Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens clouds over. Over time, it can result in blurred and even loss of vision.  Patients of all ages can have cataracts, but it is most common in people over the age of 60, and not all cataracts have to be surgically removed.  Treatment depends on how much of an impact symptoms have on everyday life. Typical cataract symptoms include: Glaring and halos at nighttime Decreased color perception Difficulty reading small print on the television Trouble seeing road signs If cataract symptoms are significant enough to impact your life, talk to your ophthalmologist …

Fitness levels among kids are on the decline with only one in four American school children getting enough exercise on a daily basis. Add that to an increase in childhood obesity—nearly 37% of six to 11-year-olds—and our children’s health outlook is diminishing even more. At a minimum, children should get 35 to 60 minutes of exercise on a daily basis to avoid developing the habits that may lead to obesity and the medical problems that come with it. Regular exercise is essential to building muscle and strong bones and helps to determine how healthy children’s bones will be throughout their …

  Within recent years, several studies have been published about how uninformed first-time mothers-to-be are about childbirth, and the Internet has exploded with discussions. This phenomenon is being attributed, in part, to a decline in childbirth education participation, outside of a hospital tour. I have been conducting my own informal survey of the expecting couples I lead on tours of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital’s Maternity Center, and my findings are similar to those of the experts. It seems fewer and fewer couples are opting for childbirth education classes prior to the arrival of…

  Young people seem to be dealing with more and more stressors—socially, at home and in school. As a result, they are finding their own way of coping. One troubling trend is the increasing abuse of stimulants, such as Adderall, a prescription drug traditionally used to treat patients with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Narcolepsy. Adderall is well-known among high school and college students as a “study” or “party” drug, because of its impact on a person’s ability to focus and perform under stress. Recent figures are showing that over one-third of all college students have used a …

By Barbara Fine, RD, LDN, Nutrition Services, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital The holiday season is upon us and with it comes a seemingly endless array of parties and dinners. Too often, people approach this time of year resigned to the inevitability that they will be gaining another 10 pounds, only to turn around and resolve to lose that weight after the New Year. Instead of derailing your otherwise healthy eating or putting off your weight loss program for the next few months, you can still enjoy yourself. Consider these healthy holiday nutrition tips as you begin to plan and attend this…

As we transition from World Alzheimer’s Month in September to National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in November, it is important to recognize that the need for awareness about this disease continues throughout the year. What many people don’t know is that Alzheimer’s is considered brain failure that moves through a series of stages. For that reason, the medical, psychological and emotional needs of Alzheimer’s patients may vary, depending upon where they are in the progression of the disease. Earlier: Adult Day Care is a good option for dementia sufferers Our commitment to Alzheimer’s …

In my 11 years of practice, I have too often seen the devastating results of lawn mower accidents. It seems that every summer the scenarios leading to these injuries are the same: A father and young son are sharing their weekly ritual of mowing the lawn together when the child falls off his lap and under the mower.  A grandfather doesn’t see his granddaughter running out of the house to greet him and accidentally backs the mower over her. The entrepreneurial teenager from down the street who mows with his iPod is too distracted to notice that kids are playing in his path. Earlier: Children's …

Although more and more women have joined the medical field over the last 20 years, that hasn’t stopped us from participating in other areas of life. It may seem your doctor has it all under control when you visit her office, but the truth is she’s likely juggling multiple priorities just like any other professional. We are still raising children, managing households, pursuing our hobbies and furthering our education. That realization has led many of us to ask “who is taking care of the people caring for patients?” The answer to that question can be found at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital …

Many people are aware of the health risks of hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults, but what about in children?  Can children also suffer from hypertension?  The answer is a definitive "yes."  In fact, the incidence of hypertension in children has been increasing over the last 10-20 years. Hypertension in children, as in adults, is usually without symptoms, unless the elevation in blood pressure is severe.  The only way to know if your child has high blood pressure is to have it checked at the doctor's office.  Blood pressure should be checked every doctor visit after your child's …

Caffeine is an addiction many of us can relate to.  For many of us, that extra jolt gets us going in the morning.  For others, it's a way of surviving the dreaded 3 p.m. afternoon burnout.  But for adolescents, they turn to energy drinks hoping to crank out a few more study hours for a final test or for the big report that's due.  Others, especially athletes, see energy drinks as a way to enhance their performance. Energy drinks also add stimulants, vitamins and herbal supplements that have yet to be fully researched and approved by the FDA.  All natural, l-carnitine, ginseng, taurine, …