OSF HealthCare Newsroom

‘It shouldn’t be a barrier to play’

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a plan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jumping jacks and lunges are examples of dynamic stretches.

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

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

Learn more

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

Interview clips

Oh, my aching leg!

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500

If you break a leg or sprain an ankle during a basketball game, health care providers have a good idea what happened and how to treat it.

But if you have daily aches, pains and swelling in your legs, it will require some investigation.

Causes

Aman Khurana, MD, a vascular medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare, outlines common causes of leg pain.

Arterial disease

“The arterial cause of leg pain is when people walk, and they get leg, calf, hip or thigh pain. That can be from less arterial flow down in the legs,” Dr. Khurana says. “When we walk, the muscles are demanding more blood. But because of blockages, blood doesn’t come.”
Venous disease

“Venous pain brings heaviness, tiredness and fatigue. Varicose veins and leg discoloration are signs of venous disease,” Dr. Khurana explains. “That pain seems to get better when you lay flat or with your legs up.”
Arthritis, or inflammation of a joint
Nerve issues

“We have large nerves that go down from the back,” Dr. Khurana explains. When those nerves are irritated, it can cause a condition called sciatica. “Then there’s small vessel nerve pain that causes tingling and numbness in the feet.”

Wounds, such as those associated with diabetes, and lymphedema, a condition where fluid builds up causing swelling, can also contribute to these problems.

Diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Khurana recommends seeing a provider at the first sign of leg pain. He says it’s hard for people to pinpoint the problem, and waiting can make it worse.

A provider, he says, could check the blood pressure in your arms and legs to gauge blood flow and run a test to check for vein leakage.

“Veins have valves. When blood goes up, the valve should close. Some valves don’t close right. Blood goes up, and it keeps coming down. That’s how you have the heaviness, tiredness and swelling in the legs,” associated with venous disease, Dr. Khurana says. You could be given compression stockings for this problem.

Other treatments include medication, a device (such as a lymphedema pump that massages the legs and aids blood flow to the heart) or an ablation procedure to stop the blood flow in the problematic vein.

Prevention

How do I keep my legs moving? Dr. Khurana repeats advice many doctors have given. Daily healthy habits that prevent cardiovascular disease will help prevent leg issues.

Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and chronic conditions like diabetes in check.
Don’t smoke.
Exercise and eat a healthy diet to avoid obesity. When your weight impacts your ability to get around, Dr. Khurana says, it’s definitely time to see a provider.
Know your family history of health issues, and bring these up to your provider at your regular checkups.

Interview clips

The freshman 15, demystified

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Jetting off to college brings excitement. New friendships and professional opportunities await.

But it also brings the obligation of taking care of your health without a parent’s watchful eye. Dorm buffets, sugary drinks and sleeping in all the time can lead to your clothes feeling tighter and your self-esteem feeling lower.

So what’s the scoop on the so-called freshman 15? How big of a problem is weight gain in college? How can you prevent it?

First things first: Rachel Bult, a supervisor dietitian at OSF HealthCare, says it’s more like three to 10 pounds weight gain in the first year on average, not 15. But the issue is still worth paying attention to.

“You add more calories than you intend to,” with food options in college, Bult says. “Also, stress and lack of sleep can cause increased cravings for sweets and comfort foods.”

Some tips to consider:

Exercise portion control. Remember the saying “Are your eyes bigger than your stomach?”
If you’re on a meal plan that means buffet meals every day, go to a healthier station first. Start with a salad and a vinaigrette dressing, Bult suggests. Non-starchy vegetables as your side can provide fiber. Protein like chicken, fish, beans, chickpeas and tofu will help keep you full.
For exercise, find movement you enjoy. Don’t approach it as a chore. If you like pickleball, find a local league.
Keep healthy snacks, not junk food, at arm’s reach.

“When I was in college, I would have a protein smoothie in the morning to help fill me up,” Bult recalls. “But you could also keep fruit, string cheese, unsalted nuts or bell peppers with hummus. Just things that are healthier and quicker to grab and go.”
Smartphone apps can be a short-term tool to get you on the right track, Bult says. Apps can track what you’re eating, your daily steps and more.

“Those can help you understand the nutritional value of what you’re consuming,” Bult says.
Talk to your primary care provider or a dietitian if you need guidance. Research what your local school, health system or social service groups offer.

Learn more

The OSF HealthCare website has healthy recipes.

Interview clips

The Mediterranean diet and liver health

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

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

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

How the Mediterranean diet helps

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

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

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

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

Why this is important

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

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

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

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

Learn more

Read more about gastrointestinal health on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Youch! Did I just pull a hammy?

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Here are a couple more “cheat sheets” to add to your injury prevention checklist, whether you’re a casual runner or a star athlete. The good news: there’s a lot of overlap when it comes to calf and hamstring injuries, meaning young athletes, their parents and their coaches don’t have to cram for the test.

Hamstrings

The hamstring muscles sit in the back of your upper leg and help with all kinds of activities, like walking, running, climbing and squatting.

“Hamstring injuries can happen when you change direction or speed [in athletics.] You get a sharp, sudden pain in the back of your leg,” says Brittany Delaney, an athletic trainer at OSF HealthCare. “We grade any muscle strain as grade one, two or three. Grade one is a minor pull of the muscle fibers. It could take three to four weeks to heal. With grade two, you’re going to find tearing of the muscle fibers. Those could go four to six weeks [recovery]. And grade three would be a complete rupture of a hamstring. That can lead to three to four months of rehab before returning to your sport.”

Delaney says she often sees track and field, baseball, softball and soccer athletes complain of the cramp-like pain of hamstring injuries due to the “stop and start” nature of the sports. Initial treatment is stretching and icing.

“We want to constrict the blood vessels so you don’t get a lot of swelling or bruising,” Delaney says.

Long term, the person would perform physical therapy exercises to regain full range of motion.

“To start, this should be light stretching. You don’t want to overstretch because we want the muscle fibers to heal,” Delaney explains. “Then, we move into strengthening the muscle. On top of strengthening the hamstring, you want to strengthen the quads, calves and your core. We strengthen around the injury as well as the actual injury.”

The last phase of rehabilitation would involve exercises specific to that person’s sport. Surgery isn’t common for hamstring injuries, Delaney says.

Calves

It’s a “same song, different verse” situation for injuries to your calf muscles that sit in the back of your lower leg. Delaney says sports that involve sprinting or a sudden direction change are breeding grounds for calf injuries.

“We see it in baseball and softball outfielders. The ground might be uneven. You might hit the ground just right that you’re going to feel that calf tighten up,” leading to a sharp pain or cramp-type pain, Delaney says.

Health care providers also grade these injuries one, two or three, with three being a severe rupture. Like hamstrings, Delaney says the calf muscles can heal themselves with time and rehab.

“With calves, you can immobilize [the patient]. At times, I may treat an athlete with a controlled ankle motion boot [CAM boot] to immobilize and give that calf muscle more of a rest,” Delaney says. “With hamstrings, you can just put them on crutches and be non-weight bearing for a short time.”

Delaney says a grade one calf injury is typically two to four weeks of rehab. Grade two is four to six weeks. And a grade three complete rupture can take up to 12 weeks to heal.

Prevention

For prevention of these injuries, “dynamic” is the word of the day. As in, dynamic warmups before competition. Gone are the days of just touching your toes. Delaney has her athletes combine dynamic and static stretches before a practice or game. This might mean a light job around the baseball field to warm up the muscles.

“A lot of athletes can feel these injuries coming on,” Delaney points out. “So back off and modify your activity. Cross training also helps. My long distance runners may go to the pool and work out. Weight training can help.”

Coaches and parents should also keep an eye on young athletes for signs they need a break. Talk to a professional to know the right way to treat injuries at home. You don’t want to apply heat when you should be applying ice, for example. And, empower the youngsters to speak up when they’re hurt.

Learn more

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

Interview clips

Maintaining your voice

Tue, 19 May 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Author's note: This is part two of a two part story on voice disorders and maintaining your voice. Read part one here.

Auctioneers and sports announcers have to fill a room with their voice. Singers like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen belt on stage for three-plus hours. How can they – and you – keep the voice strong and avoid hoarseness or worse, such as a voice disorder?

Some voice issues are unavoidable, but experts like Ashley Brim, a speech language pathologist at OSF HealthCare, want you to have the full picture. She says there are everyday tips to keep your speech mighty.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise and keeping up with doctor appointments. Brim says this reduces your risk of a stroke, which can lead to a voice disorder. It can also prevent everyday illness and coughing.

“If someone has had the flu or COVID and they’ve had a consistent cough, it can cause trauma to the vocal cords,” Brim explains. “The vocal cords are closing so rapidly with each cough.”

Using a humidifier and taking lozenges without menthol can help with that pesky cough, Brim adds.
Aim for 40 to 60 ounces of water per day.

“That’s very helpful in maintaining a healthy environment for your vocal cords. It makes sure they’re not getting too strained,” Brim says.
Watch your caffeine. High amounts can strain your vocal cords, Brim says.

“Do you really need that second latte at noon?” she asks with a smirk.
Don’t yell all the time. Obvious, right? But it’s tricky if you use your voice for a living.

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

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

Learn more

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

Photos

Interview clips

Lifespan vs. health span

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

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

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

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

Guidelines

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

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

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

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

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

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

Limitations

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

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

The bottom line

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

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

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

Learn more

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

Interview clips

Walk which way?

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

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

The styles

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

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

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

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

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

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

The bottom line

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

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

Why it matters

Are you doubting that walking is for you?

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

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

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

Limitations

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

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

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

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

Learn more

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

Interview clips

This little piggy went the wrong way

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

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

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

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

Bunion

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hammer toe

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

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

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

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

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

Finding footwear

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

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

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

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

Learn more

Learn more about foot care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

Stand up for your feet

Find the right foot for summer foot health

Spring clean your health

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0500

Winter means cold, snowy conditions and a desire to stay in. It’s fine to be cozy, but there might be an unintended consequence: you put off or cancel doctor’s appointments.

Now that spring and warmer temperatures have arrived, it’s the perfect time to take stock of your health. What screenings have I missed? What habits can I start at home?

“Whenever we have lags where people are canceling or not following up on visits, we start seeing increased cancers or other things we’re finding. Screenings were delayed. Things were not caught early enough,” says Bethany Huelskoetter, APRN, a family medicine provider at OSF HealthCare. “Let’s say a colonoscopy was canceled because it was too cold outside. It falls through the cracks. Two years pass by, and you realize you never got that colonoscopy. You finally get it, and there’s a tumor.”

A screening cheat sheet

Huelskoetter outlines some screenings to talk with your primary care provider about, noting that things could look different for you based on your health and family history.

Screening	Average risk age	Frequency
Lung cancer	50 years	Every year
Lipid screening	19 years	Every 5 years
Blood pressure	18 years	Every 3-5 years from age 18-39, every year age 40 and up
Diabetes/Prediabetes	35 years	Every three years
Osteoporosis	Women: 65 years // Men: 70 years	Not routinely repeated if normal
Colorectal cancer	45 years	Every 10 years
Breast cancer (women)	40 years	Every year
Cervical cancer	21-25 years	Every 3-5 years
Prostate cancer	50 years	Every 2-4 years
Abdominal aortic aneurysm	Men 65-75 who have ever smoked	One-time ultrasound

On a low-dose CT scan for lung cancer: “It can catch lung cancer early. Lung cancer doesn’t have defined symptoms like colon or breast cancer,” Huelskoetter says. “A lot of times, you catch those nodules early and monitor them yearly or every six months based on what the radiologist finds. Then we can get you scheduled for routine low-dose CTs.”

She adds that this exam is geared toward smokers, but you can always bring it up with your provider.

What about kids?

Huelskoetter says children should see a provider at least once a year for a physical exam and to get caught up on vaccines, if needed.

“Make sure the provider records their height and weight. The provider will do an eye exam, an ear exam and things like that,” Huelskoetter outlines. “We want to make sure we’re not missing anything. A lot of times, eye problems in children can be caught in school. But maybe the child isn’t school age yet. We can get them in, do an exam and maybe catch something early.”

At home

Health care doesn’t end when you leave the clinic. Warm temperatures during spring can bring a renewed sense of optimism about changing daily habits.

“One thing I always tell my patients: move your body,” Huelskoetter implores. “I’m not saying you need to go to the gym and do pushups, sit ups and deadlifts every day. Just move your body. Start at a pace that’s good for you. If you have a sedentary job or lifestyle, get a step counter or smartwatch to track your steps and see where you’re at.”

For example, Huelskoetter says if you’re at 2,000 steps a day, set a goal of 10,000. But start small. For the first month, aim for 3,000 steps a day. Then increase it to 4,000, and so on. You can accomplish this, she says, through 30 minutes of exercise for five days a week.

“This can lead to drastic improvements in your cardiovascular health, your mental health and your overall physical well-being,” Huelskoetter says. “Your joints won’t be as stiff because they’re used to movement.”

Exercise should be paired with healthy food choices, such as cutting back on processed food.

Spring might also be the time you say, “I’m finally going to quit that unhealthy habit,” like smoking.

Huelskoetter’s response? “Now’s the time. Let’s do it,” she says.

“Again, let’s start small. Get an appointment with your provider, and talk about options,” Huelskoetter suggests. “If you don’t feel you can quit cold turkey, which is extremely hard, there are options like Wellbutrin, Chantix or nicotine patches and lozenges. Sometimes we’ll even do cognitive behavioral therapy.”

Photos

Interview clips

Finding the right treatment for ADHD

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0500

From misconceptions about symptoms to stereotypes about drugs like Adderall, there’s a lot to parse out when getting treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects attention, impulse control and activity levels. ADHD is seen in all ages and can overlap with other issues like depression and anxiety.

“ADHD is different from lack of interest or just not paying attention. It includes emotional dysregulation, chronic impatience, restlessness and constant fidgeting. There’s difficulty managing, planning and organizing things,” says Maghav Sharma, MD, an OSF HealthCare psychiatrist. “That leads to difficulties at home or work. It can cause relationship difficulties or difficulties with bosses. Maybe the person is not completing work on time or are impatient with the result of the work.

“We see symptoms of hyperactivity mostly in kids. They’ll run around their classroom. It’s a common reason why teachers and parents send their students to the doctor to get ADHD treatment,” Dr. Sharma adds. “In adults, that anxiousness and restlessness is not outwardly projected. It’s more inside. A person can feel overwhelmed. They are fidgety, restless or on edge.”

All this is why it’s important to get a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Seeing someone like Dr. Sharma would be a good first step. He says therapy can teach skills, like how to plan and be organized, that can help cope with everyday ADHD issues and, at the same time, help if there are other issues present, like depression. For example, if ADHD is causing you to procrastinate on work projects, you could feel anxious about getting in trouble or sad about missed opportunities to move up the corporate ladder.

“We do quite often see people with symptoms of depression or anxiety, but they have underlying ADHD as well,” Dr. Sharma says. “It’s hard to tell sometimes which symptoms are related to anxiety and which are related to ADHD. So we tend to treat the conditions together. Treatment for anxiety and depression can sometimes alleviate the symptoms of ADHD.”

ADHD treatment “never should be just medication,” Dr. Sharma says. But if ADHD is making daily life difficult, medication can be paired “thoughtfully” with other treatment, he says. Stimulants like Adderall and Vyvanse are often starting options for adults. For kids, health care providers might try methylphenidate (Ritalin is a common brand name). A provider could change your medication if side effects are a problem. They could try a non-stimulant like clonidine or guanfacine.

Lifestyle changes also play a big role in ADHD management, Dr. Sharma says. Sticking to a routine – everything from when you sleep to when you leave for work – can help. Exercise, staying hydrated, eating a healthy diet and getting outside to pursue hobbies or be around others can also help your mood.

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

Interview clips

If the weighted vest fits, wear it

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:05:00 -0500

As spring approaches, more people will head outdoors to take a walk or run. One way to add to the intensity of your workout is by wearing a weighted vest.

Adding weight to a walk or run is nothing new. People have been using hand weights or wrists and ankle weights for years. But experts say wearing a vest across your upper body evenly distributes the added weight.

“I highly recommend it to most of my patients, because if you think about it, it adds to whatever kind of exercise you're doing,” says Faheem Ahmad, MD, a sports medicine physician with OSF HealthCare. “If you're doing cardio, it adds resistance or strength training. It adds more of a challenge to it.”

Many benefits

Dr. Ahmad says the benefits include burning more calories, higher heart rate, improved posture, increased strength and gaining a stronger core.

Kicking up the intensity of your workout will make your heart work harder. And walking with a weighted vest works your leg muscles.

“There are many benefits,” he says. “Number one is your muscles. It makes your muscles stronger. It doesn't matter if you're doing cardio or resistance training, you're benefitting from it.”

Anyone can use a weighted vest unless you have experienced certain health conditions including dizziness, high blood pressure, osteoporosis or have recently suffered a heart attack. Added weight doesn’t help if you have arthritis in your hips or knees either.

The key to using a vest is to use caution and start slowly. Add distance and intensity as you get used to wearing the weighted vest.

Start gradually

Dr. Ahmad recommends coming up with a game plan. Begin by using a vest that is 5% of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, begin with a vest that weighs 7.5 pounds. And test your vest by taking a short walk around your neighborhood.

“Start by walking two to three times a week and then do 10 to 15 minutes of exercise per day,” he says. “If you want to push your resistance a little more, then slowly increase by 5% of your body weight every four to six weeks.”

And weighted vests aren’t just for walking or running.

“You can incorporate this into your weight training, your resistance training too, because it gives more resistance, and it gives a challenge to your core, in particular the back muscles,” he says. Just make sure your form, balance and posture are good to avoid potential injury.

Lisa Crocker of Belvidere, Illinois, began using a 10-pound weighted vest last summer, when she read about the trend on TikTok. She started slowly, walking a mile at a time before working up to six miles. She has noticed a significant difference in her workouts.

“The main reasons I wanted one was to help improve my core and posture,” she says. “It’s really helped, and I burn more calories. Now I notice a big difference when I don’t wear it.” Crocker adds that three of her friends have now purchased weighted vests.

Do your homework

Like Crocker, Dr. Ahmad says many of his patients are curious about the idea of wearing a weighted vest. Most of the questions center on benefits and safety issues.

Dr. Ahmad says there is no shortage of weighted vests to choose from. Cost ranges from $30 to $300 and up.

But if wearing a vest isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Dr. Ahmad says what’s most important is getting in your daily steps or miles.

“It doesn't matter what kind of exercise you do,” he says. “But if you incorporate those into your daily life, 150 minutes per week is beneficial for you.”

Always talk with your provider before starting any kind of workout program.

Interview Clips

How to pick a gym

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interview clips

Spine disorders 101

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:30:00 -0600

If you’re at a doctor’s appointment and the provider says “spine disorder,” you might stop in your tracks. But you don’t have to, says Sohail Syed, MD, an OSF HealthCare neurosurgeon. He says to think of spine problems as a spectrum.

“You can be a little outside normal, and it’s not going to be a major problem. You’re probably never going to know. Or you can be in the in-between. You have some symptoms, but it’s not that bad. Maybe we don’t need to do anything. Maybe surgery is more harmful than just living with it. Then there are the clear and obvious cases where the quality of life is so impacted,” Dr. Syed outlines.

Still, it’s worth knowing the terms of spine health and what you can do to manage the problems. First, Dr. Syed highlights two terms that aren’t bonafide disorders but can be problems to correct.

Lordosis: This refers to the normal, c-shaped curvature of the lower back.
Kyphosis: This is the normal curvature of the upper back.

In each case, the term itself doesn’t indicate a deformity. But the curvature can become abnormal, prompting a spine physician to take a look and possibly recommend lifestyle changes.

Bonafide spine disorders include:

Scoliosis: This curvature of the spine brings back pain “from muscles having to compensate to hold the spine and body in the right position,” Dr. Syed says. Sometimes, nerves get pinched, leading to chest, abdomen or leg pain. Severe cases could bring paralysis. Or, a lung could get pinched, leading to impaired breathing. This is called thoracic insufficiency syndrome.

Genetics, nutrition, muscle imbalance and lifestyle can all contribute to getting scoliosis. Your spine can also naturally worsen with age.

“The discs start to thin. The spine starts to tilt. That puts more strain on the joints. They tend to overgrow, twist and change in size. That creates a domino effect. You get this spine that’s really twisted,” Dr. Syed explains.

Dr. Syed adds that most scoliosis cases can be addressed without surgery. The person can change their lifestyle, notably getting on an exercise plan that strengthens the muscles that support the spine. In severe cases, a surgeon would put screws, rods or plates into your spine or make cuts in the bones.

“It pulls the spine into the correct space, frees up the nerves from the pressure on them and gets the spine to heal in that position,” Dr. Syed says.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS): Dr. Syed says this is an inflammatory condition in various joints due to the body’s immune system not working properly.

“Normally, your spine is made up of a bunch of repeating segments. They move relative to each other. That’s how you bend and twist,” Dr. Syed says. “In AS, the joints start to become solid bone because of inflammation. That leads to very stiff, brittle painful bones. People are predisposed to fractures with minor falls. Those people we typically see, unfortunately, in trauma settings. They have brittle, stiff spine that doesn’t have any bend or give. They have a fall, and the spine breaks.”

Dr. Syed says a rheumatologist could put an AS patient on an immune-modifying medicine to prevent inflammation.

Prevention

Keeping a healthy spine comes down to “fundamental good behavior,” Dr. Syed says.

Avoid activities that could injure the spine. That could be everyday things like heavy lifting or career choices like a contact sport.
Maintain a healthy weight through a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

“You don’t want to be too skinny or too big,” Dr. Syed suggests. “That puts either too much strain [when you’re overweight] or not enough muscle to support the spine [when you’re underweight].

“It’s like Goldilocks,” Dr. Syed adds, referring to the “not too hot, not too cold” fairytale. “You want to work out but not too intensely that you’re crossing over into injury.”

Walks or light jogs could be the things for you, he says.
Avoid smoking.

Learn more

The OSF HealthCare website has information on orthopedic health. The OSF Illinois Neurological Institute also provides comprehensive care.

Interview clips

Liver cancer: More cases, but better treatment

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

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

The liver: A recap

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

Liver cancer: Hidden and harmful

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

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

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

Diagnosis and treatment

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

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

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

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

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

Prevention

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

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

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

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

Learn more

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

Interview clips

Navigating the baby blues and more

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

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

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

PMAD basics

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

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

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

Screening and treatment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why it’s important

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

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

Learn more

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

Interview clips

Turning pain into purpose

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Some days, Johnny and Anita Boone can’t find the strength to leave home.

Other days, the two from Monticello, Illinois, are foot soldiers for suicide awareness and prevention, giving young people words of affirmation and tools to cope.

“We don’t want any other parents to join this club,” Johnny says, reflecting on the day their lives changed 28 months ago.

Jamie Boone’s story

Jamie Boone was the youngest of five boys in Johnny and Anita’s blended family. He dealt with health and social problems, including bullying, diabetes and losing two fingers in an at-home accident. But he was tall, bright, outgoing and even a bit onery, his parents say. And he was always there for the people he cared about.

“He was very protective of his friends,” Johnny says. “He had a list on his phone of different friends. Under each friend, it had their favorite movie, what cheers them up. He basically made a mental health safety sheet for each of his friends.”

“He was going to counseling, but he seemed like he was doing OK,” Anita says. “He had worked as a bank teller at the local bank. He was in the Lifesaver program, where he was basically a liaison to help kids avoid drugs and alcohol and improve their mental health. He was very involved.”

But like many who appear fine on the outside, Jamie was struggling on the inside. On Mother’s Day 2023, Jamie graduated from the University of Illinois College of ACES (Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences). He was gearing up for an internship at an accounting firm and pursuing a master’s degree. Sixteen days later, though, Jamie texted his loved ones.

“I’m sorry for everything. I wish I could have been better. I love you all so much,” it read.

Jamie died by suicide that day at age 21.

“He didn’t really let us know about any of the depression that he suffered from,” Anita says. “We were blindsided by his death.”

Mental health challenges in young people

Brittany Algee, APRN, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner at OSF HealthCare, says people Jamie’s age – late teens to mid-20s – have unique mental health challenges.

“It’s the transition phase into adulthood. They’re transitioning into college or a career. They’re starting a family. They have the pressure of being successful. There are financial constraints. They’re figuring out their lives,” Algee says. “They have this unrealistic expectation at 18 to have everything together. It’s very overwhelming.”

That can lead to anxiety and depression, and Algee says social media can make it all worse. Daily, symptoms can look like a lack of motivation, intrusive thoughts, worrying, eating too little or too much, irritability and poor hygiene. Parents should be on the lookout for all these.

“Maybe the child doesn’t want to talk as much. The child is self-isolating. You ask what they did over the weekend, and they say they stayed in bed. Or, they’re not going to class. Maybe the parent is getting a letter saying the child is on academic probation,” Algee says. “Those are red flags to ask ‘What’s going on? Why are we feeling that way?’

“Ask about sleeping habits, too,” she says. “Are they sleeping too much or not enough? Is there substance abuse going on? They could be doing that to self-medicate.”

If parents identify a problem, Algee suggests getting the child in to see their primary care provider, who could provide short-term help like medication while referring them to a mental health provider.

Some other tips from Algee and the Boones:

Get outdoors to clear your head.

“Exercise. Do some hiking or biking. Find hobbies and things you like,” Algee suggests. “I tell my patients not to wait until you have a buddy to do something you like. Nine times out of 10, you’re going to find some like-minded person you’re going to get along with. So if you want to go hear live music, go do it. There will be people there who like live music, too. That will help you meet new people.”
When talking to a loved one about suicide, Johnny Boone says don’t be afraid to get specific. Ask if they have weapons at home. If so, ask to take them or change the combination to the gun safe, for example.
Be mindful of how you talk about mental health and suicide, too. For example, Anita Boone suggests steering clear of phrases like “committed suicide” or “afflicted with mental health” because the person might feel judged.

Grieving a loss

Since Jamie’s death, Anita and Johnny have been in counseling, and Anita hasn’t returned to her accounting job at the University of Illinois. It’s proof that everyone grieves differently, and there’s no schedule for it, Algee says.

“There are numerous stages of grief,” Algee points out. “It’s imperative that you work through all of those stages. Seeing a mental health professional is going to be very beneficial in helping you get through those stages effectively and process the grief.

“Losing a child is absolutely horrific,” she adds. “It’s not something you can put a timeline on. You’re not going to get through it in a few weeks or years. It’s a void that’s difficult to fill. So just make sure you have resources like a therapist, medication and an overall support system.”

For the Boones, grieving involved changing their routine. Driving through the University of Illinois campus where Jamie once thrived is tough, so they steer clear when they can. A hobby of theirs – camping – is out in favor of a simpler outdoor activity – kayaking. Sometimes the couple talks while on the water. Sometimes they just float and cry.

There are even unconventional ways to grieve, as long as you do them safely. When Anita and Johnny need to get emotions out, they’ll take a baseball bat to a plastic pail in their backyard. Neighbors will peek over the fence, and Johnny will flash a thumbs up to show that no one is in danger.

The Jamie Boone Project

Johnny and Anita are still grieving, but they have turned pain into purpose by founding a nonprofit, the Jamie Boone Project. The pair spends hours toiling in their living room, assembling J.A.M.I.E. bags. It stands for Just A Mental Inventory Everyday. The bags contain things to take your mind off the world (stress balls, fidget spinners, journals and coloring books) and also steps to get long-term help, like information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the 741741 Crisis Text Line. Johnny and Anita take the bags to schools, hospitals and anywhere else that could use them.

“We know it’s not curative. It’s just one way to get them through the moment,” Anita says. “For example, some people in a mental health slide might struggle to journal about positives in their life. Instead, the J.A.M.I.E. bags ask you to write down three things that didn’t stink today. It could be something as simple as ‘the car started this morning.’”

The couple has also visited schools and had students write what they call S.A.G.E. words. That stands for Student Affirmations of Grace and Encouragement and is a nod to the Monticello High School mascot, a sage owl. Through S.A.G.E. words, students write things they like about their classmates. Johnny compiles the comments and gives them to each child, sometimes at a milestone event like graduation. It emphasizes a simple message, one that’s on a sign outside the Boone home: you matter.

“We always hear the negative things about us,” Johnny says, speaking generally about how words can hurt. “We need to be more intentional. We need to hear positive things. You don’t realize how much you mean to people.”

“I’ve not had anybody not give us positive feedback on all our work,” he adds. “Monticello and the area have embraced us.”

“I think what the Boones are doing is absolutely phenomenal,” Algee says.

Learn more

If you are experiencing mental or behavioral health issues, such as depression, anxiety or addiction to alcohol or drugs, there are resources available.

The OSF HealthCare website lists resources such as support groups and SilverCloud, an anonymous online platform available to people 18 and up living in an area served by OSF, even if you’re not an OSF patient.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The lifeline encourages veterans to press one to be linked with resources unique to that group.
The 741741 Crisis Text Line, similar to 988. This hotline’s website encourages you to reach if you simply “need to vent.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA.
The Jamie Boone Project website lists other resources and hotlines.

“Talk to somebody. A professional, a friend,” Johnny urges. “Make a mental health safety sheet. Write down what things calm your spirit and who you can talk to. Anything that will help you get through a stressful situation. When you’re in the middle of the stressful situation, you’re not going to remember that you like to listen to a certain music to calm you down. You need to write it down. And make sure you give a copy to a friend or family member you talk to a lot. That way, they can spot the warning signs.”

“It’s OK to not be OK. You’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to have the hard conversation because suicide does not discriminate,” Anita says.

Interview clips - Johnny and Anita Boone

Interview clips - Brittany Algee

B-roll

Additional B-roll

Johnny Boone explains the Jamie Boone Project

Johnny Boone explains the J.A.M.I.E. bags

Managing holiday meals and diabetes

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

Holiday meals bring candy, cookies and other sweets in bountiful amounts. Most of us will chow down with a promise to return to healthy eating tomorrow. But people with diabetes must closely monitor their intake of sugar and carbohydrates at every meal.

What is diabetes?

Aminat Ogun, MD, is a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare. She says diabetes is a disorder that affects how your body uses blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is when an autoimmune reaction stops your body from making insulin. Type 2 is when the body can’t recognize insulin and use it well. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women.

Dr. Ogun says a sedentary lifestyle can be a big risk factor for developing diabetes, so regular exercise is important. Treatment typically involves medication and lifestyle changes.

Moderation is key

Dr. Ogun says there’s no magic number of cookies you can eat on Christmas and walk away with no diabetes complications. Your nutrition depends on your age, sex, height, weight and more. Plus, she says the brain needs some sugar to function.

Dr. Ogun recommends small portions. Put just a couple of cookies or chocolates on your plate after the holiday meal. Don’t keep going back for more.

Mix in healthier snacks, like fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. Look for “whole grain” or “whole wheat” on the label. If you’re craving sugar, try yogurt with berries or an apple with peanut butter. Artificial sweeteners are another option to satisfy the sweet tooth, as Dr. Ogun says they do not raise your blood sugar level. For example, mix a sweetener powder into your water.

Dr. Ogun says if you rely on insulin, check your blood sugar level as often as your doctor advises.

“You would have discussed with your doctor the amount of carbohydrates you can take,” Dr. Ogun says. “Try to keep to that level.”

Dr. Ogun admits it may be more difficult for children not to gorge on holiday sweets. So, parents need to keep a close eye and provide motivation to eat healthy.

“If they eat a certain amount of vegetables of fruits in a day, maybe reward with a cookie or snack,” Dr. Ogun suggests.

Learn more

Symptoms of diabetes include increased urination, increased thirst and blurred vision. More serious cases could bring nausea, vomiting and eye, heart and kidney issues. Nerve damage leading to numbness and tingling in your hands and feet known as diabetic neuropathy is also possible.

“We lose sensation in those areas. People may step on a nail and might not feel it,” Dr. Ogun says. “The issue grows and grows and leads to an ulcer, which makes wound healing harder for diabetic patients.

“That’s when we have to consider amputation,” of a foot, for example, she adds.

Diabetes can also be fatal, Dr. Ogun says.

Read about diabetes care on the OSF HealthCare website. If you have questions about this disorder or have symptoms, talk to your primary care provider.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

OSF HealthCare blog entries on diabetes

OSF HealthCare Newsroom stories on diabetes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interview clips

Navigating menopause: Expert advice for symptom relief

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:32:26 -0500

The transition to menopause – when a person permanently stops having menstrual periods – can bring symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods and anxiety. Women may want to find assistance with these symptoms.

Dennis Sands, MD, is an OSF HealthCare gynecologist and chief medical officer at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, Illinois. He cautions you to be wary of over-the-counter medication that claims to help with all menopause symptoms.

“In general, a lot of the at-home remedies are marketed very well. They are touted as cure-alls or things that will work for the most common complaints, like hot flashes,” Dr. Sands says. “What we’ve found is most of them don’t work.”

Dr. Sands adds that these medicines are marketed as dietary supplements, not pharmaceuticals. So, there’s more wiggle room to make claims about their benefits. Dr. Sands says he’s seen menopause medicine labels at the pharmacy that tout vitamin, soy or phytoestrogen ingredients. Equelle is a common brand name. Dr. Sands says these medicines can have a minor effect on menopause symptoms in healthy people, but they are not cure-alls or effective for all people. In particular, he says irregular bleeding usually requires a treatment plan laid out by a health care provider and an evaluation to rule out something more serious.

That’s where your gynecologist comes in, with Dr. Sands reminding that treatment is different for everyone. The first advice you’ll likely hear: keep up with your health.

“We’ve noticed that people who are healthy overall, exercise well, sleep well and are in good relationships generally do pretty well in the menopausal transition,” Dr. Sands says. “The more stress people are under, the more they’re not as healthy as they could be, the more their sleep is disturbed. It seems a lot of those people tend to have a more difficult transition.”

Estrogen patches and progesterone creams can also help, especially in younger women. A provider may also see if other medications you’re taking are making your menopause symptoms worse.

“If you’re struggling, see your provider and review all the options,” Dr. Sands suggests. “There are some great options that are effective and safe. Generally, they’re only used for a short time to get people through the transition.”

Interview clips

Breast cancer risk: what you can control

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:30:00 -0500

A federal panel recently advised women get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40, rather than 50.

And the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, nearly 300,000 women in the United States will learn they have breast cancer. About 43,700 women will lose their life due to the disease.

The headlines are reminders to know your breast cancer risks. While many risks are out of your control, there’s just as much you can control, says Heather Thompson, a breast health navigator at OSF HealthCare.

Major risks you can control

Active lifestyle and healthy eating: Thompson puts it plainly. If you eat junk, you’ll feel like junk. And any exercise will give you more energy and burn fat. Fat produces estrogen, which feeds cancer cells.

“You want to make sure you’re well-maintained with your weight, even after menopause,” Thompson says.

Taking hormones: This impacts your ovaries, reducing or adding estrogen. Whether you’re at a routine appointment or you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, talk to your provider about what hormones you’re taking.

“We don’t encourage people who are having menopause symptoms [like hot flashes] to take hormones,” Thompson lists as an example. “We encourage other things to help treat those. It eliminates those estrogen cells increasing.”

Alcohol and smoking: They are a risk for any type of cancer. But Thompson says one drink per day can increase a woman’s breast cancer risk by 12%. Alcohol is sugary, and that’s a fuel for estrogen.
Night shift work: Thompson says our body expects to sleep when the sun goes down. Night work throws that off.

“You’re getting artificial light all night. That changes the melatonin that the body naturally makes,” Thompson explains. “When your melatonin is off, it increases estrogen.”

If you don’t work the traditional day job, see if you can work different shifts so you are not up all night all the time.

Risks you can’t control

Age: Thompson says women generally develop breast cancer at age 50 and above.
Family history and genetic mutations: A family history of breast cancer puts you at a higher risk. Thompson says the higher risk is often seen on the person’s mother’s side of the family. For example, your mother and her sister (your aunt) may have breast cancer, and so you’d need to talk to your provider about your risk.

Some women diagnosed with breast cancer and who have a family history may undergo a genetic test.

“Those tests can tell us if this is something being passed down from generation to generation,” Thompson says.

Reproductive history: Young women who develop menstruation before age 12 and women who go through menopause after age 55 have an increased risk.

“That gives them a longer time with their ovaries working. They’re producing estrogen,” Thompson says.

Dense breast: More tissue and less fat mean a dense breast and an increased cancer risk, Thompson says. Usually, the younger you are, the denser your breast is. The density of your breast is something that will be noted on every mammogram result. Thompson says mammogram technology is getting better at finding cancer in dense tissue. An early diagnosis may mean a better outcome.

Takeaways

Make sure your health care provider knows about your circumstances so they can decide on the best preventive care, like a different schedule for mammograms. Some of the information to have handy: a family history of cancer and any physical change you noticed during your monthly breast self-check.

Learn more about breast health and breast cancer care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

A breast cancer survivor's toolkit
Say yes ma'am to the mammogram
FDA dense breast rule promotes earlier cancer detection
A woman's battle with breast cancer
Prevention of breast cancer starts with awareness

1, 1.5 and 2: The numbers of diabetes

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:56:44 -0500

You’ve heard of Types 1 and 2 diabetes, but what about Type 1.5?

Singer Lance Bass is among the people who have shared their story about a diabetes diagnosis that was later found to be Type 1.5. Now, health care providers are continuing to educate the public about this relatively new term – one that deserves as much attention as Types 1 and 2.

Diabetes: a recap

Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, recaps Types 1 and 2 diabetes and where Type 1.5 fits in:

Type 1: Dr. Ogun says the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

“Insulin is a hormone that brings glucose from food from the blood to the body’s cells for energy. So in Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas isn’t producing insulin,” Dr. Ogun explains. “This type of diabetes is usually seen in childhood and adolescence. It’s sudden onset. Symptoms are increased urination, increased thirst, weight loss and blurry vision. A lot of these people are dependent on insulin shots.”
Type 2: The pancreas is producing insulin, but the body doesn’t recognize it. Dr. Ogun says these patients are typically age 40 and up, and the disease has a gradual onset.

“Management is lifestyle modifications, like a healthy diet and physical activity,” Dr. Ogun says. “And there are medications to help control blood sugar like Metformin and Jardiance®, plus insulin shots.”
Type 1.5: This is also called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).

“It’s a slow progressing form of Type 1 diabetes. It’s autoimmune like Type 1, but it’s usually seen in adults,” Dr. Ogun says. Symptoms are similar to Type 2 diabetes: fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Or, Dr. Ogun says some people may have little to no symptoms.

More on Type 1.5

So, if Type 1.5 diabetes can mimic Types 1 and 2, how do providers pin down a diagnosis?

Dr. Ogun says it’s something providers are learning more about and getting better at. She says providers will take a blood sample to look at your blood glucose and antibodies. Providers can also sample your blood or urine to look at your C-peptide level. C-peptide is a byproduct of insulin production, and if it’s low it’s cause for concern.

Treatment is similar to Type 2 diabetes: oral medication or an injectable GLP-1 medication like Ozempic®.

“But eventually once the autoimmune destruction happens, the person will need regular insulin,” Dr. Ogun says. “One good thing is that if you are aware the person might have Type 1.5, starting insulin earlier is a little bit better. Maybe that can preserve some of the cells in the pancreas and preserve some pancreas function.”

Shoring up your diet and exercise can also help.

Prevention

Dr. Ogun says since Type 1.5 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, there’s no bonafide way to prevent it. She adds there is a genetic component, meaning a child of someone with Type 1.5 is at a higher risk to get in themselves.

But, Dr. Ogun says sometimes education can be the best prevention. She says she’s happy Lance Bass has spoken out. Bass is active, fit and has diabetes – a sign that it can happen to anyone, and you should be aware of the disease.

Learn more

Read more about preventing and managing diabetes on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Don’t feel the burn

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 07:50:06 -0500

Burnout.

It means different things to different people. But one thing’s for sure: you should know the skills to cope with burnout to avoid a mental health crisis.

“Things are really expensive right now. People are looking for jobs. There’s a political climate with a lot of changes. It’s all created a lot of upset,” says Sara Bennett, an OSF HealthCare psychotherapist, commenting on the prevalence of burnout today. “And social media has a big role in how we feel. We see everybody’s problems. Or the opposite: Everybody’s life is so great and rosy. It leaves us wondering what we’re doing wrong.”

Causes and symptoms

Bennett says burnout doesn’t have a written-in-stone clinical diagnosis like, for example, the flu does. But generally, she describes it as physical, mental or emotional exhaustion that makes it difficult to navigate life. Issues with your job, school, finances, health and relationships can all lead to burnout.

“You’re probably going to feel a lack of concern. We call that apathy. You might not care if something’s going on. You might have a lack of interest in things you usually enjoy,” Bennett explains. “You might not be sleeping well. You might get stomachaches or headaches. You may be irritable.”

A sense of hopelessness can also occur. You might feel like things will never get better, or you can never get ahead of your problems, Bennett says.

Treatment

From your home to the doctor’s office, there are ways to navigate burnout.

First, Bennett says you should take stock of the situation you’re in. Is it one that will resolve itself soon? Or do you need a bigger plan? For example, Bennett says accountants can be stressed during tax season. But after all the filings are done and the chaos dies down, their mental health will likely get a boost.
Take care of the basics. Get good sleep. Eat a healthy diet. Exercise regularly.
Ask someone for help. For example, if caring for an elderly family member causes stress, ask a neighbor to man the house for an hour so you can get some fresh air or take a nap.
Learn to say no. You can’t be all things to all people. So, recognize when you don’t have the bandwidth to take on a task.

“Learn to prioritize,” Bennett suggests. “Figure out the things you can’t say no to. The things that are really important. Or maybe there’s some suffering involved, and you’re the person that can help.”
See a health care provider.

“Doctors can prescribe something that might help you through a short-term experience,” Bennett says. “Therapists can engage you unlike others in your life. They can process stressors with you. They can give you good coping skills and relaxation techniques.”

For example, Bennett says she may work with someone to identify what they can and can’t control in their life and encourage them not to get hung up on the latter. Journaling can also help avoid bottled up emotions. And, Bennett implores people to be grateful for the good things in life.

Learn more

Read more about healthy thoughts and behaviors on the OSF HealthCare website. If your burnout has reached a crisis where you are thinking about harming yourself or others, talk to a trusted adult or mental health professional or go the emergency department right away. The 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available.

Interview clips

Restoring not just your heart

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:30:00 -0500

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Treat your body like a temple.”

Bob Weaver admits he used to treat his like a tent.

The 62-year-old OSF HealthCare Mission Partner (employee) from Danville, Illinois, has had three heart stents to fix blockages. The most recent came in October 2024, something he dubbed a “last chance wake up call.”

And wake up he did.

During cardiac rehabilitation, Weaver lost 33 pounds, four inches off his waist and got his blood pressure and cholesterol back to a healthy level. Now, he and his care team are using the experience to educate others: how will your body change when recovering from a heart event? What’s normal, and what’s not?

Things to track in cardiac rehab

Tricia Herman is a registered nurse who was on the team who guided Weaver in cardiac rehab. She emphasizes that cardiac rehab isn’t a weight loss program. But, a slim down like Weaver had isn’t uncommon.

“Everybody’s different,” Herman says. “Some people come to cardiac rehab, and they don’t need to lose weight. Others may be really heavy, and we hope by the end they lose five to 10 pounds.”

Extreme weight loss, where someone looks very thin and sickly, would be a red flag though. Herman says that would likely mean there’s another health problem.

“Being in that state is not healthy for your heart and body,” Herman says.

Heart rate and blood pressure changes are expected during cardiac rehab, too.

“The top number in a blood pressure reading is your systolic blood pressure. That’s when your heart is beating. It’s the pressure up against the arteries. We want that at 90 to 120,” Herman explains. “The lower number is when your heart is resting. It’s called diastole or diastolic. We want that at 60 to 80.

“If we see elevated blood pressure, we’re going to talk with the person about their salt intake, their diet overall and their exercise,” Herman adds. “If we continually see the blood pressure going higher, we’re going to communicate with the doctor. The doctor may need to add medication. And we want to make sure the person is compliant with the medication.”

If a person’s blood pressure is low, Herman says the care team will ask, among other things, if they’re drinking enough water and if they took too much of their blood pressure medication. Or, Herman says, the person might need to go off their medication.

Bob’s outlook

Weaver jokes that his diet consists of a lot of chicken and vegetables these days. But he’ll take it if it means a new lease on life.

“I sleep better. I can do activities longer before I get winded. Things like yard work or just walking. Minimal things you’d think anybody could do. But after a while, I got winded. Now it’s a lot easier to do it longer and faster,” Weaver says.

“You think about your family. You want to be around more than 62 years,” he adds. “I went to the gym on a lot of days right after work. They weren’t necessarily the same days I had rehab. So I was able to double up the workouts.”

He's telling others to stick with their recovery plan, research your family history and know the symptoms of a heart event. For Weaver, that was a father who had heart disease, coupled with his own chest pain and weakness back in October.

“Just keep at it. If I can do it, anybody can do it,” he says.

Learn more

Read more about keeping your heart healthy on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips - Bob Weaver

Interview clips - Tricia Herman

‘I never knew one of my radio shows would save my life.’

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:52:45 -0500

Laura Williams, a community college administrator turned radio host in Danville, Illinois, is all about educating the public about staying healthy. Each May to mark Stroke Awareness Month, Williams would interview Leslie Ingold, RN, a regional stroke navigator at OSF HealthCare.

The advice from Ingold was well known but important: know your stroke risk factors, and if you have stroke symptoms, get to the hospital right away.

But what Williams didn’t know is that she would soon use the information from those interviews to save her life.

“If it wasn’t for that interview, I don’t know what it would have turned into,” Williams says.

Williams’ story

The 63-year-old Williams remembers one day in March of 2024 when she woke up dizzy.

“My left side was a little off kilter. I thought ‘This is strange. I’m feeling kind of weird. What’s wrong with me?’,” Williams recalls. “I thought I just better lay back down. I just didn’t feel good.

“I started to lay back down, and an interview popped into my mind. I had interviewed Leslie Ingold about strokes. What she said kept running through my mind: do not go to sleep. Do not go back to bed. That’s the worst thing you can do if you’re having a stroke,” Williams adds.

Williams says she woke her husband and said, “I think I’m having a stroke.” The pair got to OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville, where doctors determined she had a small ischemic stroke.

What to know about ischemic strokes

Ingold says an ischemic stroke can occur when a blood clot breaks off from any part of your body, travels to your brain and obstructs the brain’s blood vessels. That’s opposed to a hemorrhagic stroke, where blood comes out of a brain vessel due to a leak or burst.

Is a small ischemic stroke like Williams’ common?

“Everybody’s different. Everybody’s brain is different. So it’s hard to really say what a normal stroke looks like,” Ingold says. “[The severity] also depends on how quickly you recognize the symptoms and get to the hospital. If you can get here quicker, that could be less damage.”

Time is brain, in other words. So, remember the acronym BEFAST. If you notice irregularities with your balance, eyes, face, arms or speech, it’s time to call 9-1-1. And, talk to younger people in your life about those signs. Ingold says strokes aren’t just an old person thing. She’s seeing more people in their 30s, 40s and 50s come to the hospital with stroke symptoms.

“The brain has something called neuroplasticity,” Ingold adds. “So the quicker you can start physical, occupational or speech therapy [after a stroke], it impacts those brain neurons. We don’t always get them back, but the brain can sometimes remember how to get your strength back.”

Prevention

Some risk factors for stroke, like your family history of health issues, are unchangeable. But you can spin that into things you can control.

“You can check in with your primary care provider and see how best to fix things,” Ingold says. “Do you need to lose weight? Do you need to eat a better diet? Medication? Exercise? You can watch your blood pressure and diabetes. Small amounts of walking. Walk in your home in the winter months. Do some arm exercises with water bottles or cans of food. All that makes a difference.

“And the most obvious modifiable risk factor is smoking or vaping. We see a lot of patients with a history of vaping. Smoking and vaping are equally bad for you. We encourage you to stop. If you need help, talk to your primary care provider about products to help you stop,” Ingold adds.

Williams today

After a three-day hospital stay, Williams went home with no long-term deficits. She’s now preaching stroke prevention through a healthy diet, active lifestyle, knowing your body and more. For one, Williams now wears a medical alert bracelet. It contains her health information if she’s stricken and can’t talk. She’s also put that information on her refrigerator so her grandchildren will know what to do in an emergency.

Plus, Williams wants others to be empowered, not embarrassed, to go to the hospital with a possible stroke. The mindset of “I felt bad earlier, but I feel fine now. I’ll just waste their time.” is not the way to go, she says.

“I never knew that one of my radio shows might end up saving my life. Or end up saving me from something like paralysis,” Williams says. “I really feel like that conversation with Leslie saved my life and made a difference in my outcome.”

Says Ingold: “I’m very thankful Laura had us on her show. I’m so thankful she listened. I’m so thankful that when we have an audience, they listen. It might not affect them today, tomorrow or even next year. But the fact that they’ve heard it and remember it makes all the difference in the world.

“If I can be a part of that, that makes my heart warm,” she says.

Learn more

Read more about how health care providers prevent and treat strokes on the OSF HealthCare website.

Photos

Interview clips - Laura Williams

A shin-termission: Navigating lower leg pain

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

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

Shin splint basics

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

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

Diagnosis and treatment

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

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

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

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

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

Prevention

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

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

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

Learn more

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

Interview clips

Get cozy: How to exercise at home

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

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

What is cozy cardio?

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

Equipment

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

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

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

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

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

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

Safety

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

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

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

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

How much?

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

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

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

Interview clips

Running on empty

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 10:30:00 -0500

Feeling tired all the time no matter what you do? Is it making it difficult to enjoy life? You might want to talk to your health care provider about chronic fatigue syndrome. Experts say it’s a tough ailment to live with and a tough one for science to grasp, but there are ways to ease the symptoms.

“It is challenging, for sure,” says Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare. “Feeling that intense fatigue day to day for normal activities that other people can tolerate.”

Symptoms and diagnosis

Dr. Ogun says there’s no known, specific cause for chronic fatigue syndrome. But it’s associated with other health issues: viral infections like Epstein-Barr, coronavirus and retroviruses; Lyme disease; depression and sleep disruption. Dr. Ogun says the disorder impacts women more than men and is most often seen in ages 30 to 50.

There’s no test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome, so providers will look at five symptoms:

Persistent fatigue
Malaise (feeling discomfort or ill) after exerting yourself

“If you’ve done any mental or physical activity and you have that sudden onset of feeling fatigued and very tired,” Dr. Ogun explains.

Feeling unrefreshed after sleeping
Memory and concentration problems
Orthostatic intolerance. This is a disorder where your blood pressure rises when you stand up.

“If you’ve had six months of these symptoms with moderate to severe intensity at least half of the time,” you’d likely be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, Dr. Ogun says. “It’s through history taking. When you see your primary care provider, they ask questions. That’s how it’s diagnosed.”

Treatment

Treatment for chronic fatigue symptoms can include medicine and lifestyle changes.

A provider may recommend medication to help with the joint and muscle aches, nausea, headaches and depression that can come with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Seeing a mental health professional
Diet changes
Graded exercise therapy. A provider will work with you to increase physical activity over time. This can help with overall energy.
Improve sleep habits.

“Go away from screen time a couple hours before sleep. Don’t exercise right before sleep. That can also affect your sleep pattern,” Dr. Ogun lists as two examples.

Dr. Ogun says each treatment plan is different. Medical experts don’t know when, on average, chronic fatigue syndrome will go away. You may have to manage symptoms for the rest of your life. Dr. Ogun says you should stay in close contact with your primary care provider about your treatment plan.

Learn more

Read more about managing chronic fatigue syndrome on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

New treatment provides hope for people with fatty liver

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:47:00 -0500

The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first treatment for people with liver scarring due to fatty liver disease. It's welcome news for people battling the disease.

How did we get here?

In some ways, it goes back to the obesity epidemic in the United States. Obesity brings an increased risk of fatty liver disease, an ailment that’s treatable but could mean serious complications. Moreover, health experts say isolation during the pandemic led may to increase alcohol intake, another risk factor for fatty liver.

David Rzepczynski, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare, describes the liver as an “extremely important” factory for the body. It performs many functions, like detoxifying medications, aiding digestion and making cholesterol, proteins and amino acids that help the body function. And have you ever missed a meal? You can thank your liver for releasing glucose and giving you energy.

All those “factory functions” make it critical to be watchful of fatty liver disease. As the name suggests, the disease describes an accumulation of fatty cells in the liver. Dr. Rzepczynski says it takes just 5% of cells with increased fat to make a diagnosis, but some obese people have 100% of cells with fat.

Hepatitis C and excessive alcohol use can cause fatty liver disease or are at least linked to it. But you can still get fatty liver if you’re not a heavy drinker, and that’s where your weight comes into play.

“The big driving force of fatty liver disease is what we call the metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Rzepczynski explains. “There are five factors: obesity, diabetes, hypertension [high blood pressure], high cholesterol and insulin resistance.”

Dr. Rzepczynski adds that fatty liver disease may cause pain in the upper abdomen, but it mostly comes without symptoms. So if any of those five risk factors apply to you or if you’re a heavy drinker, don’t wait. Talk to your health care provider about getting your liver looked at.

A doctor will likely start with a blood test, Dr. Rzepczynski says. An ultrasound or biopsy may also be needed. The next step: lose weight.

“It doesn’t have to be getting back to your ideal body weight,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “Losing 5% of your weight can reduce fat in the liver. Losing 7% will help reverse some of the inflammation associated with fatty liver. And some studies have even shown that losing 10% or more might reverse some of the scarring.”

While it may be a bit alarming, left unchecked, fatty liver disease can lead to a serious condition called cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver.

“You have normal liver tissue replaced by scar tissue,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “When that occurs, you have a loss of liver function. You have less liver cells performing their duties.”

Cirrhosis of the liver can cause the organ to fail, making a transplant necessary. Liver issues can also mean an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, particularly breast and colon cancer.

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

Interview clips

Don’t confuse these types of cancer

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0600

Anal and rectal cancer occur in parts of the body near each other, and they both have prevention steps and time-tested treatments. But they are different types of cancer, says Raman Kumar, MD, a colorectal and general surgeon with OSF HealthCare.

Rectal cancer

Dr. Kumar says the rectum is the last part of the colon, where stool is stored.

Signs of rectal cancer include bleeding, irregular bowel movements (such as the shape of the stool changing and the inability to have a complete bowel movement), weight loss, fatigue and pain in the rectal area.

Rectal cancer impacts men and women roughly equally, and it’s seen “at almost any age,” Dr. Kumar says. If you smoke and eat a lot of red meat and processed food, your risk will go up.

Anal cancer

Dr. Kumar says the anus is where stool comes out. He says signs of anal cancer can be like those of rectal cancer. But often, he says an anal cancer diagnosis starts when a person believes they have hemorrhoids, or when the veins or blood vessels around the anus and lower rectum become swollen and irritated due to extra pressure.

“It turns out not to be a hemorrhoid. It could be a mass or a lesion. You could have some bleeding, especially when you’re wiping with toilet paper or wet wipes,” Dr. Kumar says.

Anal cancer’s prevalence in the United States is “very low,” Dr. Kumar says, with around 8,000 cases per year. Around two-thirds of the cases are women, and it’s more common in age 50 and up.

“The number one cause of anal cancer is HPV, the human papillomavirus,” Dr. Kumar says. “So, it is considered a sexually transmitted disease.”

But he says you don’t have to be sexually active to get anal cancer. Regardless, there are vaccines for the most common HPVs that cause cancer.

Prevention and treatment

Symptoms aside, Dr. Kumar says there’s a must-do for anal and rectal cancer prevention: get on a colonoscopy schedule as advised by your health care provider. A colonoscopy is when a provider inspects your colon and surrounding areas using a tiny camera on the end of a tube. Dr. Kumar says generally, colonoscopies start at age 45. But they could start earlier if you have a family history of cancer.

Other tips: Don’t smoke. Exercise regularly. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber. Thirty grams of fiber per day is a good goal, Dr. Kumar says.

If you do have symptoms of anal or rectal cancer, see a provider to get checked out.

Dr. Kumar says treatment for anal cancer is usually chemotherapy and radiation therapy. He says when treated properly, the typical five-year survival rate is around 80%.

“The only times we would operate on anal cancer are to get the original [cancerous] mass out and if the cancer comes back,” Dr. Kumar explains.

For rectal cancer, Dr. Kumar says around 40% of people can also be treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Others will need surgery to remove the cancer. But Dr. Kumar says medicine has progressed to where people can typically avoid a colostomy, or when a part of the colon is diverted outside the skin to bypass a damaged part of the colon. This is temporary and comes with a bag that collects the waste that would normally leave your body via a bowel movement.

Learn more

Read more about prevention and treatment of rectal and anal cancer on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Kickin' cancer

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 09:37:17 -0600

Three, two, one.

Jack Sandford is 14, and his world is about to turn upside down as the gate flings open on his first bull ride.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie. I like to push stuff to the limit,” Sandford says with a smile.

Fast forward to June of 2023, and Sandford’s world is about to change again.

Three, two, one.

The door at OSF Moeller Cancer Center in Alton, Illinois, opens, and Dr. Manpreet Sandhu walks in. She tells Sanford he has cancer in his upper intestine, liver and lymph nodes. It’s in an advanced state and not curable. Devastating news for anyone.

But cancer wasn’t about to slow down the 67-year-old from Brighton, Illinois. He’s still bull riding on a senior tour during chemotherapy, making him a prime example of why staying active during cancer can help in the fight.

Jack’s journey

A Virginia native and Army veteran, Sandford came to southern Illinois around a decade ago to take a manufacturing job. He rode bulls off and on during that time, earning the nickname Sandman.

In late May of 2023, Sandford was at a rodeo and got sick.

“I was throwing up and couldn’t ride,” he recalls.

At first, he and his wife thought it was food poisoning.

“My wife cooks great food, though,” Sandford says, ruling idea one out.

Next stop: seeing a doctor.

Sandford went to OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, Illinois. Providers quickly told him more advanced imaging was needed to get to the bottom of things. Then came the cancer diagnosis and a treatment plan.

“I’m here every other Monday getting chemo,” Sandford lays out matter-of-factly. “I get sick. I have my bad days and good days. It makes you irritable and hard to be around. But you just have to not really think about it that badly. You just need to keep moving forward.”

Why staying active is important

In her early visits with Sandford, Dr. Sandhu says it was clear that he wanted to stay active. It’s advice she would give anyone on a cancer journey.

“We have conversations with our patients to see where they are and what their goals are,” says Dr. Sandhu, a medical oncologist.

“Chemotherapy medicines are strong. They will make your muscles and bones weak,” she adds. “If we maintain our physical strength, we’re able to counteract those side effects better. In addition, staying active also improves immune health.”

Pursuing hobbies can also boost your mental health and bring a sense of achievement, Dr. Sandhu adds. It’s something critical during a difficult cancer fight.

“Start slow. Small steps,” Dr. Sandhu advises. “We tell our patients: one day at a time. We’re not going to look five years out. We’re going to look to tomorrow.”

For example, Dr. Sandhu sees people who are on chemotherapy and think they are too weak to exercise. She suggests starting on a pedal bike, then progressing to walking. And don’t make it a chore. Do it outside with family or friends. Find joy in the activities.

Sandford agrees, especially about having a support system. He’s lucky to have two: his family by blood and his bull riding family.

“We always take care of each other. We have a prayer service before rodeo,” Sandford says.

Ride on

Sandford is now the oldest bull rider on his senior tour. He’s had ups (placing high in competitions) and downs (a broken collarbone thanks to a mean old bull). But he’s not hanging up his jacket anytime soon.

“The man upstairs put a bump in the road for me. He didn’t tell me to quit,” he says.

Three, two, one. On to the next challenge.

Interview clips - Jack Sandford

Interview clips - Dr. Manpreet Sandhu

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Handle with care: A guide to safely use smelling salts

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0600

Winning a sporting event can come down to the last second or even just a couple of inches. And athletes look for whatever might give them the edge against their opponents.

One example: smelling salts, a trend that is making the rounds on social media.

What are smelling salts?

Ammonia inhalants, commonly known as smelling salts, are bottled powders or packets used to arouse consciousness. The British Journal of Sports Medicine reports the release of ammonia gas irritates the membranes of the nose and lungs, which triggers an inhalation reflex. Athletes use this as an added burst of energy before hitting the field, and body builders may use this before a max-weight lift in the gym.

Karan Rai, MD, is a sports medicine physician with OSF HealthCare. He says the smelling salts can also increase your heart rate and give a sense of having more energy.

“Typically, though, that’s more of a placebo effect,” Dr. Rai says.

Are there dangers to smelling salts?

For the most part, there are no significant health risks to athletes using smelling salts. Dr. Rai says his directions are more focused on the proper way to use them.

“The most detrimental part of a smelling salt is if you are holding it too close to your nose or using it too often,” Dr. Rai says. “It can cause some injury if used too frequently. I definitely would not recommend inserting them into your nostrils.”

How do smelling salts impact those with heart conditions?

As Dr. Rai mentioned, smelling salts can increase your heart rate. So, what impact does this have on someone with a heart condition?

“The time that the body is having that increased heart rate shouldn’t be enough to exacerbate anyone’s cardiac status if they do have an underlying atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia,” Dr. Rai says.

How can smelling salts affect someone’s routine?

Studies have shown routine and superstition before and/or during a sporting event can help boost your performance.

“Smelling salts can be part of someone’s routine or superstition, prior to performing a maximal lift in the weight room or before participating in an athletic competition. That has shown routines and superstitions help you get more prepared and more focused,” Dr. Rai adds.

Should smelling salts be used after a head injury?

Dr. Rai says smelling salts, or a form of them, have been used since the Victorian ages. The British Journal of Sports Medicine concludes that smelling salts were used to help women who had fainting spells. But the Journal cites a lack of evidence showing any benefit to using smelling salts after a sport-related head injury. Dr. Rai agrees.

“This was thought to help revive an athlete. Nowadays that is contraindicated. One reason is when someone is being assessed for a head injury, another concerning area is if they’ve had a spinal injury,” Dr. Rai says. “Typically, if you’re inhaling that salt, it can cause a whiplash effect on your cervical spine, which can exacerbate an underlying injury.”

Dr. Rai says if you’re considering trying out smelling salts, speak with your health care provider first.

Video Interview Clips

Senior heart health tips

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

The National Institute on Aging says people age 65 and older are at a higher risk for heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease and heart failure. Now is the perfect time for people 65+ and their caregivers to arm themselves with the information and supplies needed to keep their heart healthy.

Karen Whitehorn, MD, is an internal medicine physician at OSF HealthCare. Of the many risk factors for heart issues in older people, she points to blood pressure as a big one to watch. Dr. Whitehorn says a healthy blood pressure reading is 130/80 and below.

“If you’re on medication, take your medicine every day,” to keep your blood pressure normal, Dr. Whitehorn says. “Exercise and eat healthy. You want a diet that’s low in sodium and processed food. You want fruits, vegetables, fresh whole grains and lean proteins like turkey, chicken and lean pork.”

An annual physical exam is critical, too.

On exercise, Dr. Whitehorn admits mobility may be an issue for older people. She recommends checking with a health care provider like a physical therapist to see what exercises are right for you. Some workouts can be done sitting down. Low-impact cardio like walking is an option.

“But if any exercises hurt, don’t do them,” Dr. Whitehorn warns. “If you walk too far and you’re having pain, stop walking. You might not want to walk every single day.”

Dr. Whitehorn says if you have high blood pressure, check it at least once a day at home. Ask your health care provider what type of home blood pressure kit is best. If you don’t have high blood pressure, check it every six months. Your provider should also check your blood pressure when you have an appointment. But Dr. Whitehorn says don’t worry if that reading is a little high.

“People get nervous just seeing the doctor. They’re already a little upset because they have to come to the doctor,” Dr. Whitehorn says of the phenomenon known as white coat syndrome. “So when you take their blood pressure, it goes up. Normally, the nurse takes the blood pressure first. Then, after the person has been resting for a while, the doctor takes it again. It usually comes down.”

Other symptoms of heart issues include shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness. Someone experiencing a heart attack might suffer nausea and neck, arm or shoulder pain. If you experience these symptoms, call 9-1-1 right away.

Your doctor may order a stress test to get a better idea if your symptoms are indeed due to a heart problem. Dr. Whitehorn says one type of stress test puts you on a treadmill while your heart rhythm is monitored.

“If the rhythm is abnormal, it might indicate there’s a problem with your heart,” Dr. Whitehorn says.

For people who can’t tolerate walking or jogging on a treadmill, there is medicine to safely increase their heart rate while a health care provider monitors.

If the results of the stress test warrant further examination, a doctor will perform a cardiac catheterization. They will insert a catheter, usually through the groin, and send it up to your heart to take images using contrast dye. This will show if any of your arteries are narrow and what steps the provider will take next, short term and long term.

Learn more about heart care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

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When exhaustion is something more serious

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0500

A survivor of a 2019 heart attack, Randy Isham was already on notice.

But Randy and his wife Dawn, retirees in Mansfield, Illinois, couldn’t predict the chaotic events of May 24, 2023. An ambulance took Randy to OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in nearby Urbana, and the man was soon fighting for his life due to a second heart attack.

“I’m glad to be alive,” Randy puts it plainly.

The Ishams and their OSF care team have now joined the chorus of heart health advocates, urging others to know when everyday exhaustion or dehydration is something more serious, especially if you have a history of heart issues.

From garage to gurney

On May 24, Randy was assembling a table in the garage when he began to feel weak but had no pain.

“When I touched his arm, it was a cold sweat,” Dawn recalls. “That’s when I got concerned that this didn’t seem right. Let’s call 9-1-1.”

It was in the ambulance that first responders determined Randy was having a heart attack. That’s when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart is narrowed or blocked. Heart cells begin to suffer damage and die, and the heart no longer works how it should. Serious, life-long health issues or even death can result.

Randy coded at the hospital, adding to the urgency.

“It means there is no pulse. The heart stops. There is no blood reaching the brain and the whole body,” explains Tariq Enezate, MD, one of Randy’s OSF cardiologists. “When that happens, you need to know why and act fast.”

As the hospital pastoral care team and other Mission Partners (employees) kept Dawn informed, Randy was fighting for his life. He was without a pulse for 20 minutes, Dawn says, before Dr. Enezate’s team was able to revive him. Along the way, they removed a blood clot stemming from plaque buildup that they believe was the source of the heart attack. They then put in a stent. Randy is up to three stents, he points out, after his 2019 heart attack. It’s something he can speak about with relative ease now, but the nine-day hospital stay was no laughing matter.

“It could have gone either way,” Dawn says. “They wanted me to call the family in.”

Dr. Enezate describes the scene: “I had to go inside his heart while they were doing chest compressions. I was able to open [the blocked area in] his heart. At that moment, blood flow started back to the heart, and his pulse came back.

“Minutes mean muscle,” during heart attacks, Dr. Enezate adds. “The faster you restore flow in the artery and put a stent in, it’s better for the patient. It relieves their pain. It decreases the risk of complications.”

Lessons learned

Dr. Enezate calls Randy his miracle patient, and the Ishams agree.

“It was lucky he made it,” Dr. Enezate says. “I think the fact he came in early helped him.

“When we saw him coming back, that moment I can’t describe. It’s worth the world for all of us,” he adds.

Dr. Enezate’s affirmations “just gave me a nice warm feeling,” Randy says.

“Everybody there treated me like I was the only patient they had,” he adds, noting daily visits from Pastor Dave Jassman gave the couple strength.

Randy is back at home, doing well and receiving care typical for people who have suffered a major heart event, like therapy through OSF Home Care and cardiac rehabilitation. And he and Dawn are back at the healthy lifestyles that became the norm after Randy’s 2019 heart attack. Exercise is good, but no long work periods in the summer heat, for example. You’ll find Dawn cooking fish instead of steak. A tough, but necessary adjustment, Randy chuckles. Recipes from the American Heart Association also help.

“I used to think I was invincible, but I realize I’m not anymore,” Randy says.

The Ishams are also urging others to research trusted sources and learn not just the signs of a heart attack, but how to tell the difference between those signs and everyday pain like Randy thought he had on May 24. And don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 when something is wrong.

“It could save your life,” Dawn says.

Dr. Enezate says the classic symptom of a heart attack is chest pain. Some people describe it as an elephant weighing on their chest. You may also be short of breath, sweat, feel anxious or feel like you’re going to pass out. Or you may have no warning signs, and suddenly you’ve collapsed.

“If you have symptoms and you’re not sure why, call [a health care provider] for advice,” Dr. Enezate advises.

What about prevention for people who’ve had a heart attack?

Practice healthy habits, Dr. Enezate says. Don’t smoke. Take medication as directed by your provider. Control risk factors like diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. Exercise and eat right.

Learn more

Read more about how to care for your heart on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips - Dawn and Randy Isham

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Prediabetes vs. diabetes: Pay attention to both

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:36:00 -0500

In the 2023 State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden renewed a call to cap the price of insulin for people with diabetes.

Five days later, the condition got nationwide attention again when singer Nick Jonas, a type 1 diabetic, starred in a Super Bowl commercial promoting a product that monitors your glucose level.

And a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted a rapid rise in cases of diabetes in young people over the next few decades.

It’s a good thing that influencers and medical professionals continue to preach diabetes awareness, says Uche Allanah, MD, an internal medicine physician with OSF HealthCare. That’s because if undiagnosed or untreated, diabetes can be fatal.

“It’s alarming,” Dr. Allanah says, referring to the number of patients she sees with symptoms or precursors of diabetes.

Prediabetes vs. diabetes

Diabetes is a disorder that affects how your body uses blood sugar, from which our blood cells get energy. Type 1 diabetes is when an autoimmune reaction stops your body from making insulin. Without insulin, blood sugar cannot move out of your bloodstream and into cells. With Type 2, your body still produces insulin but doesn’t use it efficiently. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women. Diabetes symptoms include increased urination, increased thirst, increased hunger and unexplained weight loss.

Dr. Allanah says prediabetes describes when you are at risk for diabetes because your blood sugar is higher than normal. She says a blood test is necessary to diagnose prediabetes because you don’t present with symptoms. In fact, the American Medical Association says of the one in three U.S. adults with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.

“It’s important to identify prediabetes because you can stall the development of diabetes and actually prevent a patient from becoming diabetic,” Dr. Allanah says.

Risk factors for prediabetes include obesity, sleep apnea and polycystic ovary syndrome in women. Providers also look at a person’s family history of the disease, and Dr. Allanah says certain groups -- African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, Asian Americans and American Indians -- are at higher risk.

Dr. Allanah advises everyone to have regular checkups with their primary care provider to keep an eye on the risk factors you can control. Also, practice healthy habits from a young age.

“Eat right. Avoid processed food,” Dr. Allanah advises. “Exercise. A lot of people are sedentary, especially due to the pandemic. People who went to the gym no longer workout. Even now that the stay-at-home orders have been lifted, some people are just not back into their previous lifestyle.”

Dr. Allanah also says a prediabetes or diabetes diagnosis is a lot to handle. Some people may have to learn to safely give themselves shots. Others may have to constantly watch for low blood sugar to avoid fainting. Providers realize this and will be there to answer questions. But Dr. Allanah says it’s not uncommon for someone to see a mental health provider to talk about the emotional toll of the diagnosis.

Learn more

Learn more about diabetes care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Overuse in Overdrive: Don't Overdo It!

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:02:26 -0500

Not all sports injuries are directly related to contact or force. Many injuries, like overuse, happen over time and are often due to not being properly prepared.

Overuse injuries are repetitive microtraumas from using the same parts of the body, often while overtraining. Microtrauma can be identified as smaller tears in muscle fibers, stress on a tendon, or bone bruising. The most common early symptoms of overuse injuries are pain and inflammation.

“Stretch and make sure you’re ramping up into activities slowly,” Keith Corpus, MD, orthopedic sports medicine surgeon with OSF HealthCare and Great Plains Orthopaedics says. “When I’m talking to my post-operation patients or patients with overuse injuries, we have to focus on building back slowly.”

Dr. Corpus says overuse injuries worsen exponentially over time, and if you don’t allow yourself to rest, you can end up with long-lasting health problems.

“A lot of the injuries turn into chronic problems that are hard to get better. A lot of them are not surgical. For example, bad tennis elbow. 99% of tennis elbow gets better without surgery,” Dr. Corpus explains. “Anytime you have a chronic patellar tendinitis or quad tendinitis, if that tendon is getting weakened in some way, it leads it to increased risk of rupture. If you let these things go unresolved, they can build to bigger and bigger problems.”

One common contributor to overuse injuries that Dr. Corpus sees in patients is from weightlifting. He says minor soreness from lifting weights is not something to be worried about but allowing your muscles to heal after a workout is paramount.

“You shouldn’t go back to that activity until the soreness you developed from the first go-around has resolved. If you keep going at it, it’s just going to build inflammation in that muscle group and you’re going to get into the cycle that’s hard to break out of,” Dr. Corpus says. “Certainly, go back to it, go lower weight, lower reps than you think you should, and go fewer sets than you think you should.”

Dr. Corpus says if you are sore the next day, take an anti-inflammatory pill, apply ice to the soreness, stretch, and do a different physical activity to keep your muscles working.

“Go for a walk or light jog. Keep using the muscles, just in a different way. If you want to go back and do lifting again on that same muscle group two days later and you’re still sore, skip that day. Go to something else and don’t go back to that muscle group until it’s resolved.”

If you’ve experienced an overuse injury that won’t go away, a visit with a sports medicine doctor may be needed. You can find resources and providers here: https://www.greatplainsortho.org/

What are the most common types of overuse injuries?

Type of overuse injury	Symptoms	Possible cause
Jumper's knee (patellar tendonitis)	Tenderness right below the kneecap on the tendon	The patellar tendon in the knee joint is repeatedly pulled on, causing inflammation and pain, especially during jumping activities.
Little Leaguers' elbow or shoulder	Pain in the elbow or shoulder area, especially during activity	Repetitive overhead throwing maneuvers done inefficiently that cause damage and inflammation to the growth plates of the bones in the arm (or as a result of a fracture).
Osteochondritis dissecans	Joint pain and swelling.	A piece of cartilage in the knee, elbow, or ankle joint that separates from the joint surface. Theories suggest that it may run in families or be caused by a metabolic problem.
Sever's disease	Heel pain with limping, especially during running and jumping activities	Repetitive running or jumping activities causes the Achilles tendon to pull on the growth plate of the heel bone.
Shin splints	Pain and tenderness over the shin area	Excessive running, running on hard surfaces like concrete and incorrect shoe wear can cause shin splints.
Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease	Knee pain, especially after jumping activities	This condition is caused by excessive traction from the patella tendon on the lower pole of the kneecap.
Spondylolisthesis	Back pain	This condition is caused by overloading the lower back in extension. X-rays show that a part of one vertebra in the lower back slips forward on the vertebrae below it. It's commonly seen in football linemen, gymnasts, and ice skaters.
Spondylolysis	Back pain	This condition is caused by overloading the lower back in extension. It's commonly seen in football linemen, gymnasts, and ice skaters. A stress fracture of one of the vertebrae is seen on X-ray.

Treatment of an overuse injury

If your child is overdoing it, the goal of treatment is to control the pain, promote healing, prevent complications, and restore normal use of the injured area.

Initial treatment for overuse injuries includes R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).

Talk with your child's healthcare provider if the injured area has a prolonged, visible deformity. Or if severe pain keeps your child from using their arm, leg, wrist, ankle, foot, or knee.

Other treatment choices may include:

Medicine
Activity restrictions
Splint or cast
Crutches or wheelchair
Physical therapy (to manage pain, identify impairments that may have led to injury and treat to reduce complications)
Surgery. Your child may need surgery if the injury happens again, they have pain that doesn't get better, or a muscle, tendon, or ligament is badly torn.

Dr. Corpus says he and his team see Little League Elbow or Little League Shoulder often. The repetitive, overhead throwing can lead to soreness, fatigue, and loss of control. The take home message is to rest.

“When we have kids come in with little league shoulder, the main treatment is shutting them down from throwing a baseball. They are able to live their life, but we have them stop throwing for usually at least a month. Then once everything has calmed down, we start a very gentle and slow return to a throwing program and ease back into things. At the same time, we also focus on mobility, strengthening, and mechanics of the throwing motion to make sure we aren't putting undo stress across the shoulder,” Dr. Corpus says.

Video Interview Clips

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A better chance to survive a stroke

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

Nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why it’s important

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

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

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

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

Prevention

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

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

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

Learn more

Read about stroke care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Previous coverage

OSF HealthCare Newsroom stroke stories
OSF HealthCare stroke blogs

Keeping an eye on first responder heart health

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 10:36:50 -0500

Christina Reifsteck knows the statistics all too well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Ujayli agrees.

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

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

Learn more about heart care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips - Sgt. Christina Reifsteck

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Heath care isn’t just at the doctor’s office

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:25:32 -0600

You visit a health care provider for a minor ailment, and you leave with a plan to get better. It could be medication or changing habits, combined with follow-up appointments.

But the issues in the background don’t go away. You might say to yourself:

I don’t have a car or childcare. How am I going to get back for the important follow-up?
A gas station is the only place around me to get food. I can’t go for walks because it’s unsafe. How am I going to start living healthier?
I can’t afford a new mattress. What will stop my back from hurting in the morning?

These outside, non-medical factors are called social determinants of health. Health care providers everywhere are trained to ask people about them and link them with resources.

Lucas Edwards, PA, is a primary care provider at OSF HealthCare in Godfrey, Illinois. He sees social determinants of health come into play frequently.

“[Some] patients don’t have a car or someone they can depend on for consistent rides,” Edwards says. “They might have something that’s going on that’s medically urgent, and they can’t get to where they need to go. And so they put things off until it gets to the point where things get a little bit out of control.”

In those cases, people usually end up in the emergency department – nobody’s idea of a pleasant day and a more costly way to receive care.

To keep social determinants of health in mind, Edwards says to speak up when you make first contact with your provider’s office – whether that’s on the phone, checking in on a tablet at the front desk or with a medical assistant in an exam room. Tell the person about your circumstances and be willing to answer when asked about the same.

The provider will see you for what brought you there, of course. But they might also direct you to programs within the health system or in the community to help. For example:

An upcoming visit may be changed to virtual, an option that became more common during the pandemic.
You might be able to get care at a reduced cost.
You could be referred to a social worker.

Edwards also says a simple conversation may enlighten.

“Some patients may not have had the same access to education. They don’t understand that they have this wound on their leg, and if they don’t keep it clean, it can get worse,” Edwards says.

“The provider and the patient need to be on the same wavelength. They need to understand why I want them to do something,” Edwards adds.

There’s one last player in the social determinants of health world: the people responsible for a community’s infrastructure and other daily things we often take for granted.

For example, your doctor can treat an infection. But if you go home and drink the same contaminated water, you’re back to square one.

Or, things cost more at the grocery store than they used to.

“We work with patients who have financial constraints. They have a fixed income, and they can only spend X amount on some object,” Edwards explains. “You need to go to the grocery store and get your bare necessities. So a lot of times, their health care dollars they have budgeted get dwindled.”

“It takes a village,” to keep everyone healthy, Edwards adds.

OSF HealthCare is proactive on social determinants of health. An ongoing effort aims to have people coming to medical offices fill out a social determinants of health screen at least once a year, either through their online patient portal or on a tablet at the office. Among patients screened so far, around two-thirds identified a social need.

Learn more about social determinants of health on the World Health Organization website.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

OSF Newsroom stories on social determinants of health

OSF HealthCare blog: Caring for patients beyond the health care setting

OSF HealthCare Newsroom

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