The Avenue of Communication
By Alexander Germanis No matter where one goes or lives in this world, the ability to communicate and connect with one another is paramount. We may think of connection or communication in terms of cell phones, the Internet, computers, and smart devices, but the basis of communication is and has always been our ability to […]
TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER
What Is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that causes damage in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the arms and legs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. MS is thought to be an immune-mediated disease […]
Hemophilia Treatment: A Breakthrough With Gene Therapy
Since 2010, the Bleeding and Clotting Disorders Institute (BCDI) has been serving patients of downstate Illinois. Located at the corner of Northmoor Road and Knoxville Avenue in Peoria, IL, BCDI is the only nonprofit, federally funded Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) of Excellence in the state of Illinois outside of Chicago. Among many accolades, BCDI is […]
9 Tips to Protect Your Heart
By Timir Baman, MD OSF HealthCare, Cardiovascular Institute Heart issues can go unnoticed until damage has been done or there is a critical heart failure, making prevention critical. In the United States, heart disease is the number one cause of death in men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), […]
The Future of Medicine
By Alexander Germanis From the days of Copernicus and Newton to those of Curie and Hawking, the different sciences have always been evolving systems of theory and practice. The scientific field of medicine is certainly no exception. Since the first known anatomical studies performed in ancient Greece to the arthroscopic surgeries performed today, scientists and […]
Rising to Your Aid
By Alexander Germanis Few negative feelings in life rival that sour, acidic emotion of helplessness in the face of an emergency. Fear, panic, and despair can rapidly set in and when one’s health or the life of a loved one could be on the line, those feelings can quickly get out of control. But knowing […]
Healthy Social Media Habits How You Use it Matters
Technology has changed the way we interact with each other. Social media puts other people just keystrokes away. This helps some feel like they have more social support. But for others, it can increase isolation and depression. Researchers are investigating how social media affects mental health. They’re learning that who you meet and what you […]
The Wisdom of Preparedness
By Alexander Germanis In ancient Greece, the storyteller Aesop told a fable of a wise, industrious, hardworking ant and the ant’s neighbor: the frolicking, carefree grasshopper. When winter comes, the ant is prepared and well-stocked for the bitter season while the grasshopper is left begging for aid from the ant lest he perish. In later […]
A Bright Spot in Health Care
Out on Route 91, tucked away on the back side of the OSF Center for Health, is the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center, LLC (CFHASC). It has its own entrance with parking and is a bright spot for many that need surgery, but with greater convenience. The gardens next to the entrance are lush […]
Standing Strong
By Alexander Germanis As spring turns to summer, the cities and countryside finalize their transitions from the dull palette of winter to the healthy hues of rebirth. The most noticeable representatives of this transition are the trees, standing straight and strong, proving their resilience by making it through another winter and entering another season of […]