• Maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise and keeping up with doctor appointments. Brim says this reduces your risk of a stroke, which can lead to a voice disorder. It can also prevent everyday illness and coughing.
  
  “If someone has had the flu or COVID and they’ve had a consistent cough, it can cause trauma to the vocal cords,” Brim explains. “The vocal cords are closing so rapidly with each cough.”
  
  Using a humidifier and taking lozenges without menthol can help with that pesky cough, Brim adds.
   
• Aim for 40 to 60 ounces of water per day.
  
  “That’s very helpful in maintaining a healthy environment for your vocal cords. It makes sure they’re not getting too strained,” Brim says.
   
• Watch your caffeine. High amounts can strain your vocal cords, Brim says.
  
  “Do you really need that second latte at noon?” she asks with a smirk.
   
• Don’t yell all the time. Obvious, right? But it’s tricky if you use your voice for a living.

“Maybe you have a job like an auctioneer or a teacher trying to yell over a group of students. You have to make your voice louder [for your job],” Brim says.

“Try to focus on more projection. And take vocal rests,” she adds. “Take 10 minutes to let your vocal cords reset. Drink water. Try to decrease the trauma to the vocal cords as much as possible.”

Learn more

Read about all the ways medical professionals help restore voices on the OSF HealthCare website.

Photos

Interview clips

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Warm weather means more outdoor activities involving alcohol.

The dangers

How quickly can binge drinking turn problematic?

“Very easily,” says Andrew Zasada, MD, an internal medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare.

Dr. Zasada says for women, binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks on one occasion, like a night out on the town that lasts three to four hours. For men, it’s 15 drinks. That takes into account the differences in how men’s and women’s bodies metabolize alcohol.

Dr. Zasada says the internal issues linked with excessive alcohol use can be devastating.

“It can cause brain dysfunction. It can cause liver disease and stomach ulcers,” Dr. Zasada says. “It’s just not a good thing. It can cause a wide variety of problems.”

Not to mention the outward symptoms like: acne, redness on your nose and palms and dry, wrinkled skin that makes you look older. And drinking during pregnancy can lead to a host of problems for the child, like facial abnormalities and developmental deficits.

“A lifetime of misery” for the little one, as Dr. Zasada puts it.

Safety, recovery

Just like there’s no magic way to prevent or cure a hangover, there’s no magic number of drinks to have on a night out that will make you immune to alcohol problems. But for spring and summer revelers, Dr. Zasada has this advice: take it slow.

“If you’re an average size gentleman, probably a beer an hour is just about the max you can drink,” he says.

Dr. Zasada says are there many ways to help people who are drinking in excess. In the short term, such as during a party, call 911 if the person needs immediate medical attention. If they just need a break, take the person away from the clatter to rest. Take their car keys, and give them some water. A painkiller like Tylenol in appropriate doses can help with that hangover headache the next day.

Long term, a patient’s primary care provider can link them with resources to curb drinking, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or treatment centers. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also has resources. And within OSF HealthCare’s footprint, Illinois and Michigan have phone numbers to call for behavioral health issues.

“If the person is trying to deny that they drink at all; if they are drinking alone when there is nobody else around; if they're trying to hide or cover up their drinking, those are all fairly serious warning signs that this person needs help,” Dr. Zasada says.

Dr. Zasada says it’s never too late to kick the habit of excessive drinking, but sooner is better.

“It's easier to mitigate any problems that have already occurred earlier, rather than wait for the problem to get very, very serious, very bad, and then quit,” he says. “Yeah, you'll get better. But you won't go back to what you were.”

That “getting better” looks like a lot of things.

“You might lose weight. You might lower your blood pressure. It may increase heart health,” Dr. Zasada says. “You'll think clearer. You'll sleep better.”

Interview Clips

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

If you’re looking for more reasons to switch from cocktails to mocktails, the American Association for Cancer Research’s newest study may encourage you to embrace sobriety.

The AACR published its 2024 Cancer Progress Report, showcasing that excessive alcohol use increases an individual’s risk of developing six types of cancer. Certain types of head and neck cancers, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, breast, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers were all listed.

The study goes on to say that in 2019, nearly five-and-a-half percent of cancers were attributed to alcohol consumption. The AACR’s research suggests that drinking less—or not at all—can decrease your risk of getting the mentioned cancers by eight percent and lessen the risk of all cancers by four percent.

Jeanna Rich is an oncology registered dietitian with OSF Cancer Support Services. She says part of the reason excessive alcohol can affect so many parts of the body is because alcohol touches tissue inside the body at most of these places.

"All alcohol contains ethanol, so one alcoholic beverage is not safer than the other because they all contain that ethanol component. That can essentially damage or oxidize healthy cells and create DNA damage. In regard to breast cancer, alcohol can actually increase the levels of estrogen in our body. It can lead to excessive calorie intake, which can lead to obesity."

Rich adds that excessive drinking can lead to poor sleep and malnutrition as well.

Video Version With Chyrons

Video Version Without Chyrons

Hydration is key. Make sure you’re drinking enough water.

All comments or advice we’ve probably heard or received that sometimes makes the hydration process seem a bit menacing.

That’s why when there’s a potential solution to speed up the hydration process, people listen. It’s also because hydration plays a role in so many facets of life.

-          Sports/fitness

-          Pregnancy

-          Travel

-          Immune health

-          Fighting illness

-          Digestion

-          Brain function

-          Organ health

And the creators of electrolyte drinks know this. Brands like Gatorade, Prime and Liquid I.V. can be found at countless stores with marketing campaigns geared toward the list above.

What are electrolytes?

"Electrolytes are minerals that are used in our body, so when they dissolve in our body fluids or the water we put them in, they have positive or negative charges. That helps your body maintain balance {in many facets of our health}," says Erica Dawkins, a dietetic intern with OSF HealthCare. “It keeps fluid and nutrients flowing in and out of cells and maintains your nerve function, muscle function, heart rate and blood pressure as well."

Research on electrolytes says they “are essential for basic life functioning.” The study, from Isha Shrimanker and Sandeep Bhattari from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, lists sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and many more as electrolytes we consume on a daily basis.

Diving into the label

Using Liquid I.V.’s lemon lime drink mixes as an example, one stick contains 25% of one’s daily intake of sodium, and 8% of one’s daily intake of potassium. Some boxes will hold 10 or 15 packets within them, containing a powder that can be poured into water, then mixed together. The label says you can get 80% of your daily intake of Vitamin C from one drink mix as well.

Consuming too much sodium and not enough potassium can raise your blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Fruits and vegetables, seafood and dairy products naturally contain potassium.

There are 11 grams of added sugars in the drink mix, which makes up 22% of your suggested daily intake. This is something to keep in mind, as a diet filled with a lot of added sugars has been connected to weight gain and obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, the CDC says.   

Who could benefit from electrolyte drinks?

"With a good, balanced diet and enough water, you're going to have that electrolyte balance you need," Dawkins says. “On a daily occurrence, the drink mixes are absolutely fine to use, but maybe not necessary all the time. If you are having an illness where you're sweating, vomiting or having diarrhea, or if you're an athlete exercising at high intensities or long periods of time and sweating a lot, we definitely want to try to use electrolyte drinks in those situations.”

Who should be cautious of electrolyte drinks?

"Those kidneys are working extra hard to flush out anything we don't need. Anyone who has kidney conditions where their bodies aren't able to do that, they may want to stay away from these drinks or ask their doctor before they use it," Dawkins says. “Or anyone who is trying to watch their blood sugar, a lot of these products do have some extra carbohydrates and added sugar we want to watch. They aid in the absorption a little bit.”

As electrolytes can have an impact on heart rate and blood pressure, Dawkins says those with heart conditions or hypertension (high blood pressure) should be cautious when using these products, because they can add in fluid retention, increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Talk with your cardiologist if you think this may be relevant to you.

Can my kids drink these?

The general recommendation is that children should not begin to drink water until they are at least six months of age. While Liquid I.V. says their Hydration Multiplier® is designed for kids 1+, it comes with the caveat to speak with your child’s pediatrician before introducing this to their diet. Dawkins agrees, adding to make sure to read labels of the product you’re considering trying before purchasing it.

Video Interview Clips

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

Christina Reifsteck knows the statistics all too well.

Law enforcement officers may not live as long as people in other professions. The job requires you to be in a constant state of hypervigilance for up to a 12-hour shift. The resulting stress may lead to serious heart issues.

But Reifsteck, a sergeant with the Rantoul, Illinois, police department, her colleagues and OSF HealthCare are trying to change that.

Rantoul police have partnered with OSF HealthCare Occupational Health and OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute to have OSF provide heart screenings and the necessary follow-up appointments for officers.

“We wanted to make sure our officers have a better knowledge of what is going on inside their body,” Reifsteck says. “Sometimes you can’t see the problems.”

For Reifsteck, that need for knowledge played out on a gray February morning at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois. With monitors attached to her body, she walked, then ran on a treadmill while OSF Mission Partners (employees) observed her heart rate on a screen. It’s known as a stress test.

“The treadmill started out slow, and every couple minutes it got faster, and the incline raised higher,” Reifsteck recalls. “You did feel like at the end you were getting a workout. But it felt fine.”

“With the stress test, we try to identify someone’s functional capacity and if they demonstrate any evidence of impairment of blood flow to the heart,” says Alaa Ujayli, MD, an interventional cardiologist at OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute in Urbana.

Down the hall, Reifsteck got pictures taken of her heart.

“We look at calcification of the coronary arteries, which is the beginning of plaque disease,” Dr. Ujayli says.

Reifsteck got reassuring news that her test results looked good. But a follow-up appointment with a cardiology provider was on her calendar for two days later.

“See where we are and if I need to make some lifestyle changes,” Reifsteck says. “First responders function better when they’re healthy.”

Dr. Ujayli agrees.

“Cardiovascular disease is a preventable illness,” he says. “If we establish preventive measures, we have a significant impact on the progression of the disease.”

Those measures include medication, talking with a dietitian to change eating habits, consistent exercise, better sleep habits and avoiding smoking and alcohol. Mental health care like meditation and visiting a counselor are also helpful for everyone, but especially first responders. More serious heart issues may require a procedure in the hospital.

Learn more about heart care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips - Sgt. Christina Reifsteck

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