OSF HealthCare Newsroom

Dirty floors and bare feet don’t mix

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Back to school season means youngsters spending time in locker rooms and college students doing the same in dormitory bathrooms. Despite everyone’s best efforts, the floors in those spaces have a reputation of not being the cleanest. Quickly doing your business while barefoot may seem like no problem. But lingering on the floor may be a virus that causes painful plantar warts.

“Plantar warts are one of the most common skin lesions we’ll see in our office,” says Marc Leonard, DPM, an OSF HealthCare podiatrist.

What are plantar warts?

Dr. Leonard says plantar warts (also called plantar verruca) are caused by a virus that gets into the bottom of your foot. The warts can spread easily.

“It looks like a callus. You see little growths. Sometimes they even satellite out, and we’ll get other little growths around that original lesion,” Dr. Leonard explains.

So, Dr. Leonard’s advice is to treat the issue early. If you see a wart, make an appointment with a podiatrist. Treatment is generally two steps. First, a provider will shave off the excess skin. Then, they will apply acid to the feet.

“It’s an acid that almost blows up that outer layer of tissue. Then we decompress it,” Dr. Leonard says. “Even with that, it still takes several treatments.”

Dr. Leonard says your feet will be sore for a couple weeks after treatment. So, you’ll want to stay off your feet if possible.

Left untreated, Dr. Leonard says plantar warts can cover the entire bottom of both feet and even your hands if you touch the warts. Walking will be painful, and so will treatment.

Prevention

If wart-covered feet and multiple acid treatments don’t sound like fun, there are easy prevention steps.

For dirty places like bathrooms and locker rooms, wear a slip on-type shoe like a shower shoe or flip flop. When you’re done, dry the shoes off or let them dry in front of a fan so they’re ready for the next use. Then, put on your sturdy, everyday shoes. In other words, don’t see this as an excuse to wear flip flops all day. Dr. Leonard and other podiatrists will tell you that your feet need more support.

Also, clean your feet, socks and shoes regularly. Don’t walk around in dirty or wet socks and shoes. If you sweat a lot, have extra pairs of socks to change into. And use a disinfectant wipe to clean your nail clippers.

Learn more

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

Interview clips

Don’t throw your weight around, part one

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Author's note: this is part one of a two part story on weight room safety. Click here for part two.

August means high school and college athletes will be back in the weight room full time, building strength so they can excel on the field.

But for Brittany Delaney, an OSF HealthCare athletic trainer who works with high school athletes, keeping people safe in gyms and weight rooms is on her mind year-round.

“I see a lot of back and neck pain” from weight room injuries, she says. “I see muscle strains – hamstrings, quads, lats, pectorals. These kids don’t necessarily know the proper weight to start at.”

Tips to know

Have good posture and body mechanics. Delaney says to have a wide base when lifting heavy weights, and lift with your legs and core, not your back. Bend your knees while keeping them straight, and bring your rear end down, she says.

“Avoid twisting motions at the torso,” Delaney adds. “Try to overexaggerate movements. When you’re doing a rotational exercise, move your feet, not just the torso.”
Keep the weight close to your body.
There’s no glory in trying to impress the room with a heavy lift, then injuring yourself. Instead, Delaney says to start with a light weight (talk to your coach or trainer on the exact number) and more repetitions, rather than a heavy weight and less repetitions.

“That way, we can work on mastering their form first. Make sure they’re doing it properly to avoid injuries,” Delaney says.

Delaney tells her athletes to try three sets of 10 repetitions. If you don’t feel pain or fatigue, you can try increasing the weight. For the upper body, go up by two and a half to five pounds. For the lower body, increase by five to 10 pounds.
Do you need a spotter for every lift? Delaney recommends having a buddy watch you if you’re lifting a heavy weight or you’re in a position to drop the weight on yourself, such as a bench press.

“That would be a major injury if you’re bench pressing and drop a weight on your chest,” Delaney warns.
Know how to use the equipment before strapping in.

The bottom line: Communication is key

“Communicate with your teammates and coaches,” Delaney implores. “It’s always OK to not know how to do an exercise and ask for help. In no situation should you be made fun of or be nervous about asking for help. Not doing so is when you’re going to get hurt.”

Learn more

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

Interview clips

‘It shouldn’t be a barrier to play’

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0500

For the thousands of people who have asthma (a chronic lung disease that impacts your airways), the thought of vigorous exercise may be daunting. They may think, “What if I’m working out alone and find myself short of breath or worse?”

Enter Brittany Delaney, an athletic trainer at OSF HealthCare who works with young athletes on a variety of conditions, including asthma. She says workout warriors and their parents need not be afraid. You can work up a sweat with asthma if you know your body and prepare for possible problems.

“Actually, we like that [people with asthma] exercise a lot because it will help maintain a healthy weight. It also strengthens the lung muscles,” Delaney says.

“It's very important for athletes to know how to manage their symptoms when they’re in sports. That way, we can reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack,” she adds.

Signs to watch for include shortness of breath, hyperventilation (where you breathe fast and deep), dizziness, a rapid pulse, skin changes (such as turning blue) and chest pain or tightness. If those happen, Delaney says to use an inhaler, rest and, if it’s a young person, call their parents. If things don’t get better quickly, call 9-1-1.

Have a plan

Delaney says short bursts of exercise are better for people with asthma. Think of sprinting to first base in a baseball practice rather than jogging a few miles on a cross country course.

Know and avoid your triggers. If it’s a pollen-heavy day, exercise inside. Chlorine can also make asthma worse, Delaney says. So if you’re a person with asthma who swims, be vigilant about symptoms and the amount of time you spend in the pool.

“Cold weather can be a trigger,” Delaney adds. “If you’re running outside and it’s cold, put a scarf over your face to avoid cold air getting deep [into your lungs and irritating them]. Experts also say breathing through the nose rather than the mouth can decrease symptoms.”

Also a must: keep up with medication as directed by your health care provider. For most people with asthma, the first line of defense is that inhaler.

“I see a lot of athletes who carry their inhaler, but are they following directions? Are they only taking their medication when they’re starting to feel symptoms? A lot of people with asthma actually have inflammation daily. They should be taking medication daily," Delaney says.

If you’re working out or competing with others, Delaney suggests giving your inhaler to a designated person, such as a coach or trainer. That way, if you show symptoms, you don’t lose valuable time digging through your bag to find the inhaler.

Lastly, a proper warm up and cool down are key for any athlete to have a successful workout.

“I prefer starting with some light cardio to warm up the muscles. Then, do a dynamic stretch as opposed to a static stretch where you hold the pose for 30 seconds,” Delaney explains. “Dynamic is more active. Your heart rate is getting up. Your lungs are expanding. You’re getting more air in.”

Jumping jacks and lunges are examples of dynamic stretches.

Then, cool down with a light jog and some static stretches.

“Those muscles can’t go from hot to cold in a minute. You need to slow the progression down,” Delaney says.

Learn more

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

Interview clips

The Mediterranean diet and liver health

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500

We’ve all heard the joke. Someone consumes something like alcohol and says, “My liver isn’t going to like this.”

But liver health – and more importantly what can go wrong with the organ – are no laughing matter. That’s why providers like Marcie Lindstrom, APRN, a family nurse practitioner in gastroenterology at OSF HealthCare, are getting the word out about how the Mediterranean diet can help keep our liver healthy.

How the Mediterranean diet helps

A good diet is a mainstay of liver health, both proactive and reactive when you develop a problem, Lindstrom stresses. The Mediterranean diet is one to discuss with your health care provider to see how it can work for you. This diet is mostly plant-based, incorporating things like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, extra virgin olive oil, brown rice and seafood. It gets its named because it’s based on the eating habits of people who live near the Mediterranean Sea.

“A diet like this that’s rich in whole foods, fiber, unsaturated fat and antioxidants can help reduce liver fat. It improves metabolic markers and decreases inflammation in our liver,” Lindstrom says.

Lindstrom also states the obvious: the Mediterranean diet alone won’t keep your liver pristine. It must be part of a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and avoiding risky behaviors like heavy drinking, smoking, high stress levels, mental health concerns, unsafe needle use and unsafe sexual relations. She encourages her patients to make small changes to achieve this healthy lifestyle. Swap chips for carrots for that mid-afternoon snack, and build your diet from there. Or, start your exercise routine by walking to the end of the block. Then when you’re up for it, walk a few blocks paired with some light weightlifting.

“Strength training [like weightlifting] helps build muscle mass and prevent muscle mass loss. That can help with your metabolism, which can improve liver health,” Lindstrom says.

Why this is important

Lindstrom says the liver plays a critical role in our metabolism.

“It helps process nutrients, break down fats and medications and detox alcohol. It’s also important in regulating blood sugar and cholesterol,” she explains.

Fatty liver, where healthy cells turn into fatty cells that can’t do their job as well, is a common problem with the organ. It impacts around one in three people and is the top reason for women having liver transplants in the United States, Lindstrom says. Excessive alcohol use, hepatitis C, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance can all contribute to fatty liver.

“The troubling thing with fatty liver is that most of the time, people don’t have symptoms,” Lindstrom warns. Unchecked fatty liver could lead to liver scarring, liver failure and even death.

Learn more

Read more about gastrointestinal health on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Lifespan vs. health span

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:30:00 -0500

With age comes physical limitations. But it’s important to stay active, says John Rinker, MD, an internal medicine physician who specializes in geriatrics at OSF HealthCare. When you keep moving, it helps reduce the risk of things like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, cancer and neurocognitive diseases like Alzheimer's.

In other words, Dr. Rinker says, it’s not fun to live long if you’re not well. Your lifespan versus your health span, as he puts it.

“It really, really pays to maintain exercise and be in good physical shape as you age. It reaps huge dividends on how long you live,” Dr. Rinker stresses.

Guidelines

Each person should have a tailored plan as advised by a health care provider. But regardless of your age, the American Heart Association (AHA) generally recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 70 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week, spread out over several days. A brisk walk would qualify as moderate intensity (also called zone two training), while running, swimming or riding a bike would be vigorous. Vigorous exercise is associated with a term called VO2 max, referring to maximum use of oxygen. In layman’s terms, you’re breathing hard and conditioning the heart.

“Most of that type of [vigorous] training is at a higher interval. You’re going to get breathing really hard for three to five minutes while you sustain a pace that’s rather difficult. Then you’re going to rest and let that heart rate come back down. Then go back to the hard exercise,” Dr. Rinker explains. “That back and forth with the heart rate really helps to train how well your heart can pump blood to muscles. That’s a really good marker of how well conditioned you are.”

The AHA also recommends two days of strength training per week. That could be lifting weights, using resistance bands or calisthenics, where you use your body weight for resistance rather than equipment.

“I really like the strength training piece,” Dr. Rinker says.

“It doesn’t take a lot as you age to tension a muscle enough to maintain muscle mass. We really find that people who are able to maintain muscle more muscle mass as they age are going to do much better with those health span and lifespan issues,” he adds. “So, the goal isn’t to make everyone a huge bodybuilder. The goal is to decrease the rate of decline as we age.”

On the days you do strength training, aim for 30 minutes per day. Dr. Rinker says if you really want to lean into this area of fitness, consider getting a personal trainer.

Limitations

It’s important to work around your ability and not push through pain, Dr. Rinker says. If aging has brought back or leg pain, skip the treadmill and try swimming or a weightlifting session while seated.

“You want to make sure you’re not going to injure something further. That will create a bigger setback or other deficit that are not going to help you in the long run,” Dr. Rinker says.

The bottom line

From VO2 max to zone two to calisthenics, there are a lot of terms to keep straight. If you don’t want to overthink it, just remember to keep moving. Push yourself with some vigorous workouts if you can, but commit to some form of exercise regularly.

“Most of your day-to-day exercise [as an older adult] should be just basic activity,” Dr. Rinker says. “Think of a brisk walk. Walking at a pace for about 30 minutes where you could still hold a conversation with somebody, but it would be difficult to sing a song.

“If I can just get someone to walk every day, I think they’re going to be in good shape,” he adds.

Learn more

Read more about moving your body safely and aging well on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Walk which way?

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Walking is one of the simplest ways to keep your body in good shape. A simple stroll around the block each morning might be the ticket. But sometimes, different styles of walking trend online as a “hack” to get better results. John Rinker, MD, an internal medicine physician at OSF HealthCare who focuses on longevity, breaks down what you need to know.

The styles

Backward walking: “It works different muscle groups than forward walking. You’re going to work different parts of your shin. It’s going to help a lot with ankle mobility,” Dr. Rinker says.

Try walking backward for a couple minutes on your walk. Keep safety in mind by avoiding trip hazards. Look for an even, non-crowded surface, like a sidewalk or track. Dr. Rinker doesn’t recommend it on a treadmill.
The number six: There are a few workout variations that incorporate the number six. One encourages you to walk for 60 minutes at either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. Another suggests a six-minute warmup and six-minute cool down, while others say six refers to getting active six days a week.

“The 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. – what I love about that is it schedules the walking,” Dr. Rinker points out. “For some, the barrier to exercise becomes their life schedule. Things get in the way. You meant to exercise, but you look back on your day and realize you never did. Then a week goes by [with no exercise].”
Farmer’s walking: This is where you walk with a heavy object in each hand for a defined distance. Think of a farmer carrying seed bags back to the barn. Dr. Rinker says this can help with balance, muscle growth and grip strength – all things proven to increase longevity.
Rucking: This is walking with a weighted vest or backpack. Dr. Rinker says this came into the mainstream after people saw military members walking with all their gear. Like farmer’s walking, rucking burns fat and builds strength, including in your heart, without increasing speed.

Dr. Rinker says it can be as simple as loading up a backpack with books or other household objects. Just start with a small amount, and work your way up.

“It doesn’t take a lot of weight for you to really feel it within the first 10 to 20 minutes. You don’t want to be stuck far out with a heavy backpack,” Dr. Rinker warns.
Japanese walking: This involves alternating between slow and fast walking. Dr. Rinker says to think of it as high intensity training but in a walking format. If you set out for a 30-minute walk, try switching from a brisk pace to a slow pace every three minutes. Dr. Rinker says this can be especially beneficial for people who are not well-conditioned. He says it can strengthen your heart.

“For people who have a fear of exercise, this is a nice way to ease in,” Dr. Rinker says.

The bottom line

Dr. Rinker says any of these exercise variations is OK to try. Just know your limits, and find a routine that works with your body and schedule.

“It can be boring to do the same thing every day,” Dr. Rinker says. “Finding different variations often leads you to feel challenged, wanting to do more and wanting to try new things.”

Why it matters

Are you doubting that walking is for you?

“Walking is a wonderful way to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, endurance and balance,” Dr. Rinker says. “In general, humans are meant to move. The more we’re moving our bodies, the healthier we’re going to be long term.

“Bed rest is good for no one. We need to be moving,” he adds with a smile. Walking is free and requires no equipment, Dr. Rinker adds.

The American Heart Association recommends adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. But Dr. Rinker says if your body can tolerate it, try for more.

Limitations

The ability to walk beyond daily tasks might be limited for some. A young person might have a chronic injury, or an older adult might simply have wear and tear on their body.

Dr. Rinker stresses that if an exercise makes you hurt badly, stop it and seek guidance from a health care provider. But, there are ways you can still make walking a part of your routine.

“Change the timeframe or pace. Go for shorter distances,” Dr. Rinker suggests. “There are some people who, let’s say, have COPD and have trouble breathing. They feel short of breath, so they stop walking. We actually want them to walk and spend some time with some shortness of breath. They actually improve their exercise tolerance. Their breathing improves over time.”

Another approach: if you’re used to taking a 30 minute walk, break it up into five minute walks throughout the day.

Learn more

Read more about keeping your body in top shape on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

This little piggy went the wrong way

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0500

Humans are on their feet most of their life. So why wouldn’t you want a proper pair of shoes?

Specifically, look for footwear that’s wide enough to prevent two common toe issues: bunions and hammer toe.

Marc Leonard, DPM, an OSF HealthCare podiatrist, sees these ailments frequently but stresses they are treatable without surgery when caught early.

Bunion

A bunion is when bones move out of place to form a bump on the toe joint, drawing the toe inward. Bunions are mostly seen on big toe, but they can happen on the pinky toe, too. This is called a bunionette or tailor’s bunion. Dr. Leonard says bunions are often caused by joint hypermobility, and they can also be genetic.

If pain from a bunion is not impacting your daily life, getting wider shoes or using a splint may do the trick. When the discomfort becomes intolerable, a doctor will discuss surgery.

“We make a cut in that bone, bring it over back into alignment and put some screws in,” Dr. Leonard explains. “Then we protect the area during post-operative course.”

The surgery is outpatient, and you typically can walk out of the doctor’s office. But beyond daily household activities, you should be off your feet for a month.

“We find the more people rest and elevate the foot, the better they feel. There’s less swelling and less potential for complications,” Dr. Leonard says.

Six to eight weeks after surgery, the person can resume exercise.

Hammer toe

Hammer toe is when a toe (usually one other than the big toe) contracts up, resembling a hammer.

“They make very prominent knuckles that can rub in the shoe and get red, irritated and sore,” Dr. Leonard describes.

Like bunions, splints and wider shoes are a short-term treatment, and outpatient surgery is possible for more severe cases.

“We remove some of the bone which allows the toe to reduce the contracture. Then, typically, we stabilize it in that new position with a wire for four weeks,” Dr. Leonard says. “Then that wire comes out. The toe should be more stable, straighter and hopefully not rub and cause the same pain it did prior to surgery.”

Recovery time is like bunion surgery but may be a little quicker.

Finding footwear

The common link between bunions and hammer toe? A big step toward prevention is picking the right footwear.

“Cheapest is not best,” is an understatement, Dr. Leonard says.

“Things I recommend avoiding: flip flops, lighter weight canvas shoes or shoes that just don’t give you a lot of support,” Dr. Leonard adds. “Instead, I recommend a good, sturdy walking shoe. If you have to do a sandal or flip flop, get something that’s well-made with good arch support.”

Avoid wearing high heels all the time, Dr. Leonard also advises. You can also try an orthotic device, or a shoe insert to give you more support. Over the counter orthotics are just fine, Dr. Leonard says, but a podiatrist might recommend taking a mold of your foot to make a custom insert.

Learn more

Learn more about foot care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

Stand up for your feet

Find the right foot for summer foot health

Calluses: Handle with care

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Follow enough dermatologists on social media, and you’re bound to come across a viral video of a person with a ton of dead skin on their foot. The provider usually narrates while they chip away – literally – at the problem.

Thankfully, that’s not the norm, says Marc Leonard, DPM, an OSF HealthCare podiatrist. But you should still know the right way and the wrong way to remove foot calluses.

Calluses can occur when you wear shoes that don’t fit well, when you don’t wear socks with shoes, when you have foot bones out of normal position or if you do a lot of physical activity. Severe cases may also be genetic. Dr. Leonard says calluses often occur toward the front and back of your foot, but they can occur elsewhere if there’s a structural issue like a bunion or hammer toe.

Dr. Leonard says some exfoliation of your skin is natural, but you should look into treating calluses if the pain impacts your quality of life. He adds that people with diabetes need to pay close attention to calluses.

“If that callus builds up enough, puts pressure underneath the skin and breaks the skin down, it can cause ulcerations that can lead to infection or amputation,” Dr. Leonard says.

There are at-home remedies for calluses, but Dr. Leonard says to try them carefully and after speaking to a health care provider. A provider may tell you to run a nail file or pumice stone over the callus, sometimes after you get out of the shower when the skin is soft. Never use a device that’s not approved to treat calluses, like a razor. And be gentle and don’t dig too deep into the skin. Otherwise, bleeding can result. A provider may also tell you to wear shoes with more toe room, use shoe inserts or change the way you exercise.

For more severe cases, a provider may do the work for you.

“Here at the office, we’d trim the callus down,” Dr. Leonard says. “We’d try to get the person a way to manage it on their own once we get past the large, painful area. They can then manage it better using that pumice stone on a regular basis.”

Read more about how to keep your feet healthy on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Mind your toenail clippers

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Is your toe sore to the touch? Is the skin around the nail puffy or red? An ingrown toenail may be to blame.

Marc Leonard, DPM, an OSF HealthCare podiatrist, says it’s an issue he sees frequently, but it’s one that’s easily preventable.

Dr. Leonard says an ingrown toenail is when the nail grows into the skin on the nail’s side. Some people get ingrown toenails due to a family history of the problem. They may just have wide toenails, in other words.

For others, it’s a product of how you take care of your feet.

“Bicyclists wear very tight shoes. They clip onto the bike. The shoes are very unforgiving.” Dr. Leonard says as an example. “The person is getting extra pressure on the side of the toes. It can definitely contribute to ingrown nails.”

Dance shoes sometimes have the same effect, he says.

Another culprit: clipping your toenails too low toward the side of the toe. Instead, trim straight across using clippers with a straight, not curved, blade.

Avoiding these risk factors is crucial for people with diabetes, Dr. Leonard warns. While that group is not more prone to ingrown toenails, an occurrence may mean serious complications.

“If their blood sugar is not under control, the infections from ingrown nails can get severe quickly,” Dr. Leonard says. “Sometimes there can also be circulation problems with diabetics.”

Dr. Leonard says some ingrown toenails will resolve on their own. But if a person has to come to a podiatrist’s office, it usually means the site is infected.

“We might trim out the side of the nail. That’s the easiest way to treat it,” Dr. Leonard says. “In other situations, we have to numb the toe and take out the side of the nail.”

If the toe is really inflamed and irritated, he says, a doctor will remove a larger portion of the nail, plus some excess skin and tissue. The person may also be sent home with antibiotic medication to keep the infection down.

For people with frequent ingrown toenails, there’s a permanent solution.

“We’ll actually kill the side of the nail,” Dr. Leonard says. “We’ll put a chemical in the base of the toe to kill the root. That eliminates growth of the nail on the side.”

That’s an outpatient procedure done at a podiatrist’s office. And in the days and months ahead, you would trim the nail normally, Dr. Leonard says. The nail would just be narrower.

Regardless of what happens to your toe, recovery from ingrown nail treatment involves rest and soaking the toe in warm water. You should be back to normal activities “fairly quickly,” Dr. Leonard says.

One more burning question to answer: how often should I trim my toenails?

“For most people, probably once a month or once every couple weeks,” Dr. Leonard suggests. But if you have a history of ingrown toenails or other toe issues, talk to your primary care provider or podiatrist about proper toe care.

Learn more about foot and toe care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Gardening benefits more than your taste buds

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Clare Spires never thought she’d be a frequent gardener.

But now, the exercise physiologist at OSF HealthCare delights in overseeing a community garden at OSF in Pontiac, Illinois. And she’s letting anyone who will listen know that the benefits of gardening go beyond nutritious food.

“It’s really going to help with flexibility, endurance and balance,” Spires says. “There’s a lot of up and down, being on your knees and bending over. If you’re somebody who struggles in those areas, this is going to be a good spot to start.”

Think of it as doing a lot of squats in an hour as you plant seeds and pull weeds. Your flexibility can also be challenged (for the good) if you need to get to an “odd spot” to reach that plant. All this adds up to a decreased risk for things like heart disease and high blood pressure.

The mental benefits of gardening match the physical benefits. It’s motivation to get up in the morning. You’re soaking up the sun, interacting with others and have a sense of accomplishment.

Like any other exercise, there are safety tips to keep in mind when gardening.

Beat the heat by wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, dressing appropriately (lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing) and taking breaks.
Know how to use your tools and have a plan if you’re injured. Have a first aid kit and phone nearby. Try to garden with a friend. Or if not, let someone know your plans.
Exercise through gardening can be fun, but don’t push through pain, overexert yourself or stay in one position for too long.

“Know your limits. What works for you and what doesn’t,” Spires says. “You can use the rate of perceived exertion [a scale that allows you to measure how much effort an activity takes]. A one level may not be too hard, or you may be totally maxed out at a 10. Try to stay in that four to six range. For example, this is an appropriate weight for me to carry.”

Bend at your knees, not your back. Use your legs to support yourself as you move up and down. And don’t twist your body into unnatural positions. Remember, you won’t reap a full crop in one day. Take your time and enjoy things.

Read more about how to keep your body in top shape on the OSF HealthCare website. OSF also has recipes that can make use of your harvested fruits and vegetables.

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Interview clips

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Perimenopause: ‘You’re not alone’

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:18:38 -0600

As women age, new adventures come. Some, like travel and new hobbies, can bring joy. Others can bring stress.

One of those stressors is perimenopause, the time you’re transitioning to menopause, when you permanently stop having menstrual periods and can no longer get pregnant.

“There’s a stigma around this time of life,” says Lindsay Orr, an advanced practice nurse at OSF HealthCare. “It’s not an illness. It’s just a natural part of aging.”

Perimenopause basics

Orr says during perimenopause, the ovaries stop producing testosterone, estrogen and progesterone regularly.

“Think of it as a short fuse or a fuse that’s not quite connected,” Orr describes. “Every month, the hormones secrete. But ovaries have a shelf life. So some months they work, and some months they don’t. It ebbs and flows during the perimenopause transition period before they go into menopause.”

Orr says women typically notice changes that signal perimenopause at around age 40. The perimenopause period can be over quickly, especially if you have surgery that impacts your ovaries. On the other hand, Orr has seen some women be in perimenopause for 10 years. Regardless, health professionals define the perimenopause to menopause transition as over when you have not had a period for one year.

Orr says some women can have little to no perimenopause symptoms. For others, the time can bring disruptions to many parts of your life – work, sleep, relationships and more. Sudden hot flashes, mood changes, joint aches, brain fog, trouble with urination, anxiety, disrupted sleep and fatigue are all possible.

“A lack of estrogen can affect bone density,” Orr adds. “So women with smaller frames are more predisposed to bone issues if they fall. Or, a decline in estrogen can have cardio-protective effects. It can increase your risk for cardiovascular issues like heart disease.”

Anorexia, bulimia, high stress, smoking, drinking alcohol and being a high intensity athlete can also make perimenopause come sooner and be more intense, Orr says.

Treatment – proactive and reactive

Orr says if perimenopause symptoms are impacting your quality of life, it’s time to see a provider. Providers can’t make perimenopause go away, but they can help with symptoms. First, Orr asks if her patients are prioritizing what she calls the “four pillars of health”: exercise with resistance training, hydration, a healthy diet with plenty of protein and healthy sleep.

A provider might also recommend a supplement, such as diindolylmethane (or DIM, for short). Orr calls DIM broccoli in a pill. It helps keep hormones at a healthy level. Other supplements that could help include calcium D-glucarate, evening primrose oil, black cohosh and ashwagandha.

Orr also urges women to start the conversation with their primary care provider or OB/GYN before perimenopause hits. Ask what you can do now to lessen symptoms or duration. Be honest about how your body is feeling and what medications you’re on, as new medications could negatively interact with current ones. Orr also recommends women use a smartphone app to track their periods.

“The apps help you be in tune with your body. You go through your day-to-day life and kind of recognize things, but you don’t really put it all together. Then when you put the information in the app, you might say ‘Oh yeah, I am symptomatic. This is happening.’” Orr says. “You can track temperature changes, bleeding issues, hormone fluctuations and sleep. It all plays a role.”

What about pregnancy?

Yes, women can still get pregnant during perimenopause, though it’s not as common as pregnancies in your 30s and younger, Orr says. However, in general, Orr says the higher in age, the higher risk for pregnancy complications.

“Balanced hormones help maintain a good uterine lining for housing a fetus,” Orr explains, noting perimenopause disrupts that hormone balance. “So, a later-life pregnancy would require closer monitoring.” In other words, you’d likely have more trips to the doctor to make sure your pregnancy is healthy.

The bottom line

Orr reiterates: perimenopause is a part of life. Give yourself grace, take advantage of the help that providers can give and recognize that it’s about progress, not perfection.

“Some of the women I see are frazzled, disheveled and anxious. Sometimes they’re upset during the visit. It’s sad to see,” Orr recounts. “Then we start treatment, and I see them three months later. They look like a different person. They’re glowing. They have a zest for life again. It’s rewarding to see.”

Learn more

Read more about perimenopause and menopause and women’s health overall on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

How to pick a gym

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0600

You’ve made the resolution: you’re finally going to get fit.

For some, motivation or mobility aren’t the problem. It’s logistics. How can I find a workout location that fits my needs? Clare Spires, an exercise physiologist at OSF HealthCare, has a “gym-picking” checklist.

Distance from home: If long drives are tough (perhaps you have a disability, childcare concerns or live in an area with rough weather year-round), consider sacrificing quality for proximity.

“I’m a checklist person. So write it down and make it one thing you can check off for your day,” Spires says about finding the spark to make the drive to the gym. “Set an alarm on your phone. Have someone to go with you and motivate you. Give yourself a prize at the end of the week [for meeting workout goals].”
Equipment: Some people might just need a treadmill. Some might just want weights. Others might want everything. More amenities typically mean a bigger gym and a higher cost, Spires says.
Hours: Do you work odd hours and need a gym open at night? Checking the facility’s hours before you sign up is a must, Spires says. But, she says, there’s a flip side to a gym open 24/7. If you can go anytime, there might be less motivation as opposed to the urgency of “I need to get there before 5 p.m.”
Privacy and crowds: Are you comfortable with communal locker rooms and showers, or do you want privacy? Ask to look at these areas on a tour. Ask about options to store your belongings. Are there lockers? If so, are they free?

Or, do you get anxious in large crowds? Ask gym staff about peak hours and typically how many people are present then.

Cleanliness: The last thing you want is an illness or infection to derail your fitness journey.

“Are the locker rooms and bathrooms clean? Do you see staff going around and cleaning equipment? Are they dusting?” Spires says.
Price: Do your research, Spires says. Some gyms offer the first week or month free, and you can see if it’s a good fit without breaking the bank. Or, ask if the gym offers discounts, such as for seniors, military, students or low-income residents.

But, be wary of day passes, Spires says. It might be the way to go if, for example, you’re on vacation. But for your home gym, it might be better savings-wise to just get the long-term membership.
Signing up and canceling: We’ve all seen the headlines about how meticulous it is to fill out gym contracts. In fact, several states have passed laws to make the process easier.

“Talk about that up front with gym staff. Read the fine print,” Spires suggests. “If you go to a smaller, locally-owned gym or a recreation center [as opposed to big chain gyms], those are going to be easier to pay month-to-month.”
Word of mouth: Take everything you see online with a grain of salt, but it can’t hurt to read gym reviews and even bring those up when touring with staff. Friends and family might also have advice.

Interview clips

Liver cancer: More cases, but better treatment

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:30:00 -0600

Though not one of the most common cancers, Marcie Lindstrom, APRN, says she’s seen liver cancer cases rise in recent years in line with national trends. Luckily, the gastroenterology provider at OSF HealthCare says treatment has evolved, too. And it’s another reminder to know your body and see your health care provider regularly because liver cancer is more treatable when caught early.

The liver: A recap

A primer on what the liver does for us: Lindstrom says the liver sits underneath the right ribcage and cleans toxins from our blood, helps digestion and produces proteins needed to live. In other words, it’s not an organ you can live without like a gallbladder or one kidney.

Liver cancer: Hidden and harmful

Lindstrom says primary liver cancer describes when the cancer starts there, and secondary liver cancer is when it spreads there (medical term: metastasizes), most commonly from the lungs, breasts or colon. Secondary is more common than primary.

“There are multiple causes of liver cancer. A person is at a higher risk if they have a damaged liver,” Lindstrom says. “Things that can cause a damaged liver include alcohol. So heavy alcohol use [is a risk]. Viruses that can infect the liver such as hepatitis B and C [are risks]. And we’re seeing an increasing number of people having fatty liver disease. That puts people at risk for liver damage. That damage can progress to cirrhosis [scarring], and cirrhosis puts you at a higher risk.”

These liver issues can be fatal if untreated. And unfortunately, Lindstrom says liver cancer often comes with no symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment

That’s where regular visits to your primary care provider, and if needed, a specialist like a gastroenterologist or oncologist come in.

Lindstrom says your provider will go over your risk factors: do you have a family history of liver issues? What’s your own health history, specifically with hepatitis? How often do you drink alcohol? What’s your daily diet and exercise routine?

“If we determine somebody has a lot of scarring of the liver, they should be on regular surveillance looking for liver cancer,” Lindstrom urges. “Every six months, they should get some imaging and possibly a blood test that helps to detect cancer.” The person could also have a biopsy of their liver, where a provider will take a sample of liver tissue and send it to a laboratory to find out exactly what’s wrong.

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and liver transplant surgery are possible treatments.

“A liver transplant could be required if the tumor isn’t very large, but there’s a lot of damage or scarring of the liver,” Lindstrom explains.

Prevention

Lindstrom says if it’s caught early, liver cancer can be treated and even cured. Some things to keep in mind to avoid the disease:

Eat a healthy diet, avoiding things like processed food, high sugar food and high fat food that can lead to liver issues.
Get moving to avoid things like obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. The American Heart Association says to aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week spread out over several days.
If you do develop chronic conditions like diabetes, see your provider regularly to stay on top of managing the issue.
Know your family history of liver and other health issues.
Limit alcohol or avoid it altogether.
There’s no vaccine for hepatitis C, but there is treatment. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the shots are safe, effective and have a schedule. Talk to a provider to see if you’re on schedule or if you need a shot now, for example if you’re at high risk.
Take other steps to avoid hepatitis: practice safe sexual relations, avoid blood-to-blood contact with others and don’t share or reuse needles.

“You have a history of blood transfusions prior to 1992. You got a tattoo or piercing in a less than sanitary situation,” Lindstrom lists as other hepatitis risk factors. “I’d recommend getting screened. In fact, it’s a current recommendation to be screened for hepatitis C at least once in adulthood.”

Lindstrom says providers list 1992 as a hepatitis C benchmark because that’s when blood screenings were developed.

Learn more

Read more about how to keep your digestive system healthy on the OSF HealthCare website. Cancer care at OSF HealthCare also includes the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria, Illinois, which provides comprehensive care for the region.

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

Midday munching: Prepping a diabetes-friendly lunch

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Have a plan.

It's something any health care provider will tell a person with diabetes. Plan your meals and know your body’s red flags and know how to respond. Then, you’re best able to enjoy meals, whether at home, work or out with friends.

Nikki McBeath, RN, BSN, a diabetes resource educator at OSF HealthCare, agrees. She’s sharing tips for a diabetes-friendly lunch that keep your blood sugar in check.

Generally, McBeath says to choose foods that are high in protein, fiber and healthy fats. Healthy fats can be found in avocados, nuts, seeds, fish, peanut butter and olive oil. Avoid unhealthy fats, like processed meat, fried foods, full-fat dairy, coconut oil and palm oil.
Take Sunday night to meal prep for the week. Then, you don’t have to think about your food choices. It doesn’t have to be a daunting task, McBeath says.

“With a lot of the patients I see, I recommend going to the store and getting steamable bags of vegetables. It’s super easy. You put it in the microwave for three minutes,” McBeath recalls. “There are lots of simple versions of foods. Get them [at the store], and make them quickly at home. It’s easier than people think. They just have to be on the lookout at the store.”

Simple-to-make bagged chicken is another healthy grocery store choice. In fact, a favorite dish of McBeath’s is garlic chicken, Brussels sprouts and brown rice. The American Diabetes Association also has healthy eating tips.
Eating lunch at a restaurant can present challenges. It’s a limited menu, and there’s temptation to lather your morsels in sauces and dressings.

“Go to restaurants that let you substitute ingredients or ask your meal be cooked a certain way. Ask how things are prepared,” McBeath suggests. “Avoid fried foods. Ask for light or fat free dressing. Be mindful of the extra calories that come with big portions.”

When the waiter or waitress asks about dessert, McBeath says moderation is key. She says most desserts are high in carbohydrates due to high sugar, flour and dairy content.

“Throughout the day, count your carbs. Leave some room [in your carb budget] for something sweet,” McBeath says. “Portion yourself. Have the dessert right after your meal. Don’t wait a couple hours because you might be hungry for more.

“Try substitutions like dark chocolate for regular chocolate or white chocolate,” she adds. That’s because dark chocolate has less sugar substitute.
Busy at work? Constantly on the go? Avoid making the fast food drive-through your second home. Instead, McBeath says you can choose a granola bar that’s high in protein, fiber and healthy fats. And watch the serving size. If it’s one or two bars, make that your meal, not the whole box.

“Pair the granola bar with something like string cheese or peanut butter,” McBeath says. “Adding some fiber or protein can make it more of a meal and give it more of a balance for your blood sugar.”
Know your body’s warning signs. Symptoms of high blood sugar, McBeath says, include dry mouth, increased urination and generally not feeling well. Low blood sugar, she says, is more concerning in the moment. You can feel shaky, anxious, have blurred vision and even pass out. So, always have supplies handy. You can eat hard candy, honey or glucose tablets as prescribed by a provider to counteract low blood sugar. Bring your glucose meter to lunch, too.

“Better safe than sorry,” McBeath says.

Learn more

Visit the OSF HealthCare website for healthy recipes and more information about how to manage diabetes.

Interview clips

Cold, cold, go away: How to stay active in chilly weather

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Fall and winter mean picturesque, snowy scenery. But the season’s weather can make working out more difficult. Normally dry sidewalks are replaced with ice. Or you may be snowed in entirely and unable to get to the gym.

It’s important to exercise year-round for your physical and mental health. Clare Spires, an exercise physiologist at OSF HealthCare, has some tips to stay active in the winter.

Before you even pick up a weight or lace up the running shoes, set standards for yourself.

“Even if you can just make the goal to do something that day,” Spires says. “It doesn’t need to be an hour or hour-and-a-half workout. It can be 30 or 45 minutes. It can be at home, at a gym or outside. But just making those goals possible and achievable.”

Workout in the daylight. This can give you a mood boost and, if you’re outside, ensure you have enough light to be safe. Try working out on your lunch break or just when you have 20 minutes to spare, Spires suggests.
If the outdoors is not nasty (like a blizzard), a walk or run outside is doable, Spires says. Just keep your safety in mind.

“Check the weather forecast. Use shoes that have more traction for those slippery sidewalks. Stay hydrated. Dress appropriately,” Spires advises.

Proper attire includes layers of sweat-wicking fabrics, and gloves and hats to warm your hands and head. Also, have a safety plan that includes access to first aid and a phone. Workout with a buddy when you can.

Also, know your limits. Spires says if you wouldn’t go to the gym for two hours, don’t shovel snow for two hours. Do it in five-to-10-minute chunks.

“We also use something called the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale,” Spires explains. “It’s one to 10. Ten would be the hardest exercise you’ve ever done. One is just sitting on the couch. We ideally like people to stay in that four to six moderate intensity range. So, if you think shoveling snow is in the four to six range and not creeping up to an eight or nine, that would be appropriate for you to do.”

On the positive side, Spires adds that depending on your location, you can branch out and try workouts like snowshoeing, ice skating or sledding.

“It’s fun to try new hobbies that are going to get you more active,” Spires says.

When snowed in and working out in your home, use your surroundings to your advantage. For example, Spires suggests going up and down the stairs a few times with breaks in between.

“You can do different body weight exercises like jumping jacks or squats,” Spires adds. “You can get creative and use soup cans, water bottles or even bottles of hairspray to add a little bit of weight or intensity to your workout.”

Just like working out outside, Spires says to be aware of your surroundings. Am I on carpet or hardwood, which may be slick? Is there a stray cord or a wandering child I could trip on? Is there a counter or dresser nearby for me to catch my balance?

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

Interview clips

Better breathing: How we treat COPD

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0600

It’s something Michael Daley, MD, sees in the emergency department often and especially this time of year: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

Dr. Daley, who provides care at OSF HealthCare, says while there’s no cure for COPD, medicine has come a long way to improve your quality of life with the disease.

COPD basics

Dr. Daley says more than 300 million people suffer from COPD, and it’s is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.

“It’s a destruction of the lung tissue in the airways. A lot of inflammation and destruction over time that causes the condition to manifest itself in people in different ways,” Dr. Daley says.

Those ways include shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and fever. Dr. Daley points out that those symptoms overlap with a similar disease: asthma. But each has their differences, too.

“Asthma is seen as a disease of the young. People with asthma usually have that diagnosis at a much earlier age than someone with COPD,” Dr. Daley explains. “The textbooks will tell you that you typically see COPD in the sixth decade of life. So, people in their 60s, 70s and 80s.”

Treatment

Dr. Daley says many of the people he sees know they are having a COPD flare up.

“We immediately get them into a room. We put them on oxygen. We initiate various therapies that have been shown throughout the years to work well,” he says. “We’d give them steroids, antibiotics and inhalers over the course of one to three hours. We observe them and watch them improve.”

Though Dr. Daley says it’s not frequent, people can come to the hospital with a severe COPD flare up.

“They’re not moving any air at all. They’re in extreme distress,” he says.

That person would go on a ventilator to, first and foremost, save their life, but also to get them breathing more easily again. Dr. Daley says after a few days on a ventilator, health care providers would then tap into other treatments.

Long-term, a person may go on a nebulizer. It’s a machine that delivers a mist of medicine inside your body through a mouthpiece or mask. The medicine helps your airways to relax and expand, allowing you to breathe easier. This is different from an oxygen tank.

Pulmonary rehabilitation in a hospital or clinic is also a common part of treatment. Like lifting weights to build up muscle, pulmonary rehab involves exercises to work your way back to as normal breathing as possible.

“Often they’ll do what’s called chest physiotherapy. They wear a percussion vest. That helps them cough up a lot of mucus and phlegm inside their lungs that’s preventing them from breathing [well],” Dr. Daley says. “They also do a lot of breathing exercises that will help their airways expand. That leads to a better quality of life.”

Prevention

Dr. Daley says smoking tobacco is a leading cause of COPD, especially in the United States. Worldwide, air pollution is also a trigger, whether that’s outdoor smog or indoor dust and dander.

“We’re actually seeing a much younger population presenting with COPD. People in their 30s and 40s. Just because of very heavy tobacco usage,” Dr. Daley says.

So if you’re a smoker, make a plan to stop. If you live in a smoggy area, avoid prolonged exposure. Consider wearing a mask when outside. And keep your home clean and well-ventilated.

Dr. Daley adds that respiratory viruses like influenza can make COPD worse, leading to an uptick of cases in the winter. So, take basic hygiene steps to avoid those seasonal illnesses: wash your hands, cough and sneeze into your elbow, stay home when sick and be up to date on vaccinations.

Learn more

Read more about how OSF helps people with conditions like COPD recover at home.

Interview clips

Don’t throw your weight around, part two

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Author's note: This is part two of a two part story on weight room safety. Click here for part one.

August means high school and college athletes will be back in the weight room full time, building strength so they can excel on the field.

But for Brittany Delaney, an OSF HealthCare athletic trainer who works with high school athletes, keeping people safe in gyms and weight rooms is on her mind year-round.

“I see a lot of back and neck pain” from weight room injuries, she says. “I see muscle strains – hamstrings, quads, lats, pectorals. These kids don’t necessarily know the proper weight to start at.”

Tips to know

Keep your surroundings clean and clear. When you’re done with an exercise, clean the equipment and put the weights away. When you’re resting, move away from others. Otherwise, athletes could run into each other. When cleaning, use a wet wipe or spray. If using a spray, spray the solution onto a cloth first, not directly onto the equipment. Delaney says unclean equipment can lead to transfer of germs that cause skin rashes and more ailments.
Dress for success, not to impress. Delaney chuckles when asked about people going to the gym in blue jeans, sweaters or Crocs. All bad ideas, she says.

“You want to be in something breathable because you’re going to be sweating,” Delaney says. “You’ll see people at the gym working out in sweatshirts. It’s super hot in the gym, and they want to sweat more. That’s not advised because you can increase your chance of heat illness. And those types of clothes don’t allow for full range of motion. If you can’t fully go through the range of motion, are you truly strengthening that muscle? Not as much.”

A good pair of tennis shoes are a must for everyone. For men, Delaney says shorts and a t-shirt work. For women, leggings are OK too. Not too tight and not too loose are the keys, Delaney says.

What about listening to music to get in the zone? If you’re by yourself, that’s fine. But if you’re in a group, Delaney recommends keeping your ears free of headphones so you can be aware of your surroundings. Not to mention that weightlifting is a camaraderie building exercise, too. No headphones mean you can cheer on your teammates.
Know when to stop. If you have pain, numbness, tingling or range of motion issues (such as not being able to move your neck), talk to the adult in the room.
Know the signs of cardiac arrest and where the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) is. Delaney says every athletic facility these days should have an AED, and she says they’re easy to use by just following the device’s prompts. Someone else should be calling 9-1-1 while this is happening.

Delaney says signs of cardiac arrest include shortness of breath, lightheadedness or dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations or a racing heartbeat chest tightness and loss of pulse.

Interview clips

Tongue-tied

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0500

New parents have a long list of things to watch to ensure their child is healthy and developing properly. More observations to add to the list: does the child’s tongue look different? Is breastfeeding difficult? If either answer is yes, the culprit may be ankyloglossia, commonly called tongue-tie.

Sarah Shoemaker, APRN, a certified nurse midwife at OSF HealthCare, says kids may not be affected by the condition depending on the severity, but parents should consult with their health care team on a plan sooner than later.

Shoemaker says tongue-tie occurs when the band of tissue between the bottom of the tongue and the bottom of the mouth (called the frenulum) is thicker, shorter, or covers a large portion of the tongue. This restricts the tongue’s movement. One study published by the National Institutes of Health found that tongue-tie impacts around 8% of newborns, and Shoemaker adds that it impacts boys more than girls. Experts, though, don’t know the exact cause. Shoemaker says it may be genetic (in other words, passed down from prior generations).

Signs of tongue-tie:

The child’s tongue doesn’t come out of the mouth like it normally would when they stick their tongue out.
Breastfeeding is painful or difficult. Shoemaker notes, though, that you should rule out other causes of painful breastfeeding, such as ineffective latching or the baby wanting to bite. A lactation consultant can help with this. A pediatric provider can also examine the child’s tongue.
When your baby cries and lifts their tongue, the tip of the tongue is pulled downward in the shape of a heart.

The procedure to fix tongue-tie is pretty simple, Shoemaker says. There’s little blood loss, and it can be done in the hospital, at a pediatrician’s office or at a pediatric dentist’s office.

“They just lift the baby’s tongue and, with sterile scissors, snip [the tissue]. Then, immediately breastfeed [or formula feed if that’s what mom has chosen] because the tongue is free at that point,” Shoemaker explains. “Some providers will teach exercises to do with the baby so [the tissue] doesn’t heal back and have to be snipped again later.” Those exercises involve a parent lifting the tongue.

Some cases of tongue-tie may be mild enough that parents opt to do nothing. In some cases, the frenulum will loosen over time. That approach is fine, Shoemaker says. But the decision should be made with the input of the child’s care team, and it should be made sooner than later. That’s because tongue-tie later in life can cause speech and eating issues, Shoemaker says, and she says the procedure to fix the problem can be more complex when the child is older.

“When done in the newborn period, it’s a very simple procedure done while the baby is awake. If parents choose to wait and see how things go, it might have to be a procedure where the baby or child is put to sleep. So it’s a little bit more involved,” Shoemaker says.

Learn more

Read more about how to have a successful pregnancy, birth and first years of your child’s life on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Trust the process?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0500

We’ve heard that processed and ultraprocessed foods (foods changed from their natural state) can be bad for our health. High levels of trans fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar can be found in things like crackers, chips and soda. That can lead to heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other ailments.

But Rachel Bauman, a registered dietitian at OSF HealthCare, admits it’s sometimes a matter of convenience. Processed foods can be cheaper, easier to cook, have a longer shelf life and have a lower risk of food-borne illness.

So, how can we learn to live with processed foods? Bauman says as you grocery shop, look for healthier options that you can eat in moderation.

Bread: “If you go to the store and they have a bakery, that bread would be considered processed,” Bauman says. It’s not a bad option.

“If you go to the bread aisle for things more commercially baked, that would be ultraprocessed,” she adds. “With any ultraprocessed bread, I would look for whole grains and a high amount of fiber. That would be the healthiest choice that’s good for heart health and still has shelf life.”
Meat: Freshly cut meat from the grocery deli is an option, but Bauman says the level of processing will vary by the store. Either way, lean toward chicken, turkey and seafood, she says. Steer clear of lots of hot dogs, sausage and dried meat like beef jerky. If you do want some red meat, try a lean cut like round or loin.
Yogurt: Instead of a flavored yogurt with unhealthy sweeteners, opt for plain yogurt and add fresh fruit or honey.
Beans: “Any bean that’s dried and doesn’t have additives would be healthy. Even with canned beans, you can find low sodium varieties,” Bauman says. “You can drain and rinse the beans, and that will cut back the sodium too.”
Hummus: It’s a good source of fiber and heart-healthy fats, Bauman says. Look for hummus made with olive oil, she adds.
Oatmeal and cereal: They’re ultraprocessed, Bauman says. But there are healthier kinds.

“Buy varieties with less sugar and sodium. You’re still getting that fiber from the whole grains,” she says. “You can certainly continue to eat those foods.”

Change is hard but worth it

This subject is something Bauman says she talks with patients about a lot. Old habits are hard to break, as the saying goes. So what’s the advice to, say, swap out the chips for plain yogurt?

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. We have to be realistic with our budget and schedule,” Bauman says. “Take small steps. One or two changes a week. Slowly improve the diet. Don’t expect a full change overnight.”

It's also never a bad idea to talk to your primary care provider or dietitian about changing what you eat. And the OSF HealthCare website has plenty of healthy recipes.

Interview clips

Not all fun and games

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0500

When you think of youth baseball, you think fun and games, right? More learning fundamentals and less curveballs and collisions.

But parents and coaches should be aware: injuries can happen at all levels. So much so that there are names for them.

Little leaguer’s elbow & shoulder

Brittany Delaney, an athletic trainer at OSF HealthCare, says repetitive overhand throwing can lead to elbow pain and tenderness, called Little Leaguer’s elbow.

“You’ll notice a decrease in speed when they’re throwing. Their pitching accuracy is not as good. So usually, kids have to be pulled out of the game because they’re in too much pain,” Delaney says.

Little leaguer’s shoulder is similar to Little Leaguer’s elbow. It’s pain and tenderness in the shoulder from overuse, whether pitching or fielding.

Both injuries are seen often in ages 11 to 16, Delaney says. She says that age group is starting to throw faster and work in more pitches, like a breaking ball, leading to more stress on the elbow and shoulder. Those ages are also playing more often, such as spring school baseball and a summer travel league.

Diagnosis and treatment

A youngster with elbow or shoulder pain might get an X-ray or CT scan so health care providers know the extent of the problem. From there, Delaney says it’s not uncommon for the child to stop overhead activity, like throwing, for up to three months to let things heal. They’ll be in physical therapy during that time.

“It could end someone’s season,” Delaney says, noting the seriousness of these injuries.

Once the athlete is cleared to return, they should gradually get back into playing shape, not rush back right away. Work with a coach or athletic trainer on a workout plan.

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.

Interview clips

A shin-termission: Navigating lower leg pain

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Outdoor track and field season is underway. That means Brittany Delaney gets reacquainted with the shin – the front part of the leg between the knee and the ankle. While shin splints are a common and treatable injury, Delaney, an athletic trainer at OSF HealthCare, says it’s important to not rush back to competition.

Shin splint basics

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.

Interview clips

Pharmacy or provider? For seniors and medication, it matters

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Here’s an eye-opening observation from John Rinker, MD: Some people think just because you can get a medication over the counter, you can play fast and loose with its use.

“Because it’s widely accessible and they can easily get it from their grocery store, they sometimes don’t even view it as actual medicine,” says Dr. Rinker, an internal medicine physician at OSF HealthCare. They view it more like a vitamin, he says.

Complicating matters: Due to issues like a lack of mobility, older adults might skip getting the right prescription from a health care provider in favor of a pharmacy shelf option. Dr. Rinker warns that route could lead to unintentional medication misuse and possibly deadly side effects. Luckily, there are tips to steer your loved one back onto the right path.

Common barriers and issues

A big issue for older adults is not being able to move like they used to. So, if someone is dealing with a health problem (back pain, for example), it’s tempting to skip the long drive to the doctor’s office and just go to the pharmacy a block away. Or, the person might have medication delivered and not leave home at all.

Seniors can also be more forgetful or have trouble reading medication labels, leading to instances where they take too much of a drug. And Dr. Rinker says as we age, our ability to break down medicine and clear it from our body diminishes. The liver and kidneys just don’t work as well as they used to.

“That’s why we often adjust doses of medicine for adults as they age. We deescalate the dose. Less is more in certain cases,” Dr. Rinker explains. “The dose can last longer. The byproducts of the drug are more likely to create another problem.”

Some common over the counter medicines that are unintentionally misused, according to Dr. Rinker:

A pain reliever like ibuprofen or Aleve (the technical term is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory)

“If it’s used temporarily, it’s probably not problematic. That’s how those drugs are meant to be used. But so many people have chronic conditions like arthritis. They’ll take these drugs for long lengths of time,” Dr. Rinker says. “That’s when we start to run into more of those long-term effects. You worry about gastric ulcers or bleeding in your gastrointestinal area. If you have underlying kidney issues, those drugs can make that more harmful.”
Acid reflux medication like Nexium or Prilosec (technical term: proton pump inhibitor). Again, Dr. Rinker says a person might keep taking these drugs past their intended use.

“This can create issues with how you absorb nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. It can lead to bone and kidney problems,” Dr. Rinker warns.
Sudafed (also called pseudoephedrine) or Afrin for nasal congestion.

“If you have an enlarged prostate, [overuse of Sudafed] can create more of an issue. You’ll have more problems urinating,” Dr. Rinker warns. Sudafed can also raise your blood pressure, he says.

Afrin, meanwhile, should only be used for a few days, Dr. Rinker says. If you use it longer then stop, he says you can actually get “rebound congestion” that’s worse than before.
Benadryl (also called diphenhydramine) for allergies or to aid sleep.

“It can impair cognition and increase the risk of a fall,” Dr. Rinker says. Falls can lead to serious injuries in seniors like hip fractures.

And for all medications, Dr. Rinker adds they can negatively interact with each other. For example, he says you shouldn’t take ibuprofen with a blood thinner because it could impact how the blood thinner works and make you more prone to internal bleeding.

Strategies to stay healthy

Things for seniors and their caregivers to consider:

Look into ways to remove the travel barrier to visit your health care provider. See if a friend, family member or social service agency can give you a ride. Or, see a provider virtually. Dr. Rinker says this could be as simple as calling or messaging your provider on your patient portal and asking, “Is it safe for me to take this drug?”.
Caregivers should closely watch their loved one’s medication use and their behavior afterward. For example, did one particular pill make grandma woozy? It’s worth looking into if the regimen should be changed. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions like, “I saw you take that pink pill earlier today. Are you sure you need another?”.

“Just because they’ve taken it for a while doesn’t mean the drug is OK,” Dr. Rinker says.
When you do visit a health care provider, make sure they know your health history and which medications you’re taking.

“You can read medicine packaging, but sometimes it’s really difficult to understand the language. It’s not always clear cut for the average person,” Dr. Rinker points out. “So, your primary care provider is the best person to ask questions of. They’ll have your chart and other information. They can give you a response that’s tailored to your needs.

“Your provider might have a different prescription medication or a safer over the counter alternative that works well for you. Or maybe they can figure out a way for you to take your current drug in a healthier manner,” Dr. Rinker adds.

Learn more

Read more about staying healthy in your golden years on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Get cozy: How to exercise at home

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Icy roads? Gym too far away? Or are you just not a people person? Cozy cardio may be right for you.

What is cozy cardio?

Clare Spires, an exercise physiologist at OSF HealthCare, says cozy cardio, in simple terms, is a way to make exercise comfortable in your home. It’s wise to talk to a health care provider about what workout is right for you. But generally, cozy cardio offers some freedom. For example, you can work up a sweat with an instructional video or app. Or you can just find a routine that works for you.

Equipment

Spires says you don’t have to rush out and buy equipment. But if you like having something to hold or press your feet to, there are options.

Walking pads have become popular. These are miniature treadmills with just the bottom structure. There are no rails and monitor at eye level like a traditional treadmill.

“Some can do inclines,” Spires says. “You can put it under a desk if you’re a remote worker. It’s just another way to get those steps in during the day without leaving your house.”

A small set of weights can be a welcome addition. Skip the 50 or 100-pound weights, Spires says. Two to five pounders are a good start.

“If you’re doing some bigger muscle groups like biceps and quads, you could add more weight,” Spires says. “But typically, those at-home workouts are made that you can lift weights with something like a soup can or a water bottle.”

Keep that water bottle handy for hydration, too. And a mat can help with balance.

Safety

Gyms typically have safety measures and employees watching out for injuries or emergencies. During cozy cardio, you could be alone in an environment that wasn’t meant for exercise. Think of a cluttered living room.

So, Spires says to do a safety check before each workout. Remove trip hazards like cords and rugs.

“If you could use a little extra stability, maybe work out next to a counter that you can hold onto. Avoid something that’s going to move on you quickly,” Spires advises.

Exercise with someone, if possible. Have a phone nearby in case you need to call 9-1-1. Start slow, and work up to your goals.

How much?

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, spread out over several days. For those with that goal in mind, many do 30 minutes of sweat-building for five days per week. Others do 50 minutes per day for three days. Spires says you can have some cardio days and some weightlifting days. She says it’s good to mix it up.

Spires says when defining “moderate intensity,” think about singing a song while working out. If the strain of the workout means you can’t sing without running out of breath, you’re at moderate intensity. “Vigorous” would be an activity above that, like running.

It’s a process, but Spires says the benefits are worth it. Regular exercise means lower blood pressure, cholesterol, chance of diabetes and chance of heart disease. You might also see improved mood and sleep.

Interview clips

Smart eats, healthy streets

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 06:42:48 -0600

Food deserts – neighborhoods that don’t have quick access to a grocery store with healthy options – are, sadly, nothing new. They lead to quick stops at the fast-food place or gas station, where healthy food may be at a premium.

But have you ever taken a deep dive into how food deserts can significantly impact a person’s health? And more importantly, what can be done about the problem?

Clare Spires, an exercise physiologist at OSF HealthCare, has some things to keep in mind. Spires also knows about food insecurity firsthand through her support of two OSF programs: Peace Meal, which provides meals in-home or at a central site to people 60 and older, and Smart Meals, which provides a meal kit for a family of four and teaches them to cook.

“We want diets high in fruits, vegetables and fiber and low in saturated fat. Gas stations and fast-food restaurants provide the flip side. They often provide no fruits and vegetables, food high in saturated fat and no good fiber food,” Spires says.

How to navigate food deserts

Planning meals for the week is key, Spires says. Estimate how much food you’ll need and how much you have to spend.
If you can’t help but go to the eatery or gas station often, choose healthier options.

“I’ve found gas stations are very similar to grocery stores. As long as you stay on the outside perimeter, you’ll stay away from candy and chips that will be down an aisle,” Spires says. “When you walk in, there’s usually some sort of fresh fruit or vegetable right there. Pretzels are really great filling snacks. Nuts are good for you. You have granola bars too.”

One caveat: Spires says to check labels of packaged salads at the gas station. She says they are often heavy on unhealthy preservatives.

At restaurants, opt for a grilled chicken sandwich and water rather than a cheeseburger and soda. Spires also says healthy choices are sometimes hidden on the kid’s menu. Look there for things like apple slices, and make that your side instead of fries.
When you can get to the grocery store, make wise choices. Spires suggests canned fruits and vegetables that have a long shelf life. For vegetables, look for options with low salt. You can also rinse the veggies at home to remove some of the salt. For fruit, look for options that are canned in 100% juice or water, not syrup.
Consider creating a garden at home or advocating for a community garden in your neighborhood. Spires says this allows you to bank up healthy food for the winter. It’s also likely going to be cheaper, she says, given the rising cost of groceries. And working outside provides benefits to your physical and mental health, too.

“It’s a little extra work, but it pays off in the long run,” Spires says.
Talk with a dietitian, nutritionist or wellness expert about making diet changes.

How to help people who are struggling

Spires says everyone can help in the fight against food insecurity. Get to know your community so you know which groups are struggling, such as parents struggling to afford school lunches for their kids. Then, talk to health care groups, social service groups and government groups about changes. For example, it’s not uncommon for residents to encourage their city council to recruit a grocery store to town.

The consequences

Frequent meals from the gas station or drive through can lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

“Fast food is notorious for being high in salt. Those foods retain water in our body and can lead to heart and lung problems,” Spires says.

Childhood obesity, Spires adds, is a big problem in the United States and can set kids up for a lifetime of health problems and doctor visits.

Learn more

If you have concerns about food insecurity, contact the OSF hospital near you to see if it offers a program like Peace Meal or Smart Meals. The OSF HealthCare website has healthy recipes.

Social service agencies or schools in your area can also help. Spires says food pantries typically are open to accommodate adults who work different shifts.

Interview clips

So you want to be an athletic trainer?

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Fall means the busy time of year resumes for Brittany Delaney, an athletic trainer at OSF HealthCare in Pontiac, Illinois, who works both in an orthopedic clinic and at local schools. But it also means a chance for some fulfilling moments, like working the Illinois High School Association state finals in various sports.

“It kind of feels like our Olympics,” says the 20-year veteran in her field.

Delaney is pointing out the shortage of athletic trainers and encouraging people, especially young athletes, to look into the profession.

The requirements

Delaney says there are typically three parts to becoming an athletic trainer: a master’s degree, an exam with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and getting licensed in your state.

“I took a lot of anatomy courses initially [in college]. Kinesiology as well. And then you would transition into actually learning how to evaluate bodies. Joints, injuries – you learn more about them,” Delaney explains. “Psychology of sports medicine is also an emerging area. Sometimes I feel like I can be one-on-one with an athlete not just for sports medicine injuries. But if the athlete is having a bad day, it’s nice to have that connection where they’ll come in and talk to you about other things that are bothering them.”

Delaney says the exam to get licensed used to have an in-person component, but now it’s all online. She says every two years, athletic trainers are required to have continuing education to keep their license.

Day-to-day work

Delaney sees people in the hospital year-round, but her busy season starts in July as high school football teams begin preseason practice. She’ll be with teams at practices and games to provide care for injured athletes or simply help prepare them for competition by taping their ankles and helping them stretch.

“I have a lot of coaches who contact me throughout the summer to evaluate athletes,” Delaney says. “I don’t think athletes truly get a break. In high school, most of them are multi-sport athletes. These injuries can happen at any time.”

Delaney forms friendly relationships with the coaches and players, but she and all trainers know their role is to be an independent eye and ear. In recent years in the college ranks, there have been some high profile examples of coaches trying to influence a doctor or trainer’s decision and rush an injured player back to the field.

“I’ve always had great coaches that I work with,” Delaney says. “We are up front with our coaches right away about the things we’re looking for. If I have an athlete with a concussion, this is what you should expect. So, most coaches are good about knowing what to expect when I tell them ‘This athlete is out.’

“I never want to hold an athlete out if I don’t have to. So when I do, my coaches understand,” Delaney adds.

Misconceptions

For starters, Delaney says athletic trainers can’t give medication to people under age 18.

What they can handle: evaluation and rehabilitation of injuries, which includes casting and bracing.

“When I work in the orthopedic clinic, I can bring the kids in to see me in the office. I already know what their injury is. They trust that we know what we’re doing. Then if I’m the one putting on the cast, they see all of my skills,” Delaney says.

But what’s more chuckle-inducing: when an athlete approaches someone like Delaney asking to get fit and build muscle.

Delaney says she can offer some advice in the weight room. But she’s not a strength coach or personal trainer. Athletic trainers are more like mechanics of the body, akin to a physical therapist.

Getting into the profession

Delaney says if you’re interested in becoming an athletic trainer, talk to one you know.

“I’ll keep speaking out for sports medicine to find people who want to do it,” she says.

Interview clips

‘A gamechanger’

Fri, 24 May 2024 09:32:37 -0500

There’s renewed optimism for people with fatty liver disease, sometimes called NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) or MASH (metabolic associated steatohepatitis). The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first medication, Rezdiffra, that can directly address liver damage as the person makes lifestyle changes.

“This is a gamechanger for anyone who has fatty liver disease with moderate to severe liver scarring,” says Marcie Lindstrom, APRN, a gastroenterology provider at OSF HealthCare. “This can reduce the number of complications that can develop with worsening scarring.”

Fatty liver basics

The liver is an important organ. Experts even call it a miniature factory inside us. The liver detoxifies medication; releases glucose to give you energy; aids digestion and makes cholesterol, proteins and amino acids.

Obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and excessive alcohol use can lead to fatty liver disease, which Lindstrom says impacts around one in four people worldwide. Left untreated, scarring from fatty liver disease can progress to cirrhosis, or severe scarring. Complications from cirrhosis can include enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus which can lead to life-threatening bleeding, fluid overload called ascites, liver cancer and liver failure necessitating a transplant.

How we got here, where we’re going

Lindstrom says before Rezdiffra, people with fatty liver disease could only make those lifestyle changes to try to get better: control your blood sugar, cholesterol and weight.

“Strictly on the shoulders of the individual,” Lindstrom reiterates.

“We know that people who lose 5 to 10% of their body weight are able to make improvement with fatty liver disease. It is considered a reversible condition,” she adds.

Now, Rezdiffra is an option for people with moderate to advanced scarring.

“It works on thyroid-B receptors in the liver. We normally think of thyroid receptors in our thyroid gland [in our throat], but we do have thyroid beta receptors elsewhere. A lot of them are in the liver,” Lindstrom explains. “The medication works to release triglycerides from the liver. It improves and may even resolve fatty liver.”

It’s a once-a-day pill, Lindstrom says, and there’s no “one size fits all” for how long you need to be on it. Side effects include nausea and diarrhea, but Lindstrom says studies have shown those get better after three weeks. She also says women who are pregnant, are about to become pregnant or are breastfeeding should not take Rezdiffra. There hasn’t been enough study of the drug to see how it impacts those groups.

The bottom line: you can talk to your health care provider to see if Rezdiffra is right for you. Be sure to mention what other medicines you are taking so your provider can see how Rezdiffra might interact.

“If somebody is taking a statin for cholesterol levels,” for example, Lindstrom says. “It’s not that we want them to go off their statin. There are certain limitations to the dosage.”

Learn more

Learn more about how to avoid fatty liver disease and other gastroenterology care tips on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Decoding ankle injury terms

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 10:59:45 -0600

Basketball season is in full swing, and with it comes the possibility of ankle injuries. You’ll hear doctors and television commentators rattle off different ways to describe an ankle injury. Sprain, strain, fracture and break are common ones. Marc Leonard, MD, an OSF HealthCare podiatrist, says it’s important to know what these conditions mean and how to treat and prevent them.

The good news: you don’t need to memorize four definitions.

Sprains and strains

Dr. Leonard says a sprain and a strain generally describe the same thing: when a ligament or tendon is torn or weakened.

“Maybe it’s a basketball player who twists their ankle,” Dr. Leonard suggests. “It gets a little swollen and bruised. We’re able to treat that conservatively with the acronym RICE. Rest, ice, compression and elevation.”

Fractures and breaks

Dr. Leonard says an ankle fracture and an ankle break also generally describe the same thing: a crack in a bone. He often sees this in older adults who have fallen down the stairs or on the ice.

“If there are breaks in multiple bones and we consider it an unstable ankle, then we would fix it surgically,” Dr. Leonard says. “The process is surgery, then maybe physical therapy and perhaps a brace.”

Dr. Leonard says surgery patients usually go home the same day. A doctor will use screws, staples or both to stabilize the ankle. The person then needs to rest and not put weight on the ankle for six to eight weeks.

Treatment and prevention

Amid basketball season, here’s the take-home advice for when someone suffers an ankle injury: get them off their feet.

“We would advise them to be non-weight bearing. They would use crutches until they can get an X-ray. Then we can decide whether protecting the ankle, physical therapy or surgery may be appropriate,” Dr. Leonard says.

Prevention, Dr. Leonard says, is tough, due to all the movement that comes with sports or just a jog around the block. He advises to just be sensible with your movements. If you know your body can’t handle a cutting motion that comes with running a basketball play, don’t do it. Or, when you’re walking, go slow and watch for ice. And when you do get hurt, get care quickly. Don’t play through the pain.

Dr. Leonard also says that some people with a history of ankle problems may wear a brace during any physical activity, not just when recovering from an injury. But for others, he says a brace isn’t necessary.

“Play with a purpose. Be intentional. And hope for the best,” Dr. Leonard says matter-of-factly.

Learn more

Read more about keeping your body in top shape this winter on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

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

Find the right fit for summer foot health

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:38:46 -0500

Summer months often mean the bare minimum when it comes to footwear. Seasonal sandals can be found everywhere – from department to drug stores. But not all summer shoes are created equal.

“As summer months come about, certainly weather changes make people want to throw inexpensive flip flops on and things like that. That can be very dangerous to your feet,” warned Dr. Marc Leonard, an OSF HealthCare Podiatrist.

But a foray with a flip flop doesn’t mean you are destined for foot injuries. Dr. Leonard says to avoid cheaply made flip flops and sandals. He says spending the extra money could be a good investment for your overall foot health.

“I think sandals and flip flops are fine for some people,” said Dr. Leonard. “If you have no foot problems, you’re not diabetic and you have good sensation, probably a well-made supportive sandal with arch support would be just fine. However if you do have those problems, and you are diabetic or you are neuropathic, then those are things have to be cautiously worn.”

Sometimes, however, even the best pair of shoes can’t mask issues that need attention. If foot pain persists, you should seek the help of a specialist.

“Pain is not normal. So if there is pain, if there’s discomfort, if there’s changes in your feet, collapsing to the feet, those are good times to see a podiatrist,” said Dr. Leonard.

And according to Dr. Leonard, there is no perfect pair of shoes, and people should spend time shopping to make sure they have the right fit to start summer off on the right foot.

“Be cautious, try them on in the store, get a good, supportive, well-made shoe, and I think that’s the best way to go about it,” he advised.

Interview clips

OSF Saint James Medical Center names new president

Fri, 26 May 2023 09:58:47 -0500

Derrick Frazier, FACHE, has been named president for OSF HealthCare Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center effective June 19.

In his new role, Frazier will lead OSF Saint James in aligning with the overall OSF HealthCare strategy. He will be responsible for directing internal operations at OSF Saint James and ensuring high-quality, cost-effective, and safe health care is consistently delivered.

He most recently served as chief executive officer at Morehouse General Hospital in Bastrop, Louisiana. Prior to that, he served as chief executive officer at Homer Memorial Hospital in Homer, Louisiana. Frazier earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Savannah State University in Georgia. He went on to earn a Master of Health Service Administration from Armstrong State University.

Frazier replaces Brad Solberg who retired in March. Liz Davidson, DNP, RN, has been serving as the interim president for OSF Saint James. She will continue to serve as vice president and chief nursing officer for OSF Saint James.

OSF HealthCare in Pontiac to route labor and delivery patients to Bloomington

Tue, 16 May 2023 09:53:25 -0500

As health care continues to evolve and grow, leading organizations including OSF HealthCare are looking at how best to provide the highest quality health care, now and into the future, for the communities we serve.

For OSF HealthCare, the example set by our founding Sisters nearly 146 years ago enables us to confront change head on. Leading transformation has been and continues to be part of who we are.

Many hospitals and health care systems, especially in rural areas, are struggling to care for expectant mothers right now. This is due to several factors, including physician shortages, staffing challenges, regulatory requirements and financial hardships.

“Within the OSF HealthCare system, we are blessed to have excellent providers and clinical teams who care deeply for the patients and families who depend on us – including those who are expanding their families,” said Liz Davidson, RN, interim president at OSF HealthCare Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center.

OSF HealthCare is evaluating where to provide birthing, labor and delivery units, as well as general obstetrics and gynecological services such as prenatal visits or well-woman visits.

The number of babies born at OSF Saint James has declined in recent years, which aligns with the aging population of Livingston County. Currently, Pontiac is birthing 10-15 babies per month on average, which is a sharp decline from the 500+ babies born annually at OSF Saint James in years past.

OSF Saint James will shift its services to focus on the future growth of services outside of the delivery of babies, and will streamline its labor and delivery services to other hospitals within OSF HealthCare to ensure the long-term viability of all of our hospitals.

OSF Saint James will continue its commitment to women’s health through a variety of services including, but not limited to, gynecological surgical procedures, lactation counseling, natural family planning via the Creighton Model Fertility Care System, and overall women’s health, such as 3D mammography, bone density, and wellness screenings.

In addition, OSF HealthCare will offer a hybrid model of in-person visits and digital tools for women who prefer to take advantage of some virtual offerings – whether to help busy patients with scheduling conflicts or transportation concerns. For example, we could offer a virtual visit for every other visit throughout a healthy pregnancy.

This care model is used in other OSF HealthCare markets similar to Pontiac and works well, to provide the right combination of digital tools with in-person, compassionate care.

“We want to be where our patients need us, and OSF HealthCare is committed to offering digital services to supplement our in-person care,” Davidson said. “We can offer virtual visits for most healthy pregnancies throughout prenatal care, or our remote patient monitoring program for prenatal and postpartum care is available to complement your visits to a doctor’s office, with on-demand learning based on where a woman is in her pregnancy.”

In addition, OSF lactation experts offer virtual lactation assistance to any woman, regardless of geographic location.

Patients with questions about their ongoing care, OSF Medical Group teams are available: 815-842-3567.