Media Coverage

Are you wasting your money on supplements? Most likely, experts say

Vitamin, mineral and multivitamin supplements aren’t likely to protect you from cancer, heart disease or overall mortality. According to Dr. Jeffrey Linder, “Lifestyle counseling to prevent chronic diseases in patients should continue to focus on evidence-based approaches, including balanced diets that are high in fruits and vegetables and physical activity…Rather than focusing money, time and attention on supplements, it would be better to emphasize lower-risk, higher benefit activities…following a healthful diet, getting exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking.” However, select populations do need certain vitamins. Pregnant women should take a daily supplement containing 0.4 to 0.8 milligrams of folic acid to prevent neural tube birth defects. Some seniors may need additional supplementation of vitamin B12 and B6 as absorption of those vitamins from food fades as we age.

Chicago Tonight – Latino Voices

According to Dr. Javier Guevara, the largest health concerns he sees in his practice with Latino men includes stroke, heart disease, diabetes with complications, kidney disease and heart attacks. Because of the lack of trust with physicians, many Latino men do not see their primary care specialist regularly. This may be in part to language barriers and biases Latino men feel caretakers may have against them. Guevara suggests that physicians work to develop the trust of the Latino community. This could include reaching out to Latino communities and places of worship and try to organize events where screenings and education can happen. Further, diet and nutrition are essential to reducing these health concerns. Guevara says the best way to do this is cutting down on carbs, increasing protein and being active for at least 150 minutes a week.

Here’s how to stay safe from high heat as feel-like temps climb into triple digits

Don’t rely on fans to keep you cool in extreme heat. Here’s how to stay safe.

Extreme temperatures can turn deadly, quickly in the United States, killing more than 700 people every year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While dehydration is a common concern, “the most worrisome consequence” of high heat is heat stroke, said Dr. Scott Dresden, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Heat stroke can cause confusion, seizures and even death, he said. Humidity is one of the main things that can affect your body’s ability to cool itself off. The CDC recommends drinking plenty of fluids, taking cool showers or baths, avoid using the oven or other household appliances that could heat up your house and watch for signs of heat stroke. Further, stay in air conditioning – if your power is out identify places in the community you can go, such as libraries, malls or cooling centers.

Why doctors say the ‘save the mother’s life’ exception of abortion bans is medically risky

In recent months, several strict abortion laws have been passed across the United States, banning the procedure after a certain number of weeks. Most have limited exceptions, such as incest or rape, and some only allow abortion to “save the mother’s life.” However, doctors told ABC News the language of these laws is vague and makes it unclear what qualifies as a mother’s life being in danger. According to Dr. Melissa Simon, vice chair for research in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, “We’ve taken the Hippocratic oath to do no harm, and these types of laws and this type of language actually do harm.” Further, “I do not – nor do my patients want me to – stop what I’m doing and think about what the judge would do.” Simon said if doctors are not allowed to perform abortions because the procedure does not fall within the limits of a save a mother’s life exception, maternal mortality rates in the U.S. will rise.