For two weeks, Erica Smith struggled with chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness. Her immediate family medical history includes those who died of cardiac arrest. But she put off going to the Emergency Department (ED) for two simple reasons:…
While summer insects are common in Illinois, not every year do we see and hear cicadas, sometimes incorrectly called 17-year “locusts.” (Locusts are actually a different species.) According to the University of Illinois Extension, the Great Eastern Brood X emerges…
Memorial Health System offers monoclonal antibody treatment to help patients who have mild-to-moderate COVID-19. “This therapy is ideal for anyone with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms. It is beneficial for individuals who are high-risk secondary to a medical condition such…
As if 2020 has not brought enough headaches, tiny black biting bugs have invaded our fun outdoor activities. Whether you are raking leaves, picking out your pumpkin at the local patch or going for a walk, these biting bugs are…
You have allergies. And a sore throat. Maybe you have a bladder infection that is causing a fever. So many questions! Do I need a COVID-19 test? Should I quarantine or isolate? For how long? Do I need an alternative…
It’s a familiar refrain when flu season rolls around: cover your cough; wash your hands and stay home if you feel sick. This year, thanks to COVID-19, every American is already familiar with those infection prevention strategies and more—like wearing…
Older people and people with serious, long-term medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes are at greater risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. Check out these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for people who are at…
As cold and flu season continues, and COVID-19, or novel coronavirus 2019, has spread to the United States, there are virtual tools available to help you get medical advice and free prescription delivery from select pharmacies. “Consulting with a provider…
A respiratory virus that has sickened hundreds and killed at least 17 people in China saw its first confirmed cases in the United States this week, but a health official in Springfield said Friday that the risk of transmission in…
It’s like a bad sequel: Revenge of the Chickenpox. Each year, more than one million Americans get shingles. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the same virus that causes both shingles and chickenpox. Shingles appears as a painful rash that can…