Eat plenty of fish and don’t play violent video games if you want to keep your brain healthy. Those are the findings of two studies presented Wednesday at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual conference in Chicago. ]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:59:45 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/9158182-423/eat-fish-limit-violent-video-games-for-healthy-brain-studies-show.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/9158182-423/eat-fish-limit-violent-video-games-for-healthy-brain-studies-show.html

Fitness Seated exercise classes for older adults will be held 1-2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at The Community House, 415 W. Eighth St., Hinsdale. Seated classes are for people who want to stay active and mobile but want something gentle on the body and easy to do. Increase range of motion, circulation, flexibility, balance and strength with easy to follow moves. Call Kate Vogts at (630) 323-7500, Ext. 225. Fitness Program for people of all ages and at all levels of fitness will be offered at 7 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday at Highlands Presbyterian Church, 1901 W. 58th Place, La … ]]> Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:34:42 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/5210720-423/health-calendar.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/5210720-423/health-calendar.html

New Research Findings Highlight Negative Consequences of Underage Drinking Alcohol does much more harm to the body than just damaging the liver. Drinking also can weaken the immune system, slow healing, impair bone formation, increase the risk of HIV transmission and hinder recovery from burns, trauma, bleeding and surgery. Alcohol can be especially hazardous to teens. Underage drinking increases the risks of unplanned and unsafe sex, poor performance in school, suicide and car accidents. In the United States in 2009, about 3,000 teens ages 15 to 19 were killed and more than 350,000 were injured in motor-vehicle accidents. Of the … ]]> Mon, 02 May 2011 12:46:00 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4968898-423/healthbeat-research-highlights-negative-results-of-underage-drinking.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4968898-423/healthbeat-research-highlights-negative-results-of-underage-drinking.html

A wound is a very unwelcome house guest for anyone's body. Usually the result of a traumatic run-in with a car door or a dishwasher or an accidental fall, they are reminders of just how imperfect we are. These wounds might itch, crack or bleed and they might cost us an entire box of bandages, but generally speaking they are gone in a week to 10 days. However, sometimes a wound doesn't heal and it's still there after two weeks. Sometimes, there is an infection and even after treatment with antibiotics, the wound still persists. The good news is there … ]]> Mon, 02 May 2011 12:44:02 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4729376-423/healthbeat-new-help-for-patients-with-wounds-that-wont-heal.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4729376-423/healthbeat-new-help-for-patients-with-wounds-that-wont-heal.html

Mention the word "botox" at a cocktail party or office gathering and the first response will generally be jokes or other misrepresentations about a drug that continues to gain favor as an anti-aging treatment, despite being maligned and misunderstood by many people. Botox and Botox Cosmetic are both commonly used medications to treat a variety of ailments. Many patients don't understand the difference. Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin type A, a medication that can be injected in small doses into specific muscles to relax them for beneficial medical effects that can last for several months. Botox is … ]]> Mon, 02 May 2011 12:44:02 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4728467-423/healthbeat-botox-debunking-myths-about-the-popular-cosmetic-treatment.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4728467-423/healthbeat-botox-debunking-myths-about-the-popular-cosmetic-treatment.html

More than 25 million people in the United States have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Associates. Even more shocking is the estimated number of Americans who are considered pre-diabetic: 79 million -- approximately 25 percent of the population. Fortunately, those at risk have more control over their well-being than they may realize. Although medications such as pills and insulin are sometimes required to help control the disease, the patient's ability to "turn back the clock on diabetes" is best done with good dietary choices and with regular exercise. Depending on the level of glucose elevation at the time of … ]]> Mon, 02 May 2011 12:44:02 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4727886-423/healthbeat-theres-still-time-to-turn-back-the-clock-on-diabetes.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4727886-423/healthbeat-theres-still-time-to-turn-back-the-clock-on-diabetes.html

Most people think of fiber in terms of their gastrointestinal health -- aiding with constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome. While fiber does play an important role in treating those ailments and many others, it has also been shown to have a broader range of health benefits. According to Dr. Matthew Smith, a gastroenterologist on staff at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, dietary fiber may also help lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. What exactly is fiber? Fiber is a broad term that describes the part of plant … ]]> Mon, 02 May 2011 12:44:02 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4716315-423/healthbeat-adding-fiber-to-diet-brings-several-health-benefits.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4716315-423/healthbeat-adding-fiber-to-diet-brings-several-health-benefits.html

About 70 percent of children under age 10 have difficulty falling asleep or have sleep problems that diminish their quality of sleep. This means children are a large part of the 70 million Americans who suffer from sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can cause stress and difficulty for a child including having a hard time concentrating which can lead to problems in school. There can be physical complications, such as headaches, and it can even impact a child's outlook on life. As parents, we need to know how much sleep our children need and then make sure they get it. … ]]> Mon, 02 May 2011 12:44:02 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4712131-423/healthbeat-protecting-a-childs-sleep-leads-to-better-quality-of-life.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/4712131-423/healthbeat-protecting-a-childs-sleep-leads-to-better-quality-of-life.html

According to the Office of the Surgeon General, there are more than 12.5 million children and adolescents -- 17.1 percent of people ages 2 to 19 years -- that are overweight in America. As they grow older, overweight children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Anthony Lin, a family medicine physician on staff at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, echoes this noting that, "In recent years, I've definitely seen a rise in the number of children who are overweight or obese in my … ]]> Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:03:22 -0500 http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/5096128-423/healthbeat-when-should-parents-start-watching-their-childs-weight.html http://winnetka.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/5096128-423/healthbeat-when-should-parents-start-watching-their-childs-weight.html