Media Coverage
The work done by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine faculty members (and even some students) is regularly highlighted in newspapers, online media outlets and more. Below you’ll find links to articles and videos of Feinberg in the news.
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WTTW
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Northwestern Medicine Study Suggests Multidisciplinary Care Best for Long COVID Patients
The Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center released the results of a study on 1,200 long COVID patients. According to the CDC, one in five COVID-19 patients experienced long COVID three months later, about 150 million adults in the U.S. Marc Sala, MD, pulmonologist and assistant professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said the study’s aim was, in part, to begin identifying patterns in the people who presented with long COVID. “We looked back on about 1,200 patients with our center’s involvement for treating patients with long COVID,” Sala said. “We looked back on these individuals to ask ourselves what types of patterns they have in their test results and what were some characteristics of the different individuals — not just in neurology, but pulmonology and cardiology as well. We wanted to know what were the demographics, the types of individuals we had seen all across this time. We wanted to know how successful was the center in terms of allowing access to different populations, and when we did test on these individuals — CT scans, neurological questionnaires and such — what were the results with any given person?” A key finding was multidisciplinary care for long COVID is an advisable approach. “A lot of what our and other studies show is that … multiple specialties on an individual seems to be important,” Sala said. “So if someone has more neurological manifestations, that person should be seen by a neurologist who specializes in this. Similarly for cardiology and lung health as well. Multiple providers of different specialties seems to have added value in treating patients for their constellation of symptoms. There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to managing long COVID.
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CBS News
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Parkinson’s patients find freedom through ballet program
For those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, even the simplest motor functions can become everyday obstacles. In an effort to improve those skills, Northwestern Medicine is teaming up with one of the country’s premiere dance companies to provide patients with a little jazz, a little tap and even a little ballet. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s, but there may very well be a rhythmic remedy for the debilitating disorder that, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation, strikes nearly 90,000 Americans annually. Participants said dancing in a group setting can offset the feeling of helplessness and loneliness that come with physical and mental decline. The only bad news to report is that classes are filled up for the summer but if you’re interested, they may offer more in the future.
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Chicago Tribune
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Lake County health officials warn unhealthy smoke conditions likely to return this summer
Air quality was expected to move from “good” to “moderate” Wednesday into Thursday in Lake County, but the forecast is a respite from the unhealthy air some people experienced in the area over the weekend and it may return later this summer. Between wildfires in Canada and near drought conditions, it is likely unhealthy conditions will return for the general population – or may become very unhealthy – before summer ends. Dr. Mary Zinn-Batina, a pulmonologist at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, said symptoms which can arise include shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, wheezing and chest discomfort. There can be more. “Some people may have headaches,” Zinn-Batina said. “Lesser issues include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Symptoms tend to improve when the air quality improves. Contact a health care professional if significant respiratory issues arise.”
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WBEZ Chicago
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FDA approves antibody drug to protect infants against RSV
Federal regulators on Monday approved a shot to protect infants and toddlers against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of hospitalizations among young children in the U.S. The FDA’s newly-approved treatment could mitigate hospitalizations by 80%. According to Anat Brinkman, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics in emergency medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and attending physician at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “RSV is the leading cause of lower respiratory infections. We’re looking at children coming in with fast breathing rates difficulty breathing and lots of coughing. The vaccine will be approved for all children.” Her daughter was also a participant of this clinical trial of vaccines/placebo.
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Yahoo! News
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A 25-year-old ended up bedbound and covered in scabs from a skin condition that some doctors don’t believe exists
A woman had topical-steroid withdrawal, a serious, rare and poorly understood condition that can occur in some people who regularly use or stop using topical steroids on their skin. Topical steroids are creams, lotions and gels that treat inflamed, irritated skin caused by conditions such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. The National Eczema Association says there are no affordable alternatives to these cheap drugs that work as well. Peter Lio, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told the National Eczema Association: “Start with a trusted dermatologist. But, because it is relatively rare, many practitioners have never even heard about it. “If that venue is not helpful, reach out to ITSAN or the National Eczema Association for help finding a practitioner who may be able to help,” referring to the International Topical Steroid Awareness Network.
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WebMD
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What Young People Should Know About Stroke Risks
Alex McKeown, 33, works in a demanding and stressful job in the investment industry in Chicago, negotiating and closing deals for large retail companies. It was during a workout at his fitness center that everything changed. After the first few minutes of his workout, he began to feel lightheaded. “The room was heated and I was sweating, so I thought I was just dehydrated and needed to drink something,” he said. But soon he began to lose his balance and realized he needed to sit down on the floor. They called 911, and by the time the paramedics arrived, McKeown was losing control of his left arm and leg and couldn’t stand up on his own. He was taken to Northwestern Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a stroke. We tend to associate strokes with older people, but strokes can happen to anyone – although they’re much less common in younger people, according to Ali Shaibani, MD, chief of neurointerventional radiology and a professor of radiology at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. McKeown admits he would have likely dismissed his symptoms. “I would have told myself to just push through it, but I was surrounded by women at the gym – particularly the fitness instructor and another employee – and I’m so thankful they took my symptoms seriously and called 911,” he said. “Without them, I would have likely just tried to go home to sleep it off, and I probably wouldn’t be walking or talking right now. No matter what your age, never ignore the symptoms. “If you’re ever in a situation where you’re questioning whether you need medical attention, call 911,” he said. “Even if it’s a 5% or 10% chance that it’s something serious, you need to bite the bullet and call. You’ll be much happier to be alive.”
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WTTW
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Unhealthy Air Quality Lingers Across Parts of US From Drifting Canadian Wildfire Smoke
Extensive swaths of the northern United States awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow.gov Smoke and Fire map. Climate change and rising temperatures cause the environment to be more prone to wildfires, and more susceptible for air masses to become stagnant and stationary, explained Dr. Ravi Kalhan, a pulmonologist and professor of medicine and preventative medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “It’s not normal,” he said of the repeated air quality alerts experienced by the Midwest this summer.
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Crain’s Chicago Business
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Northwestern study puts a number to shorter life expectancy in segregated neighborhoods
A Northwestern Medicine study shows the extent to which Black residents living in highly segregated neighborhoods have significantly shortened life expectancies. The study found that, compared to residents living in less-segregated, predominantly white neighborhoods, life expectancies of people in highly segregated areas are four years shorter on average. “We’ve learned much about the health consequences of adverse social determinants of health,” corresponding study author Dr. Sadiya Khan, associate professor of cardiology and epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician, said in the statement. “But we were trying to better understand on a local level what the implications of racial segregation are on life expectancy.” Dr. Clyde Yancy, vice dean for diversity and inclusion and chief of cardiology at Feinberg, said in the statement that local challenges require local solutions. “No single intervention fundamentally changes risk at a neighborhood level,” Yancy said in the statement. “Public health advocacy helps, but economic opportunities and high-quality education are immensely valuable.”
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Fox 32 Chicago
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Northwestern scholars program helps kids become doctors
Northwestern Medicine is hosting high school students for a four week program with the goal of creating diversity in the medical field. The students were selected by their school counselors to take part and earn class credit for the summer program. “Our goal is to expose the students to as many people as possible who do share some of their identities, maybe even come from similar backgrounds, so they can say ‘I can do the same thing’,” said Teni Brown, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and director of diversity inclusion of the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. “I hope to impact the same excitement and hope and passion to this next upcoming generation,” said Dr. Brown. “They are smart and I’d personally be happy if any of them chose to join my specialty,” she added.
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The Washington Post
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Five ways to sleep better during a heat wave without blasting the AC
Sleep experts say a cool environment helps you drift off and stay asleep. But in many places around the world, nights have warmed faster than daytime temperatures – and research suggests the heat could be leading people to lose hours of shut-eye. These tips include keeping your bedroom as cool as possible by using fans and keeping blinds closed during the day, not taking cold showers, practice good sleep habits and changing your sleeping arrangement. It may also help to move to a cooler spot in your home, such as a basement if you have one, said Kathryn Reid, PhD, a neurology professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine who studies sleep medicine. On hot nights when it might be difficult to achieve the ideal temperature for sleeping, experts recommend focusing on doing other things to promote sleep, such as creating a dark and quiet environment, preparing for bed by unplugging from screens and winding down with relaxing activities. “It certainly can’t hurt to weigh the different factors in your favor,” Reid said.
