Monthly Health Focus

February 2012: The New Face of Heart Disease
Over the years, the face of heart attacks—medically known as myocardial infarctions—has become the middle-aged male, overweight, stressed out and generally unhealthy. His symptoms include severe pain in the chest and tingling in the arms. But heart attack symptoms and their victims are far more varied than that.
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January 2012: Fix My Droopy Eyelids!
While there are many things that can be bothersome about the eyes, the most common complaint is droopy upper eyelids. This condition can cause a heavy feeling to the eyes, and can make them feel tired.
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December 2011: Be Healthy this Coming Year: Prevention is the Best Medicine
Start the new year off right by exercising, eating a healthy diet and taking care of your feet. By following these three easy steps, you increase your ability to fight many diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, heart disease, arthritis and many more.
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November 2011: Identifying, Understanding and Managing Diabetes
As we welcome the entrance of the winter, we also celebrate warm, plentiful meals with loved ones. November is National Diabetes Month and I would like to take this opportunity to discuss this very serious health concern. 25 million people in the United States have diabetes and approximately 79 million people have pre-diabetes.
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October 2011: State of the Art Breast Reconstruction with Free Tissue Transfer
It is estimated that over 12 percent of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. In 2007, this translated into more than 1.3 million new diagnoses of invasive breast cancer worldwide, with close to 200,000 cases occurring in the United States alone. Surgical therapy (mastectomy) remains an integral part of the treatment for breast cancer. With an understanding of the psychological benefits of breast reconstruction, the plastic surgeon has assumed an integral role in the multidisciplinary treatment of women with breast cancer.
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September 2011: Can a 15 Minute Outpatient Procedure Cure Your Urinary Incontinence?
Thirty million women in the United States suffer from urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of bladder control causing leakage of urine. Several medical conditions can increase a woman’s risk of developing incontinence, such as multiple pregnancies, hysterectomy, obesity and age. Another common cause of incontinence is the "overactive bladder.”
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August 2011: Abnormal Menstrual Bleeding
When a woman has a period more frequently than once a month or her periods become heavier than normal, these symptoms can become quite distressing. She may be concerned she has a serious disorder, but more often than not, a simple problem exists along with a simple cure.
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July 2011: Stress Fractures in the Foot
The foot is comprised of 26 bones with a complex arrangement of ligaments and tendons. Stress fractures may occur when forces within the foot overpower the strength of the bone. The most common area for foot stress fractures is in the long bones known as the metatarsals. There are five metatarsals that vary in length.
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June 2011: Training Tips for the “Weekend Warrior”
Now that the weather is warmer, more and more people participate in various outdoor activities. However, after a long period of inactivity during the cold Chicago winter and early spring, it can be hard to transition to being active outside, which means there’s a good chance we will become weekend warriors.
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May 2011: Pelvic Organ Prolapse
As a woman ages, particularly if she has delivered several babies, her pelvic organs can start to sag or even come through the opening of the vagina. While this can be an uncomfortable malady, a specialist in urogynecology can suggest options to treat this condition, called pelvic organ prolapse.
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April 2011: Spring Rain and Joint Pain—Does Weather Affect the Bones?
Since the time of Hippocrates, physicians have recorded their patients’ abilities to correlate joint pain with changes in the weather, particularly the onset of rain or inclement weather. Even today, many patients present anecdotal evidence of this perplexing experience.
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March 2011: How Sleep Disorders Affect Your Health
With one-third of our life spent in sleep, healthy sleep is an important part of our overall health. A number of disorders occur during sleep, which may seriously impact a person’s health as well as how he or she feels overall. Sleep medicine is a medical specialty that deals with disorders of sleep and a sleep specialist is a medical professional with special training and certification to treat such disorders.
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February 2011: Recognizing and Preventing Heart Attacks
Heart attacks occur most often as a result of a condition called Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). With CAD plaque, a fatty material, builds up over many years on the inside walls of the coronary arteries. Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot is large enough, it can mostly or completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery.
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January 2011: Taking the Mystery out of Autoimmune Diseases
Our body’s immune system has the ability to distinguish self from non-self. Usually, the immune system cells (called lymphocytes) are tolerant to self, meaning they fight body invaders such as viruses, bacteria and parasites but recognize other cells of the organism as belonging to “self” and do not react to them. Autoimmunity results when there is a breakdown of the mechanism that regulates immune tolerance.
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December 2010: Holiday Shoes and Foot Neuromas
With the holidays rapidly approaching, we all want to look our best. While dress shoes may go nicely with your outfit, they may not fit your feet properly and may cause discomfort. A very common ailment from wearing ill-fitting shoes is a neuroma.
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November 2010: Cartilage Injuries of the Knee—Meniscus Injuries
The menisci are two crescent-shaped cartilage structures that help to protect the knee, lubricate the knee joint and absorb stresses throughout the knee. Meniscus cartilage serves as a type of padding between the bones that make up the knee joint. This is referred to as the common condition “torn cartilage in the knee.”
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October 2010: Breast Cancer Basics
Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast divide and grow abnormally. It is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Tumors in the breast tend to grow slowly. By the time a lump is large enough to feel, it may have been growing for as long as 10 years. Some tumors can be aggressive, however, and grow more rapidly.
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September 2010: Articular Cartilage Injuries of the Knee
When articular cartilage is healthy and intact, it allows for normal, pain-free motion of the knee. However, an injury to the cartilage can be painful and can lead to progressive limitation in function. Fortunately, there are many treatment options for these injuries.
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August 2010: Detecting and Treating Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a serious, potentially disabling disorder of the optic nerve related to elevated intraocular pressure. It generally affects both eyes, although at the time of diagnosis, one eye may be more advanced than the other. It can effect all ages, races and ethnic groups, but one commonality is that most glaucoma sufferers are over age 40.
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July 2010: Healthy Summer Feet
As warmer weather arrives, more of us start to wear sandals, flip flops and all types of “not so good for our feet” shoes. When we are not careful with our selection of shoes, foot problems can arise. Following are some common problems and simple solutions.
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June 2010: Cervical Cancer and HPV
Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. It may present with vaginal bleeding but symptoms are often absent until the cancer is in its advanced stages. In 2009, there were estimated to be 11,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer in the United States, and this year 4,000 cervical cancer-related deaths are expected.
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May 2010: Diagnosing and Treating Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Instead of a straight vertical line from the neck to the buttocks, the spine has a C- or S-shape. Scoliosis can affect both children and adults and can develop at any time—from infant through the senior years. Many people do not realize that scoliosis can develop at any time in your life.
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April 2010: The Facts About Cataract
We are born with a crystalline lens in the eye that helps the eye focus light onto the back of the eye. A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens in the eye. When the natural lens is clouded, this can lead to decreased vision.
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March 2010: Sublingual (Under the Tongue) Immunotherapy
Many people suffer with allergies because of the inconvenience of going to a physician’s office or a fear of needles. For these people there is another option. Instead of regular allergy shots and needles, this self-administered alternative comes in the form of droplets, which are put under the tongue three times daily.
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February 2010: The Impact of Heart Failure on the Individual and Health Care
Heart failure is the number one hospital medical diagnosis today and the number one reason for hospital readmissions. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 5.7 million Americans are living with heart failure, and 670,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
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January 2010: Carpal Tunnel and Cubital Tunnel Syndromes
The two most common causes of nerve compression in the upper extremity are carpal tunnel syndrome that affects the wrist and cubital tunnel syndrome that affects the elbow. Early diagnosis and treatment can avoid permanent nerve damage and/or weakness.
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December 2009: New Ideas about Chronic Pain and its Treatment
Pain is a large and growing problem in the United States. More than one-third of Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain, and more than 50 million are partially or completely disabled due to chronic pain. As the population ages, this number is expected to get even higher.
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November 2009: An Update on Hip and Knee Replacement
Hip and knee replacements have truly revolutionized the treatment of arthritis and are one of the greatest innovations in all of medicine in terms of quality of life and pain relief. With improved technology and updated surgical techniques, the durability of these implants has vastly improved.
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October 2009: Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, with one in eight developing the disease in their lifetime. Primarily because of better screening, the mortality rate of breast cancer has declined by 20 percent over the last 10 years.
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September 2009: Alzheimer’s Disease
Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people and it usually occurs in people older than 60. AD is slightly more common in females.
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August 2009: Steps to Healthy Summer Feet
Feet aren’t supposed to hurt. If they do, finding out why and curing it right away can make this season even more enjoyable.
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July 2009: The Impact of Robotic Surgery on Healthcare
Today the use of new robotic surgical systems and advanced surgical instruments is growing rapidly among many health care specialties. At many institutions, including Weiss, robotic surgery is routinely employed and all the operative room personnel are very familiar with the system.
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June 2009: Prostate Cancer Screening – 2009 Best Practice Guidelines
While the AUA guidelines call for screenings to begin at a younger age, they express an individualized assessment and approach for proceeding with prostate biopsies.
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May 2009: Cold Hands, Warm Heart: Understanding Cold Hand Diseases
As our unseasonably long winter finally comes to an end, the time for having cold hands is over. However, if your hands stay cold when others around you are warm, you may have a medical condition that can be treated by the hand specialists at Weiss Memorial Hospital.
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April 2009: Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Summary
Macular degeneration is characterized by a loss of function in the portion of the eye responsible for central vision. Because central vision makes possible the detailed sight required for activities such as reading, driving and recognizing faces, macular degeneration may significantly diminish the ability to function.
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March 2009: Current Concepts in Treating Heel Pain
The most common cause for heel pain is plantar fasciitis, a condition known for causing pain in the heel, especially with first steps. Generally this pain subsides after several minutes to a half hour or so.
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February 2009: Managing Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and most other developed nations despite significant advances in prevention, detection and treatment.
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January 2009: Management of the Stiff Shoulder
In 1934, orthopedic surgeon and medical reformer Ernest Codman, M.D., coined the term “frozen shoulder” to describe shoulder stiffness and pain, saying it was “difficult to define, difficult to treat and difficult to explain from the point of view of pathology.”
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December 2008: Diagnosing and Caring for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most disabling types of arthritis. Significant improvements in treatment during the past decade have dramatically improved the prognoses of newly diagnosed patients.
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November 2008: Identifying and Managing Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide health problem. The incidence of diabetes continues to rise in most countries. In 2007, approximately 7.8 percent of Americans were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.
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October 2008: Breast Cancer Facts
Among women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, behind lung cancer.
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September 2008: Screenings and Revolutionary Surgical Tools Keep Men a Step Ahead of Prostate Cancer
The statistics on prostate cancer are sobering—more than one in six men will be diagnosed with the disease. But prostate cancer usually grows slowly, so unlike other, more deadly cancers, only 4 percent of men die from it.
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August 2008: Treating and Managing Chronic Wounds and Ulcers
“Why won’t this sore heal?” If you or someone you know has asked this question, then you may understand the frustration of living with a cut or sore that only gets bigger no matter what treatments are tried.
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July 2008: Recognizing Hypertension
Hypertension is a medical term meaning high blood pressure. Hypertension is a very common condition in adults that gets more common with age.
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June 2008: Determining the Root of Your Headache
We have all, at some time in our lives, been affected by a headache. Headache and backache are two of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention.
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May 2008: Breast Cancer Facts
Among women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, behind lung cancer.
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April 2008: Managing Arthritis
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Additionally, rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million Americans, 21 million Americans live with osteoarthritis, and more than 300,000 children have some form of juvenile arthritis.
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March 2008: Women: Listen To Your Heart
What is the biggest threat to your health? It is not breast cancer. According to the American Heart Association, each year heart disease kills more women than all types of cancer combined.
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February 2008: Women: Listen To Your Heart
What is the biggest threat to your health? It is not breast cancer. According to the American Heart Association, each year heart disease kills more women than all types of cancer combined.
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January 2008: Healthy Holiday Eating Hints
December has arrived and the holiday season is in full swing! Shopping, wrapping, baking, shipping, and parties fill our already busy lives with many more activities, and, at times, stress. Controlling our weight and blood sugar levels during this time of the year can be especially daunting.
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December 2007: Healthy Holiday Eating Hints
December has arrived and the holiday season is in full swing! Shopping, wrapping, baking, shipping, and parties fill our already busy lives with many more activities, and, at times, stress. Controlling our weight and blood sugar levels during this time of the year can be especially daunting.
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November 2007: Recognize Diabetes and Take Control for Better Health
The Wound Healing Center at Weiss specializes in the treatment of chronic wounds and offers hospital-based outpatient wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy as well as disease management and diabetes care.
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October 2007: Take Action Against Stroke: Closer to 55, Stroke Risk Doubles
The Vascular Center at Weiss is offering low-cost three-point vascular screenings for those persons at risk for a stroke, aneurysm or peripheral vascular disease.
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September 2007: Take Action Against Stroke: Closer to 55, Stroke Risk Doubles
The Vascular Center at Weiss is offering low-cost three-point vascular screenings for those persons at risk for a stroke, aneurysm or peripheral vascular disease.
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August 2007: Get Fit This Summer Through Smart Exercise Habits and Healthier Eating
Summertime is upon us and it’s a great time to get healthier. The days are warm and long and open to so many exciting activities to keep you trim or on your way to shedding those extra pounds stored up over the winter.
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July 2007: Get Fit This Summer Through Smart Exercise Habits and Healthier Eating
Summertime is upon us and it’s a great time to get healthier. The days are warm and long and open to so many exciting activities to keep you trim or on your way to shedding those extra pounds stored up over the winter.
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June 2007: Take Action Against Stroke: As Baby Boomers Move Closer to 55, Stroke Risk Doubles
The Vascular Center at Weiss is offering low-cost three-point vascular screenings for those persons at risk for a stroke, aneurysm or peripheral vascular disease.
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May 2007: May is Better Speech and Hearing Month
The National Institute of Health reports that 15 percent of 55-64 year olds, 30 percent of 65-74 year olds and 40 percent of those 75+ have a hearing loss that affects communication.
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April 2007: Expert Tips for Safe Exercise
As a physician with the U.S. Figure Skating Team and personal orthopedic surgeon for Olympic silver-medalist Sasha Cohen, Craig Westin, M.D., knows a thing or two about tuning up your body for springtime sports. We asked Dr. Westin about how he preps Cohen for competition
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March 2007: March is Colon Awareness Month
Right now, at this moment, you have the opportunity to take a simple step that could save your life. How? By having a screening colonoscopy.
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February 2007: Cardiac Rehabilitation: The Key to Building and Maintaining Heart Health
According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease is the number one killer in the United States today. Chances are you or someone you know has experienced heart disease first hand through a heart attack.
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January 2007: Combating Morbid Obesity
If you are severely overweight you are not alone. Obesity in the United States has become an epidemic; over 60 million Americans have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30, the point which divides ‘overweight’ from ‘obese.’
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December 2006: Winter, the Holidays and Your Mood: Finding Balance
As we head into the holiday season, many of us become overwhelmed with a wide variety of expectations. We struggle to meet all of the demands of work, family, holiday shopping, parties and other obligations.
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November 2006: Unsuspecting Millions at Risk For Diabetes
This November, as the nation observes American Diabetes Month, attention will focus upon the 18 million Americans coping with the disease. Yet more than twice that number, 41 million adults, have pre-diabetes symptoms and may not even be aware they are at risk.
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October 2006: The Fight Against Breast Cancer
Every woman is at risk for developing breast cancer. As a woman, it is very important to become educated about this disease and what preventive measures you can start taking today.
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September 2006: Identifying and Treating Pain Caused by Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes people to experience increased pain throughout their bodies, typically accompanied by severe fatigue and sleep disruption.
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August 2006: Diabetics Know Little About Preventable Measures to Reduce Amputation
According to the American Diabetes Association, up to one in four people with diabetes who get a foot ulcer will eventually require a lower limb amputation. After an initial amputation, the chance of another amputation within three to five years can reach 50 percent.
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July 2006: PMS and Menopause Relief Tailored To Your Body
Hormonal changes are a part of aging for every woman. But your experience with these shifts—whether they come during your monthly period or with the onset of menopause—is different from that of your co-workers, neighbors and even your close relatives.
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June 2006: Running Into Trouble
Now that the warmer weather is here, runners are increasingly seen on the lakefront and city streets. Soon Chicago Marathon training programs will be in full swing.
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May 2006: Demystifying Anti-Aging Medicine
You have years to go before you need to start worrying about weight gain, arthritis, and dementia — right? Not according to the principles of anti-aging medicine, a proactive approach to health care that focuses on preventing age-related disease by addressing your lifestyle today.
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April 2006: Expert Tips for Safe Exercise
As a physician with the U.S. Figure Skating Team and personal orthopedic surgeon for Olympic silver-medalist Sasha Cohen, Craig Westin, M.D., knows a thing or two about tuning up your body for springtime sports. We asked Dr. Westin about how he preps Cohen for competition.
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March 2006: Combating Morbid Obesity
If you are severely overweight you are not alone. Obesity in the United States has become an epidemic; over 60 million Americans have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30, the point which divides ‘overweight’ from ‘obese.’
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February 2006: Women and Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in American women. Despite the fact that it is estimated that almost one in three women will eventually die of heart disease or stroke, a 2003 American Heart Association poll showed that only 13 percent of American women considered heart disease their greatest health risk.
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January 2006: Five Warnings Signs of A Stroke
A stroke can happen in an instant—and you may not even know what it is. According to the American Stroke Association, there are five warning signs that can help you identify the onset of a stroke:
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December 2005: Women and Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in American women. Despite the fact that it is estimated that almost one in three women will eventually die of heart disease or stroke, a 2003 American Heart Association poll showed that only 13 percent of American women considered heart disease their greatest health risk.
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November 2005: Early Detection of Diabetes is Key to Preventing Serious Health Complications
You may be surprised to hear that people may be diabetic and not even know it! Many times, people will have diabetes for 10 years or more before they start to notice symptoms.
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October 2005: The Fight Against Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a physician of Women’s Health Specialists at Weiss, Dr. Hollingsworth is dedicated to fully educating women about health needs, and strives to be your partner in health.
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