatments there include antibiotic medication through intravenous therapy (IV) and surgery. If surgery is necessary, a doctor will drain any abscesses then remove the inflamed area of the colon.

“They’ll try to reconnect the colon at that time,” Dr. Rzepczynski explains. “But if the surgery is done on an emergency basis, sometimes the person may have a colostomy where part of the colon is coming out through the skin. That’s a temporary measure.”

A colostomy comes with a bag on the outside of your body that collects the waste that would normally leave your body via a bowel movement.

Dr. Rzepczynski warns that surgery isn’t a permanent fix. He says around 15% of diverticulitis patients who have surgery end up with another bout. It reinforces the importance of lifestyle changes. You should also get on a colonoscopy schedule as advised by your health care provider.

Learn more

Read more about how to avoid diverticulosis on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Busy days are the norm for Jill Pruitt.

The licensed practical nurse and certified oncology navigator at OSF HealthCare pores over imaging results looking for findings not related to what brought the person there in the first place. Imaging for possible lung cancer may reveal a thyroid problem and a need for a follow up appointment. She notes the appointment in her tickler file and contacts the provider later if it’s not getting scheduled.

A little firmness goes a long way in catching something that could have serious consequences.

“It’s important because if you just catch one thing, maybe that saves their life,” Pruitt says.

“It’s patient-first. I look out for all of them,” she adds.

Pruitt’s above-and-beyond efforts – unique throughout the entire OSF Ministry – shine a light on patient navigators and their importance.

What navigators do

Pruitt says a patient navigator is usually there with someone when they’re diagnosed and through their whole journey. The navigator sits in on consult appointments, helps schedule other appointments, answers questions and more.

“Basically they are the person’s go-to,” Pruitt repeats.

“Often when a person comes in and hears the word ‘cancer,’ they shut down,” Pruitt explains. “They didn’t hear about follow-up appointments, biopsies and other scans.”

That’s where a navigator comes in with a reminder. Where to go. What specialist to see. Write it down. Sometimes people just want to talk, and Pruitt obliges – day or night.

Once a person starts treatment, a nurse may become their main point of contact. But Pruitt and other navigators may still check in.

“They’re always there in my heart,” Pruitt says with a smile.

Looking closer

Pruitt says 50 to 60 imaging reports cross her desk each week. On a spreadsheet, she tracks person by person if anything else needs done. The doctor may have recommended another appointment or test. New patients or people who came through the emergency department may need to be established with a provider.

“We’re all human. Sometimes things are missed,” Pruitt says. “So if I look at the chart and see the procedure is not scheduled, I contact the physician to make sure they put the order in.”

Pruitt makes longer term checks, too.

“A patient comes in in April of 2023 and has a low-dose CT scan,” for example, she says. “Sometimes they need to come back in three, six or 12 months. That all is put into my tickler file for the next year. I go through the file monthly and check if they had the follow-up done. If not, I contact the physician again and make sure that test gets done.”

The doctors are usually grateful for the nudge, Pruitt says.

Pruitt may also notice people are no-showing or canceling the follow-up appointments. Or some people will explain that their insurance won’t cover a follow-up so soon, so they’ll just wait until their next regular visit in six months.

Not a good idea, Pruitt says. Early detection of cancer or any other ailment is key.

“Sometimes the cancer is in such an early stage. Doctors can do surgery and take it out. And then the person doesn’t need treatment,” like chemotherapy or radiation, Pruitt says. It underscores the importance of sticking to your appointments and asking your care team questions.

Learn more

Talk to your health care provider if you think a navigator would help your journey.

Interview clips

A veteran urologist, Uwais Zaid, MD, has heard the comparisons.

Pain from a kidney stone is like giving birth.

“It’s true,” says the man who provides care at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois.

“It’s horrible. They just can’t get comfortable. They’re writhing around in pain,” Dr. Zaid says of people suffering from a calcification-turned-blockage in the urinary tract.

“When the kidney gets obstructed, everything gets swollen upstream. That causes everything to get stretched out,” Dr. Zaid explains. “And it hurts a lot. Your body responds with severe pain in the flank area. It’s a sharp, stabbing pain.”

Other signs: you suddenly start feeling an urgency to urinate or your urine is anything but clear or yellow.

All those unpleasant symptoms are why prevention of kidney stones is key. It starts with what you put in your body.

Drink plenty of water, Dr. Zaid says. Doctors even recognize a “kidney stone belt” in the southern United States where people deal with sweltering weather and dehydration.

Avoid excess salt and sugar in your diet. That means cut back on soda and sweet tea. Too much meat, nuts and leafy vegetables can also cause problems.

“Other risk factors include a family history of kidney stones. Chronic diarrhea can cause dehydration and a loss of electrolytes,” Dr. Zaid says.

For small kidney stones – less than five millimeters across, or about the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil – a provider may see if the stones can pass out of your body through the urethra on their own. Medication can help with that.

But for trickier stones, there are several ways doctors can intervene. Dr. Zaid says providers can blast sound waves at the kidney stone from outside the body to break the stone apart. A doctor can send a camera through the urinary system, find the stone, use a laser to fragment it and remove the pieces. For larger stones – two to four centimeters – surgery involves an incision through your back to reach the stone, break it apart and remove it.

If you have symptoms of a kidney stone, don’t try to tough it out. Your symptoms may subside, but there may still be issues that could turn serious. Instead, see a doctor right away. They will perform a CT scan or ultrasound to find the cause of the pain, then develop a treatment plan.

“If the kidney remains obstructed for several weeks, that can lead to kidney damage,” Dr. Zaid warns. “If the kidney stone causes urine to get infected upstream, that can lead to sepsis, which is a life-threatening infection.”

Learn more about kidney stones on the OSF HealthCare health library and the OSF HealthCare blog.

Interview clips