“Stress affects physical health—and it keeps people from going to their [doctor] appointments,” says Christine Young, who trained as a Community Health Worker (CHW) through Health Care Access Now (HCAN). As a care coordinator for Talbert House, Young administers a screening to outpatient mental health clients that helps reveal health-related social needs, such as issues…
Having a chronic illness can increase the amount of stress in your life. In fact, research has shown that stress and some chronic illnesses (asthma, heart disease, arthritis, as examples) are linked. Stress can “drive immune changes and inflammation in the body that can worsen symptoms of conditions…[and] issues caused by stress can also be…
Coping with chronic disease can feel like a part-time job. People with chronic illnesses have to attend more frequent medical appointments, make sure they stay on top of their medication, and even do things like change their diet to manage disease progression. Doing all of that can take a mental toll. James Stringer, Community Health…
Diet and exercise are an important part of the management of many chronic illnesses. When someone is managing a chronic disease, such as diabetes or heart disease, eating foods that are low in sodium and sugar can make a big difference. That includes making choices to eat more whole, rather than processed, foods. However, not…
Chronic illnesses may affect all sorts of body systems. For example, diabetes can affect the cardiovascular system, the eyes, kidneys, nerves, skin, and teeth. Arthritis affects muscles, bones, joints, and—depending on the type of arthritis—the associated inflammation can affect other body systems, such as the heart or the skin. Chronic kidney disease affects the kidneys,…
Six in 10 Americans are living with conditions that limit the way they live or require regular medical attention. When these kinds of conditions develop slowly over time and last for longer than a year, they are referred to as chronic disease. Chronic disease should not be confused with acute conditions, which develop suddenly and…
Undocumented immigrants struggle when they need to access medical care. “Undocumented immigrants don’t have access to insurance; they can’t buy insurance through the marketplace,” says Mayra Casas Jackson, Executive Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC). They are not eligible for Medicaid either. That means they must pay out of pocket for every…
When immigrants move to a new country, they tend to settle in a neighborhood where immigrants from their country of origin have already built a community. Think about the various Chinatowns and Little Italy neighborhoods in many American cities. Chicago’s neighborhoods represent some good examples. Pilsen originally was home to Czech immigrants; Andersonville provided a…
Did you know that having a playground in your neighborhood could affect the health of people who live there? The amount of education you receive? Whether you have a strong community who will support you if you need help? The social drivers of health (SDoH) are factors that affect health. The five SDoH domains are…
As we approach the holiday season, many of us anticipate gatherings with loved ones. We look forward to showing care and appreciation for family and friends through sharing time, food and perhaps even gifts. Many of us will also reflect on our charitable giving over the past year. Have we done enough to support the…
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