The formula shortage affects not only infants. Children with rare conditions that rely on formula are forced to ration what they have, and work closely with hospital nutritionists to ensure they are getting all their nutrients. Joshua Wechsler, attending physician at Lurie Children’s and assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine said, “You know, we saw a lot of weight loss among our patients, because frankly they didn’t have a choice but to ration.” Wechsler said he understands that parents are doing whatever they have to do to make the situation work. From a medical standpoint, it is definitely not ideal.

WGN hosted Dr. Robert Murphy, to discuss the current rates of pediatric coronavirus vaccinations. “Only 30% have had the first two doses. The booster is now available and hopefully people will get their kids vaccinated,” said Dr. Murphy. He explained that although doctors understand the hospitalization rate and death rates of COVID, they are unable to guarantee the infection rate because so many tests are taken at home and go unreported. He further shares his concerns of the rare outbreak of Monkeypox.

The number of men with prostate cancer who chose to have their disease monitored rather than treated doubled nationally between 2014 and 2021, according to experts who say the dramatic increase shows a growing understanding that low-grade prostate tumors can be safely watched for years without treatment. William Catalona, MD, from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said the American Urological Association’s Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Project’s goal is to have 80% of patients with low-risk prostate cancer to use active surveillance.

John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor and a top Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, is recovering from a stroke he said was caused by a heart condition called atrial fibrillation. Fetterman said in the statement that he had a stroke that was caused by a clot from his heart being in “an A-fib rhythm for too long.” The doctors quickly removed the clot, reversing the stroke. People who develop A-fib are almost always put on a blood-thinning medication for the rest of their life to help prevent the stroke-causing blood clots that untreated A-fib can create, said Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, cardiologist and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Earbuds, noise pollution and age all diminish hearing – more specifically damage hair cells in the ear. In the ear, the outer cells amplify sounds while the inner cells send signals to the brain. If just a few are out of place hearing is compromised. According to Jaime Garcia-Anoveros, professor anesthesiology, neurology and neuroscience at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, “You need both of them to work in conjunction or you hear very poorly.” Researchers at Northwestern are currently working on regenerating hearing cells.

Overturning Roe v. Wade will affect the quality and availability of maternal medical care across the U.S., exacerbating a problem that has been building for years as abortion restrictions have already tightened in parts of the country. Cassing Hammond, MD, associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, often sees women who have premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester; the sac containing the fetus starts to break and amniotic fluid leaks into the uterus. Sometimes the membranes can reseal, but often that doesn’t happen, putting the woman at risk for infection. Currently, Hammond’s patients can choose whether to evacuate the uterus – which is the same procedure as an abortion – or wait to see what happens. “We need the kind of latitude in medicine to work with our patients and help them make the decision that’s right for them,” Hammond said.