As we usher in a new year, it’s that time when we pledge to exercise more, save money, find a new hobby, or, in many cases, shed a few pounds.

Planning to save more money is once again a priority for many people making resolutions for 2026. But other top goals heading into the new year are commitments to eat healthier, exercise more and lose weight.

Nicole O’Neill is a dietitian with OSF HealthCare. Her job is to help clients navigate the choppy waters of starting diets, especially this time of year.

“Resolutions are big picture things,” O’Neill says. “So, if you have a resolution to lose X amount of weight, go ahead and make it. But then break it down into smart goals, little steps along the way so that you can achieve something and feel like you did something. So, you can celebrate a success. If you just say I want to lose a bunch of weight, it's not good enough. You have to say how much weight and how you're going to do it.”

Resolutions aren’t for everyone. O’Neill says it depends on the person's personality and what other factors are involved, such as stress, hormones, pain or lack of sleep. If you need a hard start and stop to see results, a New Year's resolution might just do the trick. For other people, however, resolutions are a potential recipe for failure.

The SMART goals O’Neill referenced are specific, measurable, and attainable, realistic and time bound. For example, rather than say you’re going to cut out all fast food, why not set a goal for eating at home more, she adds.

“So, if you say I want to lose 100 pounds, well sure we got the 100 pounds part but how are you going to do it? How long is it going to take you, what are all the pieces? Do you need to lose 100 pounds? Well, some people do, and some people don't,” O’Neill says. “If you weighed 120 pounds at 18 years old, and you tell me today, I want to be 100 pounds that's not realistic. Even 120 pounds might not be realistic. So, setting up a SMART goal is better than a resolution.”

There is no magic wand or secret formula for losing weight. O’Neill says it’s a combination of factors that are going to lead you down the path that is right for you on your weight loss journey.

“If you're not drinking enough water, add more water. If you're not sleeping, let's talk about that. If you're super stressed out, see a therapist. If you don't eat any fruits and vegetables, add one. Start with little baby steps and maybe that is the hidden nugget. Do one little thing and see how you do with it and let it snowball into the next thing and into the next thing instead of trying to tackle it all at once.”

If you’re still struggling to find success, O’Neill recommends having a conversation with your provider who can recommend other options such as medication management or counseling.

After all, what do you have to lose? 

 

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

Ready or not, winter is here. 

For adults, snow – especially the heavy stuff – also means lots of shoveling, which can lead to an assortment of health-related problems if you’re not careful and properly prepared for the winter season.

“Every year, thousands of people end up in an emergency department due to things happening when they’re shoveling snow," says Amy Henderson, a family practice physician assistant for OSF HealthCare. "These include falls, sometimes people experience heart attacks from extraneous activities, back injuries amongst other things. So it’s really important to take some caution when you are going to be shoveling snow, and the snow is coming.”

Among the people at the greatest risk of experiencing potential issues while shoveling are the elderly, people with a history of back problems as well as people who have suffered a heart attack or other serious illness. Henderson says to check with your doctor first if you have any concerns about your health.

“If a person develops any chest pain, sharp, radiating arm pain, jaw pain, those are all signs and symptoms of a possible heart attack," says Henderson. "If those symptoms do not improve with rest after a short amount of time, it’s concerning. My advice would be to seek immediate medical attention if you’re concerned at all about a cardiac event or a heart attack; in this case it’s always good to play it safe than sorry.”

Safety is key when it comes to snow and ice. Henderson offers a few basic tips before getting started with shoveling your sidewalk or driveway.

“One of the most important things to do is wear the appropriate clothing to stay warm and avoid frostbite," says Henderson. "Also, stretching prior to going out and doing this activity is important so I recommend stretching 5 to 10 minutes before you go out in the cold. I also recommend staying hydrated because you’re doing physical activity.”

Other important tips include:

• Lift with your legs, not your back
• Push (don’t) lift the snow
• Stay low to the ground
• Shovel more frequently
• Take breaks if you feel winded
• Be aware of ice
• Go inside to warm up in order to avoid frostbite

The same suggestions apply when using a snow blower. Many people are injured every year by pushing their snow blower, twisting their body or reaching into the snow blower.

The bottom line when it comes to snow shoveling, Henderson says, is play it safe, take your time and be sure to let your loved ones and friends know what you’re up to in the event something does happen. And don’t be afraid to ask for help.

“If you really should not be shoveling snow, or you’re at higher risk, I recommend trying to find someone else who can do it for you, whether that’s a neighbor or a family member. I highly recommend that," adds Henderson. "It’s not worth the broken hip or the hospital follow up. Another thing for people who are at higher risk is to bring a cellphone. If you do fall, you’re able to call somebody.”

Before you bundle up and head outside to shovel your driveway, make sure you follow proper safety measures to avoid injury. If you or a loved one experiences severe injury, heart attack, or other medical emergencies while shoveling snow, call 911. 

For more information about snow shoveling, visit OSF HealthCare.

Video Interview Clips 

Video B-Roll 

Pro wrestler and actor John Cena admits to never wearing sunscreen growing up in Massachusetts. When he later moved to Florida, he still failed to protect his skin from the dangerous rays of the sun. 

But a routine visit to a dermatologist quickly changed Cena's attitude. His doctor found a cancerous spot on his chest. A year later, another spot was found near his right shoulder. It was a wake-up call for Cena, who not only applies sunscreen daily now, he's become a spokesperson for a sunscreen brand. 

Cena said in an interview with PEOPLE that he now feels a responsibility to share the lessons he's learned about skin cancer with others - especially men. 

“Men especially are becoming more conscious of self-care,” he said. “I just think we need to make it more commonplace.” 

It’s that time of the year when people are outdoors for several reasons – sporting activities, vacations, and working outside jobs.

But under the brilliant sun rays lurks a potential danger especially to men – skin cancer, more specifically melanoma.

More than 97,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed this year (58,120 in men and 39,490 in women), according to the American Cancer Society. Nearly 8,000 people will die from melanoma, the majority – nearly 5,500 of them – will be men.

“Men are more likely to develop skin cancer, in fact twice as likely, to develop melanoma over time because of several different reasons, whether that's related to the type of job that they do because men tend to work outdoors more often," says Ben Guth, a nurse practitioner for OSF HealthCare.  "It can be education related where they aren't taught what to look for when it comes to signs and symptoms of skin cancer. And finally, they just don't use sunscreen when they go outside, which is very protective when it comes to sunburns and developing skin cancer in the future.”

There are other factors. Some research suggests that women’s sun-damaged skin seems to heal better than men. And men tend to have thicker skin, which makes it more susceptible to UV damage which can lead to melanoma.

The good news is that if caught early, melanoma and most skin cancers are highly curable. The problem, however, is most skin cancers don’t have symptoms until it reaches the later stages. So that makes it even more important to take care of our skin and know what to look for.

It starts with education.

“I think you need to have a well-rounded approach when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun and that education comes, one, from primary care providers and dermatologists," says Guth. "We educate on the importance of sunscreen, applying it every two hours, especially when outside. The American Academy of Dermatologists recommend using at least an SPF of 30 and that being a broad spectrum and even water-resistant, depending on the type of work or activity you’re doing outside.”

When applying sunscreen, don’t forget to lotion up around the ears, behind the neck and on top of the scalp, especially men who are balding. Ask your partner for a hand to get to those hard-to-reach spots.

While not everyone is a fan of using sunscreen lotion, don’t despair. There are other ways to help keep your skin protected this summer.

“There several other options if you don't like sunscreen or the greasy feel on your skin – wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, especially those that block sun, wearing a big hat, whether that's a baseball cap or a wide-brimmed hat with sunglasses," says Guth. "And you can also find areas of shade or protection from the sun especially during those high times where the sun is most strong, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.”

Guth strongly recommends men make a standing appointment for a skin checkup.

“If you have a dermatologist, it's good to have annual skin checks especially if you've had lesions in the past or had skin cancer in the past and had them removed," says Guth. "Outside of that men should just be talking with their provider about their concerns.”

Guth adds that if something doesn’t look or feel right, talk to your primary care provider or dermatologist. Don’t wait. And remember to always pack your sunscreen, even on those cloudy days.

Like smoking, it’s never too late to stop ignoring the dangers to our skin. Just ask John Cena. 

Interview Clips 

B-Roll 

Do you ever get a loud ringing in your ears? What about a hissing or whooshing or clicking sound? Chances could be that you have tinnitus.

And you’re not alone. Many people have a ringing or another sound in their ears from time to time. But tinnitus (tin-NITE-us or TIN-ne-tus) can be both persistent and frustrating for people with a severe case of it.

“Anywhere between 10 to 20% of the population may have tinnitus at one time or another. Estimates of 50 million people in the country which is quite significant," says Chris Workman, AuD, an audiologist with OSF HealthCare. "For most of those people, it's not something that's significantly disabling. However, there is a percentage of population where it can cause significant issues.”

That includes having trouble sleeping or concentrating. Being alone in a quiet room can exasperate the situation. Dealing with tinnitus on a daily basis can make people feel angry, depressed and feeling irrational.

Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. It’s been linked to noise exposure, hearing loss, a side effect from taking certain medications at high doses and the aging process. (Hearing loss impacts one in three people over the age of 65.) An injury to the head or neck can damage the structures of the ear, and even ear wax or an ear infection can cause a blockage of the ear and trigger tinnitus.

Tinnitus can occur in one or both ears.

“Most of the time, we see it happen in both ears because it's gradual due to aging, noise exposure or some other health issues," says Dr. Workman. "Sometimes hypertension, cardiovascular health can play a role. So it may come on slowly and gradually and usually both ears. If it's one ear, I would definitely suggest having it checked out.”

There is no cure for tinnitus. But there are therapies and devices called sound generators which may help silence tinnitus, mask the sounds or help the patient get used to the noise or distract them.

“Some patients who have normal hearing may not need a hearing aid, so we might use that device as a tinnitus masker where it has different noises, whether it's a white noise or ocean-like noise, something else to focus on," says Dr. Workman. "We have fit patients with no hearing loss with a mild-gain hearing aid as a means to kind of drown it out. Sometimes just a little amplification is helpful to help the brain focus on the external noises around them.”

Because ongoing noise in your ears is annoying, Dr. Workman says anxiety will play a pivotal role in how a person handles tinnitus. He recommends that people find ways to reduce stress, which may help.

“Part of the key in minimizing the annoyance is reducing anxiety, educating them on the possible causes, and the fact that over time it may reduce the level of intensity," adds Dr. Workman. "It may not be a cure, but exercise and those types of things can help reduce overall stress levels, which will help minimize the annoyance of the ringing. It also may help them get better sleep, which in turn will help lead to less stress.”

Dr. Workman also suggests limiting the intake of caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes, which can increase tinnitus. Lifestyle issues such as exercise and diet are also important to cardiovascular health which also helps overall health, including hearing.

When it comes to your hearing, protection is the key. To minimize any type of damage, Dr. Workman recommends wearing earplugs whether it’s going to a rock concert or mowing the lawn. And if you use earbuds turn down the volume. If someone else can hear your music or podcast, it’s too loud.  

For starters, people age 55 and over should schedule a hearing test to establish a baseline.

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

Every year, about 350,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) outside of a hospital setting with almost 90% of all cases being fatal. 

While there is an underlying belief that heart problems such as SCA tend to be more of a concern for men, that’s not the case. In fact, women make up almost 40% of SCA episodes. Just as women may experience different symptoms of heart disease than men, their risk of SCA is somewhat different too.  

According to Nancy Dagefoerde, an advanced practice registered nurse with OSF Cardiovascular Institute, SCA can happen to any adult 30 and older, depending on risk factors, family history and other issues such as a heart birth defect.  

Dagefoerde says SCA is different than a heart attack, which occurs when there is a blockage in a coronary artery on the outside of the heart. Many times, a heart attack is the cause for the sudden cardiac arrest.  

 “Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when there's an irregular heartbeat," she says. "We call it an arrhythmia that causes the heart not to beat or have electrical activity anymore. So in general, there'll be no breathing and no pulse when you come upon a person that's having a sudden cardiac arrest.”  

“The thing that may be different with women is oftentimes their symptoms are portrayed differently and they often can get missed," says Dagefoerde. "A woman may come to an emergency room or a health care provider and say ‘I'm more tired’ or ‘I'm more short of breath.’ It's not the typical elephant on my chest type of chest pain that a man may have. And so working them up for their symptoms, although they're more vague, is important to be preventive to catch these things early before there's damage.” 

Another reason why women are at a higher risk for SCA is because they are more likely to delay seeking care for their symptoms since women tend to prioritize the health of other family members first.   

“As all of us get older, the risk is higher for any of these conditions as far as heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure, so we need to be aware that maybe our numbers were okay, or we were doing pretty good when we were in our 20s and 30s," says Dagefoerde. "But as we age, we need those regular checkups and do that good preventive care, because things do change. And women are caring for husbands and parents, even children and grandchildren and they don't often take the time to care for themselves.” 

Symptoms of SCA include:  

·         Fainting  

·         Dizziness  

·         Racing or irregular heartbeat  

·         Chest pain  

·         Shortness of breath  

·         Nausea  

Risk factors for SCA include a previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, a prior episode of SCA, family history and personal or family history of abnormal heart rhythms, among others.  

Dagefoerde has a simple message for any patient who is experiencing any potential cardiac symptom.  

“This is another area that your health prevention will benefit you. So seeing your physician on a regular basis, having regular checkups, checking your labs, knowing your family history, knowing your own history, and doing all those things on a regular basis and don't ignore any symptoms that you may be having.”  

If you see someone drop to the ground and think it could be SCA, call 911 immediately. The faster CPR is started and defibrillation is administered, the better the chances of survival. 

For more information on cardiovascular health, visit OSF HealthCare.  

Interview Clips 

The OSF Audiologist says since it's his profession, he knows the dangers of loud noise and the lasting impact it can have on his hearing. 

Our listening habits could be doing more harm than good. Especially for younger people.

A recent published study cautions that between 670 million and more than 1.3 billion teens and young adults could face hearing loss due to unsafe habits. 

Researchers concentrated on two main sources of loud music exposure: live music events and personal listening devices like headphones. 

Listening to sounds at a decibel level of 85 or higher for long or a repeated amount of time can cause hearing loss.

“A lot of us feel invincible at that age, so we tend not to take that message to heart," Dr. Workman says. "Hopefully they understand the potential damage they could do.”

Dr. Workman offers a few helpful tips like wearing protection at concerts and sitting in the back of the venue, if possible. 

He also says to wear ear plus and turn the music down on your headphones. 

If you're concerned you may be experiencing hearing loss, Dr. Workman recommends scheduling a hearing test.

Video Version With Chyrons

Video Version Without Chyrons

Some are turning to a concept called lighthouse parenting. 

According to experts, lighthouse parenting combines important traits such as nurturing, loving and protecting, while giving their kids space to grow and learn on their own. 

Victor Mendoza, behavioral health provider, OSF HealthCare | TAKE SOT

“[It’s like] a regular lighthouse that guides the ships from one place to another. That's how it is with parenting," says Victor Mendoza, a behavioral health provider with OSF HealthCare. "Just being there for your child and helping them get through difficult times. Sometimes [parents can] step in when they need to, and sometimes they let them try things out.” 

Mendoza says lighthouse parenting falls between two other styles – helicopter parenting and free-range parenting. 

For example – a helicopter parent might stand with their child on the tee-ball field helping him or her get to the ball or run to the right base. 

A lighthouse parent might give some guidance before the game and watch the action from the sidelines.

Video Version With Chyrons

Video Version Without Chyrons

The chaotic world we live in can often have parents scratching their heads about the best way to raise their children. Now, more people are turning to a concept called lighthouse parenting.

According to experts, lighthouse parenting combines important traits such as nurturing, loving and protecting while giving their children space to grow and learn on their own.

“[It’s like] a regular lighthouse that guides the ships from one place to another,” says Victor Mendoza, a behavioral health provider for OSF HealthCare. “That's how it is with parenting. Just being there for your child and helping them get through difficult times. Sometimes [parents can] step in when they need to, and sometimes they let them try things out.” 

The lighthouse parenting concept has been talked about for nearly a decade. It was coined by pediatrician Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, who literally wrote the book on the topic. But it has come to the surface again recently as a concept Dr. Ginsburg has described in interviews as “a return to common sense and what we know works.”

Mendoza says lighthouse parenting falls somewhere between two other styles — helicopter parenting and free-range parenting. A helicopter parent tends to hover, may be over-involved and is always evaluating risk that can prevent children from developing a certain skill. Free-range parents believe giving freedom promotes independence and self-confident children. For example, a helicopter parent might stand with their child on the tee-ball field, helping him or her get to the ball or run to the right base. A lighthouse parent might give their child some guidance before the game and watch the action from the sidelines.

“With lighthouse parenting, it allows your children a little bit of freedom,” says Mendoza. “Obviously, you don't want to completely leave them in the dark and have them figure things out by themselves and not provide any sort of support. But just knowing when you have to step in and when you have to step back.”

Mendoza says the biggest benefits of lighthouse parenting include encouraging healthy boundaries, developing coping skills and creating a supportive relationship between parent and child.

And it’s OK for your children to fall short of expectations from time to time.

“Letting them fail. Letting them learn from their mistakes. And allowing them to see if they can figure it out on their own,” Mendoza says. “Having that dance with them in a way that we're going to move a little and we're going to step in a little bit. Sometimes we're going to move back a little bit. Just follow your gut.”

Mendoza stresses that lighthouse parenting may not work for all parents and children. He says it’s important to consider the child’s age, needs, temperament and development. Lighthouse parenting is going to look different for younger children than school-aged kids or teens.

“Lighthouse parenting is not like this strict set of rules that you have to follow,” Mendoza says. “It's like a guideline that you can incorporate into your parenting to help you be a more active parent or a more lighthouse parent and be there for your child.”

Mendoza says the lighthouse parenting concept works in his practice. Some parents, he says, are willing to try a new style because of the way they grew up – in a home that lacked a good support system or parental involvement.

He adds children should understand that while they are loved, there are rules and boundaries for their behavior and actions.  

Mendoza preaches patience when it comes to introducing a new parenting style.  “It takes some time to practice and get used to it. So just be patient with yourself as a parent," he says. "Don't beat yourself up if you didn't get it right, or you felt like you didn't do a good job. That's what lighthouse parenting teaches you – learning from our mistakes and allowing yourself to engage in that lighthouse parenting and do it as best as you can.”                                                               

For more information regarding behavioral or mental health support, visit the OSF HealthCare website. 

Interview Clips 

No one was looking forward to a Los Angeles Dodgers/New York Yankees World Series matchup more than Charley Steiner. The former ESPN broadcaster used to call Yankee games and has spent the past two decades calling Dodger games on the radio. But Steiner, a Bradley University graduate, has missed the entire baseball season due to health reasons. In January of this year, Steiner, 75, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. 

Multiple myeloma is a relatively uncommon cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 35,000 new cases were diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Of those, about 12,500 deaths will occur.  While rare and incurable, multiple myeloma is still a cancer that warrants plenty of attention.

With multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells collect in the bone marrow, leaving little room for healthy blood cells. Rather than produce useful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause problems.

“Multiple Myeloma is a blood cancer, and it actually affects the white blood cells called plasma cells," says Peggy Rogers, a genetics and medical oncology nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare. "They work to make antibodies and when they work normally all is well. But in multiple myeloma these plasma cells go awry, so to speak, and they make an abundant amount of them, which decreases a person’s immune system and can cause a lot of other health issues related to this diagnosis.”

There are several risk factors when it comes to multiple myeloma, including age, family history, and gender.

“It is not very common. It’s only about 1-2 % of patients affected with cancer," says Rogers. "Typically it affects people 65 and over, predominantly seen in males and higher frequency in the African American population and we’ve also seen it in men affected by Agent Orange.”

Multiple myeloma symptoms vary. In fact, there may be no symptoms early on in the disease. But if you are experiencing nausea, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss or frequent infections, some investigation might be in order.

“Patients oftentimes can present with renal dysfunction," says Rogers. "They can have bone pain, anemia, and they may have frequent infections as well.” Charley Steiner's symptoms – terrible back pain – started a year ago. 

Treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is and whether there are any symptoms. If there are symptoms, treatment may include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, radiation, or targeted therapy, which uses drugs to attack specific cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy cells. If there are no symptoms, treatment may not be needed right away.

Steiner says his cancer is now in remission. He hopes to return to the Dodgers' broadcast booth next season. 

“It is very treatable and patients do well with therapy," says Rogers. "They will likely be on some type of maintenance therapy for the duration. They are living longer and having more success in longer intervals between treatments.”

For more information about cancer services, visit OSF HealthCare.

Video Interview Clips 

If you've ever felt your heart flip flop, skip a beat or feel like it's banging against your chest wall, it could be signs of atrial fibrillation. 

NFL coach Jim Harbaugh knows the feeling all too well. Coaching his San Diego Chargers on October 13, Harbaugh left the sidelines during the first quarter of the Chargers win against the Denver Broncos with arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat.  An arrhythmia is when the heart beats too fast, too slowly, or is out of sync. Symptoms include palpitations, low blood pressure, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Harbaugh has had similar episodes in the past. He's had a cardiac ablation procedure and says he may need another one for his current situation. 

Cardiac ablation is a procedure where thin wires called catheters are threaded into a blood vessel from the groin and guided to the heart. Radiofrequency (heat) or cryotherapy (cold) treatment is used to destroy the cells causing the arrhythmia. Once the abnormal electrical signals are interrupted the normal heart rhythm can take over again.

Farhad Farokhi, DO, is an adult cardiac electrophysiologist with the OSF Cardiovascular Institute, who treats patients with Afib on a daily basis. He says medication can be the first line of defense when it comes to treating Afib, but sometimes medication doesn’t work or cardiac ablation may be deemed the most effective method of treatment.

Dr. Farokhi says the procedure has become more common among both men and women, even children who experience Afib.

“The first thing we do is talk to the patient, get a history and see what kind of symptoms the patient experiences, and then document the abnormal rhythm with an EKG or longer-term heart rhythm monitors," says Dr. Farokhi. "We look at 24 hours, 48 hours to one week, two weeks or a month to document what kind of rhythm the patient has, and then we can correlate the rhythm with their symptoms. Then we can prescribe medications, or we can discuss and consider the option of cardiac ablation.”

A successful outcome depends on the type of arrhythmia, any abnormality within the heart chamber, the patient’s age and other irregularities the patient may have such as congestive heart failure or high blood pressure.

Within a few weeks after surgery, the patient should experience significant improvement.

“The patient will feel better, they won’t have as much palpitation or fatigue, or shortness of breath," says Dr. Farokhi. "The heart will function more efficiently and long term the patient is going to feel better and have less chance of having heart rhythm issues or other heart complications. There is a significant benefit in terms of a patient’s ability to exercise, having a better lifestyle and being on fewer medications.”

The procedure takes anywhere from one to three hours. With any procedure there are potential risks including bleeding, infection and blood clots.

According to Dr. Farokhi, advancement in technology has also helped improve the cardiac ablation procedure.

“Technology has significantly changed. We now have very sophisticated mapping systems and ablations to treat abnormal rhythms. And it is very promising that in the near future, we can do very complex, abnormal rhythms with almost no risk of complications.”

Dr. Farokhi adds that if you experience any heart-related symptoms, do not delay and seek help immediately. That's what Harbaugh did. He left the sidelines and was checked out by medical staff before returning to the game. Now, he will wear a heart monitor for the next two weeks. 

“When patients experience palpitations or abnormal sensations in their chest they should seek medical attention, talk to a doctor and do not minimize their symptoms because with any abnormal rhythm if they're diagnosed earlier, and treated earlier, you have a higher success rate with less chance of complications," adds Dr. Farokhi. 

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare. 


 

Interview Clips 

Summer is in full swing, which means it’s time to slip on those flip-flops and other comfortable shoes. But this seasonal wear can cause injuries and foot pain during this time of year, including plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis (fashee-EYE-tiss) is one of the most common causes of pain on the bottom of the heel, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot, becomes irritated.

“Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation from the bottom of your foot," says Ashley Gunlock, a physical therapist with OSF HealthCare. "If you're having sharp pain, especially in the morning, when you're not weight bearing and when you go to stand up for the first time and you have a sharp pain, that's a good indication that you probably have plantar fasciitis.”

Plantar fasciitis is common, affecting one in 10 people at some point in their life. About two million people seek treatment for the pain and discomfort. 

The most common symptom is a sharp pain in the bottom of the foot near the heel. Besides morning pain, it can occur after long periods of rest as well as after exercise or other activity.

“Plantar fasciitis may have several contributors," says Gunlock. "It can occur when somebody has mechanical inefficiencies, such as prior injury, poor body mechanics, or changes in their lifestyle, or from changes in their footwear. The tissues on the back of their legs and foot are getting excessive stress, so they're going to get inflamed. The other way is a common overuse injury. It can happen often with too much running or walking.”

Plantar fasciitis is common among athletes. but it can happen to anyone. Gunlock treats many factory workers, for example, who stand or walk for several hours at a time.

“That prolonged pressure on your foot can inflame the fascia on the bottom of your foot or if they were off of work – if it's a seasonal job, so if they're off over the wintertime – and then they come back to that job in the beginning of the year we're going to get people coming in with that heel-bottom of the foot pain," Gunlock adds. 

If you’re experiencing foot pain, don’t walk barefoot. Examine your shoes for signs of wear and tear and make sure your sandals or flip-flops have arch support. Gunlock says the reason shoes are helpful for people is because they unload the compression to the heel. Shoes with thick soles and extra cushioning can reduce pain with standing and walking.

Things you can try at home to relieve the pain include massaging the bottom of your foot, rolling your foot over a cold-water bottle or stretching the foot. If none of that provides any relief, it’s probably time to seek a referral to a physical therapist. Surgery might also be necessary for some people if other factors are at play such as bone spurs.

“The first thing that I do is look at how their feet are on the ground barefoot, look at their foot posture to see the way the inflammation occurs which has a lot to do with the angle of the calcaneus, which is the heel bone," says Gunlock. "We look at the knees, look at the hips, see how the mechanics look with how you walk, how you move. That gives us a better idea which tissues are the issue. Sometimes the plantar fasciitis is caused by another muscle or overuse of another body part.”

But by taking preventative ‘steps,’ Gunlock says patients can get back on their feet sooner rather than later.

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

When it’s hot outside, people tend to reach for the water. But too much of a good thing can be a problem.

It’s called water intoxication and it’s making news. Recently, a young woman died from drinking too much water in a short amount of time, and a young boy was hospitalized after doing the same thing.

“Water intoxication comes from drinking too much water," says Elizabeth Clay, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare. "And it can lead to some severe symptoms. You can get a headache, disorientation, confusion, nausea, vomiting – it can even be fatal.”

Other serious symptoms include muscle weakness, increased blood pressure and double vision. 

“The amount of water that a person should consume is going to be individualized," says Clay. "But overall, your kidneys can only handle so much. And that's between 0.8 and one liter. So, you really don't want to be taking in more than that per hour in water.”

Water intoxication can affect anyone. But it’s a problem that is especially common in people who participate in sporting events, military training or working outside.

“Dehydration can play a major role in water intoxication because when a person feels that they're getting dehydrated, they may try to overcompensate and may drink too much water at one time, and your body can't handle that," says Clay. "So, you'll start to get these symptoms whether it's nausea, vomiting, confusion – just disruption of your brain activity – and that comes from that depletion of sodium. And so, your cells inside your brain are holding on to that water and it causes swelling inside your brain and that can lead to some serious complications.”

Clay suggests taking frequent swallows throughout the day rather than chugging a bottle of water at once. Also, eat a healthy diet to get the needed electrolytes. And don’t drink just water. Sports drinks like Powerade and Gatorade, as well as coconut water and cow's milk are full of electrolytes.

There are no guidelines as to how much water a person needs each day. Some people still follow the 8x8 rule, which recommends drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Still, it depends on certain factors like body weight, the amount of physical activity you get and the climate where you live.

"So, if you can, stay indoors and out of the sun during this hot weather," says Clay. "But if you must be outside – if you've got training or some sort of physical activity that maybe your job or work requires – just want to make sure that you're getting those electrolytes and that water that you need. Just don't overdo it.”

 If you begin to experience symptoms after drinking too much water, call 9-1-1 immediately. 


 

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

In the farming communities of Illinois and beyond, the name Colleen (pronounced COH-leen) Callahan is a familiar one. The former president of the National Farm Broadcasters Association and long-time agriculture broadcaster at WMBD radio, WMBD and WCIA TV stations in Peoria and Champaign, Illinois made Callahan a household name to many – even before she became director of Rural Development in Illinois for the U.S. Ag Department and later director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Callahan knows how to navigate a variety of situations but was at a loss when she recently found herself with bacterial pneumonia in both lungs. She was admitted to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois where she spent three days before being offered the opportunity to become a digital hospital patient through OSF OnCall, the digital health arm of OSF.

The typically healthy 73-year-old has only needed to see her family doctor for anything other than a routine exam only twice in her lifetime but says even so, the idea of leaving the hospital after just three days seemed impossible. She felt better yes, but still had a long way to full recovery.

However, Callahan learned she could receive hospital-level care at home because her condition qualified and she lived within 30 minutes of the hospital. If she relapsed, no need to go to an emergency department, she would be speeded back to her hospital bed by ambulance – the same way she was sent home.

“And by the time I got home, all the necessary equipment that the doctors and the nurses needed was here. And from that moment forward, I received incredible personal care. It's not that it wasn't personal in the hospital, but it felt more personal because I was in my home.” 

Callahan was visited by nurses twice a day and had a daily virtual visit with an OSF OnCall doctor via a tablet provided to her. Anytime she needed to be connected to the OSF OnCall care team, she only had to press a button on the tablet or pick up the installed landline phone connected directly to providers (no need to dial). It couldn’t have been easier.

Early release to home allowed Callahan to do the things she could do; while still getting all the care she would have received in the hospital.

“By that time, when I could take oral medication and I could get up and move around, then I just wanted to do that on my own. I didn’t want to push the buzzer. I didn’t want to ask for help. You know, I’ve always been pretty independent, and I wanted to be that way again even though I knew there were a lot of things I wasn’t ready to do, there were things I wanted to do that I knew I could do if I was home.” 

Was she concerned about having strangers in her home? Callahan said they were so professional and personable, that wasn’t an issue.

“We talked about pets. We talked about families, what they'd done before they were doing digital hospital. And in a way, when I was released from the (digital) hospital and knew that none of them would be coming again, I kind of missed them. I was getting better, and I was glad to feel better. But I was also very glad for their presence in our home helping me get better.” 

Callahan’s husband was home, and her daughter stayed with them as well, just to make sure she was okay, but Callahan points out, her care was in the hands of professionals. Three meals-a-day were also delivered from the hospital to her home.

For those who are hesitant, Callahan says it’s really a return to the way medical care was delivered in the early part of the 20^th century.

“Do think about it being an approach to the old fashion house call. You get to go home, and the nurses make a house call to you twice a day with interim visits with the doctor. That's a really good way to frame it.” 

OSF OnCall Digital Hospital is available in Peoria and Rockford. The costs are comparable to an in-hospital stay and is covered by Medicare and some private insurance.

Video clips with digital hospital patient Colleen Callahan

B-roll of OSF OnCall Digital Hospital

There’s a misperception that measles is a thing of the past.

Not so.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 but is seeing a resurgence in 2024. As of March 22, there have been 64 cases across the U.S. – compared with 58 in all of 2023. The cases have appeared in at least 17 states so far, including Illinois and Michigan.

The cause of the increase is two-fold – the number of people who are unvaccinated has increased and the rise in international travel to destinations such as Britain, Austria and the Philippines, where outbreaks have occurred.

According to Alissa Bartel, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare, there’s no reason to be concerned yet. “I think it's always good for parents to be aware, be educated and not alarmed, but know that it is possible, especially in those kids who are at highest risk,” she says.

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. That person can spread measles to others even before knowing they have the disease — from four days before developing the measles rash through four days afterward.

Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash that starts at the top of the head and travels down the trunk to the lower extremities. Complications can lead to pneumonia, swelling of the brain and even death.

Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children.

“The most vulnerable of developing measles would be those who are not vaccinated; so kids under 5 years old or any child who has not chosen to be vaccinated, also those who are receiving chemotherapy or any medications that might make them immunocompromised,” says Bartel. “Also, pregnant women are very high risk, not only for themselves if they haven't been vaccinated, but also for the child that they're carrying.”

The best way to prevent getting sick with the measles and spreading it to others is from the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

“We’ve had so many vaccines that have helped us to drive so many serious illnesses and diseases away,” says Bartel. “However, we are seeing a lot of them emerge again. It’s important for us to educate our patients on vaccines, not only for ourselves, but to protect others who can't receive vaccines.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend children get their first MMR dose between the ages of 12-15 months. The second dose is between ages 4-6. Teenagers and adults require only one dose and should get it as soon as possible.

According to the CDC, two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is roughly 93% effective.

For parents experiencing vaccination hesitancy, Bartel recommends having a conversation with your family physician. Experts stress it’s important to eliminate potential barriers such as cost. Children can be vaccinated for free through private insurance or the Vaccines for Children Program, a federally funded, state administered program that provides free vaccines to eligible children ages 18 and younger. 

Some parents may not realize the potential seriousness of their young ones contracting measles. The World Health Organization reports that the measles vaccination prevented 56 million deaths between 2000 and 2021. An estimated 128,000 people died from measles in 2021 – mostly children under the age of 5.

“Open the conversation about vaccines and vaccine hesitancy and then also know that you can trust your provider. They know what's best for your children,” she says. “They can also point you to really good resources, trusted resources. If you like to read about things and make really educated decisions, we can empower our patients to do that.”

For more information on the measles, visit OSF HealthCare. 

Interview Clips 

Amy Schumer is known for her comedy, but it was no joke when she revealed recently that she had been diagnosed with Cushing syndrome.

“Cushing syndrome is a disorder where your body is making too much cortisol, which is a stress hormone," says Mary O'Meara, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare. "Cortisol is important for our body to function, and we need it, we can't go without it. However, there's certain times where your body is getting too much cortisol, and this can cause very serious health issues.”

O’Meara says that the main cause of Cushing syndrome is pituitary and adrenal. The pituitary makes the adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), which moves through the body, and tells the adrenal glands to make cortisol. For example, if there is a tumor on the pituitary gland that secretes too much ACTH it can cause Cushing syndrome. Another cause of Cushing syndrome is a result of treatment with steroids for other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

Cushing syndrome is rare and typically affects adults who are 20 to 50 years old. Two thirds of the people affected by Cushing syndrome are female. O’Meara adds that it not uncommon for women to develop menstrual issues during this time as well.

Symptoms of Cushing syndrome vary. They include weight gain, skin changes, muscle loss and weakness, bone loss, prediabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, blood clots, infection and brain fog.

“The symptoms of Cushing syndrome are weight gain, mainly central obesity, which is in the middle of the body and not so much in the arms and the legs," says O'Meara. "You tend to get what we call moon face, so your face becomes very rounded and puffy looking. You see some people that we have to give steroids to for certain illnesses, they also get that puffy face. So, they will get that if they're getting too much of the natural cortisol inside their body as well.”

O’Meara adds that treatment is always surgical to remove the excess cortisol that is being produced. The key, however, is treating the problem as soon as possible. If not, you can have lasting effects from high blood pressure and kidney issues or elevated blood sugar that Cushing syndrome can cause.

“Cushing is treatable. It is curable," says O'Meara. "You may have to go through specialized testing or sent to an endocrinologist, a specialist to really find out the root of the problem, where this extra excess hormone is coming from. If you're having these issues, and you think that you may fall into the categories where you have this problem, seek treatment, advocate for yourself, and find someone that can help you find a proper diagnosis.”

Schumer’s situation made news because fans noticed puffiness in her face during recent television interviews. O’Meara says if you notice the same thing with a friend or loved one, or yourself, act. The sooner, the better.  

Interview clips 

Health systems, including OSF HealthCare, want the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend for five more years the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program to allow payment for at-home, hospital level care such as what’s being offered through OSF OnCall, the digital arm of OSF. The additional time would allow health systems to continue to build out logistics, supply chains and staffing and gather enough data to convince lawmakers at-home hospital care is safe, cost-effective and patients love it.

Paesani, who has COPD and a heart condition, was recently discharged from the OSF OnCall Digital Hospital program which she called, “an impossible dream.” She received regular in-person visits from a team of nurses who answered questions, took vitals, dispensed medication and made sure she had enough portable oxygen. An OSF OnCall provider overseeing her care checked in with virtual visits twice daily while Paesani enjoyed being home with her dog and having three meals delivered daily to her home from the hospital.

The one-time marketing coordinator lives alone but enjoyed her family being able stop by so easily each day without having to navigate parking decks and long walks down endless hospital hallways.

Robert Thornton, 78, of Belvidere just outside of Rockford spent five days receiving hospital-level care in the home he shares with his wife, Nancy. He had COVID and pneumonia, in addition to his COPD. His trip to the hospital was scary but his trip back home for a five-day stay in the Digital Hospital program was far better than he expected.

After passing both clinical and social screenings at the hospital, Thornton authorized the OSF OnCall team to set up all the equipment he would need at home to communicate and receive treatment. That includes a personal emergency response system which rings to the OSF OnCall Command Center for a nurse to respond to, triage and send an ambulance if necessary. Think of it as the call light in a hospital, only with someone monitoring it remotely at all times.

Thornton was visited by a field team of a nurse and nursing assistant, in addition to the twice-a-day virtual visits via a tablet that he didn’t even have to turn on and off.

“They came in three to four times a day to ensure that I took my medicine, that I had blood tests done, that I conversed with the main office via phone, and to give me my IVs and to see that everything went smoothly ... that I was progressing towards the final goal of being better.”

Navigating the equipment was easy for Thornton and his wife who recommend the program to anyone who qualifies. He points out a month ago, he was winded climbing just a few steps to get into his house. Now, he can manage that without a problem. His advice, “Just go for it.”

Care is safe and convenient for patients

Research to date shows patients in digital hospital programs recover faster, experience fewer falls and hospital acquired infections. OSF OnCall Digital Care Manager Melissa Meier, MSN, RN says the model also increases capacity to provide acute-care without additional costs. As patients are brought home, it frees up beds within the medical center for the most critically ill patients.

Courtney Dahnert, MSN, RN, supervisor of Clinical Digital Care for OSF OnCall Digital Hospital in Rockford, says the care team at the OSF OnCall Command Center will identify patients aged 18 and older who could be enrolled. Criteria includes their diagnosis, condition stability, whether their insurer offers coverage, and they must live within 30 minutes of OSF Saint Anthony.

Dahnert loves the return to a more personalized approach that includes Bluetooth enabled devices for patient-specific data which offer valuable insights into how the patient is doing, allowing proactive interventions. Personalized care plans for digital hospital patients are developed around individual routines – even must-see TV shows.

“It takes us back to being able to provide that really good care; getting to know someone even though we're only caring for them for two or three days and making their health relevant to them. And it gives us time to breathe. So it's an amazing opportunity for both the patient and the provider.”

OSF was the first provider of hospital-at-home care in Illinois and has served more than 400 patients since the program was launched in 2022 in Peoria. CMS is currently gathering comments about hospital-at-home and will make recommendations to Congress this fall about whether to extend the waiver program, make it permanent or end it. 

Video clips with patient Robert Thornton and  Courtney Dahnert 

B-roll of first OSF OnCall Digital Hospital patient in Rockford area

Heart valve disease, which happens when one or more of your heart valves don’t work properly, is becoming an increasing problem among older adults.

According to the American College of Cardiology, every year about five million people in the country are diagnosed with valvular heart disease (VHD), with nearly 25,000 people dying from it.

February 22 is National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, a day during American Heart Month to raise awareness of the risks, symptoms and treatment options available for patients.

“Valvular heart disease is an important issue to recognize and treat, given the repercussions they may have for patients’ health," says Dr. Alejandro Aquino, a structural heart specialist with OSF Cardiovascular Institute. "We currently estimate more than 2% of patients have some degree of valvular heart disease, and it’s a growing problem and a problem that we understand is unrecognized and undertreated.”

Anyone can experience a heart valve issue and the risk increases as you get older. You may be at a greater risk if you’ve had a heart attack or heart failure, or have a risk for coronary heart disease.

“There are four valves in the heart," says Dr. Aquino. "The tricuspid valve, pulmonic valve, mitral valve, and aortic valve. And they function as one way doors keeping the blood going from chamber to chamber as it returns from the body, travels to the lungs to exchange for oxygen, and then returns to the heart and then ultimately is pumped to the body to deliver oxygen to all the tissues.”
 

HVD can develop quickly or over a long time. Symptoms may include:

·         Shortness of breath

·         Chest pain

·         Fatigue

·         Dizziness or fainting

·         Fever

·         Rapid weight gain

·         Irregular heartbeat

“Oftentimes, these changes are subtle, and the first people to notice are actually the patients' families," says Dr. Aquino.  "And when they come to visit they might be the person to say ‘hey, you know my dad or mom is not quite moving as well as they did six months ago, or last time I saw them. They were doing a lot more around the house or a lot more for fun or going out of the house for hobbies.’ So, again, it’s important to recognize that some of these symptoms can be quite subtle. Often a lot of my patients come and they say ‘well, I thought I was just getting older.’ When in reality it is their valve encroaching on their ability to do certain activities.”

HVD is treated either by medication or if it’s causing severe symptoms, surgery may be the better option. Dr. Aquino says recent advancements have given patients the option of replacing a valve by catheter instead of surgery. He adds that it’s best to be seen by a cardiologist to make those determinations.

"From my personal perspective, I think the earlier is better," says Dr. Aquino. "Most of my patients or a lot of patients that are referred to me have only mild or moderate forms of valvular heart disease. However, it's important for them to recognize exactly what's going on with their heart. And it's important for us to establish a surveillance plan so that when the time comes for there to be a fix, the patient is fully engaged and understands the process.”

The bottom line is to listen to your body. If you notice or experience any abnormal symptoms, contact your physician as soon as possible.

“The most important message is awareness," says Dr. Aquino. "Awareness of the prevalence of valvular heart disease, awareness of the important repercussions they may have to your health, of the importance of being tied into a cardiovascular specialist to perform initial evaluation and determine an appropriate surveillance or treatment plan. If you have any concerns, please contact your primary care provider.”

For more information on heart care, visit OSF HealthCare. 


 

Interview Clips 

Bronny James was gearing up last summer for his freshman year of basketball at the University of Southern California, when he received the scare of his life.

In July 2023, James, the son of NBA great LeBron James, suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed during a team workout. The younger James was hospitalized for three days and underwent a procedure to treat a congenital heart defect. James’ family and medical team praised the USC medical staff for their quick and effective response, which helped in preventing any brain or organ damage from a lack of oxygen.

James eventually returned to basketball activities. He saw his first action for USC in December and has played anywhere between 14 and 30 minutes a game without any issues.

February is American Heart Month – a time to bring to light conditions such as the one James experienced that may help other people going through similar circumstances.

Natasha Noel, MD, a pediatric cardiologist with OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute, says congenital heart defects, such as the one James had treated, are structural heart issues that typically develop during pregnancy and go undetected. She adds that 1% (40,000) of all babies are born with a heart defect every year in the U.S.

“We do see that if there is a family history of congenital heart disease, either parent or sibling, the next child could be more at risk for congenital heart defects,” Dr. Noel says. “And then other conditions, for example, smoking during pregnancy, maternal diabetes or use of other medications during pregnancy can lead to congenital heart defects.”

While James has recovered from his heart scare, there have been other athletes who weren’t so fortunate. In 1990, Hank Gathers, a college player for Loyola Marymount University, collapsed on the court and died from of sudden cardiac arrest. Three years later, the same happened to Reggie Lewis of the Boston Celtics, who died during a game when his heart went into cardiac arrest.

James isn’t even the first player to have experienced cardiac arrest at USC. Teammate Vince Iwuchukwu collapsed during a team practice in 2022 and survived.

“During periods of intense activity, the body has a physiological response,” Dr. Noel explains. “This can include dehydration, a surge of adrenaline, electrolyte imbalance, and this may not be well tolerated in athletes, who have some underlying electrical or structural abnormality.”

Treatment depends on the patient and the heart defect. According to the American Heart Association, many young adults who have a minor cardiac defect, and have had a good result after surgery, can participate in most activities. Some participants could have restrictions including those with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) or those who are taking anticoagulants to decrease blood clotting. Dr. Noel says to always check with your physician before taking on any physical activity or sports participation.

“The athlete should go through a pre-participation physical, this would include medical history, physical exam, and the American Heart Association says it’s important to look at personal and family history,” she says. “If there is something suspicious in any of these things, the pediatrician can refer to a pediatric cardiologist or they could start the work themselves, which would include ordering an EKG or echocardiogram for an example.” Genetic testing might be necessary, especially if there is a family history.

Dr. Noel says that thanks to advances, medical experts have a better understanding of congenital heart defects. Not every athlete needs to give up participation – even if they have experienced a previous issue. She also stresses the importance of learning CPR and working with schools and coaches to always have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available.

“I want to encourage kids to continue going out and having fun – sports is healthy and it's exercise,” she emphasizes. “It doesn't mean that it's the end of the world if you are diagnosed with something that needs to be treated from a cardiac standpoint.”

For more information about pediatric cardiology issues, visit OSF HealthCare. 

 

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

Country star Toby Keith had died after a 2 ½-year battle with stomach cancer. 

Keith shocked fans with the news that he had been diagnosed in the fall of 2021. The 62-year-old Keith revealed that he spent six months undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments and had to cancel all of his concert dates before going public with his diagnosis.

There are about 26,000 cases that occur in the United States a year including 11,000 deaths. Stomach cancer accounts for about 1.5% of all cancers.

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the growth of cancer cells in the lining and wall of the stomach. While breast, colon and prostate cancers tend to get more media attention, stomach cancer is nothing to ignore. 

The symptoms aren’t always easily identified. Feeling bloated after eating, heartburn, upper abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss are just some signs of a potential problem.

“Unfortunately, with stomach cancer, you don't see symptoms when it's early,” says Katie Nagel, an oncology nurse navigator for OSF HealthCare. “But as it starts to progress, you might see some symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, you feel full quicker than you usually do, fatigue. You might notice blood in your stool. It's important to know that most of the time those don't mean cancer, but it's important to let your doctor know if those persist.”

Risk factors for stomach cancer include:

• Age - most people are diagnosed with stomach cancer in their late 60s or older
• Sex – stomach cancer is more common in men than women
• Obesity – being overweight may increase the risk of stomach cancer
• Race – stomach cancer is more common in Hispanics, African Americans and Asians

“A lot of risk factors are ones that we can control,” says Nagel. “That includes smoking tobacco, heavy alcohol consumption, which is three or more drinks every day. And then a diet high in sodium and a diet high in processed meats. Obesity in general, puts you at higher risk.”

 If you experience any of these symptoms for more than a few weeks, Nagel stresses the importance of making an appointment with your primary care physician as soon as possible.

“Just pay attention to your body,” she says. “Don't talk yourself out of letting your doctor know if you've noticed a lingering symptom or even anything that might seem small, but that might be the very early start of something that's going to get bigger. Everything is more treatable  the earlier we catch it, so just listen to your body and talk to your doctor.”

While there isn’t screening for stomach cancer like there is for colon and breast cancer, Nagel says there are things you can do, including diet modification, exercise and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.

The good news is incidence rates of stomach cancer have dropped about 1.5% every year in the last decade in the U.S. 

Advances in the treatment of stomach cancer, which include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery, have made an impact as well.

And celebrities like Toby Keith sharing their story can only help when it comes to awareness of this disease.

“That is also drawing awareness to the issue, and I think makes people feel less alone," says Nagel. "I'm not the only person in the world that has this, other people are going through something similar and makes you feel a little bit better, a little less alone.”

For more information on stomach cancer, visit OSF HealthCare.

 

Interview Clips 

B-roll

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths. More than 74% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at late stages, leading to a survival rate of just 5%. But when caught early and treated, the survival rate spikes to 92%. That’s why early detection is so important.

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Ill., recently performed its first ever electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB), a minimally invasive procedure for patients. This allows doctors to find the smallest suspicious lung masses that require biopsy.

The technology used is called ILLUMISITE™ platform by Medtronic. 

Mirza Ali, MD, is a pulmonologist at OSF Saint Anthony, and one of two physicians trained to perform the ENB.

“The easiest way to describe this procedure is that it's essentially like a GPS system for the lungs. You can't really biopsy things that you can't see with the camera inside someone's lungs,” he says. “This system allows you to biopsy things that are way deeper inside the lung, than you would otherwise be able to do with other techniques from the inside, or even biopsy through the chest wall itself.”

According to Dr. Ali, the procedure is not new, but recent technological enhancements have been integrated into the traditional bronchoscopy. This technology gives a pulmonologist a roadmap to the lungs in real time, he adds, providing quality lung tissue samples. 

“In the past, we would use other technologies available to us, but there was really no way to guide where you wanted your biopsy tools to go without necessarily having a GPS system,” says Dr. Ali. “You would have your regular CAT scan and you would use that to get a sense of where you needed to go and looking with a different form of ultrasound. You would have to switch tools in the middle of the procedure to be able to do the biopsy itself which comes with its own consequences.”

Dr. Ali stresses that ENB is a benefit to both the patient and physician. “It's more effective in the sense that it may give you the diagnosis, but it really saves patients having to undergo more invasive biopsies where they would have to stick a needle through the outside of the chest inside the lung itself,” he says. 

ENB works like this. The patient is placed on a board that contains various sensors and is put to sleep under general anesthesia much like surgery. Several more sensors are placed on top of the patient, which allows for the software to create a three-dimensional map of the patient’s lungs, which in combination with a CAT scan allows for the development of the roadmap that guides the physician.

The procedure is performed in an operating room and typically takes 30 to 60 minutes.  There is also a pathologist in the room observing the biopsy samples in real time.

The real benefit to this procedure is that the sooner smaller nodules are biopsied, early-stage cancers are diagnosed sooner, which means a quicker path to treatment.

“It's a game changer in the sense that patients used to have to get more invasive biopsies,” says Dr. Ali. “Now they don't have to undergo more invasive procedures and risk of complications like lung collapse or bleeding into the chest. It's a safe way to do this procedure. And we get a good diagnosis and good tissue that oncologists need to make cancer treatment decisions for patients.”

 

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

From Gwyneth Paltrow to TikTokers, people are talking about a diet that includes intermittent fasting and a bone broth lunch. Some have been unhappy that influencers are promoting such a low-calorie diet.

So what is bone broth and is it really good for you?

“Bone broth is made by simmering bones from animals like from a rotisserie chicken or a bone in pork chop for several hours, up to 48 hours," says Emily Wozer, a dietetic intern with OSF HealthCare. "This is different from regular stocks and broths which are only simmered for about three to four hours. So it has bolder flavor, as well as more nutrients.”

In addition to chicken and pork, bone broth can be made from almost any animal including beef, veal, turkey, and fish. Bone broth is rich in minerals that build and strengthen bones. It also contains many other healthy nutrients, including vitamins, amino acids, and needed fatty acids.

Some people may find that bone broth improves their digestion, sleep, or helps with inflammation, however Wozer adds that it is important to note there is not enough research to support these claims or recommend bone broth to treat or improve health issues.

Experts are quick to point out, however, that bone broth is not a meal by itself. The recommended calorie intake for adult women ranges from 1,600 calories a day to 2,400 calories per day, according to the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For men, the recommendation is 2,200 to 3,200 calories each day.

“It's relatively low in calories, it has about 40 calories per cup and about nine grams of protein," says Wozer. "But this can vary a bit based on the recipe that you use, how long it simmered for, or even the brand that you buy, if you're purchasing it from the store.”

Instead, experts recommend incorporating bone broth into broth-based recipes such as vegetable stew, bean chili and minestrone soup.

“This is an ingredient that can be used as a base for soups or stews, but it's definitely not enough for a full meal," says Wozer. "We’d want to add some starch or grains, some vegetables and maybe even more protein and a source of healthy fats.”

Bone broth also doesn’t benefit someone who’s intermittent fasting, which has its own possible negative effects including fatigue, nausea, headaches and severe hunger. Wozer says if someone is experiencing serious hunger, the greater the risk to eat a lot more later on.

The bottom line, Wozer says, is that bone broth is beneficial, but its best consumed as an addition – and not a standalone – to your diet as a way to provide a range of health benefits.

“We definitely want to see more variety, more color, adding in those veggies, fruits, whole grains – things have more substance than a little bit of liquid.”

For more information on nutrition, visit OSF HealthCare. 


 

Interview Clips 

Cancer can impact anyone, and the numbers show cases skewing younger.

Recently, the American Cancer Society reported that for the first time colon and rectal cancers have become leading causes of cancer deaths in younger adults. 

Overall, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among men and women of all ages. Prostate cancer is second for men, and breast cancer is second for women. Colorectal cancer is third for both men and women. 

Another study suggests that certain cancers are being diagnosed more often in younger adults in the U.S., and the spike is due, in part, to adults and especially women in their 30s.

The study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, looked at 17 National Cancer Institute registries with more than 500,000 cases of early-onset cancer, or cancers diagnosed in patients under age 50, between 2010 and 2019. The study showed early-onset cancers increased during that time by an average of just over a quarter of a percent (.28).  

In 2019, breast cancer had the highest number of incidences of early-onset cases. Gastrointestinal cancers and cancers of the urinary system and the female reproductive system are right up there as well.  

Peggy Rogers is a nurse practitioner in genetics and medical oncology for OSF HealthCare. She sees similar trends among her patients.

“For women, they are the caregivers in the family, and they tend to worry about everyone else besides themselves, and maybe put off seeking care sooner," says Rogers. "But women also encourage their husbands to seek and visit with their provider. So that’s a positive. But in general, I would say we have to keep talking.”

 Among gastrointestinal cancers, the most common early-onset cancers were found in the colon, rectum, stomach and pancreas. The fastest-growing incidence rates were found in the appendix, bile duct and pancreas.

“I think the nuance that we found is it's more common to find gastric cancers, which I don't think people realize, and I don't think people are aware of, the signs for gastric cancer can be as simple as abdominal pain and nausea or feeling full quickly, and they may need medical attention sooner," says Rogers. 

Some of the reasons for increased cancer rates in adults under age 50 include:

·         Drinking alcohol in excess

·         Smoking tobacco

·         Eating a Western diet (prepackaged foods, fried foods, processed meats, high-sugar drinks)

·         Being obese or overweight

·         Being exposed to environmental toxins

“We are concerned that obesity is an epidemic, and it's not just overconsumption of food and inactivity," says Rogers. "It’s the types of foods that people are eating, which is processed, it's quick, it's easy, but it's not the most beneficial.”

To lower your overall cancer risk, Rogers recommends maintaining a healthy weight, increasing your exercise, trying to eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day, limiting processed foods, not smoking and drinking in moderation.

Colonoscopy screening is usually recommended starting at age 45. People with family history may have to start earlier.  And pay attention to potential symptoms such as blood in the stool, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits and unexplained weight loss. 

Rogers also recommends having conversations with your physician about your health. And for younger people who don’t have a provider, it’s important to find one. 

“I think working towards having a visit at least once a year to establish with a provider – establish goals for their health care – is very important and sometimes family history is contributory and why people get cancers," she says. "So those are discussions that you can have with your primary care provider. Maybe they need a referral or their family member that's been affected with cancer should consider a genetic risk assessment to further look at what may be contributing to some of the cancers in the family, even at early onset.”

For more information about cancer, visit OSF HealthCare. 
 

Interview Clips 

B-roll

The success of the OSF OnCall Digital Hospital in Peoria has paved the way for expansion to Rockford, Illinois.

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center is preparing to launch OSF OnCall Digital Hospital – an option to receive hospital-level care at home for some patients such as those with heart failure, COPD, COVID, infections, pneumonia, or other illnesses. Patients who qualify have been admitted through the emergency department or referred for admission directly by their provider.

Courtney Dahnert, MSN, RN, supervisor of Clinical Digital Care for OSF OnCall Digital Hospital in Rockford, says the care team at the OSF OnCall Command Center in Peoria will identify patients aged 18 and older who could be enrolled. Criteria to be enrolled includes their diagnosis, condition stability, they live within 30 minutes of OSF Saint Anthony, and have an insurer that covers hospital care at home. Medicare is among the payers willing to support home-based acute care.

OSF OnCall Digital Care Manager Melissa Meier, MSN, RN, says patients are also screened to make sure their home environment is safe and that they have the ability to be cared for at home. Once enrolled, a tech kit, providing 24/7 instant connection, is set up in the home before a patient arrives.

“A tablet, which is how we do our video visits, as well as Bluetooth enabled biometric equipment for us to be able to do vital signs remotely. We also bring a backup power source as well as a backup internet source and a device which is a personal emergency response system, which functions much like a Life Alert button.”

For potential candidates worried they’re not tech savvy, Pam Anderson, a patient from Morton enrolled in the program through OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria says everything is so easy to use.

“The phone … you don't dial it. You just pick it up and it rings directly to the (digital health) center. And once you do that, then somebody will appear on the iPad. So, if you do need something, you're actually speaking to someone (you can see). You're not just talking on the phone. And they're extremely prompt in answering. So there really isn't, in my opinion, a lot of technology involved. Thank heavens,” Anderson gladly reports.

There is a minimum of two visits from a nurse each day. Patients receive three meals a day and individuals can live alone or with family members. Costs are the same as for a hospital stay.

Meier says OSF OnCall Digital Hospital helps both the health system and the patient.

Research also shows patients in digital hospital programs recover faster, fewer are re-admitted to the hospital and they avoid hospital-acquired infections.

OSF is currently recruiting and training nurses for the digital hospital program in Rockford with special curriculum developed by OSF Innovation. It includes simulation for real-life scenarios, so nurses are prepared for any challenges. Dahnert says most nurses enjoy this new way of caring for patients that harkens back to the days of house calls.

“It takes us back to being able to provide that really good care; getting to know someone even though we're only caring for them for two or three days and making their health relevant to them. And it gives us time to breathe. So it's an amazing opportunity for both the patient and the provider.”

For patients concerned about their care and safety at home, the first-ever digital hospital patient for OSF, Jim Stickelmaier, says being at home was the best medicine.

“I would say definitely try it. I think they’ll find out that it was a lot easier and a lot nicer to be at home than in the hospital.” 

OSF OnCall has cared for nearly 370 patients in the Peoria area since launching its digital hospital program in August of 2022. The first digital hospital patient at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center could be admitted after the program launches for Rockford area patients on February 27.

Melissa Meier and Courtney Dahnert

OSF OnCall Digital Hospital Peoria-area patients Pam Anderson and Jim Stickelmaier

B-roll OSF OnCall Digital Hospital

When Linda Norcross started experiencing back pain last August, she never imagined it could be a serious problem.

That is, until she paid a visit to an urgent care where she had an X-ray that revealed some startling news.

“I would say perhaps an hour later, I received a phone call, saying that I needed to go to the nearest emergency room because they detected or what they thought they saw was an aneurysm in my abdominal area," says Norcross, who lives in Loves Park, Illinois. "So I went to the emergency room and, yes, indeed I did.”

The 59-year-old Norcross was in shock.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a condition that happens when part of the aorta becomes enlarged. Typically, the abdominal aorta resembles a pipe, but when an aneurysm occurs it looks more like a balloon, and that’s when it can rupture, which can turn deadly if not treated immediately, according to Samantha Cox, DO, a vascular surgeon with OSF HealthCare. 

“When we see a patient that has what we call an abdominal aortic aneurysm, it would be an enlargement of that vessel to a certain size, where we would be concerned about the anatomy and how it may affect that person," says Dr. Cox. 

Common risk factors of an abdominal aortic aneurysm include being age 50 and older, being male and a family history of aneurysms. However, the greatest risk of all is smoking, which causes 75% of all cases.

While Norcross was experiencing back pain, that’s not always a telltale sign of a problem. But she had smoked for 47 years.

“Unfortunately, a lot of times there are no symptoms, which is one of the problems with abdominal aortic aneurysms," says Dr. Cox. "Most patients have no symptoms at all until they're in trouble. And when those patients get into trouble, it can be catastrophic. So, we really advocate for screening programs because there are truly no symptoms in large part.”

According to Dr. Cox, women haven't been historically screened or monitored as closely as men and that’s another problem. For example, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines only recommend screening for men over 65 who have ever smoked. But women do get aneurysms, as well. The Society of Vascular Surgery guidelines include women in its screening programs, because women often have worse outcomes. They often rupture at a smaller size, and they often have a higher risk of dying associated with their aneurysm, adds Dr. Cox.

Norcross went to OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. She was referred to Dr. Cox, who, as a vascular surgeon, is well versed in treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Norcross’s aneurysm measured six centimeters in size, or about two inches in diameter, which surpassed the threshold of five centimeters – the size when it is recommend to be repaired in women.

Dr. Cox performed a minimally invasive procedure using an endograft through Norcross’s groin without making an abdominal incision. The endovascular stent graft is placed inside of the abdominal aorta to help protect the aneurysm from rupturing. 

The surgery was a success and Norcross was able to leave the hospital the next day.

These days, Norcross is feeling good and grateful for the care she received. She’s feeling less fatigued, is treating her high blood pressure, and made some lifestyle changes including walking more and drinking less caffeine. The biggest change: she finally gave up smoking. She still has follow-up appointments with Dr. Cox.

Norcross says she’s feeling especially grateful this Christmas season that her aneurysm was caught in time.

“It can be fixed when you know about it, but once it gets past that point, which mine was well on its way," says Norcross. "So, if I had not hurt my back. Most times it's found accidentally, by looking for something else or at something else. So that's how mine was discovered, accidentally.”

Dr. Cox says the bottom line when it comes to treating abdominal aortic aneurysms is making a diagnosis before it’s too late. And that’s where screening comes in. She encourages men and women, 65 and older with a smoking history, to get screened. It can be done in an office setting and takes less than one hour to complete.

“We see here a great outcome that maybe if years had passed and the aneurysm had progressed, our outcome would have been a different story," she says. "I'm glad we're here to tell this one today. It was a very good story. And a patient who's become a champion for recognizing aneurysms, and I'm very proud of her for that.”

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare.

Linda Norcross Interview Clips

Dr. Samantha Cox Interview Clips 

B-Roll 

The COVID-19 pandemic taught the healthcare industry many things when it comes to delivery of care. One of the biggest lessons was the need for telehealth medicine.

“We know that telehealth became a necessity during COVID, but even after COVID it was a way that we could increase our access, to give people care and to try to keep them healthier at home,” says Dawn Mosher, assistant professor, OSF Saint Anthony College of Nursing. “And we really need to make sure that our healthcare professionals are being educated on how to provide care that way.”

Telehealth connects patients to health care services through videoconferencing, remote monitoring, and electronic consultations. And it’s becoming more popular for patients and providers. According to the American Hospital Association, 76% of U.S. hospitals connect patients and medical providers using video and other technology.

The Saint Anthony College of Nursing has added a telehealth simulation laboratory to its curriculum that will help educate nursing students for the future.

In 2020, the College of Nursing created two scenarios that were first used by graduate students. Scenarios were then written for the undergrad nursing students to provide them with telehealth experiences. The telehealth lab was built thanks to a grant from Community Health Advocacy (CHA), a partnership between the Jump Simulation & Education Center at OSF HealthCare and the University of Illinois Chicago.

Mosher says telehealth is going to become the norm for providers – some patients will be seen in person and others will be seen over telehealth. And the simulation lab will prepare today’s students as they enter the workforce.

“Their confidence will be better when they do these things out in the healthcare field and their knowledge will be better,” says Mosher. “And hopefully they'll see that their patients are more satisfied because they’ll feel like they're heard and cared for.”

The simulation-based training allows students to get firsthand experience with possible healthcare scenarios, with actors playing their patients. The actors are trained in how to respond to the follow-up questions from the students.

The scenarios vary. For example, some students complete a mental health follow up appointment for a patient who was hospitalized for depression and later discharged. Other students follow up with a patient admitted for with a seizure or stroke. Professors oversee the sessions and provide feedback.

For students like Lauryn Eitenmiller, the simulation provided an opportunity to interact with a patient, something, she says, will help her confidence when she becomes a full-time nurse.

“It was interesting because you got to see what kinds of questions they asked, what was of a concern, what they needed from you and what you needed from them,” she says. “It was the fostering of that communication with them that was really eye opening.”

Eitenmiller knows that nurses are faced with many daunting tasks, whether it’s COVID or some other challenge. She says she’s ready, thanks to her educational experience.

“It just prepared me for taking over, accepting an assignment and really just caring for your patients as best as you can in those sorts of conditions,” she says.

Students can expect more educational offerings using the telehealth simulation lab. Students at the Saint Anthony College of Nursing will team up with medical and pharmacy students from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford in future sessions.

For more information, visit the Saint Anthony College of Nursing.
 

Dawn Mosher Interview Clips 

Lauryn Eitenmiller Interview Clips 

B-roll

Eating is a huge part of any holiday celebration or get-together. But if you’re not careful with preparation and treatment of your special feast, your party could go from festive to misery before you even get the decorations packed away and the tree taken down.

Food poisoning cases tend to increase in  November and December, because many traditional holiday foods include raw ingredients such as egg, meat or unpasteurized milk. That’s why health experts like Nicole O’Neill, a clinical dietitian for OSF HealthCare, stress the importance of playing it extra safe this time of the year.

“Make sure you’re always washing your hands before you prepare," says O'Neill. "If you can get all of your guests to wash their hands before they join the buffet line that is an excellent way to keep everyone safe. Make sure your hot foods stay hot and your cold foods stay cold. There are lots of products out there that can help you do that. Make sure you have a great thermometer. One that you use through the entire process, and make sure you clean your thermometer between different foods so you don’t accidentally cross-contaminate.”

Another important reminder is to keep all food separated. Remember to keep meat, chicken, seafood and eggs separate from other foods in your shopping cart and in the refrigerator. Store these items in containers or plastic bags to ensure their juices won’t leak or drip onto other foods.

“You don’t want to ever mix things," says O'Neill. "In your refrigerator all your meat should be on the bottom and away from everything else. Your fruits and vegetables should be separate too. You don’t ever want to mix raw and ready to eat things together because that’s an easy cross-contamination. It’s easy for bacteria to move back and forth.”

Cook food thoroughly until it’s done. A food thermometer is a helpful instrument that helps determine that the meat, chicken or seafood is properly cooked to a safe internal temperature.

O’Neill says bacteria can grow quickly in the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F. Perishable foods should be refrigerated within two hours of preparation or serving.

“Make sure you cook your food properly to the right temperature; there are a lot of charts out there, or you can buy magnets to put on your fridge," says O'Neill. "Certain meats should be cooked to a certain temperature, which means you have to have a thermometer. There are many versions. Some you can leave in the meat or in the oven. As you cook – you pull the thermometer out and you’re good to go.”

And who doesn’t love a nibble of raw cookie dough or batter? If you do, O’Neill says to walk away. Dough for cookies, cakes, pies and other treats is made with eggs or flour that can contain E. coli and Salmonella. If you simply can’t resist, shop for edible cookie dough that uses pasteurized eggs or no eggs. Pay attention to labels.

The bottom line, O’Neill says, is to take the extra steps to ensure your meal or appetizers doesn’t leave your guests feeling blue this holiday season. After all, no one wants a gift that keeps on giving.

“Everyone needs to be super safe especially if you are going to have other people in your home. You have to, that’s all there is to it.”

For more information on food safety, visit OSF HealthCare.

Video Interview Clips 

B-Roll 

During those times of the year when we’re feeling down and out, we hope a prescription from the doctor might do the trick to get us back on our feet.  

But that’s not always the case, especially when it comes to antibiotic resistance, says Michelle Brady, dean of Graduate Affairs and Research for Saint Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford, one of two colleges of nursing owned and supported by OSF HealthCare.

 “Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria no longer respond to the medications or antibiotics that we give you to treat an infection,” says Brady. “It's a change in the bacteria, not a change in us." According to Brady, there are 1.27 million death attributed to antibiotic resistance around the world.

The problems with antibiotic resistance include risk of longer illness or death, severe medication side effects, additional medical appointments and extended hospital stays.

One of the biggest issues is overuse of antibiotics. For example, you wouldn’t take antibiotics for a sore throat, which is a viral and not a bacterial illness.

Another problem is the misuse of antibiotics. If you forget to take one or more doses of your antibiotic or stop using the medicine too soon, bacteria can start to multiply, and mutated bacteria can quickly become resistant to medicine.

Antibiotic-resistant infections can affect anyone. There are, however, certain groups who face a higher risk of developing a problem including babies, people older than age 65, people with compromised immune systems and people who regularly use antibiotics.

Alissa Bartel is a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare. She says when people don’t feel well, obviously they want something to help them. She adds it’s important for providers to be well-educated and prepared to talk to patients about why antibiotics aren’t always good for them, why they don’t always treat the problem and possible alternatives.

“You really have to talk to patients at a level they can understand instead of using a bunch of jargon that can leave them frustrated,” says Bartel. “I make sure they know exactly what they're getting, what I recommend, what our follow-up plan would be and answer any questions they have.”

Health care organizations work with their providers to follow clinical guidelines related to infections. In addition, there are resources available to providers, so they know what common organisms are in the community and how those organisms respond to medications.

“In the last three to five years we have put more emphasis on health and wellness than we used to – good exercise, good sleep, good nutrition – all help you maintain a healthier, robust immune system,” Brady says. “I think we've done a really good job of making sure that each provider understands they have ownership in this and that starts with prescribing appropriately.

“But also taking the time to educate your patients as to why they think they need that antibiotic. Give them alternatives as to what they can do to feel better. It's more than just giving them a prescription. It's listening to them and listening to what their concerns are and helping them find a solution that may not be a prescription antibiotic.”

As winter approaches, physician offices are seeing more people experiencing respiratory infections, colds, flu, RSV and COVID symptoms. Unfortunately, antibiotics will not help treat those viral infections.

That’s why Bartel encourages patients to remember good hand hygiene, keep your hands away from your face and mouth and practice self-care to reduce your level of stress. It’s also important to stay up to date on vaccines for flu, COVID and RSV if you qualify.

“If your body is stressed and your chronic conditions are not well cared for, you are at greater risk of developing any of these infections, which can turn serious very quickly,” she says. “So stay up to date on your visits with your primary care provider, ask them questions and try to stay as healthy as possible to prevent illness without using antibiotics.”

To learn more about ways to prevent antibiotic resistance, visit OSF HealthCare.

Michelle Brady Interview Clips 

Alissa Bartel Interview Clips 

Remember your high school or college days when you came down with a nasty sore throat, hoping it wasn’t a bad case of mononucleosis, commonly known as mono?

These days, mono has taken a back seat to other illnesses such as COVID, flu and RSV. But the “kissing disease” virus is still around, albeit a less common and much more treatable illness.

“Mono is a viral illness that people between 15 and 24 typically get that is spread by another person’s infected saliva," says Breanne Gendron, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare. "It causes a sore throat, headache, fatigue, swollen glands in your neck, and it makes people feel generally unwell.”

Most people are exposed to mono as children which provides some immunity to the viral illness as they age. Gendron says mono is comparable to strep throat.

“When you come in to see your provider, they may swab you for strep to rule it out because strep is caused by a bacteria and requires an antibiotic," Gendron says. "Mono is caused by a virus and just needs time and over the counter medication to be comfortable. So we want to figure out the difference. Sometimes it's obvious depending on how swollen the lymph nodes are in the neck, but we rule that out in your visit.”

Gendron says mono is not as common as strep or influenza because it has a longer incubation period. Still she sees a number of cases in her practice. And because it takes about three weeks to develop symptoms from exposure, it’s not as quick to infect as many people.

“The nickname for mono was the kissing disease because it's caused by saliva so you can get it from kissing, sharing a cup, or if your toothbrushes are touching in the cupholder," Gendron says. "Anything that involves saliva sharing would cause mono to spread. The long name for mono is mononucleosis and it's caused by the Epstein Barr Virus. It can be caused by other viruses too, but more commonly, the Epstein Barr Virus is the offending organism.”

The typical symptoms for mono include:

·         Extreme fatigue

·         Fever

·         Sore throat

·         Head and body aches

·         Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

·         Swollen liver or spleen or both

·         Rash

Gendron says the best ways to relieve symptoms is drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, getting plenty of rest and taking over-the-counter medications for pain and fever. There is no vaccine for mono.

She adds that because the spleen may become enlarged due to mono, people should avoid contact sports until fully recovered. The reason being is participating in any sporting event can be strenuous and may cause the spleen to rupture.

Most people recover from mono in two to four weeks, but some will still feel tired for several more weeks.

“The best way to avoid mono is to avoid sharing water bottles and cups," Gendron adds. "Avoid ill people and wash your hands regularly.”

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

Liam Payne is  best known for his part in the boy band, One Direction. Now a solo artist, Payne made news recently for having to postpone his tour due to a serious kidney infection that landed the pop singer in the hospital.

A kidney infection occurs when bacteria get into your kidneys. It can affect one or both kidneys. Doctors say a kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI).

“A UTI is essentially when bacteria make it to the urinary system,” says Maritza Estrada-O'Brien, MD, a primary care physician with OSF HealthCare. “Normally it starts from the outside world. It gets into the urethra and gets into the bladder. When it gets into the bladder, that's when we categorize it as a urinary tract infection or UTI. The problem is the longer it sits there, the more likely it is to travel to other parts of the system. It travels up the tubes and can land in the kidneys – one, both, but once it gets to that point, it causes problems.”

The symptoms range in severity from vomiting to cloudy urine.

“When patients come to see me the biggest things that I look for are fever, chills, burning with urination or going to the bathroom more often, pressure down in the pelvis or even a dull ache in the back because that's where the kidneys lie,” says Dr. Estrada-O’Brien. “But the biggest giveaways are the fever and chills, because that means this infection is more serious.”

Anyone can get a kidney infection, but those who are at the greatest risk are:

·         People with kidney issues

·         People with diabetes

·         People undergoing cancer treatment

·         Women, because women have shorter urethras, which makes it easier for the bacteria to get into the urinary tract. 

·         People who are immunocompromised

Dr. Estrada-O’Brien recommends drinking plenty of fluids to combat some of the symptoms. But if you’re not feeling better after a few days, it’s time to call your doctor.

“If it's a simple UTI where it's concentrated to the bladder and you don't have any major symptoms, its antibiotics in the office,” she says. “But once it does get to this kidney infection level, or pyelonephritis, it normally requires hospitalization, IV antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive measures just to make sure that it gets truly treated in the kidneys themselves.”

The best way to prevent kidney infection is to drink plenty of water, urinate as soon as you feel the urge, and if you are a woman wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom to help prevent bacteria from reaching the urethra. If you’re a person who develops frequent UTIs, follow up with your physician sooner than later.

“The takeaway is all about early diagnosis,” says Dr. Estrada-O’Brien. “If you notice that something is off, see your primary care doctor. It's easy enough to get a urine analysis and treat it early on before it has the chance to progress to a kidney infection. Stay well hydrated. It's very important to keep on top of those underlying medical conditions like diabetes or other issues that could make you a higher risk for kidney infections.”

 

Interview Clips 

If you’re thinking about using sugar substitutes to help with weight loss, think again. That’s the word from the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to new guidelines, replacing free sugars with non-sugar sweeteners (NNS) doesn’t help people control their weight long-term. The WHO first issued guidelines on sugar intake in 2015, recommending that adults and children reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10% of their total energy intake.

The latest review added that there might be "potential undesirable effects" from the long-term use of sugar substitutes such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. There were 283 studies included in the review.

Jason Crum, a dietitian with OSF HealthCare, agrees and adds there could be other potential risks.

“When you look at sugar substitutes, it's more why am I using the sugar substitutes? If I'm quickly replacing calories because I don't want calories from a can of Coca Cola or Pepsi, a sugar substitute would be something quicker to use,” he says. “However, most people are doing it for a long time, which is creating other problems.”

Those problems start with the gut. 

“We create dysbiosis – that altered gut bacteria,” Crum says. “They use the energy differently, and they make other products out of it, which we in turn absorb. And that messes with our receptors, our ability to understand what's going on in our gut. It triggers more cravings for those sugary foods anyway, it even helps us eat more, which can be an adverse thing for most people.”

Instead, experts say that other ways to reduce free sugars intake include consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages. Crum says it comes down to making a lifestyle change.

“For most of my clients we don’t want to expect weight loss by just simply avoiding the sugars and using sugar alcohols or sugar substitutes of a different type,” says Crum. “It's looking at why they are consuming the sugary form in the first place? They could have an imbalanced dietary intake, it could be eating foods at the wrong times, it could be emotionally eating. If you're going to have a sugar substitute, you're not quelling that emotional response anymore. So it makes those cravings worse later in the day, and you might end up eating more total calories then if you had something that had the sugar in it.”

Crum recommends people pay close attention to food labels when making decisions about sugar substitutes.

“What are the nutrition facts label telling me? Do I understand what a total carb is? Do I understand what the sugar is under there? Every four grams of added sugar is equivalent to one teaspoon, so if you have 12 grams of added sugar you have three teaspoons of sugar right there,” he says. “So, understanding that gives people an idea of where am I really at here.”

Crum says the bottom-line is don’t rely on sugar substitutes. If you do, you’ll end up craving more and eating more. Instead, evaluate why you’re selecting the foods you eat in the first place. It will make things easier in the long run rather than cutting out certain foods all at once. Going cold turkey, he adds, seldom works for most people.

Interview Clips 

Greasy pizza, cookies, sugary drinks – you name it – junk food has a grip on many Americans including people between 50 and 80 years old.

About 13% of adults in that age group are addicted to highly processed foods (1 in every 8), according to a study by the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging. 

“It doesn't surprise me: these are the ages where people are looking to retire," says Jason Crum, a dietitian with OSF HealthCare.  "And they're looking at what they're going to eat. How quickly will it take to eat these things, cooking, and processing. People don't want to do that anymore. They're tired, they're fatigued, so they look for quick, easy things.”

More than 2,100 adults between 50-80 were polled so researchers could learn more about the unhealthy relationship with processed foods including sweets, snacks, and fast food. The most common symptoms were intense cravings, the inability to cut down on intake and signs of withdrawal that caused headaches and trouble concentrating.  

“These processed foods not only have sodium, but they also have sugar of various types," says Crum. "And those paired together instigate a hormonal response that most of us don't know how to really read and respond to. So we fill ourselves with the calories instead of the actual food or the nutrients that would make our hormones work better, so it makes the addiction stronger.”

The study found that women had a greater addiction to these foods than men, especially those in their 50s and early 60s. Older adults who were overweight or suffering from mental health issues or isolation also had a greater risk of addiction to processed foods.

“We have a disconnection between how our gut really feels and how we interpret that hormonally, but also our lifestyle, how active, how busy we are," says Crum. "We see our nurses, for example, running around for 12-14 hours a day. They don't have time to eat, but it's easy in four minutes to eat a piece of pizza and a burger and fries. And that's the disconnect between our gut and our lifestyle and how we interpret that.”

According to the study, one reason that processed foods can be addictive is how they can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain’s reward system just like the effects of nicotine and alcohol.

“For most people we emotionally eat, it’s something to distract us," adds Crum. "And we tend to go for the things that will give us that reward center in our brain, sugar rewards that center, and we look for that as a temporary fix to things.”

Instead, Crum suggests people eat more “real” foods and stay away from processed ones. Real food is unprocessed, free of chemicals and full of nutrients such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, dairy, eggs and meat, fish and poultry. Real foods are low in sugar, heart healthy, high in healthy fats, and good for your gut, among other reasons.

“The first thing to do is to ask yourself if you’re hungry," he says. "And what am I looking to eat? Do I even know what it's made of? The more real the food is, the better that's going to work for us than these processed foods. There's far less added sugar, there's far less added sodium to it. So it makes it easier for our body to use the nutrients and reduce any cravings and addictions.”

For more on nutrition and general wellness, visit OSF HealthCare. 


 

Interview Clips 

During his 14-year career in the NFL, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders was known for his silky moves on the football field. But now the 55-year-old college football coach has been slowed, due in large part to blood clots he’s suffered over the years.

Sanders was back in the news recently due to surgery he had on blood clots in both legs. It’s not his first go-around with this serious health issue. In 2021 he had two toes amputated due to clots.

Blood clots can happen to anyone. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot located in a deep vein, usually in a leg or arm. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that has traveled from a deep vein to a lung. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 900,000 people suffer from a blood clot each year and 100,000 people die. About 30% of people who have had a DVT or PE are prone to a recurrence.

“It is a serious problem. It's something that you're going to want to seek medical care for," says Dr. Samantha Cox, a vascular surgeon with OSF HealthCare. "The venous blood clots can be fatal, and you may develop a blood clot in your lower extremity, say after a prolonged period where you're sedentary, maybe after prolonged travel, maybe you have a hypercoagulable state or a disease state that puts you for higher risk of developing a blood clot. If that were to travel to your lungs, that's approximately 10% chance of mortality. So, it could be fatal at the time that it's identified.”

Risk factors for blood clots vary. They include being older, overweight, a family history, illnesses such as cancer or heart disease, being sedentary due to surgery, confined to a bed or paralysis.

About half of people with DVT exhibit no symptoms. For those who do, warning signs include swelling, pain, tenderness or redness of the skin. The same goes for PE. But if you’re experiencing trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, chest pain, coughing blood or light headedness, seek help immediately.

“Blood clots are common, especially in an aging population or if you have certain risk factors," says Dr. Cox. "Many patients have no idea that they have an underlying blood clotting disorder. Other people have what we call an acquired thrombotic state or pro thrombotic state; maybe they're a smoker, maybe they're obese or have diabetes, all those things will put them at a slightly increased risk for blood clotting. Also, use of any medications for example, hormonal medications, are known medications that may cause increased risk of blood clotting.”

Blood clots can be treated. Many patients are placed on blood thinners long term to prevent future clots. Compression stockings are often recommended to prevent DVT and relieve pain and swelling. In the most serious cases, clots are removed surgically, such as the case with Sanders. 

And while he avoided amputation this time, Sanders still has a long road to travel.

“He will likely require other interventions in the future when someone is coming to the position of having tissue loss or digit loss losing part of their feet or toes that's an organ failure," says Dr. Cox.  "Just like we talk about people who have blindness or people who have kidney failure that can't reverse, and they go on to hemodialysis. When you're losing your digits or losing the soft tissue on your feet, or your lower extremities, that's an end organ problem, which is then becoming a chronic problem. So, this will be something that he has to manage for the rest of his life.”

To prevent blood clots, Dr. Cox has several recommendations, starting with visiting your physician regularly.

“When you start to see a problem develop, when you see a wound or sore discoloration to your feet or your legs, have that checked out by your provider," she says. "Make sure your physicians are aware of that problem. This is not one of those times when you should put your head in the sand and hide. You really want to come to your physicians with that clinical problem and let them work with you to develop an appropriate solution.”

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

It’s no secret that walking has many benefits to a variety of people. Study after study has shown that people who participate in a walking program find substantial improvements in blood pressure, slowing of resting heart rate, decrease of body fat and body weight, lower cholesterol, better quality of life and greater endurance, among other benefits.

“Walking affects you physically in a positive way, but it also affects you mentally in a positive way," says Matt Davidson, a physical therapist with OSF HealthCare. "You’re getting the cardiovascular component, you’re burning calories, and it’s also good for the legs and endurance. It helps with things we do on a daily basis – grocery shopping, walking around the neighborhood, yardwork – so it’s a very important aspect of everyday life.”

While walking may not be a better cardio workout than running, it may be the best choice for many people. Walking helps with increased flexibility, increased muscular strength and reduces the risk of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. And you don’t have to be a world-class athlete to reap the benefits of incorporating a walking program into your daily routine.

“A walking program is a very good choice for people with different activity levels, but particularly those who are starting an exercise program," says Davidson. "You’re getting components of cardiovascular exercise, but you’re also getting those muscles to work through your legs; it doesn’t have to be long periods of time and it doesn’t have to be fast paced but just the activity level of going up from where you are now is a foundation to build on later or maybe with other exercise.”

The best part about walking is it can be done anywhere. Now is the perfect time to find a favorite nearby path, a city park or a walking trail. When the weather starts to turn, head inside to a shopping mall or invest in a treadmill with adjustable inclines, walking styles and speed, all of which will help with caloric burn and target a specific muscle group.

“I think walking is more convenient," says Davidson. "You don’t have to go to a gym to walk. You can walk around the neighborhood when the weather cooperates. You have treadmills sometimes at home that you can use. I’ve even had patients who walk laps repetitively around their basement. They listen to music and turn it into a fun activity that they enjoy and it doesn’t take driving across town to do it.”

Davidson offers other tips for beginning walkers. Find a walking buddy who will help with accountability. Purchase a good pair of comfortable, properly fitting shoes, the best financial investment you’ll have to make for your walking program. Remember to start any walk with a quick stretching routine or jog in place, and stretch after your walk to reduce soreness. Start your program slowly to avoid burnout, and keep track of your progress with a walking app or a journal. 

“I would recommend you start at what you feel is a three, four, five when it comes to intensity on a zero to 10 scale," says Davidson. "Work your way up and add maybe a quarter mile every time you walk, depending on your age and fitness level.”

Most importantly, Davidson adds that you should always check with a physician before starting any exercise program, especially if it’s something new for you.

Interview Clips 

B-Roll 

Mark Pohl never gets sick. That’s why when he suffered a massive heart attack last year he went into a funk.

“I was depressed and kept thinking, ‘Why me?’ It was an emotional roller coaster.”

But Pohl survived that turbulent time, and thanks to excellent care from his medical team at OSF HealthCare and life-saving technology, he’s getting a second chance at life.

Pohl, who lives in Mendota, Ill., was honored April 25 during a special luncheon hosted by OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center and Abiomed, Inc., at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.

A Navy veteran, Pohl was marching in a parade for the VFW in August of 2022, when he began to feel ill and went home. Later, he became unresponsive and his wife, Melody, called 911. Paramedics arrived and performed CPR before rushing Pohl to OSF Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota. He was then transferred to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.

“I really don’t remember much,” Pohl says. “Four days later, I woke up at OSF.”  

Pohl’s medical team determined his left anterior descending artery (nicknamed the widowmaker) was 100% blocked. A stent was placed but Pohl needed additional CPR. Once he was stabilized, Dr. Samer Mowakeaa, a cardiologist with OSF Cardiovascular Institute, implanted an Impella CP to allow Pohl’s heart to rest.

“He would not have survived without the support of these technologies that we used,” says Dr. Mowakeaa. “This was a life-threatening condition.”

Developed and manufactured by Abiomed, Impella heart pumps allow the heart to rest and recover by temporarily assisting the pumping function of the heart to efficiently deliver blood and oxygen to the entire body. The Impella has been helping patients in the United States since 2008.

Additional testing revealed that Pohl was also experiencing right heart failure, so Dr. Mowakeaa implanted an Impella RP to provide biventricular support. Two days later, Pohl’s heart function began to improve and eventually the Impella RP and Impella CP were removed.

Pohl spent 11 days in the hospital before he was released. He has returned to work where he manages an office supply company. He also works out several times a week and enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men in the United States. Dr. Mowakeaa says situation’s like Pohl’s should serve as a wakeup call to others.

And Pohl agrees, saying there’s a lesson in the journey he’s traveled. “Don’t give up. Grab the bull by the horn as they say and plow through it.”

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

Quintin Porter is a walking miracle.

He’s battled back from multiple car accidents, cancer, an irregular heartbeat, a torn rotator cuff, carpal tunnel syndrome and more.

But the journey that brings tears to his eyes started with a random text message from an old flame and ended with him ditching his dialysis equipment for a new kidney. And along the way he learned about the technique that made it possible - paired exchange.

“It was kidney or coffin,” says the 56-year-old from Mahomet, Illinois.

Porter’s journey

A former stand-up comedian and radio executive, Porter has no problem recalling what got him to where he is today.

Toward the end of 2019, Porter says his health was “dragging.” His right arm hurt, and he knew something just wasn’t right.

“Your bloodwork is horrible,” Porter recalls his medical team telling him. “You’re at stage three of kidney disease.”

The father of two then went on dialysis, where an artificial filter does what healthy kidneys normally do – remove fluid and waste from your blood.

“You’re tethered to a machine,” Porter describes. “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”

Dialysis gave Porter plenty of time to take up new hobbies like bird watching or sketching. Or watching the phone ding with the most important text message he would ever get.

Christy reconnects

The text on March 16, 2022, read, “Can you talk?”

It was from someone Porter hadn’t spoken to in nearly four decades: his high school girlfriend in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Christy Stott. The 54-year-old retiree from Rockford, Illinois, wanted to catch up. But more importantly, she had seen Porter’s calls for a life-saving kidney.

“I got you. I’ll give you a kidney,” Porter remembers Stott telling him almost nonchalantly.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Porter adds. “It set off a whole bunch of emotions.”

“Sometimes people reach middle age and feel compelled to do something they’ve never done before,” Stott says. “Run a marathon. Write a novel. Something amazing and unexpected.

“I think that’s what this experience has been for me,” she says.

Porter and Stott seemed to be a perfect match if not for one problem: Stott is petite, and Porter is not. A honeybee and a bear, as Porter puts it.

But OSF HealthCare Mission Partners (employees) in Peoria, Illinois, knew another way.

Paired exchange

The nationwide paired exchange program involves a kidney donor and a recipient who aren’t compatible. When you add another incompatible pair, sometimes a match can be made. The donor from one set can donate to the recipient of the other pair, and vice versa. The swap makes a big X. The willingness of everyone to participate allows the process to get a jumpstart and makes optimal use of living donors. It can also significantly reduce wait time, which can stretch into years.

"This one was unusual,” says Dr. Christopher Johnson, a nephrologist with RenalCare Associates and medical director for OSF Kidney Transplant.

“Usually with kidneys, the size isn't the biggest thing. But in this situation, it was such a big difference that we thought we could get a better match for him. Her kidney was perfect for someone her size. It's going to take someone off dialysis and extend their life," Dr. Johnson says. "She's also blood type O. She's a universal donor. But the kidney was smaller than what would be ideal to the recipient. So we knew if we put this into a national exchange, we're going to benefit someone else.

"A lot of times people ask, ‘what's the blood type?’ And they want to know if they're blood type compatible,” Dr. Johnson adds. “I say this every time. I don't care what your blood type is. If you're not compatible, we'll find a trade. What's important about a kidney donor is that they're healthy and able to donate. No diabetes, healthy weight, no cancer or other problems. If there's an incompatibility, we can find a solution."

A research-minded guy, Porter looked into the paired exchange concept thoroughly before taking the leap.

“These nurses work so hard to give you such good, specific instruction that has derived from thousands of hours of treating actual patients,” he says.

So on October 4, 2022, Porter and Stott went to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She to give a kidney, which wound up in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. And he to get one, coming from Eris Diaz, who owns his own cooking business nearly 1,300 miles away in Miami, Florida. But when it comes to saving lives, no distance is too far.

“Of course, there is pain,” with transplant surgery and recovery, Diaz, now 25, says. “But the pain was for a good action and for Quintin’s happiness."

Lessons learned

Porter, Stott and Diaz are doing well in 2023 and are urging others to look into organ donation, either living or pledging to do so after you have passed away.

“I’m so happy for Quintin,” Stott says tearfully. “And I’m fine. I’m better for it. If I could donate again, I would.”

"Donation is important because you're sharing your life with people who need it, and that is beautiful," Diaz says.

“It’s a big sacrifice. But if you had the ability to save someone’s life, wouldn’t you?” Porter asks.

Learn more

Nearly 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant. Learn more about how you can make a difference on the OSF HealthCare and Donate Life America websites.

Interview clips - Quintin Porter

Interview clips - Christy Stott

Interview clips - Eris Diaz

Interview clips - Dr. Christopher Johnson

B-roll

Additional B-roll

Quintin Porter demonstrates connecting to dialysis machine - June 4, 2022
Quintin Porter demonstrates disconnecting from dialysis machine - October 3, 2022

Previous coverage

Exploring organ donation
Living organ donation is an ‘amazing gift’
Living organ donation saved my mom's life
The ultimate tribute for the ultimate gift
Making a life-saving decision
‘They are very special people’

Do you really need that extra shake of salt on your fries? Because sodium is not your friend.

That’s according to a study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine that showed any significant reduction in the consumption of dietary salt can improve hypertension.

“Hypertension is high blood pressure, or where our arteries are experiencing too much pressure with the blood flow to our organs, and this can lead to things like end organ damage, and some things that are really serious like stroke and heart attack," says Lauren Hargrave, a physician assistant with OSF HealthCare." 

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nine out of 10 Americans consume too much sodium and they don’t even know it. The average person eats more than 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day – the AHA recommends no more than 2,300 mg a day. Ideally, it would be less than 1,500 mg a day, especially for adults with high blood pressure.

Reducing sodium by just 1,000 mg a day can improve blood pressure and decrease the risk of cardiac issues. The study also found that lower sodium consumption reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in some study participants.

“Hypertension is a very big issue," says Hargrave. "It affects a lot of people across all ages. And it really is something that is not always recognized because people can be asymptomatic or not have any symptoms until they come in and see us.”

Still, sodium is important to the human body. It helps control your body’s fluid balance and is important to nerve and muscle function. But too much sodium can cause your body to retain water increase puffiness, cause weight gain and can lead to high blood pressure.

The ideal blood pressure for adults is a systolic pressure (top number) of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure (bottom number) of less than 80. According to the AHA, Hypertension Stage 1 is when blood pressure consistently ranges from 130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic, Hypertension Stage 2 is when blood pressure consistently ranges at 140/90 or higher, and a crisis occurs if your blood pressure readings suddenly exceed 180/120.

“A lot of times the first time people hear that they have high blood pressures is in an office visit after we take vitals," says Hargrave. "They don't always know that they have high blood pressure at home and we call it the silent killer because a lot of times it is something that's not presenting with symptoms. We’re telling people that they have high blood pressure and explaining the importance of treatment. It is very treatable with medications with lifestyle changes, but if it's not recognized, that's when it can become dangerous.”

The best way to reduce the sodium in your diet is to stay clear of prepackaged, processed and prepared foods. Pay close attention to food labels – foods that have the most salt are breads, pizza, sandwiches, cold cuts, soup and tacos.

Other foods that have “hidden” amounts of sodium are cheeses, canned vegetables, frozen dinners, snack foods, and condiments such as ketchup and mustard.

If you’re cooking at home, avoid adding table salt to foods, flavor your meals with herbs, spices, lemon and lime. Opt for chicken, fish and lean meat rather than canned or processed meats, and rinse canned vegetables and beans to reduce the amount of sodium.

Restaurant meals are another source of high sodium. Study the menu before ordering, choose fresh fruits and vegetables when you can, ask for salad dressing on the side and request that your meal be prepared without added salt.

Exercise helps with overall heart health, which can help lower blood pressure. It also helps with weight reduction, which can also improve blood pressure. The key, according to medical experts, is paying attention to what you eat and make modifications when necessary.

“It can be potentially serious but it's treatable and manageable if you watch your salt intake and exercise and have a conversation with your doctor," says Dr. Tianyu Dong, a family practice physician with OSF HealthCare. 

For more information about hypertension, visit OSF HealthCare. 

 

Interview Clips 

There are headaches and then there are excruciating headaches caused by a brain aneurysm, a potentially life-threatening condition that can impact people at any age. If a brain aneurysm ruptures, it becomes an emergency situation that can lead to stroke or possibly death.

Actor Tom Sizemore, known for his work in “Saving Private Ryan,” suffered a brain aneurysm in 2023 and died soon after. 

“A brain aneurysm is a bulge on the side of a blood vessel," says Dr. Ayman Gheith, co-stroke director for OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Il.  "I like to compare it to your tire. When you get that welt or bulge on the inlay of the tire and your mechanic tells you that you have to change it. As a bulge happens on an aneurysm that bulge stretches and thins the wall of the vessel and makes it weak. The risk of brain aneurysm is the risk of rupture. If that aneurysm bleeds, especially in the brain and the brain is in a closed box, it’s sitting in the skull. A brain bleed can be life threatening.”

Not all aneurysms will rupture. According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, about six million people in the United States have aneurysms that haven’t ruptured. Between 50 to 80% of all aneurysms never rupture. In fact, only about 30,000 of people experience a ruptured aneurysms each year, of which 40% are fatal.

Some aneurysms develop over the course of a person’s lifetime, some are due to family history, and some happen as the result of brain injuries.

“In the big scheme of things aneurysms are typically not as common as other diseases," says Dr. Gheith. "Less than 5% of the percent of the population has them and less than 2% of that population has them treated. We don’t treat every single aneurysm; it depends on the size of the aneurysm, the location of the aneurysm, the age of the person and their medical co-morbidities.”

The symptoms of an aneurysm depend on whether it’s ruptured or not. Symptoms include blurred vision, dizziness, seizures, a mild or severe headache or pain behind or above the eye. Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm are neck stiffness, blurry or double vision and a sudden, severe headache. But you can also have an aneurysm without any symptoms. According to Dr. Gheith, a majority of aneurysms that have not ruptured are found when medical imaging is done for some other reason.

“The symptoms are very commonly the worst headache of your life," says Dr. Gheith. "This isn’t something subtle. It feels like a ton of bricks were dropped on your head. If anyone is to develop a sudden onset of the worst headache of your life, I consider that a medical emergency. You need to call 9-1-1 and go to the emergency room and be evaluated.”

Treatment for aneurysm can vary based on the size, location, and severity of the aneurysm as well as whether or not it has ruptured. Treatment ranges from close clinical monitoring to surgical clipping, in which an aneurysm is closed using a metal clip or endovascular coiling, in which a catheter is inserted through an artery to your aneurysm and blood flow is blocked, which ultimately closes off the aneurysm.

The bottom line is this: if you are experiencing symptoms, call for help immediately. There is no time to waste, according to Dr. Gheith.

“In my mind there are few things that put more fear in someone’s heart than hearing they have a brain aneurysm," says Dr. Gheith. "The take home message is brain aneurysms are not terminal diseases. These are processes that are scary, but it’s something we can treat and it’s something that can be treated very safely these days with the devices and the tools we have at our disposal.”

Interview Clips 

A new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) says that the rate of people dying from cancer in the United States has declined significantly over the past three decades.

According to the report, the U.S. cancer death rate has dropped 33% since 1991, which equates to about 3.8 million fewer deaths. The report also found that the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined has increased from 49% for those diagnosed in the mid-1970s to 68% from 2012-2018.

The same goes for Illinois and Michigan. According to National Cancer Institute State Cancer Profiles data, these states, which include OSF HealthCare hospitals, have seen similar declining trends for all cancers as at the national level due to targeted prevention, screening, and early detection interventions.

“Certainly it's great news. We always want to see decreases in cancer deaths year after year," says Dr. Iftekhar Ahmad, a radiation oncologist with OSF HealthCare. "There can be a lot of reasons for it. I think first and foremost is earlier detection, meaning that we're finding the cancers when they're smaller, when they haven't spread anywhere else in the body. And anytime you find cancers in earlier stage, the prognosis is much better and the chances of dying from cancer are very low.”

Dr. Ahmad adds that treatment options have improved over the last decade, helping the survival rates for even stage two and stage three cancers. The types of cancer with the highest survival rates are thyroid (98%), prostate (97%),  andtesticular (95%). 

There are many factors that contribute to the diagnosis of cancer including the use of alcohol, high body mass index and smoking.

“Smoking plays a very big role in cancer in general, not just lung cancer, but in all cancers<' says Dr. Ahmad.  "Statistics have shown that despite the reduction in the number of people who are smoking in this country, there’re still quite a few smokers. I think we've made a lot of progress, but there's always room for improvement because smoking has a really negative impact on your health overall.”

The care and treatment of cancer took a significant hit a couple of years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic caused fear among many, including those with cancer. Patients opted to skip or delay cancer screenings and treatments out of fear of COVID-19 exposure, despite numerous safeguards put in place by medical facilities. Patients are increasingly returning for important screenings and treatment.

“I think what that does is highlight the importance of screening tests," says Dr. Ahmad. "We have some very good screening tests for breast cancer, for colon cancer and we need to make use of those. We have very good lung cancer screening now which didn't exist 10 years ago, and if you've been a smoker for certain amount of years you can take advantage of that technology.”

However, not all news was positive on the cancer front. The report highlighted that breast, uterine and prostate cancers are slightly rising around the country.

"The rise of the cancer is a tricky question to answer because some of that can be attributed or related to increased detection," says Dr. Ahmad.  "So it's not always that the actual number of cancer is increased or things are getting worse. It's just that they're being found. So that's one kind of you take it with a grain of salt. Especially for something like prostate cancer, which is in its early forms not very aggressive, to the point where there are non-treatment options for early stage prostate cancer, called active surveillance, where we just watch it and most of the time nothing happens to it.”

In 2023 the ACS estimates there could be nearly two million new cases, which is about 5,000 cases a day, and more than 600,000 cancer deaths in the U.S., which Dr. Ahmad says, is on par with previous years.  

The report was a shot in the arm for the government’s “Cancer Moonshot” program, which has a goal to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50% in the next 25 years.

“As much as we know about cancer, as far as we've come in the last 20 or 30 years, we still have we still have a long way to go," adds Dr. Ahmad.  "But I think that information like this gives us hope, and it tells us that all the work we're putting in, all the money we're putting in for research and treatments, that it is having an effect and things are improving. So these efforts aren't wasted. It's just going to take some time.”

For more information about cancer programs, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

Jeff Beck, known as one of the most talented and influential musicians of all time, recently died from bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. A two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (first in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds), Beck was 78.

According to Dr. Syed Zaidi, a family practice physician with OSF HealthCare, meningitis is anything that can penetrate the lining of your brain. It could affect someone who’s had a major neurological surgery, a spinal tap, or sometimes even a common cold.

“You know how you sneeze or have a sinus infection? Anything in close vicinity to your brain, and it's unlikely but higher risk people who have other chronic comorbid conditions such as diabetics, heart failure, seizures, or IV drug use, which is a different kind of a risk factor, as well as HIV. Those who might have a weaker immune system such as children, or on the other spectrum, older in age are also at a higher risk.”

Each year, there are about 2.5 million cases of meningitis around the world. About 250,000 of those people die, including 20,000 in the United States. It’s more common in developing or third world countries, Dr. Zaidi says, because the greatest risk is among people who live in close quarters, such as refugee camps, overcrowded homes or groups traveling on mission trips.

The symptoms vary, ranging from fever to headache and nausea. And while most people survive bacterial meningitis, many do suffer from permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, learning disabilities and hearing loss.

“You start to worry when you have fevers, chills, sweats, but the hallmark when we as clinicians get a little worried is when you have neck stiffness, difficulty moving your neck and confusion of cognitive impairment that comes on pretty abruptly," says Dr. Zaidi.  "One day, you're pretty normal and then all of a sudden, you're either slurring your speech or your memory’s not right. Other people notice or you even pass out.”

Meningitis affects people of all ages, but young children seem to be at a greater risk. Newborn babies are at risk from Group B streptococcus, and young children are at higher risk from meningococcus, pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenza. 

“In babies the bacteria that are commonly involved are a little bit different," says Dr. Zaidi.  "We typically think about the common ear infection in the child or newborns are higher risk for other types of bacteria known as Group B strep, in addition to listeria, which is another bacteria and that can be commonly acquired even through the birthing process. Not all women who are pregnant undergoing delivery will get screened for that. We have safeguards in place, but I think it's also important to educate the mother, the parents, and the family, about these risks and why we do these screenings.”

Bacterial meningitis is treated by antibiotics. Dr. Zaidi says timing is key, so recognizing symptoms as soon as possible is crucial. If you are experiencing a fever, neck stiffness or confusion, it’s time to seek immediate care. He adds that treatment is usually successful but as many as 20% of cases will have long-term complications including brain fog, cognitive delays or memory loss.

Dr. Zaidi stresses the best prevention is to stay current with your vaccinations, including those that protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis. There are vaccines for four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. Talk to your doctor about vaccinations. 

“I think bringing up what you're due for in terms of prevention of all conditions, whether it be cancers or infections. Vaccines are a part of that," he says. "I think the street goes both ways. Your doctor will bring it up too, but I think it's also very important for us as consumers of healthcare, to be wise to be able to ask those questions and engage in that conversation.”

For more information about vaccines, visit OSF HealthCare. 

 

Interview Clips 

HGTV star Christina Hall recently revealed she has been diagnosed with mercury and lead poisoning.

Hall shared that it was likely caused “from all the gross houses,” she worked on while filming “Flip or Flop,” the home renovation series she hosted with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa for 10 years.

So, what is mercury and lead poisoning and how common of a problem is it?

“Mercury and lead are both elements," says Dr. Dipti Sabharwal, a family practice physician for OSF HealthCare. "There's usually none to almost trace amounts present in our body. But when these levels are present in higher levels than normal, then that's what causes the toxicity or poisoning.”

When you were going to school, you may have developed the belief that if you got poked with a lead pencil you would get lead poisoning, but this is actually an urban legend as lead pencils don't actually contain lead. Lead poisoning is caused by exposure to high levels of lead and is commonly found in houses built before 1978.

Mercury is found in the air, water and soil and may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, as well as on lungs, skin and eyes.

Experts say that everyone is exposed to some level of mercury with most people exposed to low levels, often through ongoing or long-term contact. However, some people are exposed to high levels of mercury. It depends on the type of mercury, the dose, the person’s age, the duration of exposure, and whether the exposure was inhaled, ingested or contacted by skin.

Mercury and lead poisoning has the greatest impact on those working in manufacturing, chemical and mining industries. It's also possible to develop mercury poisoning from eat too much fish containing mercury such as marlin and swordfish.

Hall believes she developed mercury and lead poisoning from renovating older homes, where she was around old paint and inhaling dust and powders from tearing down walls.

“That’s why people who have hobbies or as work to renovate houses, there is a higher risk of exposure to lead," says Dr. Sabharwal. "And for mercury, it’s similar for people who are working in manufacturing and handle thermometers and barometers.”

Symptoms can vary. Hall says she’s experienced a range of problems including skin rashes, joint and muscle pain, dry eyes, swollen lymph nodes, acid reflux and brain fog.

The most affected organs are typically your kidneys and the brain. If blood levels of these toxins are extremely high, it can cause confusion and even coma.

“The symptoms are very nonspecific, which is what makes it very hard to be diagnosed," says Dr. Sabharwal. "Symptoms could be nausea, vomiting, headache, belly pain, diarrhea, and for mercury poisoning it could be shortness of breath, chest pain. You see a lot of these symptoms that can be caused by other diseases, which is what makes it hard to diagnose, but that along with the history that the patient provides, whether it's occupational or their environment, that's what helps the provider gain a better understanding.”

There is no cure for mercury poisoning. Mercury and lead poisoning is typically treated with chelation therapy, which involves weekly IV treatments to remove the metal from your organs. 

Treatment can last from a few days to a few weeks depending on blood levels and how a person responds to the medication.

Dr. Sabharwal says the best way to treat mercury poisoning is to limit your exposure to the metal and limit consumption of mercury-containing seafood. If the poisoning comes from your environment or workplace, the best advice is to stay away from that environment.

The key, Dr. Sabharwal adds, is to pay attention to your surroundings and if you are experiencing any possible symptoms, seek help immediately.

“The bottom line is that attention that should be given to prevention," says Dr. Sabharwal.  "So, when you're at work, since that is the most common hazard for lead and mercury poisoning, is using personal protective equipment. That's number one and then obviously keeping in mind what the signs and symptoms are and going to the physician earlier if you experience anything, so we can get you treated.”

Interview Clips 

A new year brings about many possible changes – promises to eat better, exercise more, stop smoking, save money, and so on. Another priority for some is to improve their work situation.

If that’s you, there may be no better time than the present, especially after the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a report that links a toxic workplace culture to health issues such as heart disease, depression and anxiety.

“A toxic workplace is basically any work setting where you're dealing with any sort of psychological stress, where you're feeling nervous, you have some fear, anxiety, sadness, depression – things like that," says Victor Mendoza, a behavioral health provider with OSF HealthCare. "If you start noticing those things in your own workplace, that can be something we would call a toxic environment.”

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the five components of a healthy workplace include:  protection from harm, connection and community, work-life harmony, mattering at work and opportunity for growth.

Mendoza says now is the time for organizations to assess their relationship with employees – to create a sense of connection among workers, show them they are important, and support their professional needs.

“First of all, if they haven't added these five components, they should probably try to because I think that's a good foundation to what a healthy work environment should be like," says Mendoza. "You want to have a workplace where you feel comfortable, you feel heard, you feel like there is upward mobility, and that that people care for you. That you're not just a number to them but that you actually are a human, and they understand and are willing to be empathic to your situation. And if there is a concern, they're open to listen to you.”

There are many ways feeling stressed or miserable can manifest in an unhealthy work environment such as increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, increasing the chance of high blood pressure, weakening immune systems, causing headaches and increasing anxiety and stress. Mendoza says physical symptoms can include stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and racing heartbeat.

The report comes during an uncertain time in workplace culture due to the COVID pandemic, when employees are seeking more flexible opportunities including working remotely or a hybrid schedule. Mendoza adds that the pandemic also affected our routines, and when routines are changed it can impact our mental health.

“It's been really tough for a lot of people," says Mendoza. "When all this started with the pandemic, a lot of people were having anxiety about what was going to happen. People feared losing their jobs, and a lot of people did lose their jobs, sadly, and that was very hard for them. They had to switch careers. A lot of them were lucky they were able to keep their jobs, but they had to work from home and that that created some stress as well even though we do have good technology.”

There are things, however, you can do to cope with your workplace stress. Mendoza suggests keeping track of the stressors in your job, developing healthy responses such as exercise, getting enough sleep and learning how to relax and take time to recharge by unplugging from work, and making sure to use your vacation days.

Mendoza says it’s easy for some people to feel guilty about work-related issues. The most important take home message is to first take care of yourself, and not let a stressful environment affect your health. 

“Sometimes you can only do so much and you have to advocate for yourself, and you have be aware when this happens," he adds. "So set up good boundaries with your workplace, make sure that you're taking some time off work for self-care, whatever that looks like for you, and do something you enjoy. Make sure you do some basic things like exercise, you’re eating well and you're sleeping well. That's a really good foundation to deal with a toxic work environment.”





 

Video Interview Clips 

It’s that time of the year again when we turn our backs on past mistakes and pledge to do better. We’re talking about News Year’s resolutions.

Some people will promise to quit smoking, exercise more frequently or maybe plan to reunite with long lost friends or loved ones. But about this time every year one of the most talked-about resolutions is to improve our diets and perhaps lose weight.

While most people are more than ready to put 2022 in the rearview mirror, what are the best ways to go about making our food-related resolutions attainable now that 2023 is here? 

“We have to make them realistic," says Adam Schafer, a clinical dietitian with OSF HealthCare. "A lot of times people say I want to eat healthier or be healthier. There are no specifics to that. We need to make sure resolutions are very specific and that you can measure it rather than throwing something out there that has no real meaning to it.”

The keys to sticking with your food resolutions include setting specific goals, measuring those goals, and having a plan to meet those goals. Schafer recommends setting S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound). The best ways to change behaviors is to focus on small, achievable habits and activities that will help improve your health over time.

When it comes to eating habits, there are going to be good times and bad. No one is perfect. Schafer says the key is to not beat yourself up over a bad eating day here or there. If you do stumble occasionally, reflect on what you did wrong and move on without any regrets.

If one of your resolutions is to lose weight, Schafer recommends thinking about what did or didn’t work in the past before setting your weight loss goal. Rather than concentrating on a certain number, think about things like your clothes fitting better, or your ability to do certain activities easier or better. These milestones will help you maintain a more positive mindset and keep you motivated to stay the course.

“Focus more than just on weight," says Schafer. "A lot of times we focus on a certain number when it comes to weight loss, but if you’re exercising too you may be putting on muscle. It’s not going to reflect well on the scale and you’re going to assume you’re not doing well and you’re going to quit.”

Other tips include:

• Fill up on fruits and vegetables
• Drink more water
• Watch your sodium intake
• Plan your meals
• Keep a food log

And if you don’t set goals early in 2023, don’t sweat it. There’s never a bad time to get started on making healthy lifestyle changes. Proper nutrition isn’t a quick fix, Schafer says. It’s a habit that we will work to develop for the rest of our lives.

“It’s never too late to get started on one," he adds. "If you feel like you missed the New Year resolution time frame, there is always time to improve on yourself, whether it’s related to diet and health or anything else in life.”

For more information on nutrition facts, visit OSF HealthCare.

Video Clip Interviews 

Video B-Roll 

If you’re pregnant and looking for a New Year’s resolution, maybe take a look at the amount of caffeine you’re consuming these days.

Children who were exposed to small amounts of caffeine before birth were shorter on average than those who were not, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The gaps in height, while not significant, were detected at age 4 through age 8, researchers said. The findings were reported even in the children of pregnant women who consumed less than 50 mg of caffeine per day on average, which is well below the current guidelines.

According to the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should consume no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day.

A mug of filtered coffee has about 140 mg. Caffeine is also found in tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, cocoa, chocolate and some medications.

“That is about 12 ounces of coffee a day. So that would be larger amounts of tea, and tea doesn't have as much caffeine," says Dr. Jamie Plett, an OB/GYN with OSF HealthCare. "There is some caffeine in chocolate but that's a negligible amount, typically. But that's way less than what’s found in energy drinks and things.”

When it comes to growth in children there are, of course, other factors at play including gender, health conditions, nutrition and environmental conditions.

“Obviously genetics is going to be the biggest one as to the height of the child," says Dr. Plett. "But also, there have been studies before that show that nutrition during pregnancy is going to change the height of the child as well.”

According to the researchers of the most recent study, there is no way to know if the difference in height would continue into adulthood. If it did, the biggest concern would be the possibility of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, which are often associated with smaller stature.

Dr. Plett makes a point of talking with her pregnant patients about caffeine intake during an initial visit and the importance of staying around the 200 mg mark daily.

“It seems like just people are more aware of what they're putting into their bodies when they're pregnant. So they think a little bit more about ‘oh, do I really need this extra cup of coffee today?’ So I don't know that there's necessarily a decrease in a craving because I think if people are used to drinking that caffeine, they like it. Also, it's harder to sleep when you're pregnant. So people sometimes want that extra caffeine because it makes a little bit easier to get through their normal day. But I think people do think about it a little bit more before they ingest anything whether that’s food or drink or whatever during pregnancy.”

Dr. Plett cautions parents not to overthink any one study, and to talk with your provider if you have questions or concerns.

“I think some of it is taking this a little with a grain of salt," says Dr. Plett. "Knowing that there is still data pending, but knowing that this is a possibility, and all findings in science have to start somewhere. So this may be something just to keep an eye on in the future. Maybe think about that cup of coffee every morning, maybe have one every other day or a couple times a week instead. But I also have found that almost naturally people decrease their caffeine intake in pregnancy. The most common cause I’ve found in headaches early in pregnancy is caffeine withdrawal; they’re so used to having that first cup of coffee and if they don’t have it anymore, it’s pretty common to have those headaches.”

As with any major lifestyle or dietary change, remember to talk with your health care provider first, as changes can affect your mood or medical conditions.

 

Interview Clips 

Mick Mars has spent more than 40 years as lead guitarist for the legendary rock band Mötley Crüe. During that time, Mars has suffered from a disease called ankylosing spondylitis (AS) – a form of arthritis of the spine that causes inflammation between the vertebrae and in the joints between the spine and pelvis.

Mars has announced that due to his condition, he is retiring from touring with the band. Mars was a teenager when he first experienced the onslaught of AS; he addressed his condition in the band’s biography in 2001.

“My hips started hurting so bad every time I turned my body that it felt like someone was igniting fireworks in my bones,” he said. “I didn’t have enough money to see a doctor, so I just kept hoping that I could do what I usually do: will it away, thought the power of my mind. But it kept getting worse.”

The 71-year-old rocker is not alone in this fight, but is in rare air when it comes to AS: about 300,000 people (less than 1% of the adult population) have this disease. While there is no known cause of AS, there may be a genetic link, according to medical experts. And while anyone can get AS, it tends to affect men more than women. Symptoms generally appear between the ages of 17 and 45. Some people have consistent pain, while others experience milder symptoms.

“The most common symptoms are low back pain or posterior pelvic pain," says Rebekah Lesko, a physical therapist for OSF HealthCare. "It’s a general low back pain or ache. Some people have trouble breathing because as the inflammation progresses it can cause fusion; it can affect the expansion of the rib cage as well. Another common side effect is inflammation or blurriness of vision because it can cause inflammation of the eye.”

AS is a lifelong condition with no cure. While AS affects mostly the spine, it can also inflame joints in the pelvis, shoulders, hips and knees. People with AS are more likely to experience spinal fractures as well as osteoporosis and fused vertebrae.

“The best treatment for ankylosing spondylitis is maintaining a regular exercise regimen to keep the joints from fusing and keeping good posture," says Lesko. "There’s also medical management through non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic drugs and in cases of severe inflammation, using steroids to decrease that inflammation as well.”

Lesko knows all about AS, both professionally and personally. At 17, Lesko began developing serious back pain while helping her father bale hale on the family farm. The pain didn’t go away so Lesko consulted with doctors and underwent a battery of tests before she was diagnosed with AS. As a three-sport athlete, Lesko struggled during her senior year of high school as she had to give up all activities, begin a regimen of medications and learn how to manage her symptoms. 

“In my mid 20s I went off my medication and I was really well managed with physical activity," says Lesko. "I’ve had on a few occasions uveitis, which is the inflammation of the eye, where I have to use steroid drops, and steroid dose packs for flares of the back pain on occasion but at this point things are pretty well managed. I know the things to do to get the pain under control, which is usually gentle physical activity and staying in a regular regimen of exercise.”

Lesko says the treatment of AS has drastically changed over time. Years ago, patients were not encouraged to move or take part in physical activity due to their condition. Now, physical therapists teach patients the importance of good posture and ergonomics to avoid prolonged positioning, along with breathing exercises and gentle stretches for the spine.

“The biggest thing is make sure you maintain your posture, stay active, don’t give up on yourself, keep trying different things to manage the pain, get a good rheumatologist who can help you with that and find a physical therapist who can help support you in that because you don’t have to live in daily pain," says Lesko. "It can really be managed.”

For more information about AS, visit OSF HealthCare.

Video Interview Clips 

There is a lot for women to digest during a pregnancy. One thing that can often be overlooked, however, is the possibility of gestational diabetes.

Kelly Osbourne knows this all too well.  The reality star is expecting her first child, but was recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes. In a recent interview, Osbourne revealed that she was suffering from “terrible heartburn,” acid reflux and was quickly gaining weight. After consulting with doctors, Osbourne learned of her diagnosis in her third trimester.

“Gestational diabetes is just like diabetes of any other sort," says Dr. Jamie Plett, an OB/GYN with OSF HealthCare. "It's where your body doesn't produce the correct amounts of insulin to deal with the amount of glucose or sugar that's in your blood. The difference with gestational diabetes is that it happens only during pregnancy and tends to resolve after the pregnancy is over.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year, between 2% and 10% of pregnancies in the country are impacted by gestational diabetes. In her practice, Dr. Plett says she often treats as many as three or four patients with gestational diabetes a day.

The causes of gestational diabetes really aren’t known. Doctors will rely on your medical history and testing to know for sure if you have gestational diabetes. Dr. Plett says if a patient had gestational diabetes during a prior pregnancy, or has multiple family members with diabetes, she will order an early glucose test. Every patient will get tested at 28 weeks if they have not been previously diagnosed.

“There are controllable risk factors and then risk factors that are really not under your control," says Dr. Plett. "So genetics plays a large part in whether development of gestational diabetes will occur or not, but also things like exercise, how much weight you gained during the pregnancy, and also what types of foods you eat during the pregnancy can lead to higher risk for gestational diabetes.”

If managed properly, Dr. Plett says the risk factors associated with gestational diabetes are not any different than with any pregnancy. However, if it’s not well-controlled, it can lead to a number of potential issues for the baby including pre-term birth, having low blood sugar and developing type 2 diabetes later in life. There are possible problems for the mother, too.

“Sometimes it leads to an increase in baby's weight which can lead to things like high risk for C-section," says Dr. Plett. "But with the mother, again, if it's well controlled, it doesn't really change things long term except for the fact that they're at higher risk to develop diabetes later in life. But during the pregnancy, obviously it is going to depend a lot on their changing their dietary habits. Moms also have to check their sugars to see if they're within range to know what dietary habits need to be changed or what exercise can help control that.”

Typically after the mother has delivered the baby, she will return to her physician’s office eight to 12 weeks later to retest and make sure the gestational diabetes is gone. If they are at a risk for developing diabetes later in life, Dr. Plett says they will follow up with their primary care physician.

As for treatment, Dr. Plett says the easiest fix is to make small dietary changes, avoid certain foods, and incorporate more exercise into your daily routine. A simple walk following dinner can make a big difference.

“I think the biggest thing that comes away from a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is that women are frustrated that it's happened to them because a lot of times it's things that are out of their control," she adds. "Also that it's very easily treatable and manageable. Most people realize that it's not as big of a deal as they think it's going to be. Some women do end up on medication, but a lot of it is a few small dietary changes, and so it's not as cumbersome as they thought it would be to treat and take care of themselves during pregnancy.”

For more information about gestational diabetes, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

In 2015, singer and actress Selena Gomez revealed to the world that she underwent a kidney transplant as a result of lupus. She eventually took a break from her career to deal with her health issues that resulted in anxiety and depression. 

“I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges,” Gomez told People in 2019. “It’s an everyday struggle."

Living with lupus can be frustrating for a number of reasons. It’s often difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can mirror those of other diseases, and no two cases are alike. Symptoms may appear suddenly or develop slowly, can be mild or severe, and temporary or permanent. And there is no cure for lupus.

“It’s a type of autoimmune disease that will manifest in any part of your body – from your brain down to your toe, and it can affect the skin," says Dr. Syed Zaidi, a family practice physician for OSF HealthCare. "Basically it’s where your body’s immune system is attacking itself in various parts. Sometimes it can involve the kidneys and the skin and blood vessels.”

There is no known cause for lupus, but experts suspect genetic and environmental triggers may be factors. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, there are approximately 1.5 million Americans, and at least 5 million people in the world, living with some form of lupus. Paula Abdul and Lady Gaga are two other celebrities who have also shared their stories publicly. Nearly 90% of all cases are women, but men and children are also impacted by the disease. About 16,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, mostly in people between the ages of 15-44.

“Men, in terms of their hormonal states, may indicate whether they're going to be highly susceptible or even manifest lupus," says Dr. Zaidi. "So if we can test them, and they might be positive, but they may never manifest it either. So it may be a discrepancy between incidence and prevalence of the disease. Definitely, I know men out there who have it.”

Lupus mainly affects skin, joints and internal organs such as the heart and kidneys. But since it affects so many parts of the body, it can cause a number of symptoms, including headaches, seizures, dry eyes, mouth sores and more.

“In a way it’s a type of Russian roulette in that you don't know where it's going to land," says Dr. Zaidi. "So we really focus the workup on the generalized symptoms – the fatigue, the rash, the body aches – that we can't explain due to anything else. Your doctor will likely want to do a workup that includes what we call an autoimmune workup. And that’s when some more doors might open to this possibility being lupus or its variant.”

Since lupus is a chronic condition that will need to be treated regularly, the goal is to get your symptoms under control and limit the amount of damage the disease does to your organs. No two treatment plans are the same. Some people will need limited treatment, while others will require something more aggressive. There are a range of medications used to manage lupus including steroids, hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate.

Dr. Zaidi recommends staying away from triggers, which could be tobacco use or coffee, and to make sure to get plenty of rest.  To avoid symptom flare-ups, other helpful tips include avoiding sun exposure, doing low-impact exercises that can help with joint and muscle pain, watching your diet and finding ways to reduce any stress in your life.

For people living with lupus there are going to be good and bad days. There are going to be times when you feel fatigued and lethargic and not feeling up to doing anything. There’s also a toll on an individual’s mental health when their quality of life is compromised. Dr. Zaidi says the key is taking care of yourself and knowing when not to push too hard to get through the day.

“I can't specifically say to one day or one disease to another that lupus is going be a little different for you," says Dr. Zaidi.  "All chronic diseases are going to be different. So really, it's going to come down to how you are going to wake up, what you plan on doing throughout the day, what your mindset is and whether you’re adhering to your doctor's recommendations for your treatment.”

For more information on lupus, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

You better not sit down for this news: leading a sedentary lifestyle is ruining your life.  

You may have heard the saying, “sitting is the new smoking.” While not everyone agrees with that view, there’s no debating that sitting is detrimental to your health. 

In fact, some experts believe that we spend more than half of our waking hours sitting down, either watching TV, driving or sitting behind a desk.

And for some people, a typical day might go something like this: they wake up in the morning and get ready for the day, which consists of sitting behind a desk at work or home for eight hours. After dinner, they sit around for a couple more hours and watch TV, before heading off to bed and do it all over again. There’s not a lot of movement in that schedule, and according to health professionals, that’s a bad thing. 

“We're not meant to sit all day and a lot of our work requires us to be in one place, and so the natural response for a lot of people is to sit down, but then they have pain associated with that, whether it's neck pain or back pain associated with sitting, which we were not meant to do for hours at a time," says Elizabeth Andekian, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) for OSF HealthCare. "A lot of individuals will also find that they have decreased mental clarity because they're sitting and they're stagnant for long periods of time.”

The prevailing thought is that too much sitting is bad for your posture, which leads to an assortment of issues. While that’s true, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Research has shown that too much sitting can increase your chances of cancer, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression and more.

For example, research from Alberta Health Services in Calgary, Canada, revealed that cancer survivors who spend more than eight hours a day sitting are five time more likely to die over the following years than survivors who are more active. Another study from the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, showed that men who had more than 23 hours a week of sedentary activity had a 64% greater risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who had less than 11 hours a week of inactivity.

“People spend so much of their lives at work and so much of their relaxation time sitting, and there are consequences to sedentary behavior, and sitting is certainly an aspect of that," says Andekian. "And there's more of an association rather than a causal relationship between the two. One of the associations is with obesity and Type 2 diabetes and the two kind of go hand-in-hand.”

In general, medical professionals recommend 150 to 300 minutes of physical activity a week. If you’re sitting most of the day, Andekian says it’s a good idea to get up and move around every 60 to 90 minutes, which will improve concentration, get rid of fatigue and prevent backaches.

While at work, try to incorporate movement with some of your work responsibilities. For example, go to a co-worker’s desk rather than sending them an email; take the stairs instead of the elevator; drink a lot of water which will cause you to get up to go to the bathroom. Andekian also recommends using a standing desk, which can help burn off eight extra calories an hour, versus sitting slumped over a keyboard.

“If they're on the phone, oftentimes they'll have a cordless phone and so they can pace and walk around while talking on the phone," says Andekian. "The standing desk is a really nice option for a lot of people. And a lot of them can be converted into a sitting desk so they don't have to stand the entire day. Other things are parking farther away when choosing your spot in your parking lot. And keep shoes at work if you're not wearing comfortable shoes so that you can go for a walk on your lunch break. Those sorts of things make a huge difference.”

These recommendations don’t apply to all, however. Many people have physical or health limitations and can’t get around as easily. Andekian suggests small steps such as doing chair exercises or, talking a walk to the kitchen or to the mailbox, which will help preserve what function they do have.

And if you think that exercise can overcome extended periods of sitting, think again. Medical experts admit exercise is important, but one hour of exercise can’t offset 10 hours of inactivity.

“I don't know that we could really call sitting the new smoking," says Andekian. "However, it's very important for people to engage in physical activity. We know that obesity and chronic disease is a huge burden in this country, and a piece of that is our sedentary lifestyle. So it's very important for people to engage in as much physical activity as they can, and some of that is incorporating that into their daily lives.”

Video Interview Clips 

B-Roll

Dementia impacts more than 50 million people in the world, and that number is expected to double every 20 years. It’s the leading cause of disability and dependency among the elderly population. 

People with dementia often struggle with emotional responses. They may overreact to situations, experience mood changes and appear indifferent to things that used to give them pleasure.

That’s where doll therapy can help. Like art or music therapy, doll therapy can be a calming influence to people who are experiencing anxiety, anger or a number of other emotions.

“Doll therapy is a distraction intervention," says Wayne Laramie, chief nursing officer for OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center. "It's providing a doll that's lifelike, to a patient who is experiencing dementia, where they can be agitated, confused, restless, sleepless, and it comforts them, and reminds them of whether they've been a parent or a grandparent. Just that rocking, caring and thinking about somebody else really is therapeutic. That's doll therapy.”

Doll therapy has long been used in long-term and skilled nursing facilities to provide comfort to dementia patients. Now, hospitals are following suit. OSF HealthCare, for example, offers doll therapy in three of its hospitals – OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

“Doll therapy is something new for inpatient acute care," says Laramie. "So you assess those who might be eligible for it, and you try it out. You literally introduce the doll to them, and they either take to it or they don't. One way or the other, it's okay. Men and women are successful and impacted just the same - 85% of men and women who were introduced with a doll who have dementia. It's effective, and it's not gender specific.”

Doll therapy could also help decrease the rate of patients who fall while in the hospital. In 2018, OSF Saint Anthony conducted a pilot study on a medical/surgical unit that included 35 patients with dementia. The study found that patients who had a doll had zero falls compared to the control group that had a 10% fall rate.

“Many times they tried to get up out of bed and they don't want to do that when they're holding a baby because they will fall and harm the baby. So they literally will put on a call light to say they need to go to the bathroom," says Laramie. "Or when they get up they don't stand and start walking, they wait for somebody to come or they are very careful with how they're walking because they don't want to drop a baby or fall. So far, I can tell you it's been very successful: of all the babies we've given out we've had zero falls in that population and traditionally that’s one of our highest fall groups with the most injuries.”

To avoid any concern about possible infection, patients can keep the dolls and take them home or to a nursing facility. Both Caucasian and Black dolls are available, as are boys and girls. 

Hospital staff work closely with the patients to assure they are treated with dignity and not like a child simply because a doll is involved. Laramie says it’s also important to family members to be upfront with the patients that the dolls are not real.

“Doll therapy, we know is beneficial," adds Laramie. "We know that we have tried it on many patients already in just a short period of time. What we see from patients and what we hear from family is both eye opening and rewarding. Families have said things to us like this is another option that wasn't available before. They are impressed as to how calm and how it makes a difference. Many of them were skeptical to begin with, but once they see the results, it almost brings them to tears.”

Interview Clips 

B-Roll