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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Crain’s Chicago Business
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Northwestern to Study Apple Watch as Wearable AFib Monitor
With an eye toward getting atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients off lifelong, continuous blood-thinning medication, Northwestern University and Johns Hopkins University will study the effectiveness of using a heart rhythm app on an Apple Watch to tell patients when to use blood thinners temporarily. Using the app on Apple Watch and an accompanying app on iPhone, patients in the trial will be able to target blood-thinning medication use for a limited period of time and only in response to a prolonged episode of AFib, the statement said. “If proven effective, this new treatment paradigm will fundamentally change the standard of care for the millions of Americans living with AFib,” principal investigator Dr. Rod Passman, director of the Center for Arrhythmia Research and a professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Many of these patients are on blood thinners for the rest of their lives even if they have infrequent episodes of atrial fibrillation. If we can show that this strategy is equally protective against stroke and reduces bleeding, that could save lives, reduce cost and improve quality of life. The trial, called the Rhythm Evaluation for AntiCoagulaTion trial, is a collaboration between Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the American Heart Association, with Apple providing Apple Watches to patients in the trial.
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CNN
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Religion linked to better measures of heart health among Black Americans, study says
African American adults who participate in frequent religious activities, or hold deeper spiritual beliefs, are more likely to score higher in indicators linked to good heart health than those who don’t, according to new research. More religious participants had better scores for blood pressure, cholesterol and other metrics known to influence cardiovascular health, found a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association last Wednesday. Epidemiologist Mercedes R. Carnethon, vice chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, told CNN that the research suggests that religious practices and beliefs are correlated with better measures of cardiovascular health. “One hypothesis that could explain these observations is that both the practice of religion and the behaviors that are associated with better cardiovascular health such as adherence to physician recommendations for behavior change, not smoking, and not drinking excessively share a common origin or personality characteristic,” Carnethon said. “Observing a religion requires discipline, conscientiousness and a willingness to follow the guidance of a leader. These traits may also lead people to engage in better health practices under the guidance of their healthcare providers,” Carnethon further said.
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New York Times
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F.D.A. Authorizes Updated Covid Booster Shots, Targeting Omicron Subvariants
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized the first redesign of coronavirus vaccines since they were rolled out in late 2020, setting up millions of Americans to receive new booster doses targeting Omicron subvariants as soon as next week. The agency cleared two options aimed at the BA.5 variant of Omicron that is now dominant: one made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for use in people as young as 12, and the other by Moderna, for those 18 or older. “Covid-19 is the third leading cause of death in the United States. And it’s as if we’ve just accepted that that is going to be the case,” said Mercedes Carnethon, an epidemiologist and professor of epidemiology and pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “I really hope as many people as possible will seek the updated booster so we can protect those who will have a terrible outcome.” Vaccinations remain the cornerstone of the federal government’s Covid strategy, even with tests and treatments widely available. The Biden administration has ordered over 170 million doses for the fall campaign, and officials do not expect shortages when they are rolled out.
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Yahoo! News
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If You Feel This, You May Have Had COVID, Says Dr. Fauci
A growing number of people are reporting signs of long COVID, a concerning trend where virus symptoms continue for months after initial infection. There are signs that that you’ve already had COVID. These include fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, sleep issues and muscle aches. Long-term brain fog – where people have memory issues, trouble focusing and more – is one of the more common symptoms of long COVID. “There are thousands of people who have that,” says Dr. Igor Koralnik, chief of neuro-infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “The impact on the workforce that’s affected is going to be signficant.” Follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live – get vaccinated or boosted as soon as possible. If you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with and practice good hand hygiene.
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US News & World Report
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Hypertension in Pregnancy is Getting More Common for Gen Z Women
Gen Zers and millennials are about twice as likely to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy than women from the baby boom generation were, a new study finds. This includes conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. It’s usually believed that the odds of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy rise with the age of the mother, but after taking age into account, researchers discovered that women born in and after 1981 were still at greater risk. “While there are many reasons for the generational changes observed, we hypothesize that this is, in large part, due to the observed generational decline in heart health,” said study co-author Dr. Sadiya Khan, assistant professor of cardiology and epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “High blood pressure during pregnancy is a leading cause of death for both mom and baby…high blood pressure during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of heart failure and stroke in the mother and increased risk of the baby being born prematurely, being growth restricted or dying.” Co-author Dr. Natalie Cameron, an instructor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said the findings call for a new approach to screening. “The public health and clinical message from this work is the need to broaden our perspective on screening and expand our focus on prevention in all age groups before and during pregnancy, particularly among younger people who have traditionally not been considered at high risk,” Cameron said in the release.
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New York Times
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What to Know About White Mulberry Leaf
A coroner has linked the death of Lori McClintock, the wife of a California representative, to an herb. But experts say it is generally considered safe. White mulberry leaves grow on trees and shrubs native to Asia. They have been used as an herbal remedy for centuries to treat myriad health concerns, said Dr. Melinda Ring, director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Small studies have shown that mulberry leaf extract, which is typically taken in pill form, can reduce blood glucose levels. “There are studies looking at it for everything from alopecia to high blood pressure to joint pain to osteoporosis,” said Dr. Ring. But, as with appetite and weight loss, there is limited evidence that the herb is an effective treatment for these conditions, she said. Participants in studies involving mulberry extract have reported nausea, bloating and gas, but no more serious or lasting problems. Anyone who experiences an upset stomach, which can lead to diarrhea and vomiting, is theoretically at risk for dehydration, Dr. Ring added. But, she said, it would be rare for white mulberry to cause such dehydration in normal doses – and many drugs and supplements can cause these symptoms. Talking to your primary care doctor before starting any supplement is crucial.
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Yahoo! News
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The nuances of breastfeeding as a Black mother
The task of feeding an infant is challenging for many mothers. Coupled with adjusting to caring for a new baby, navigating the choice of whether to breastfeed or formula feed can cause additional stress. For Black mothers, however, race adds another dimension, both in terms of fraught history of Black women and breastfeeding and existing racial disparities. Breastfeeding isn’t for everyone, and it is critical to support parents in whatever method they use to feed their baby, whether exclusive breastfeeding, mix of breast/bottle or exclusive formula. Dr. Shawn M. Smith, assistant professor of pediatrics, agrees. “The ‘Breast is Best’ campaigned initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 1990s intended to highlight the benefits and promote exclusive breastfeeding, but unfortunately, left out many families where breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding is not an option,” said Smith. She adds that the campaign also “may have not taken into account historical instances where enslaved Black and Indigenous women were forced to be wet nurses for white babies of families that enslaved people against their will and the generational trauma that may be passed down in Black and Indigenous families. The more inclusive sentiment is ‘Fed is Best,’ meaning a baby with milk in their tummy is better than a baby without any milk at all.”
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TODAY
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Walking and other leisure activities can greatly reduce dementia risk, study finds
Time spent on fun leisure activities might have the extra benefit of protecting your brain and lowering the risk of dementia, a new study suggests. An analysis that combined data from 38 previous studies with more than 2 million participants from around the world revealed that activities such as solving crossword puzzles, playing musical instruments, hiking, swimming, yoga, volunteering and meeting with friends could lower the risk of developing dementia. Participation in physical activities, such as walking, running, bicycling, using exercise machines, playing sports, yoga and dancing, was associated with a 17% reduction in risk. Engaging in social activities, such as attending a class, joining a social club, volunteering, visiting relatives or friends and attending religious activities, was associated with a 13% reduction in risk. “It’s exciting for people to hear that there is a choice they can make for their own brain health,” said Emily Rogalski, PhD, associate director of the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer Disease and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “It’s important to be able to provide home in a time where Alzheimer’s treatments have been somewhat controversial and disappointing.” (Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in older adults.
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ABC News
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Marijuana, hallucinogen use reach all-time high among young adults
Use of marijuana and hallucinogens by 19- to 30-year-olds reached their highest levels since tracking began in 1988, according to a new Monitoring the Future panel study supported by the National Institutes of Health. In 2021, 43% said they’d used marijuana in the last year, which was up 34% from five years ago and 29% compared to 10 years ago. More than 1 in 10 said they now use marijuana every day, according to the study. Dr. Maria Rahmandar, medical director for substance abuse and prevention at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and assistant professor of pediatrics, said that the results of this study are “particularly concerning for teenagers and young adults who have developing brains that are particularly susceptible to the negative effects.” She continued, “Pretty much everybody who ends up having a problem with substance use started as a teenager and continued use as a young adult.
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NBC 5 Chicago
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How Long Do COVID Symptoms Last? Here’s What to Expect First and Which Ones Might Linger
As omicron subvariants continue to make up roughly all COVID cases in the U.S., marking a shift in the most common symptoms and in the virus’ incubation period, how long will symptoms last? A recent study from Northwestern Medicine showed that many so-called COVID “long-haulers” continue to experience symptoms like brain fog, tingling, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus and fatigue an average of 15 months after the onset of the virus. “Long-haulers,” are defined as individuals who have had COVID symptoms for six or more weeks, the hospital system said. Health experts share that like many other viral infections, cough tends to be the most lingering symptom. In general, symptoms will typically appear 2-to-14 days after exposure to the virus. How long they last, however, can depend on the person, the severity of their infection and whether or not they end up with long COVID. Symptoms of the virus include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
