Media Coverage

When you buy eyedrops at a U.S. store, you might assume you’re getting a product made in a clean, well-maintained factory that’s passed muster with health regulators. But repeated recalls involving over-the-counter drops are drawing new attention to just how little U.S. officials know about the conditions at some manufacturing plants on the other side of the world—and the limited tools they have to intervene when there’s a problem. The Food and Drug Administration is asking Congress for new powers, including the ability to mandate drug recalls and require eyedrop makers to undergo inspections before shipping products to the U.S. “These are very rare instances, but what we’ve seen is that these products can cause real harm,” said Timothy Janetos, MD, an ophthalmologist at Northwestern University. “Something needs to change.”

Late December is typically a time when holiday stress and winter weather can collide, creating a perfect recipe for a rise in heart attacks and stroke. “When we look across the year in terms of heart attack rates, what we see is fairly constant rates week by week with two exceptions: One is that there’s a broad, shallow dip in summer months and, two, there is a very short spike of about 30 to 40% in the last couple weeks of the year between Christmas and New Year’s,” said cardiologist Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, chair of the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “During the holiday season, there are different stresses like dealing with your in-laws and travel arrangements that may add stress,” he explained in a Northwestern news release. “We’re often knocked off our eating and sleeping patterns, we tend to consume more alcohol, we’re not pursuing our typical physical activity and we may get thrown off our medication schedule.” If you experience any symptoms including face drooping, arm or leg weakness on one side or speech difficulty it’s time to dial 911. “If there’s any doubt, get checked out in person. At best, hopefully you are aborting a heart attack or stroke,” he said. “Time is heart muscle, time is brain cells, and so time is of the essence. The sooner you seek help in that situation, the sooner we can save your life or brain.”

Many Americans battling diabetes are turning to a new class of injected drugs that include blockbusters like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). But a new study finds half of patients who use these “second line” therapiest – a class called GLP-1 RAs – quit them within a year. The main factor: Gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the researchers. “Discontinuation is bad. It is common in all five types of [diabetes] medications, but we see significantly more in those prescribed the GLP-1 RAs,” said study lead author David Liss, PhD. He’s a research associate professor of general internal medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. People newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are typically first given a standby medication, metformin, to help manage their blood sugar. “Presumably, the doctor is saying, ‘You need to start a new medication to control your type 2 diabetes,’ and then within a year, half of them just stop and don’t start another one, and that’s not a good thing,” Liss said in a Northwestern news release. The study wasn’t designed to pinpoint why folks quit the drugs, although gastrointestinal side effects probably play a role, the researchers said.

In the midst of the national opioid crisis, access to Narcan, the nasal form of the opioid overdose antidote, is easier than ever. But would you know how to use it? Northwestern Medicine clinical pharmacist and assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Sterling Elliott, PharmD, always has Narcan nasal spray on hand, because someone might need a life-saving opioid overdose reversal at any moment. “I’ve actually got two of these that I carry in the bag at any one time,” Elliott says. “If the need comes on, I know what I’m doing.” According to Elliott, “This is the new CPR, this is yet another way you could be a Good Samaritan and save somebody’s life.” Elliott noted, the Food and Drug Administration made the decision to let Narcan become an over-the-counter medication due to its non-harming nature. Administering it during an opioid overdose has little risk of harming the patient, but not giving it is a huge risk that could result in death. Bystanders who act in good faith in helping to administer Narcan are protected by Good Samaritan laws. If you want to have it on hand, Narcan nasal spray can be purchased at most pharmacies.

Patients at Northwestern Medicine’s hospitals and outpatients locations in Illinois will be able to choose “X” as a sex designation starting next week. Beginning December 8, people who are nonbinary, intersex or transgender can use “X,” instead of “M” or “F” as a sex designation on identification documents. The medical record will include designations for sexual orientation and gender identity to create a plan that will match a patient’s individual health needs. “Northwestern Medicine hospitals and outpatient centers affirm every patient’s gender identity,” said Sumanas Jordan, MD, PhD, director of the Gender Pathways Program at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of plastic surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “The new medical record designation will enhance communication with patients, align with best practices and help our staff better meet the needs of the diverse population we serve.”

With an uptick in COVID cases reported across Illinois this respiratory season, you might be on the lookout for certain symptoms in case you become ill. While people who’ve contracted the virus have reported a variety of symptoms, a fever, chills and a sore throat, other less common ones are possible. That includes “COVID toes,” a phenomenon that surfaced toward the onset of the pandemic. The mysterious skin condition that causes purple, blue or red discoloration in toes and occasionally fingers began popping up around the country early on during the pandemic, doctors with Northwestern Medicine previously said, leading some dermatologists to wonder if it may be connected to coronavirus. The swelling and discoloration can begin on one or several toes or fingers, Amy Paller, MD, chair of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, said in an article published by the American Academy of Dermatology. If you’re concerned that you have “COVID toes,” first you’ll want to take a COVID test to determine if you have contracted the virus. If you test positive, you’re encouraged to isolate and follow current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

Though not a clinical psychological term, the concept of smiling depression immediately resonates with many people when they first hear it, says clinical psychologist Jessica L. Schleider, PhD, Founding Director of the Lab for Scalable Mental Health and associate professor of medical social sciences, pediatrics and psychology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.” Smiling depression often affects high-functioning people who don’t want to ‘bother’ others with their symptoms, like sadness and fatigue, particularly during the holidays. But underneath that surface there is often a lot of anxiety.” There are so many cultural and internalized pressures on women, especially during the holiday season, observes Schleider. We’re supposed to be there for others, but depression undermines our capacity to live up to these expectations.” And when we believe we’re falling short, guilt and shame often hide behind our carefully cultivated smile. If we don’t challenge these distortions and ask ourselves if we’re being realistic or fair to ourselves, this guilt can transform into shame. The best way to overcome the toxic self-criticism that often underpins “smiling sadness” is to talk to someone you trust.

Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPH is professor, a primary care physician at Northwestern Medicine and chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Northwestern University. He said the reason for so many cold weather myths may be due to factors such as proximity. “We are more susceptible to bugs like the flu because of low humidity and we’re all together inside more,” he said. “These things are associated so when it gets cold, we do get sick more often but it’s actually not directly the cold itself. It’s sort of an indirect cause of us getting sick more.” One myth includes the idea of dressing in layers to help stay warm. This is true! Linder said, “I actually bike to work year-round in Chicago. Layers, particularly something that’s insulating and can trap warm air near your body that’s a nice warm fabric or wool, is good. An outer layer that’s windproof and waterproof will help you keep warm.” Another myth is that it’s not necessary to stay hydrated in cold weather. Linder de-bunked this one stating You can very much get dehydrated in cold weather. In fact, because the air is usually so dry when it’s cold, you have to be careful to not get dehydrated when it’s cold out. If you’re doing stuff that’s over an hour, you’re probably going to be sweating and/or breathing off enough fluid that you do need to be thinking about drinking fluid and keeping yourself hydrated.”

Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses are on the rise across Illinois as the holiday season ramps up through the new year. Statewide, more than 1000 hospitalizations have been reported, which is an increase of 20% since last week. Researchers at Northwestern Medicine found that among those tested, 85% reported decrease quality of life, 51% had cognitive impairment, almost half had altered lung function, majority had abnormal CT chest scans and some had heart rate abnormalities. Marc Sala, MD shares that people are coming back as third or fourth time patients, still with issues from long-COVID that are altering how they used to live their lives. The IDPH says to protect others, practice good hand hygiene, cover any sneeze or cough, and make sure you’re up-to-date on vaccine shots.

Some women with a very early form of breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) can safely skip follow-up radiation therapy after surgery, new research suggests. Results from a sophisticated genetic test are key to the decision to either undergo or skip radiotherapy, say researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago. “Using [these] personalized diagnostic tools to predict the risk of recurrence or progression may prevent excessive treatment for some patients,” said study lead author and professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Seema Khan, MD. She’s a professor of surgery and cancer research practicing at the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. Follow-up radiation treatments are often ordered after surgery, but as Khan noted in a meeting news release, “there is an increasing realization that DCIS carries an unnecessary treatment burden for many women.” Further, “Women who skipped radiation based on this score did not experience an excess risk of recurrence in the same breast during the five-year follow-up period,” Khan concluded. “These findings reveal a new approach to guide treatment decisions by determining which patients may benefit from radiotherapy and which patients may safely forego it.”