Media Coverage

A recent Northwestern Medicine study found that black and Latina women report more pain postpartum than white women, yet they receive less opioid medication in the hospital and are less likely to receive a prescription for an opioid at postpartum discharge.

But what’s different about the hoarding around the coronavirus is that it’s happening all across the country. Consumers are also dealing with an unknown threat and they have no idea when it will be over, consumer experts say.
“This is a big time of anxiety, and we know the biggest source of anxiety is uncertainty,” says Stewart Shankman, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University. “People are trying to get a sense of control by buying things you really don’t need. It’s a false sense of control.”′

It’s probably a run-of-the-mill cold, or it could be the beginning of a bout of seasonal flu. But with recent cases of the novel coronavirus, called COVID-19, surfacing in Illinois, some people are bound to wonder: Could this be the coronavirus?
“They should not see their doctor immediately,” said Michael Ison, a professor of infectious diseases and organ transplantation at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. “They should call their doctor first.”

The “Child Could Access” laws are associated with a 29% reduction in all-intent firearm deaths and a 59% reduction in unintentional firearm deaths, according to the study.
“The reduction in firearm fatalities is greater in those states with stronger negligence laws compared with states with weaker laws,” said co-author Hooman Azad, a second-year medical student at Northwestern University in Chicago. “While it does not absolutely mean causation, there are very strong associations between the type of CAP law and the number of firearm fatalities in children.”

Health can be a uniquely anxiety-provoking arena, says Catherine Belling, an associate professor of medical education at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine who wrote a 2012 book on hypochondria (now medically known as illness anxiety disorder). “Our bodies are so incredibly, intimately close to us, but…we’re dependent on doctors to tell us what’s going on inside ourselves,” she says. “The stakes are really high, but you also don’t have control over this very high stakes part of yourself.”

Food allergies affect children of different ages in different ways and can influence relationships with classmates, family and the general public, according to the study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

“Quality of life issues related to food allergies are ubiquitous,” said co-author Dr. Ruchi Gupta, director of the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Although life expectancy inched up slightly in 2018, it hasn’t yet regained the lost ground, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“These trends show we’re going backwards,” said Sadiya Khan, an assistant professor of cardiology and epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Tamar Gefen, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, strongly suggests having an in-depth discussion with a genetic counselor if you’re considering a test.
“Before you say ‘I have to know,’ really understand what you’re dealing with, how your life might be affected, and what these tests can and cannot tell you,” she advised.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and U.S. health experts are working to better understand why so many moms are dying. On Monday, Northwestern Medicine researchers published what they say is the first study to examine the cardiovascular health of pregnant women in the United States.

If you’re one of Joe Rogan’s 8.5 million Instagram followers, you’re likely familiar with his unconventional diet. The comedian, mixed martial arts fanatic and podcast host often shares photos of his favorite meal, which consists of elk meat, mushrooms and jalapenos. Eating nothing but animal protein that’s high in saturated fat while ignoring vegetables and carbohydrates is not wise, Linda Van Horn, chief of nutrition in the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, tells CNBC Make It. Research suggests that eating two servings of red or processed meat a week is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death.