OSF HealthCare Newsroom

Prepare for warm weather and migraines

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500

For most adults, spring and summer thunderstorms bring the annoyance of driving in a downpour.

But others dread this time of year for migraines triggered by the environment.

What are migraines?

Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, describes migraines as episodic disorders that cause severe, throbbing headaches, usually on one side of the brain.

The list of triggers is, unfortunately, long.

“Emotional stress can trigger migraines. Moving, changing jobs, other stressful life situations,” Dr. Ogun says. “A change in sleeping habits can trigger a migraine. Skipping a meal. Your diet: wine, aged cheese, coffee withdrawal and foods high in nitrates.”

Other common triggers include hormones, bright lights, loud sounds and changes in altitude. A propensity for frequent headaches can also run in the family, Dr. Ogun says.

You can prepare

Dr. Ogun says not much is known about weather-induced migraines. But most medical professionals agree there is some evidence for migraines caused by changes in barometric pressure.

How can you prepare?

“Up and move,” Dr. Ogun says, tongue firmly planted in cheek.

More realistically, watch the weather forecast. If there’s a chance for a lot of dust or smoke in the air (think areas like California or Arizona), plan to limit time outside.

Stock up on medication after talking with your health care provider. Dr. Ogun says over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen will help with pain and can even be taken ahead of when you know a migraine is coming.

“They could have a headache diary where they write down what causes their headaches, where the pain is located, how long does it last, symptoms and what treatment helps,” Dr. Ogun adds.

If your migraines are more frequent, feel different, or come with other symptoms like confusion, neck rigidity, weakness in the arms or legs, fever or chills, see a doctor right away. Some of those symptoms may be signs of a heart attack or stroke.

Any head trauma, like a sports injury or a car crash, should also be checked on by a doctor.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

One big headache
June is national migraine and headache awareness month
A good calendar may be able to help you fight headaches
Three steps to help with severe or frequent headaches
When should you see a specialist for your headaches?
Weather changes can be a pain for migraine sufferers

Navigating the baby blues and more

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0600

When talking about the good and bad of pregnancy, you might have heard terms like postpartum depression or, more casually, baby blues.

It’s critical new mothers get help in this area, says Tiffany Waters, a birthing center charge nurse at OSF HealthCare. She says up to 80% of moms experience the so-called baby blues. But when talking about maternal mental health, experts prefer the umbrella term: perinatal mood, anxiety and depression (PMAD). Perinatal refers to the time between conception and one year after delivery.

PMAD basics

Waters says for two to three weeks after delivery, most women experience hormone changes, a lack of sleep and general stress related to the “new normal.” Having a traumatic birth, like an emergency caesarean section, can compound mental health impacts. Waters says around one-third of women fall into this category.

All these factors can lead to a variety of longer-lasting PMAD symptoms, including brain fog, weeping, sleep changes, anxiety, depression, obsessive or compulsive behavior and even suicidal thoughts.

“There’s no one single cause that leads to a person experiencing these issues. It’s a combination of psychological, societal and biological factors,” Waters says. “There’s nothing a mom has done to get or deserve this experience. The best we can do is help her work through it.”

Screening and treatment

Waters says health care providers should screen a woman for depression and other mental health issues during and after pregnancy.

“There are commonly used tools,” Waters says. “The woman answers 10 questions. It gives us a rating on how their emotional and mental well-being is.”

She’s referring to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Each question is scored 0 to 3, with 3 being the response that most signals a possible mental health issue. That’s 30 total points, and a final tally of 10 or higher would warrant further evaluation.

Waters also says research is ongoing into whether certain biological markers in a woman are a sign of mental health issues to come.

“It can be difficult to admit or even recognize that a person is having depression or anxiety symptoms,” Waters says. “There are lots of reasons for that. There’s societal pressure to be a great mom. Moms might feel like if they admit how they’re feeling, their children might be taken away.”

Waters says journaling or talking to a trusted adult can help a mom document the issues she’s facing, opening the door for her to get help.

If a mom is diagnosed with PMAD, a provider will talk with her about resources like support groups, counseling, spiritual care and medication. Daily things like improved diet and exercise and exploring new hobbies can also help. And Waters says mothers should not be afraid to prioritize themselves. It’s OK to ask for a break from daily housework, for example.

Why it’s important

Waters says untreated PMAD can have consequences for the whole family and the people around the family. Substance abuse and domestic violence can increase. But if treated, it means a better life for everyone.

“It will improve the whole family dynamic,” Waters says. “It will lessen stress for everybody and lead to a happier unit.”

Learn more

Read more about pregnancy and birth and behavioral and mental health on the OSF HealthCare website. If you are in crisis, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 9-8-8.

Interview clips

Mental health medication and pregnancy

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0600

As the stigma around mental health continues to improve, people are more likely to seek treatment. A woman who has just learned she’s pregnant may wonder: should I stop taking medicines like Zoloft or Prozac? Will they hurt my baby?

Sarah Shoemaker, a certified nurse midwife at OSF HealthCare, says first of all, you’re not alone. She says around one in five women experience a mental health concern during pregnancy, and many of those women are taking medication for things like anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Shoemaker says most of the time, you can and should stay on your medication. But it’s a conversation you should have with your health care team.

Shoemaker implores women to talk about medication with their provider early Ideally, it’s before they conceive. Shoemaker says don’t change or stop your medicine routine until you have that talk. You may have your child’s best interest in mind, but a change could compromise your or your child’s health.

“There are some women who take years to find the perfect combination of medications that keep them stable and healthy. We don’t want to mess with that. Very rarely do we have to completely disrupt somebody’s medication regimen,” Shoemaker says. “Nothing in our field is black and white. There’s no such thing as bad medication or strictly dangerous medication. We weigh the pros and cons and decide what’s best for each patient.

“If you look online, you’re going to find all kinds of information. You’re going to find conflicting sources, old studies and poorly written studies,” Shoemaker adds, referencing the temptation to rely solely on your own research.

Shoemaker says a provider may order one or more ultrasounds before making a decision on medication. If a provider advises that a change is needed, you could go on a supplement. For example, Shoemaker says a medicine like valproic acid (a seizure medicine sometimes used for bipolar disorder) may increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in your unborn child. Spina bifida, or the abnormal development of the spinal cord, is a common NTD. In this case, a provider may advise adding a folic acid supplement at a high dose. Shoemaker adds that for medications like valproic acid, drugmakers and doctors are vocal up front: don’t start taking it if you’re trying to get pregnant. That way, you don’t have to possibly make a change mid-pregnancy.

If you’re on a medication that’s new to the market, that’s also a definite “must talk about” with your provider. That’s because we don’t know a lot about how new medications impact pregnancy. Shoemaker points out that scientists typically don’t do intense studies on pregnant women so they don’t disrupt the pregnancy. Rather, the research is done after birth.

“We discuss what the woman is on, how we can counteract the risk and what the actual risk is for her specific situation. Then we can make a shared decision about what is best for her and her family,” Shoemaker says. She adds that the woman’s entire care team – their primary care provider, their mental health provider and their OB/GYN or midwife – should be working together.

Shoemaker admits all this can be a tough task. But there are tried-and-true ways to get to the root of a pregnant woman’s mental health concern. Providers also build extra time into appointments to talk about mental health. Shoemaker says she often uses humor to break the tension. She can also use personal experiences to relate to the mom-to-be. And she’s also not afraid to ask a lot of questions: are you sure there’s nothing else we can talk about? How are you doing emotionally?

“If you continue to ask in new and different ways, women eventually open up. They say ‘yeah, this is really bothering me. I wondered if it was normal. I was afraid to talk about it,’” Shoemaker says. “Once you make it clear that the provider is a safe person to talk to and mental health is really important, women will open up.

“More women need to talk about how difficult it can be to be pregnant, to be a mother and to be going through this huge life transition,” Shoemaker adds.

Learn more about how you can a successful pregnancy and birth on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Medication assisted recovery: A primer

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0500

To the layperson, it might sound counterintuitive: Treating a drug addiction with more drugs?

But medication assisted recovery (MAR) is becoming more common in the medical community, says Marla Nelson, LCPC, a psychotherapist at OSF HealthCare. She has a special interest in helping people with substance abuse and worked in a MAR clinic for nearly six years. Now, she’s sharing about MAR so people can see if it’s right for them. It’s definitely a topic worth exploring, Nelson and other experts say. Survey data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say in 2019, 13% of people 12 and older reported illicit drug use in the last month.

“Addiction can happen to anybody,” Nelson warns. “Sometimes people get injured, and they’re given an opioid that’s addictive even if it’s taken as prescribed.”

MAR basics

Nelson says a person addicted to things like painkillers (prescribed) or an illegal drug might be a candidate for MAR. The main drug providers use to treat is suboxone. Methadone is also used, but it’s less common, Nelson says.

Suboxone would be prescribed by a professional with training for this area of medicine. It’s then taken in a controlled manner to help with the person’s addiction. Over time, you step down your use. It’s similar to using a nicotine patch to wean yourself off cigarettes, Nelson says.

There might be side effects to suboxone use, Nelson advises, like teeth damage. That’s why it’s important to take it as directed. And, she says, it beats the alternative.

“You’re not buying it on the street. You’re not getting toxic level of things that can kill you,” Nelson says, comparing everyday drug use to MAR.

Nelson also points out that people who try to quit opioids “cold turkey” can suffer painful withdrawal symptoms. MAR seeks to lessen that.

MAR would also go alongside therapy with someone like Nelson.

“There are a lot of people in recovery who have a history of traumatic life experiences. We might deal with that. We might change the way they think about things using cognitive behavioral therapy,” Nelson explains. “So they have the medication to ease their withdrawal. And they have the therapy piece to learn new skills to live a productive life.

“It all really helps,” she says.

Changing attitudes

Nelson says MAR isn’t new, but she’s seen more health care providers consider it for their patients. For some of those patients, Nelson says it’s a “last hope” after they’ve exhausted other treatments. And when there are success stories, it’s gratifying to people like Nelson.

“I would see people going back to work, reuniting with family members who had to cut them out of their lives, getting married and having families of their own,” she says.

If you think you or your loved one could benefit from MAR, talk to a member of your health care team. If someone is deep in addiction and not seeing their doctor regularly or is resistant to help, Nelson points out that some hospital emergency departments can fast track someone into a recovery program.

Learn more

Read more about healthy thoughts and behaviors on the OSF HealthCare website. If your addiction has reached a crisis where you are thinking about harming yourself or others, talk to a trusted adult or mental health professional or go the emergency department right away. There are also hotlines and other resources available: The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Illinois Helpline for substance abuse and a treatment hub webpage from the state of Michigan.

Photos

Interview clips

At-home migraine relief: Fact vs. fiction

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:55:57 -0600

Migraines are a part of life for many. From stress to dehydration to a woman’s menstrual cycle and even more serious issues such as a stroke, the headaches can pop up often. And they’re something you should know how to manage.

Amber Oberheim, APRN, a primary care provider at OSF HealthCare, says migraines can often be treated with ibuprofen (Advil is a common brand name) or naproxen (Aleve), plus lifestyle changes including better sleep. But, an online search will also yield plenty of non-medicinal, at-home remedies. Experts will remind you that these aren’t cure-alls. But it’s important to know what works and what doesn’t.

Myth vs. fact

A cold or warm cloth on the head and neck: Stick to cold, Oberheim says.

“One of the theories for why migraines happen is vasodilation, or increased blood flow to your brain,” Oberheim explains. “So we talk about using a cold compress over your eyes, on the back of your neck or at the top of your head. That cold sensation constricts blood vessels, thereby decreasing blood flow.”

Oberheim adds that there are even migraine caps that stay in the freezer until use. Those are available over the counter at retail outlets.
Rest and deep breathing: Oberheim says there’s no guarantee that your migraine will be gone when you wake up from a nap. But, she says rest and deep breathing can’t hurt. Take a break in a cool, dark room, and avoid screens and loud noises.
Caffeine: It’s good general advice to ingest caffeine in moderation for heart and mental health. But, Oberheim says a soda might help with that headache.

“We look at medications in Excedrin Migraine [pills]. Caffeine is one of them,” Oberheim says. “Caffeine has been proven to be effective sometimes in early management of migraine headaches.”
Supplements: There’s a lot to choose from in this aisle of the pharmacy. And experts warn that you should choose with provider guidance since supplements aren’t regulated like others under the eye of the United States Food and Drug Administration. However, Oberheim says some research has shown that taking vitamin B2 (also called riboflavin) and magnesium daily can help with the number of migraines.
Massaging your head: It’s a tactic some of us learned when we were kids. Massaging your temples (the area between your eyes and the top of your ears) could help with head pain.

“I don’t think there’s any data that would support that. I think it’s more of a comfort,” Oberheim says. “When you’re experiencing pain and you can have a sensation that’s not pain somewhere on your body, it might help lessen the pain.”

For example, Oberheim says when her patients are getting a blood draw through an IV in their elbow, a provider might scratch their upper arm (between the point of pain and the brain) to “confuse” the pain signal and lessen the discomfort. The same logic applies to rubbing your head during a migraine.
Taking a shower: It depends, Oberheim says.

“I could see if stress or muscle tension is creating a headache. Taking a warm shower or bath to relax might help,” Oberheim says. “However, if we’re thinking about a classic migraine with the theory of increased blood flow to the brain, taking a hot bath or shower might actually make it worse.

“It never hurts to try, but I think it’s going to be patient-specific,” she adds.

When in doubt

Oberheim says some people have a history of migraines and know how to manage them. But if the headaches suddenly increase in frequency or intensity, you should see a health care provider. Also, talk to a provider if you have questions about starting or changing at-home treatment. The provider can determine what works for you. You don’t want new medications to negatively interact with drugs you’re already on, for example.

“Often, a migraine can last for longer than a typical headache. It can be accompanied by symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity and noise sensitivity,” Oberheim says, warning of the dangers if migraines are not treated quickly. “There are certain types of migraines that can also affect your vision.”

Temporary decreased function of your limbs is another rare, but possible side effect, Oberheim says.

Learn more

Read more about how to spot and treat a migraine on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Know about Narcan

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 11:09:24 -0500

When talking about the opioid crisis in America, you don’t have to explain much to Howard Marsh.

A first responder for nearly a half century, Marsh has gone on numerous ambulance calls for a suspected overdose.

“It breaks my heart,” says the Advanced Medical Transport paramedic. “I just can’t believe people do this to their bodies.”

New federal data show nearly 108,000 people died of an overdose in 2022. That's up slightly from 2021. It’s a time to know the facts and misconceptions about overdoses, their causes and ways to reverse the deadly effects. One such way is naloxone, known under the brand name Narcan, a medication that has become more available in recent years to both first responders and everyday citizens.

“It’s really a good drug to have around,” Marsh says.

Narcan basics

Les Mennenga is lead educator for East Central Illinois Emergency Medical Services (EMS), an OSF HealthCare organization that trains ambulance workers. He describes Narcan as an opioid antagonist that helps reverse the effects of dangerous drugs like fentanyl, morphine, heroin and Tramadol.

“If we get too much of those medications in our system, they’ll bind with receptor sites in our brain. They’ll slow our breathing and pulse rate down,” Mennenga says. “They can actually stop the signal to our diaphragm and make us stop breathing.”

Conversely, he says, “Narcan gets to those receptor sites, competes with the opioid and will knock it off. It will help the person restore their breathing.”

Mennenga says Narcan does not work with methamphetamine, cocaine and other non-opioids.

At the scene of a suspected overdose, typically the first bits of information come from friends or family of the ailing person. Those people likely know if the person has a history with a certain drug, for example. First responders will also look for drug paraphernalia like needles. Mennenga says if the person is still alert and breathing, they would not qualify for Narcan.

“The only time we should be administering Narcan is if they’re having difficulty breathing,” Mennenga says. “They’ll be unresponsive, snoring-like respirations or not breathing at all.”

Blue lips are another sign, Marsh says.

There are three ways to give Narcan: through a shot into the muscle; intravenous therapy, commonly known as an IV; and the most common and simple way, Mennenga says, is a nasal spray. Mennenga adds that Narcan may be combined with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or a bag valve mask to help restore breathing.

Mennenga says once the person comes to, they might experience withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or, in rare cases, a seizure or heart issues. First responders will provide more care as needed.

“Go to the hospital and get checked out,” Marsh advises. “We prefer we take you in case something happens in route.”

What you should know

East Central Illinois EMS has rolled out a Narcan leave behind program. The agency provides kits for first responders to leave with friends, family and others after responding to an overdose. The program serves as a reminder that this is an important issue. Experts say survivors are at high risk for repeated overdoses, and Narcan may be the only chance to save their life.

“Overdoses are quite common, unfortunately,” Mennenga says. “Nobody’s immune to the opioid crisis.”

He says if you want a supply of Narcan at home, contact your local health department for options.

Mennenga also says Narcan, shockingly, has some detractors. He says some people think opioid users need to learn the consequences the hard way. But Mennenga, a veteran of the EMS world, says many people who suffer overdoses aren’t your stereotypical drug user. Their use might have started with an injury, leading to pain medication. Or older adults often mix up pills and take too many.

“If they really want to get some help, we can give them resources like their public health department or the state public health department,” Mennenga says.

Learn more

Websites for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services all have information on opioid addiction, treatment and recovery. If you are in crisis, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 9-8-8.

Interview clips - Les Mennenga

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Hepatitis C treatment has come a long way

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:40:00 -0500

Recent reports from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are again raising awareness of hepatitis C.

A 2022 report found “too few people diagnosed with hepatitis C are being treated, despite availability of medications capable of curing this viral infection.” Specifically, the agency estimates fewer than one in three people with health insurance are getting direct-acting antiviral treatment for the infection within a year of diagnosis. A June 2023 study published by the CDC also examined gaps in access to treatment, building on the 2022 findings.

The statistics resonate with Marcie Lindstrom, a gastroenterology advanced practice provider at OSF HealthCare.

“If we go back 10 or 15 years, hepatitis C treatment was really difficult,” Lindstrom notes as a possible reason for the hesitancy. “Treatment lasted a year or a year and a half. It required an injection. People really felt bad during treatment.”

Conversely: “Treatment today is so easy. It’s completed in as little as eight weeks. It’s a pill. No more injections,” Lindstrom says.

The basics

Lindstrom says hepatitis – whether A, B, C, D or E – describes inflammation of the liver. She says hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, and doctors over the years have settled on some common ways it spreads:

A blood transfusion prior to 1992. Prior to that time, screening blood donors for diseases was not reliable.
A tattoo or piercing at a place that’s not regulated
Men who have unprotected sexual relations with men
People who use illegal drugs, either through a needle injection or snorting through the nose

“Often people are at parties and sharing a straw or dollar bill to ingest. There are a lot of blood capillaries inside the nose. Those can break open,” and blood can spread, Lindstrom says.

Lindstrom calls hepatitis C a silent ailment due to a lack of symptoms.

“Many people can have hepatitis C for decades before they become aware of it,” she says.

Even worse, when a person does have symptoms, they may be vague and tough to distinguish from everyday problems. Fatigue and body aches are common complaints.

Often, Lindstrom says a provider discovers hepatitis C after a person comes in for some routine bloodwork. The bloodwork may come back showing elevated liver enzymes, and a test specifically for hepatitis – also a simple blood test – would then be done.

But if you have any hepatitis C risk factors, you should talk to your health care provider about when you need to be screened. A provider may recommend a screening once a year. And generally, federal guidelines say all adults should be screened for hepatitis C once in their life, and all pregnant women should be tested during each pregnancy. Ask your provider about it when you’re younger rather than older, Lindstrom pleads.

Why it’s important

Untreated hepatitis C can lead to liver scarring known as cirrhosis. That means fewer cells doing their daily functions, which, in turn, can lead to liver failure, liver cancer and even death.

“That’s why treatment is important. We don’t want people to progress to getting cirrhosis,” Lindstrom says. “If they take their eight to 12 weeks of treatment and don’t have a lot of scarring, we have a high success rate in clearing the virus – 98 to 100%.”

Learn more

Read more about gastroenterology care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

A better chance to survive a stroke

Mon, 01 May 2023 09:32:36 -0500

Nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year.

Strokes can have life-altering consequences like vision, walking and swallowing difficulties. They also rank in the top five killers of Americans. For each minute a stroke goes untreated, the brain loses around 2 million cells it cannot recover.

“Getting to the hospital quickly – within four and a half hours of your onset of symptoms – is important,” says Leslie Ingold, a registered nurse and stroke coordinator with OSF HealthCare.

A cutting-edge stroke drug rolled out at OSF HealthCare is already turning the tide for people.

Tenecteplase (TNKase ®) can be used in people experiencing a stroke and who meet certain criteria, such as a specific blood pressure, history of brain bleeds, medications taken at home and how quickly they arrived at the emergency department. TNKase is a clot-busting agent that stands to become the gold standard of this type of care, Ingold says.

“It has a lower cost. It’s something providers can mix much, much quicker,” Ingold says. “And it’s given quickly in an IV push over five to 10 seconds, and we’re done.”

TNKase also does a better job than its predecessor at finding and breaking up clots, and there’s a lower risk of bleeding.

“The quicker we can get oxygen flowing back into that brain tissue, the better recovery the person is going to have,” Ingold says.

Why it’s important

The most common type of stroke, an ischemic stroke (also sometimes called an embolic stroke), is when a clot forms and travels to the brain. When watching for one, remember the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T.

B is for balance: Watch for sudden loss of balance.
E is for eyes: Check for vision loss or eyes looking askew.
F is for face: Look for droopiness or an uneven smile.
A is for arm: Is one arm weak or numb?
S is for speech: Watch for slurred, slow speech or no speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
T is for time. It’s the conclusion to the checklist. Time to call 9-1-1 if someone has these symptoms, even if they go away.

Another type of stroke, a hemorrhagic stroke, is when a blood vessel breaks and blood seeps into brain tissue. Ingold says hemorrhagic strokes are typically caused by a traumatic injury, like falling and hitting your head. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is also a cause.

For either type, when you arrive at the hospital, a provider will take some pictures of your brain and decide the best treatment option.

Prevention

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable, Ingold says. Prevention goes back to what any doctor will tell you is key for a healthy life: control your blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes through diet and exercise. Avoid tobacco, alcohol and drugs. If you have an irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, see your cardiologist regularly and follow their instructions. And get established with a primary care provider, too.

Ingold says a stroke takes 3.75 years off a person’s life, on average. And if you have a stroke, you have a 25% chance of having another one.

“We always tell people they really need to be on top of their treatment,” Ingold says. “The signs and symptoms of a possible second stroke may not be the same as the first. In fact, they could be completely different. It just depends on what part of the brain the stroke affects.”

Learn more

Read about stroke care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Previous coverage

OSF HealthCare Newsroom stroke stories
OSF HealthCare stroke blogs

Is Ozempic Right for Weight Loss?

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 10:54:42 -0500

An injectable prescription medication for adults with Type 2 diabetes is being hailed in Hollywood as a weight-loss drug, too.

Ozempic has been steadily in the headlines for months and became the butt of comedian Jimmy Kimmel at the 2023 Academy Awards when he joked, “When I look around this room I can’t help but wonder, ‘Is Ozempic right for me?”

Ozempic’s website – and its advertising - says the medicine is used “along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar” and that “you should ask your healthcare provider if Ozempic is right for you.” Rachel Fehl, an advanced practice registered nurse at OSF Weight Management, agrees. She also says to make sure the drug you might take for weight loss is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“There are a lot of telehealth companies doing weight loss right now. You may notice you can get semaglutide (Ozempic) online for a much cheaper price. It’s going to range (around) $1,200 a month for the actual medication, but there are some pharmacies compounding it for much less. I would not recommend those compounded formulations, they’re not being regulated right now,” Fehl says.

Meta Rask, manager of the OSF Weight Management Center in Peoria, says the clinic focuses on healthy lifestyles, not trendy diets.

“We don’t focus on fad diets,” Rask says. “We truly focus on being healthy and meeting a patient’s needs where they’re at. We then help them figure out what disciplinary team is going to be able to help them meet those goals.”

While the OSF Weight Management Center sometimes does recommend a weight-loss drug alongside exercise and healthy eating, Rask says you need to work with the team to figure out a plan that works for you.

“We have nurses, we have a physician and we have registered dietitians and exercise physiologists,” Rask says. “They work together to meet patients one-on-one to do an assessment. They’re going to find out what that patient is looking for and what their barriers are.”

Fehl adds that everyone’s weight loss journey is different, and so is the response from OSF Weight Management providers.

“For some of our patients, we do utilize FDA-approved anti-obesity medications. Those do include some of the GLP-1 medications, similar to Ozempic, for the appropriate patient,” Fehl says.

Below are some tips if you are interested in beginning your weight loss journey.

Control carbohydrates: Specifically processed carbohydrates and caloric beverages. Just one can of regular soda contains more than the daily maximum amount of recommended sugar for men and women.
Prioritize protein: Try to include protein with all meals and snacks. Protein helps us to feel full faster and for longer and can also reduce post meal blood sugar spikes.
Schedule Sleep: Getting less than seven hours or more than nine hours of sleep can both contribute to weight gain.
Take a break: This applies both to doing activities that reduce stress as well as giving our body a break from food. Find a meditation or breathing exercise you can add to your day to reduce cortisol production that can stimulate fat storage. Try to incorporate a 12 hour overnight fast (unless you have a medical condition that would not allow this). This practice can reduce gastrointestinal symptoms as well as allow for more use of stored fats for fuel.
Request a Referral: Ask your primary care provider or other provider for a referral to OSF Weight Management if you need some help getting started. The center’s goal is to help you change your lifestyle to one that allows you to reach your goals and improve overall health.

Video Interview Clips

Hepatitis B: know the risks and symptoms

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:20:00 -0600

A new CDC recommendation says all adults should be screened for hepatitis B at least once.

It's a reminder about a disease, that, thankfully, experts say we don't need to think about daily.

David Rzepczynski, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois, explains that while there are many types of hepatitis – A, B, C, D and E – they all describe inflammation of the liver.

How it’s spread

Dr. Rzepczynski says hepatitis B is most commonly spread through bodily fluids like blood, saliva and fluids from the genital area.

A common scenario, he says, is young adults spreading the disease by sharing needles to inject drugs. Sexual relations between people who are infected can also result in the spread.

And there are everyday scenarios. Someone may share a toothbrush or a shaving razor with a person close to them. Children may be roughhousing outside and get a cut, exposing their blood to others.

But Dr. Rzepczynski stresses hepatitis B doesn’t have to be a chief concern when, for example, your kids are at the playground. Just make sure they avoid contact with blood. And ideally, families, roommates and partners would know ahead of time if the people they are around have the virus or have been exposed.

Something else you don’t need to worry about in 2023: getting hepatitis B from donated blood.

“That’s almost nonexistent now,” Dr. Rzepczynski says, due to advances in testing.

“The blood bank works to evaluate a blood donation in terms of the risk of contracting and transmitting hepatitis B to another person,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “Right now, the risk is maybe one out of a million.”

Symptoms

Not all people who get hepatitis B show symptoms. But those who get an acute, sudden infection may experience fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, pain in the upper right abdomen and – for smokers – less desire to light up.

Dr. Rzepczynski says around 30% of people with acute hepatitis B develop jaundice, the hallmark symptom of liver disease.

“Yellow jaundice is a condition where the skin will have a yellowish tint to it. The whites of the eyes will have a yellowish tint to them,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “Sometimes it can be very subtle. Depending on the light, you may not even notice it. The other extreme: a person might look like they’re ready for Halloween. They look like a pumpkin.”

The chief long-term effect of hepatitis B, in terms of decades, not months, Dr. Rzepczynski says, is cirrhosis of the liver, which can be life-threatening.

“When you develop scarring of the liver and there’s a buildup of scar tissue, you can develop a liver that’s shrunken in size. It’s not functioning as well because there’s a loss of liver cells from the scarring,” he says.

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Know your risk for hepatitis

Common gastrointestinal ailments are a pain, but treatable

There’s no magic weight loss drug

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 09:36:48 -0600

From Elon Musk to TikTokers, ongoing social media chatter claims drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are the magic way to weight loss.

There’s good news, says Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare in Champaign, Illinois. Those drugs can help you lose weight when prescribed by a doctor under specific circumstances and paired with diet and exercise.

The more important bad news? There’s no magic, one-size-fits-all drug that will by itself cause you to shed pounds. And if someone on social media is claiming so, they’re wrong.

Dr. Ogun says Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are from the same family of medicine. They are usually prescribed to people with Type 2 diabetes.

“It increases the insulin in the body, which helps bring glucose into the cells,” Dr. Ogun explains.

The medications also slow food leaving your stomach and suppress appetite.

Once the drugs became more well known, Dr. Ogun says people found, not surprisingly, that weight loss was a side effect and began prescribing them for that purpose under specific circumstances. She says the patient should have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 or a BMI greater than 27 with a chronic condition like diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia.

But even if you meet those guidelines, Dr. Ogun says you should talk with your doctor about whether a weight loss drug is right for you or whether simply changing habits can get the results you want.

For one, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports a shortage of Ozempic and Wegovy. So Dr. Ogun says doctors may be less likely to prescribe the drugs for weight loss when diabetics may have a more critical need.

And like any other medication, there is a list of side effects.

“Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are possible,” Dr. Ogun says. “There are also hypersensitivity side effects like angioedema and an anaphylaxis reaction. It’s also been known to cause kidney injury or pancreatitis.”

Lately, the term “Ozempic face” has been trending on social media, describing a hollowed-out appearance due to quick weight loss.

One last piece of advice you’ll hear doctors give over and over: don’t rely on social media for health tips. If you find a tip that might benefit you, talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.

“The good thing about social media is that it allows a lot of people to receive a variety of information all at once,” Dr. Ogun says. “The downside: is it a credible source?”

Find a primary care provider on the OSF HealthCare website.

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Hepatitis B: prevention and treatment

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 10:36:45 -0600

As many as 2 billion people worldwide will be exposed to hepatitis B during their lifetime, says David Rzepczynski, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois. Around 250 million people have chronic inflammation of the liver from hepatitis B or are carriers of the virus without inflammation. And around 890,000 people will die from hepatitis B. Asia and Africa are hepatitis B hotspots, Dr. Rzepczynski says, while the United States doesn’t have it as bad.

The statistics might make eyeballs widen, but Dr. Rzepczynski says they are not a reason to panic.

“The majority of people who get exposed to hepatitis B in the adult age – after age 10 – it’s typically a condition you recover from without chronic inflammation,” he says.

The reason for the optimism? There’s a vaccine for hepatitis B that’s been around since the 1980s.

“There has been an aggressive program of initiating vaccines with kids, sometimes even as young as infants, to have protection,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “And when those [vaccines] are administered at a young age, it’s a highly effective vaccination. This vaccination has an efficacy of 95%-plus in the general population.”

The three-shot series is sometimes given soon after birth due to concerns that the mother may pass along hepatitis B to their child. But older children and adults can and should get the vaccine, too.

A hepatitis B immune globulin shot (HBIG for short) may also be appropriate in cases of hepatitis B exposure, either in adults or newborns. The particles in the shot attack the virus.

The next best way to avoid hepatitis B is to avoid risky behaviors.

Don’t share needles, toothbrushes or any other object that can transfer bodily fluids. Practice safe sexual relations. And if you’re bleeding, bandage it up right away.

Treatment

Dr. Rzepczynski says blood tests and watching symptoms can gauge how the virus is behaving. That will determine whether the person just needs monitoring. Or the patient may need medical treatment to suppress the virus and prevent cirrhosis of the liver. These medicines are taken by mouth, and side effects are generally not significant. A vaccine to eliminate hepatitis B hasn’t been discovered yet.

Treatment plans for hepatitis B may be life-long.

“If you stop taking the medicine, it’s like taking the brakes off the system,” Dr. Rzepczynski explains. “The virus will end up reactivating. And in fact, that reactivation might cause liver failure because the virus level skyrockets. And your body’s immune system senses that and starts attacking the liver to get rid of the virus. And that can lead to very serious and acute inflammation of the liver.”

Should I test?

Dr. Rzepczynski says a blood test for hepatitis B isn’t something that constantly needs to be on the mind of the average person. But the following people should consider getting tested:

· People who come from areas of the world with a high prevalence of hepatitis B

· Pregnant women

· If you plan to donate blood or organs

· People who’ve had an exposure to the virus

· People getting chemotherapy for cancer treatment

That last one is something medical professionals have looked closely at in the last five years.

“Unfortunately, some of these powerful cancer agents also have the ability to affect the immune system in such a way that a person who’s had hepatitis B and maybe even has gotten over it can have a reactivation of hepatitis B when these particular agents are used,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

In that case, your cancer doctor would alter the treatment to allow it to proceed without the hepatitis B risk.

Be proactive

If you have questions about hepatitis B, want to get the vaccine or think you may have been exposed to the virus, talk to your primary care provider right away. The OSF HealthCare and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites also have information on hepatitis.

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Previous coverage

Know your risk for hepatitis

Importance of vaccinations

Common gastrointestinal ailments are a pain, but treatable