August 2022 HealthyLiving Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opens at Silver Cross 6 & 7 Spider Vein Treatment at Eterna Med Spa 8 HarborChase Offers a Dedicated Focus on Health and Wellness 9
And if they’re in the Chicago area, he added, “Silver Cross is the place to go. All the doctors and staff kept me on the battlefield. Not bad for 76.”
Cancer-Free Outcome Since the treatment, his PSA levels have been “nil,” Schlegel said. He and his wife Kathleen are ready to travel again … like they did when they toured the pyramids in Egypt and ventured into King Tut’s tomb. “They tell you there are some electromagnetic forces in the tomb. All I know is, my heart rate shot from 48 to 133. So, there must have been something going on,” said Schlegel. More seriously, Schlegel has noted many of his Vietnam comrades have succumbed to or at least been treated for prostate cancer. He suggested they get checked out right away if they haven’t already.
2 | Healthy Living | Saturday, August 20, 2022
Jim Schlegel of Mokena is living life to the fullest following prostate cancer treatment at the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in New Lenox, the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital opened its doors in the summer of 2012. Since that time, the cancer center has treated more than 15,000 patients and enrolled more than 800 patients in a variety of cancer clinical trials not typically available within a community hospital setting. The center offers comprehensive care for many types of adult cancers in one convenient location. Advanced treatment options are available, including stateof-the-art chemotherapy and radiation therapy.Inearly 2022, the center expanded its space, nearly doubling in size and adding more infusion rooms and exam rooms to accommodate the growing number of individuals seeking care there. The center combines academic specialists and the latest cancer treatments in a location that’s comfortable, familiar and close to home. That was important for Jim Schlegel of Mokena, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in Schlegel2013.says his diagnosis may have been caused by the curse of King Tut’s tomb, which he visited on a trip to Egypt several years ago. But more than likely, the Agent Orange he and his fellow Vietnam veterans ingested more than 50 years ago caused his once sturdy body to show the “check engine” light in his mid-70s. “In 2013, I went to my GP, and he told me that my PSA level was starting to rise,” said Schlegel. “So, we watched it for a while, and it kept rising. Finally, he said, let’s do a biopsy of your prostate.” He added, “Out of 13 samples, 10 came back cancer. So, I went in to have my prostate removed.” That’s when doctors discovered Schlegel had a condition called atrialOncefibrillation.Schlegel’s heart arrhythmia was under control, he had his prostate removed the very next month. Between 2013 and 2020, everything looked good with his prostate, Schlegel said.“Then in 2020, my PSA started rising again, and I’m thinking, ‘How can that be? I don’t have a prostate.’ But it got high enough that they did an MRI at the University of Chicago and found some cancer cells in one of my lymph nodes, stage 3,” he added.
High Quality Care Close to Home Schlegel said doctors prescribed a course of radiation, five days a week for eight weeks. But instead of having to go into Chicago daily for treatment, he was able to take advantage of the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. Schlegel said the cancer center at Silver Cross couldn’t have been more convenient for him. “From the time I left home until I returned from the treatments, it was about an hour and a half,” he said. “And everyone at Silver Cross was so nice and professional, from the valet, who also was a veteran, to the staff doing the treatment.” He added, “The parking is close and free, and not having to drive into Chicago for the same great team of doctors and staff is a bonus.”
For more information on cancer care services available at Silver Cross Hospital, visit www.silvercross.org.
Mokena Vet Said Cancer Center at Silver Cross Kept Him on the ‘Battlefield’ at 76
Saturday, August 20, 2022 | Healthy Living | 3 S c re e ning mamm o grams Diagnostic imaging D exa s c ans (CT, M RI , X ray) U l trasounds L ab tes UNucleartsmedicinergentcare appointmentsSchedule for:With Silver Cross SCHedule NOW, you can easily appointmentsscheduleonlinefromanywhere! Scan the QR code or visit silvercross.org/schedule Schedule fromappointmentsyourhere,there,oranywhere.
EYE EXAM
Intravitreal treat swelling
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• Build a strong, healthy back: Lower back pain can be debilitating, but core exercises strengthen muscles in the core, including those in the back. The Mayo Clinic notes that core exercises train muscles in the pelvis, lower back, hips, and abdomen to work together, creating greater balance and stability and contributing to a healthy back.
• Make daily life easier: Individuals may not realize it, but their cores play a vital role in performing a great number of daily tasks. Core muscles are activated when doing everything from taking out the trash to getting dressed. If those muscles are weak, the cumulative effect of that weakness can add up and contribute to aches, pains and other health problems. Strong core muscles make daily tasks easier and less taxing on the body, providing both short- and long-term benefits.
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4 | Healthy Living | Saturday, August 20, 2022 15905 S Frederick St Ste 105, Plainfield windycityretina.com815-714-9115 Dr. Desai uses the latest technology to provide you with the most advanced and lasers,includingpainlesshecare.personalizedInaddition,isknownforhisprocedures,injections,andsurgery.
Fitness professionals recognize the importance of a wellbalanced workout. A routine that includes an assortment of strength and cardiovascular exercises is the recipe for a fit and healthy body. Core exercises are a vital component of a well-rounded workout. Core exercises can help individuals build sculpted abdominal muscles, and while that’s a goal for many core devotees, the benefits of core exercises extend well beyond the cosmetic.
• Sculpt abdominals: The cosmetic benefits of building a strong core should not be overlooked, as individuals might gain additional motivation to keep exercising and eating right when they see desirable results in the mirror. Core exercises strengthen and sculpt abdominal muscles, creating a win-win situation for anyone who wants to get healthy and look good doing it.
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• Become a better athlete: Core training has long been a key component of professional athletes’ exercise regimens, and it’s just as beneficial to amateur athletes as well. The Harvard Medical School notes that a strong core powers a host of athletic activities, including golf, tennis, cycling, running, swimming, and team sports like baseball and volleyball. A strong core also benefits outdoor enthusiasts who love to kayak and hike difficult terrain.
The benefits of building a strong core
Reaching one’s fiftieth birthday in optimal health is an accomplishment to be proud of. The hard work required to be healthy in midlife includes adhering to a nutritious diet and exercising regularly. Once individuals cross the threshold and enter their 50s, they can look to some additional strategies to maintain their physical and mental well-being.
• Get a pet. Many people 50 and older qualify as “empty nesters,” a term applied to adults whose children have grown up and moved out of their homes. Some empty nesters experience a phenomenon known as “empty nest syndrome,” which the Mayo Clinic notes can be marked by feelings of sadness or loss. Pets can help people over 50 with no children at home overcome feelings linked to empty nest syndrome. Pets also can ensure individuals over 50 stay physically active.
• Prioritize learning. Whether it’s taking music lessons, going back to school or mastering a new hobby, learning has a profound effect on aging brains. For example, a 2013 study published in the journal Psychological Science found that memory function is improved by engagement in demanding everyday tasks. That study reported that people who learned new skills experienced greater memory improvement than people who only socialized or participated in activities that were not as cognitively engaging.
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What to do about wellness after 50
• Embrace your inner socialite. Socialization is important for people of all ages, including individuals 50 and over. A 2017 study from researchers at Michigan State found that valuing friendships was a strong predictor of health and happiness among older adults. Opportunities to socialize with friends may increase as people navigate their 50s and children move out or become more independent.
• Make an effort to improve balance. Various factors contribute to a decline in balance as adults age. For example, a decline in muscle mass that begins when people are in their 30s is a normal part of aging. Balance exercises can be a valuable component of a fitness regimen that help individuals reduce their risk for falling as they advance through their 50s and into their 60s and 70s.
Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox now offers Will County’s first and only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), offering a level of care and convenience never before available to area residents.Withthe opening of the new Amy, Matthew & Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Silver Cross Hospital, high-risk expectant mothers and critically ill babies no longer have to travel far for safe, advanced care. The 24-bed NICU is located on the third floor of the hospital’s new addition adjacent to the birthing center and features all single-family private rooms. Modeled after and staffed 24/7 by neonatologists from the NICU of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Silver Cross Hospital’s Level III NICU provides care for seriously ill or very premature newborns.
Will County’s First Level III
TheVanaFamily:Amy,Matthew,MicheleandTomstandneartheentranceofthenewAmy,Matthew&JayVanaNICUatSilverCross.
In 2021, nearly 3,200 babies were born at Silver Cross, making it the area’s busiest. But each year, nearly 50 babies require highly specialized care that was only available at a Level III nursery or NICU. In addition, that number does not account for the number of patients who leave the area and choose to deliver at a hospital that has a NICU for a higher level of care. “For decades these children have been transported to a NICU, usually in downtown Chicago. You can only imagine the stress and worry this creates for parents during an already difficult time,” said Ruth Colby, President/CEO of Silver Cross Hospital. “So, in keeping with our mission to improve the health of those we serve and advance wellness in our community, Silver Cross saw the need, and we set out to address it.”
6 | Healthy Living | Saturday, August 20, 2022
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Opens at Silver Cross Hospital
Saturday, August 20, 2022 | Healthy Living | 7
The Vana’s close ties to Silver Cross date back more than three decades when Tom and Michele met in Silver Cross Hospital’s Emergency Department. Michele was working as a registered nurse and Tom worked as a paramedic for his family’s business— Kurtz Ambulance Service. They married in 1990 and were overjoyed when they learned they were expecting triplets.
What’s more, Silver Cross Hospital’s NICU offers a quiet environment for sleep and recovery as well as space for parents to breastfeed, practice skin-toskin bonding, and be intimately involved in their baby’s care. Other features include a comfortable family lounge and dedicated rooms for parents to spend the night before the baby is discharged, consultations with specialists, minor procedures and feeding preparation. Expert Specialists Available 24/7 Patients are safely cared for 24/7 by a team of highly skilled neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, therapists, and other caregivers and have immediate access to Lurie Children’s Hospital pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists.“Wehavebuilt a team of the best professionals in the area to provide neonatal intensive care close to home,” said Corryn Greenwood, M.D., neonatologist and Medical Director of the NICU at Silver What’sCross.more, specialized care starts long before delivery. Silver Cross has the region’s leading maternal-fetal medicine specialists on staff to care for women with complicated or high-risk pregnancies such as women with diabetes, high blood pressure, or advanced age. “We have a team of highly trained, board-certified maternalfetal specialists on staff who provide care for women who might be at risk for premature delivery. They work side-by-side with a woman’s obstetrician to ensure the healthiest possible pregnancy and delivery,” said Rebecca Kole, Director of the NICU.
Renowned specialist Dr. Xavier Pombar serves as the Medical Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Silver Cross.
For more information or to make a charitable donation to support Silver Cross Hospital’s NICU, visit www.silvercross.org or call the Silver Cross Foundation at (815) 300-7105.
Equipped to Care for Sick Newborns
The Amy, Matthew & Jay Vana NICU is equipped to care for all newborns, including infants who may require help with breathing; maintaining temperature/blood sugar; IV fluids; antibiotics for infection; monitoring heart rate/breathing/ oxygen; feeding by mouth; evaluation and support for congenital anomalies; support for prematurity; and medication treatment for withdrawal. It is also available to babies born at other nearby hospitals who need highly specialized care.
Corryn Greenwood, M.D. Neonatologist and Medical Director of the NICU
“Tom and I want to make sure that other parents don’t have to experience what we went through; the stress and anxiety of making the long trip back and forth to Chicago for months to be with our tiny, sick newborns every minute of every day for nine weeks. Our investment along with that of many others ensures that our children and grandchildren and families throughout Will County and beyond will have access to the very best neonatal care nearby,” says Michele.
The Vana Family In appreciation of Tom and Michele Vana’s transformational gift to advance care for area newborns, the facility is named the Amy, Matthew & Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Silver Cross Hospital, after the couple’s triplets.
Twenty-nine weeks into her pregnancy, Michele went into premature labor delivering Amy, Jay, and Matthew on Oct. 10, 1995. Each weighed approximately two pounds and required months of intensive care.
“Silver Cross has always been committed to offering the highest level of care right in our community,” added Colby. “Our Amy, Matthew & Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Silver Cross does just that. And our partnership with Lurie’s will ensure our tiniest patients get the best care possible close to home.”
What are spider Veins and why do people get spider veins?
Spider veins occur when blood pools in veins near the surface of the skin. Spider Veins can be caused by heredity, obesity, trauma, aging, standing and sitting for long periods of time. We also see women whom due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause, experience spider veins, states Kathe Malinowski from Eterna Med Spa and Laser Center. Prevention Improving blood flow and muscle tone can help reduce the risk of spider veins. You can practice the following:
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• Minimize the wear of high heels.
• Change your sitting or standing position frequently Treatment for Spider Veins Laser Treatment. Laser treatment sends strong bursts of light onto the vein, which makes the vein slowly fade and disapper. No cuts or needles are used. It is a very popular, highly effective and non-invasive procedure, according to Malinowski.
• Watch your weight
• Raising your legs when sitting or laying down
• Exercise regularly – Get out and walk!
Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is one of the treatments for Varicose and spider Veins. It is often a treatment of choice for small varicose veins. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the vein, this causes the vein to scar, sending blood to reroute through a healthier vein. The Collapsed vein is reabsorbed into tissue and eventually fades. Eterna Med Spa is a comprehensive, innovative vein center, with board certified Physicians providing advanced care for all of your vein treatment needs. Please go to www.eternalaser.com/vein-treatments to learn about the various vein treatments offered.
• Eating a high fiber, low salt diet
8 | Healthy Living | Saturday, August 20, 2022 • Laser spider vein treatment • Sclerotherapy • Microphlebectomy • Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) Free Vein Screenings Call 815-254-8888 Today! 217 Vertin Blvd. Shorewood, IL 60404 www.eternalaser.com815-254-8888 Get Rid of Spider and Varicose Veins Now! At Eterna Med Spa, our goal is to provide minimally invasive vein treatments for vein problems with little to no down time SM-CL2001337 Trust An Expert! treat yourself Trust An Expert! to Beautiful Legs this Fall
HarborChase of Plainfield 12446 S. Van Dyke Road Plainfield, IL 60585 HarborChase.com
HarborChase of Plainfield Offers a Dedicated Focus on Health and Wellness
HarborChase of Plainfield invites guests to discover the true taste of HarborChase hospitality with a personalized experience. For more information, call (815) 676-4445.
Saturday, August 20, 2022 | Healthy Living | 9 Schedule your experiencepersonalizedtoday! Plainfield (815) 12446HarborChase.com676-4445S.VanDykeRoadPlainfield,IL60585 HAPPINESS Starts Here With a wealth of luxurious amenities, culinary creations in multiple restaurants, and engaging resort-style activities, HarborChase of Plainfield sets the standard for new senior living experiences. Located just an hour’s drive from Chicago, HarborChase bridges the gap between assisted living and memory care with unparalleled hospitality and classic sophistication with a genuine emphasis on health and wellness.HarborChase's mission is to celebrate senior living every day, creating a community in which they themselves envision living. With exercise playing an essential role in the aging process and an individual’s overall health, their award-winning Life Enrichment Program provides a variety of HarborFit classes ranging from meditation and yoga to sports and cardio. These interactive classes encourage residents to enthusiastically participate with their friends and reach new fitness goals. Fun games like jeopardy, Smartini Trivia, and various board games are also offered daily to keep community residents sharp and engaged with their peers.
The Life Enrichment program at HarborChase was created to provide a variety of cultural events, learning opportunities, entertainment options, religious programs, and group events. Ensuring residents have fun and look forward to each day is paramount to the program. In addition to luxurious amenities and resort-style living, residents enjoy a complete combination of convenience and care with associates available around the clock, seven days a week. Residents receive the appropriate level of care and support needed for their personal lifestyle to nurture and maintain independence.
QA Grilling is summertimea tradition, but health- conscious grillmasters may want to marinate their meats before cooking them over an open flame. Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are compounds that can form when meats are cooked over an open flame. HAAs are suspected carcinogens, but a 2008 study published in the Journal of Food Science found that, with a few exceptions, spice-containing marinades inhibited the formation of heterocyclic amines, thus providing reduced exposure to some of the carcinogens formed during grilling.
Take a Vacation for the Health of It A joint study from the Global Coalition on Aging and the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found that women who vacation at least twice a year have a lower risk for heart attack than those who travel once every six years. The study also found that men who do not take annual vacations are at a significantly higher risk of death (20 percent) and heart disease (30 percent) than those who take time to get away each year. Cool Costs
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, minority groups are considerably less likely than whites to receive treatment for mental illnesses.
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48% of White Adults 37% of Blacks and Hispanics 22% of Asian Americans with mental illness received treatment in 2015
Keep Your
During hot days, few things are as welcoming as an air conditioned room. If that comfort comes at a steep cost when the monthly energy bill comes due, individuals might want to move their thermostats, especially if they’re located next to a large appliance. According to the Performance Building Institute, thermostats are sensitive to heat. Many large appliances generate enough heat to trick a thermostat into thinking a home or room is warmer than it actually is. Moving thermostats away from large appliances could erase the need for homeowners to choose between cost and comfort when cooling their homes this summer
Women who love horseradish may be getting more than a little extra kick when adding the condiment to their favorite foods or even their brunch-time Bloody Marys. Though it may not be a typical veggie, horseradish is a cruciferous vegetable. That’s good news for women horseradish lovers, as researchers at the University of Western Australia’s School of Medical and Health Sciences found that women who ate more cruciferous vegetables had healthier carotid arteries than those who ate less vegetables.
10 | Healthy Living | Saturday, August 20, 2022 SM-SPAD0801113036
KeepingWhileDown
3 New Labor/Delivery/Recovery Rooms
• being sick or injured while pregnant • carrying twins or triplets
Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Silver Cross Hospital
More About Maternal-Fetal Medicine
UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MEDICAL SERVICES
From the personal attention of our highly trained staff to the comfort and luxury of our private mother-baby suites, we’ve designed it with you in mind. Everything’s ready for you from the moment you arrive—even complimentary valet parking and shuttle service. Each of our birthing suites has soft lighting and soothing décor designed to put you at ease with thoughtful touches you’ll appreciate. The moment you walk in, you’ll feel at home. Every private birthing suite has an easily adjustable labor bed and labor ball available.
An obstetrician/gynecologist is in-house 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Upon your arrival, you’ll be “partnered” with a specially trained obstetrical nurse certified in electronic fetal monitoring who’ll assist you through delivery. Our unit also features mother/baby couplet care, which means that the same experienced nurse will care for both mother and baby until it is time to go home. This ensures continuity in care and improved communication between the patient, family, nursing staff and physicians. At Silver Cross, we also have several certified lactation consultants available for support to new moms who choose to breastfeed their babies. They offer education and support before and after delivery as well as when you return home. When you start your family at Silver Cross, you’re in good company! In fact, more families choose our Birthing Center than any other hospital in Will County. That’s because we’ve created a unique place for special arrivals—the Women and Infant Services Birthing Center, where you and your family are at the center of everything we do. IL
Maternal-Fetal Medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that focuses on complications that may place a pregnant woman or her child at risk, including past or present obstetrical problems, medical, surgical, and genetic Atissues.Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Xavier Pombar, D.O., is the Medical Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Pombar received his medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1986 and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lutheran Medical Center in New York City in 1991. Dr. Pombar served as a Clinical Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Union and Saint Barnabas Hospitals in New York DuringCity. this time, he was also the educational coordinator for Obstetrics Medical Students at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 1994, Dr. Pombar completed a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Pombar also completed a year of research in Obstetrical Ultrasound at the University of Colorado in Denver with a primary focus on studying fetal brain development with ultrasound. He is board certified in both Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology. His current clinical interests include diabetes in pregnancy, preeclampsia, Level II targeted ultrasound, and management of complicated twin pregnancies. His research interests are in the field of fetal therapy and prenatal diagnosis. Dr. Pombar is also active in many professional organizations.
To schedule an appointment, please call 312-997-BABY. For more information about their practice, please visit whcchicago.com
• diabetes • high blood pressure • problems with a previous pregnancy, such as a premature delivery
60451 | 815-300-1100 | silvercross.org • Private bathroom • Sofa sleeper • Glider chair • Blanket warmers • In-room refrigerators • Flat-screen TV • And more Saturday, August 20, 2022 | Healthy Living | 11
To accommodate the growing number of special deliveries at Silver Cross, we’ve added 3 spacious LDR rooms to our Women and Infant Services Birthing Center, bringing our total from 12 to 15. And just like our existing LDR rooms, these beautiful new rooms feature a host of amenities designed for your comfort – with an important new addition: large immersion tubs for laboring moms. Other amenities include: Everything for Your Peace of Mind
We’ve Expanded Our Birthing Center with Your Comfort in Mind Silver Cross Hospital | 1900 Silver Cross Blvd. | New Lenox,
Professional Medical PROFILE
• a baby’s birth defect or growth problem Dr. Pombar and his colleagues are accepting new patients needing Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Silver Cross Hospital. Their office is located in Pavilion A, Suite 215.
Ideally, a woman with a chronic condition begins seeing a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician (MFM) before getting pregnant. A woman may be referred to an MFM if she has a health condition, such as:
Xavier Pombar, D.O. Medical Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
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