But as CBS 2′s Rob Johnson reports, that’s just the beginning, as there are several efforts afoot to protect school-aged athletes from serious brain injuries.

Eight-year-old Jack Devine remembered “when I got up I felt dizzy.”

Jack and his 14-year-old sister Taylor, both of Glencoe, share a love for hockey. They also share the fact that they’ve recently suffered concussions, within weeks of each other.

Taylor said, “I was scared, but if i pushed it too far, I wasn’t going to be able to play hockey for a longer period of time.”

The problem has been so serious that Chicago Public Schools now mandate all of 3,000 public school coaches must have concussion training. On this day led by Boston University concussion expert Chris Nowinski.

Nowinski told the crowd “the head obviously does not have to be directly hit for the brain to be injured, this is something to appreciate when you’re trying to spot children falling down and getting concussions.”

Ensuring that coaches, no matter what sport, are protecting CPS’ 75,000 athletes.

Nowinski said “that means that they deserve education. they deserve coaches who understand what concussions are and then they deserve the ability to go to a doctor who understands what they should be doing when they have a concussion.

Nowinski is the head of the Chicago Concussion Coalition, which includes medical groups and various ex-athletes. CPS Sports Director Calvin Davis is in charge of making sure the coaches get the message.

Davis explained that “we do have the authority to discipline coaches who do not abide by policies.”

The other mission for the CCC is getting treatment for potentially concussed students pro bono, at facilities which are part of the coalition, including the Illinois Eye Institute and Rush Sports Medicine, where Dr. Jeff Mjaanes sees young patients like Taylor Devine all of the time.

In addition to the Coalition, the Chicago Blackhawks have helped create the Step Ahead program to educate youth hockey coaches in Illinois and provide testing for 13-18 year old players. Blackhawks broadcaster Eddie Olczyk is passionate about it.

Olczyk said “it’s ok to have the courage to tell your coach or your trainer or your mom or dad that I am not feeling well, whatever it might be how the little the symptom may be.”

When asked why is it important to tell the truth about concussions?

Jack Devine answered “because then i just don’t wanna get another concussion and be out for like a long time.”

Chicago’s Brain Research Foundation has been a major funder of the Coalition. And in the spirit of full disclosure Rob Johnson is a trustee of the BRF.

As CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot reports, Dr. R. Deva Nathan, of the Cancer Treatment Center, said he never used Avastin from the company in question and never received a shipment, so none of his patients ever received the counterfeit version of the medication.

Nathan said he believes he received the FDA warning letter due to past purchases from one of the companies in question.

The words on legitimate boxes of Avastin are written in English. The company name, Genentech, is visible on the lower left corner of the box. The bottle clearly shows the word Avastin across the center of the label.

The fake version’s box is written in French, with the manufacturer labeled as Roche, and the expiration and lot number on the front of the bottle, instead of the side, like the real Avastin.

The intravenous medication is used to shrink cancerous tumors.

Dr. Howard L. Kaufman, director of the Rush University Cancer Center, said it’s frightening to think that cancer patients could be getting treatment with something that won’t shrink their tumors like Avastin does.

“I think it’s why it’s very important that patients who are dealing with cancer go to a reputable institution,” Kaufman said.

Kaufman said Rush has extra precautions in place to guard against any counterfeit drugs infiltrating their cancer-fighting drug supply. Genentech, the company that manufacturers Avastin, is asking pharmacists to be vigilant, and to be on the lookout for the lot numbers that are in question.

“I think the lesson is that we have to be very careful and look at the label very carefully,” Kaufman said. “This is like finding counterfeit money. Sometimes it may be very obvious, but if you’re not looking … you can certainly miss it.”

One 400 milligram vial of Avastin can cost around $2,000.

The FDA sent letters to 19 medical centers that purchased medications from a foreign supplier. The majority are in southern California. Two are in Texas and one is in Chicago.

The physician with the Chicago office said he received the FDA warning letter because of past purchases from one of the companies in question. He stressed he never used or purchased Avastin from that company.

Leo Catholic High School senior guard Lantz Roberts suffered a concussion in late November. Since then, it’s been a slow recovery.

“We was doing charging drills and I ended up falling back and hitting my head on the wooden floor. After that happened I started feeling dizzy like everything started getting blurry,” Roberts said

He’s only recently been cleared to play again. Roberts explained that, “for a long time I couldn’t do nothing, no type of activities.”

“You can tough your way through a sprained ankle, you can tough your way through a bruise, but if you try to tough your way through a brain injury you’re going to make it much worse and you are going to risk your life,” said Chris Nowinski, 33, a former football player and pro wrestler.

He should know. He graduated from Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, played football at Harvard, then became a professional wrestler where, by his count, he sustained six concussions.

Nowinski said his multiple concussions “took away my ability to think for a year and a half. I really couldn’t remember much; destroyed relationships, destroyed friendships.”

After his wrestling days, Nowinski teamed up with doctors from Boston University to study the brains of deceased ex-athletes. They learned that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, was present in many of the brains. It can mimic Alzheimers Disease or ALS, and was found in the brains of former Chicago Blackhawks Reggie Fleming and Bob Probert, and Chicago Bears Super Bowl champ Dave Duerson.

Nowinski said “with CTE, the symptoms you usually see are memory loss, impulse control problems, and mood disorders like depression.”

For the younger athletes, Nowinski said any sport can cause concussions; football, hockey, basketball, soccer (with all of the headers), even cheerleading, with its jumps and flips.

Nowinski warned that “any kid, whether they’re playing sports or whether they’re riding their bike, concussion’s a real risk.”

If that advice doesn’t get your attention, just listen to former Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, whose 8-year career was cut short by concussions.

Hillenmeyer said “teaching people that there’s a distinction between being hurt and being injured – and anything to do with your head is always being injured – would pay tremendous dividends.”

It’s certainly changed Lantz and his mother’s way of thinking.

Kendall Daniels, Lantz Roberts’ mother urged “as soon as you get hit, just go straight to the doctor.”

Roberts said “because it can be a bunch of side effects that you do not want to happen.”

So what is being done in Chicago to address the concussion issue? Click here for information from the Chicago Concussion Coalition.

On Wednesday, Johnson will have the story of how young athletes all over Chicago now have a resource that not only teaches them about concussions, but provides places where they can be evaluated to see if they actually have concussions.

A recent article in the New York Times and a newly released book, “The Science of Yoga,” have sparked intense debate about the dangers of yoga and have shaken the normally Zen yoga community to its core.

William Broad started the vexing discussion. He’s been practicing yoga for 30 years. He’s also a science writer for the New York Times.

So, when he decided to study the science of what he loves and write an article about it, the reaction was explosive.

“It was sort of like you lit a fuse and a bomb went off,” Broad tells CBS 2’s Kate Sullivan.

Twenty million Americans turn to their mats for relaxation and a great workout. But after five years of research, Broad is convinced there are issues. He says that yoga instructors, not surprisingly, have denounced the idea.

“Asking a yoga teacher whether this discipline is likely to cause injuries is sort of like asking Philip Morris whether cigarettes might cause cancer,” he says.

Broad says yoga can dislocate hips, puncture lungs and trigger a stroke. His research also suggests that certain postures, such as the head stand, shoulder stand and “Plow,” are particularly risky.

“There are arteries that go through vertebrae. You start scrunching around with them, and you start getting clots and those clots start go in to your brain — presto change-o, you’ve got a stroke,” Broad says.

Dr. Haemi Choi of Chicago has never seen an injury like that but suggests other problems can occur.

The physician says she strained her back while doing an “Upward Facing Dog” pose. It happened when she took a class too advanced for her. New students may push themselves too hard, she says.

Yoga instructor Suddha Wexler says yoga should not be a painful experience.

“Listen to your own body, listen to your own sensations,” she says.

The bigger problem, Wexler says, is that there are too many inexperienced instructors out there.

Students and instructors say the benefits outweigh potential risks.

“What I learn in the quietness of a yoga practice, it’s how that influences my marriage, it’s how it influences me raising my children. It’s precious to me,” student Carly Carney says.

Yoga can relieve back pain, reduce stress and improve strength and flexibility. It can even reduce falls in the elderly.

William Broad, author of "The Science of Yoga." (CBS)

It also helps your body repair itself, which actually can make you younger.

William Broad himself also talks extensively about the benefits of yoga, including anti-aging and a better sex life.

“Done correctly, yoga is a wonderful friend,” he says.

CBS 2′s Mary Kay Kleist tells us about seven diet-friendly foods you should look for next time you’re in the grocery store.

Shopper Kara Tiltges says she’s drawn to some high-fat foods. “Sometimes my taste buds lead me to them,” she says.

But sometimes, that’s OK — as long as you choose the fats that are healthy for your heart.

An example: nuts.  Jennifer Ventrelle, a registered dietitian at Rush University Prevention Center, says nuts have the types of fat that are good for your heart and cholesterol level.

Just two tablespoons of nuts twice a day will keep you full longer.

A new study from University of Scranton ranks walnuts as the number-one healthy choice of nuts.  Brazil nuts are second, and hazelnuts are third.

So will just one tablespoon of peanut butter.

“It’s a good source of protein.  You’ll probably be likely to eat less of this than you would something that’s just high in sugar,” Ventrelle says.

Fiber-rich avocadoes also help control your hunger.  And one-quarter of an avocado has just 50 calories.

Egg whites are packed with protein, and the yolks are healthy, too.  One yolk a day is fine for someone who does not having existing heart problems.

“It has choline in it, which is good for the brain,” Ventrelle says.

When choosing red meat, look for the word loin.  Those cuts are leaner.

When it comes to chocolate milk versus sports drinks, chocolate milk wins.  A recent study found chocolate milk drinkers could work out 50 percent longer than people who used energy drinks.

Buttermilk is another diet friendly food.

“You don’t have to be afraid of buttermilk.  Buttermilk is actually comparable to a 2 percent low-fat milk,” Ventrelle says.

It’s also rich in potassium and riboflavin, which is good for your digestive system.

“Potassium is the mineral that controls the pumping of the heart,” Ventrelle says.

Now, the dietitian reminds us that while these foods are healthy for us in moderation and will help keep us full, it is not a license to gorge. Eating too much will increase your calorie count. So, watch your portion sizes.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports, psychologist David Mohr has been adapting phones as a virtual therapist for patients prone to depression.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports

“We’re trying to develop individual algorithms for each user that can determine specific states, so their location where they are, their activity, their social context, who they’re with, what they’re engaged in, and their mood,” Mohr said.

That way, if someone is sitting at home for days on end feeling depressed, the phone could sense it.

“It can provide them an automated text message, or an automated phone call to make a suggestion to give somebody a call or get out of the house,” Mohr said.

Dr. Mohr says tests with eight patients so far, have shown that the phone “therapist,” has been helpful in lifting their moods.

“They all had a major depressive disorder when they started, and they were all both clinically and statistically better at the end of the treatment,” he said.

Dr. Mohr said the technology could offer more cost-effective ways to treat depression. He plans more widespread tests this summer.

In winter, low humidity outdoors combined with dry indoor heat robs skin of moisture.

“The important things to think about doing with your daily routine during the winter time is to repair, replenish, and protect. The skin barrier, when it stays intact, helps prevent dehydration and dryness of the skin,” says Jill Weinstein, a dermatologist with the Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group.

Dr. Weinstein suggests using creamier makeup and moisturizers.  Go for products with sunscreen.  UV-A rays are still strong in the winter. Instead of licking your lips, swipe them with an oil-based lip balm.  Eat foods loaded with vitamins and antioxidants to help your skin.

Trade the long, hot bath  for a short, warm shower. Rehydrate overnight by keeping a humidifier in the bedroom.

Here is the list of skin-boosting foods:

*Salmon – a great source of niacin, which is a B vitamin that can keep skin cells healthy.  Selenium in salmon is an antioxidant that will help protect your skin from sun damage.

*Avocados — this fruit is loaded with essential oils and B-complex vitamins that nourish your skin, inside and out.

*Mangoes — loaded with vitamin A.  This helps to repair skin cells.  If you don’t get enough vitamin A, the result will be a dry, flaky complexion.

*Almonds — they carry vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that can help in fighting skin-aging free radicals.

*Cottage cheese — the selenium and vitamin E in the cottage cheese gives us a powerful free radical-fighting antioxidant duo.

*Soybeans — these are protein-rich to help the skin stay firm.

*Mushrooms — rich in riboflavin, which is a B vitamin that helps with tissue maintenance and repair.

*Sweet potatoes – these are rich in beta-carotene.  Your body will convert this to vitamin A, which helps to shed dead skin cells.

*Papaya — this fruit is high in vitamin C.  Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants for protecting skin from damage that leads to wrinkles.

*Flaxseed oil — omega 3′s are good for your skin.  Flaxseed oil is one of the best sources.

One last tip: Cutting back on refined sugar can do wonders for your skin.  Refined sugars cause an inflammatory reaction in the body that can add years to your face.

WASHINGTON (CBS) — U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) is expressing extreme disappointment with the decision by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to stop funding cancer screening provided by Planned Parenthood.

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports, CBS News says the breast cancer charity has been angrily criticized since this past Tuesday, when Planned Parenthood announced the foundation had elected to pull hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of funding that went toward breast cancer screenings and preventative education.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports

A published report Friday said the Komen Foundation had reversed its decision and issued an apology, but the charity insisted that its reasons for cutting funding to Planned Parenthood were not political.

“Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation,” the Komen Foundation said in a statement published in the Dallas Morning News. “We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political.”

But Schakowsky says the Komen Foundation clearly bowed to political pressure.

“Planned Parenthood has certainly done something about it. In 24 hours, they have now raised $650,000, which is nearly enough to fill in where Susan G. Komen left them,” she said.

Schakowsky says she was not proposing of predicting any Congressional action about the Komen Foundation decision, but ads she believes, on balance, that Planned Parenthood may be the winner.

Prior to the reversal of the decision, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged up to $250,000 from his personal fortune to Planned Parenthoood. Bloomberg says politics have no place in health care.

Until Friady, the Komen Foundation defended the decision, pointing, as it did in its apology statement, to a new standard in its grant allocation process as the motivation. The standard prohibits Komen from giving to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities, CBS News reported.

Planned Parenthood has been targeted by Republicans in Congress for several years because it provides abortion services in addition to other women’s health procedures while receiving government support, CBS News reported. But the government support cannot be used to fund abortions; only other procedures.

Shakowsky says she is on the oversight committee supposedly investigating Planned Parenthood, and knows personally that the investigations against the organziation are a witch hunt. She says they have found nothing wrong, and will never find anything wrong, with use of federal dollars by Planned Parenthood .

Shcakowsky asserts Planned Parenthood is scrupulous about making sure that federal dollars never go to support abortion services which it does provide.

So far, three top Komen officials have resigned over the issue.

The Komen Foundation is the world’s leading breast cancer charity, and raises millions of dollars each year in its “Race for the Cure.”

The symptoms are different, depending on gender.  And, as CBS 2′s Mary Kay Kleist reports, when a younger woman has a heart attack, it can be more deadly than when it happens to a man.

Photographer Christine Lee never pictured herself in the health situation she’s in.

“It felt like somebody’s hand was on fire and they reached in and grabbed my heart, and every time it beat in, it got tighter.  It felt like it couldn’t get a full beat back out,” she says.

Christine had suffered a heart attack, and she’s only 43. She says she had experienced flu-like symptoms, including lethargy, sweats and trouble sleeping, for a few weeks.

That’s not unusual.  Doctors say many women don’t see it coming because they have different symptoms than men, and even emergency room physicians can be slow to reach a diagnosis.

“Women are more likely to come in with non-specific symptoms — shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, dizziness,” says Dr. Rupa Mehta Sanghani, a cardiologist at the University of Chicago.

Dr. Sanghani is studying heart attacks in young women to help predict who is at risk.

“Women that present with the heart attack at a younger age are much more likely to die of their heart attack than a male of the same age,” she says.

Researchers say young women are having heart attacks more often.  Women have a one-in-three chance of getting heart disease, compared to a one-in-eight chance of getting breast cancer.

“I think women need to realize that they’re definitely at risk for this, and it’s a bigger killer than breast cancer is,” Dr. Sanghani says.

Having that heart attack last November has made Lee want to warn other women.

“If something seems odd, get on the phone, make an appointment, be insistent,” she says.

Smoking and obesity are important risk factors for women. In Christine Lee’s case, it was family history.  All women should learn the heart attack signs:

–pain or discomfort in the center of the chest, or other areas of the body (arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach)

–shortness of breath

–breaking out into a cold sweat

–nausea

–light-headedness

The Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe St., is decked out in red to draw attention to heart trouble among women, which is the number-one killer of women in the United States, and kills more U.S. women each year than all cancers combined.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Roberts reports

The hotel’s commitment includes signs on the doors to the hotel, in the lobby and in other conspicuous places. Staff members are being encouraged to wear red.

The American Heart Association is urging women throughout the Chicago area to wear red, especially on Friday, which the Heart Association has designated “National Wear Red Day.”

The Palmer House commitment is the doing of the hotel’s director of reservations and customer care, Elizabeth Hein, who suffered a heart attack in 1997 at the age of 27, despite living a healthy lifestyle. She was a big runner, ate healthy foods and was not overweight. Yet Hein said she was fortunate to survive her heart attack.

“I had a really great landlady, actually, and she drove me to the emergency room,” Hein said.

Now, as a hotel manager and a volunteer for the American Heart Association, she said she is attempting to make sure that patrons of both sexes know it’s Heart Month.

Hein said urging people to watch for signs of heart disease is a harder sell than watching for cancer or other diseases because it lacks the debilitating side effects so visible with cancer.

“You can seer the effects of chemotherapy. You can see the loss of hair. You can see all of that,” she said. “You can’t see heart disease.”

She said, with minimally-invasive techniques such as angioplasty, many heart patients don’t even have a scar to show. The medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women, Dr. Annabelle Volgman, said if women knew the warning signs, more would live.

“It’s so preventable,” she said. “They just need to know the risk factors and lower those risk factor. That by itself can help them save their lives.”

“It’s more important after menopause to be very particular about lowering their total cholesterol,” she said.

There’s good cholesterol as well as bad cholesterol, and Dr. Volgman said women and men should strive to increase good cholesterol levels, and to keep triglyceride levels down.

Warning signs for women can include severe lower back pain and retention of water, which is not normal at post-menopausal women.

Hein said her mother had both before dying of a heart attack in 2005.

Other warning signs of heart trouble among women can include jaw pain, night sweats and a continual tired feeling.

Miles Austrevich has a rare form of brain cancer, and his father says they’ve been fighting it with meds, chemotherapy and radiation.

Now, as CBS 2’s Mai Martinez reports, they’re fighting it with humor.

Every week or so, Miles Austrevich checks into Children’s Memorial Hospital for his cancer treatments. The 19-year-old first learned he had a cancerous brain tumor when he was diagnosed on Nov. 20, 2008.

Miles had a recurrence on December 8, 2009, and another on June 4, 2011. He now has three new masses growing in his brain, but through it all, Miles has maintained his sense of humor even referring to his cancer as “the gift that just keeps on giving.”

While it may seem odd to joke about cancer, for Miles, laughter is the best medicine.

That’s why his father, comedian Len Austrevich, launched the Jokes 4 Miles campaign, hoping to collect 5,000 jokes online to help lift his son’s spirits.

Since Jan. 1, 2012, more than 200 jokes have come in from across the U.S. and around the world and, every time Miles comes in for a treatment, he has his MacBook or iPad in tow so he can watch the jokes people have sent in.

“If I’m laughing, I’m not thinking about what’s going on here,” Miles said.

Even his attending physician, Dr. Jason Fangusaro of Children’s Memorial Hospital, said it’s helping.

“It’s improving his quality of life,” explained Fangusaro.

Miles’ father, Len Austrevich said what’s surprised him most about the response is all the well wishes and “the real sincerity behind what people are doing.”

On one clip, a well-wisher hoped Miles has a “super-quick, lightning-speed recovery.”

Another simply said, “I’m rooting for you dude,” while yet another told Miles, “I think you are an inspiration.”

Celebrities also have been wishing Miles well, among them one of Miles’ favorite actors, Will Arnett, who ended his video message with “I just wanted to say I love you.”

Miles was shocked when he saw the video.

“That’s one of the most special jokes that I’ve gotten,” he said.

It’s not just jokes that are making Miles smile. Rapper Ill Ambition created a rap just for Miles, including the lines “Miles keep doing what you’re doing, man. I love your attitude.”

Miles said that was one of the “coolest” messages he’s received so far.

“It’s just energizing. It’s crazy, it’s such a good feeling,” Miles said.

If you’d like to send Miles a joke, stop by any Leona’s Restaurant location in Chicago on Friday, Feb. 3 or Feb. 10 between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. The restaurants will have cameras set up to record jokes for Miles. Or you can record a joke on your own and submit it to their website. Find out the guidelines for submitting a joke here.

Those lessons might pay off later in life, in more ways than you think.

Northwestern neuroscience professor Nina Kraus said a recent study showed if you start a child off with music lessons on some instrument and he or she keeps up with that instrument for life, that musical training will have a positive effect on hearing – as the person ages.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller Reports

“We wondered whether playing an instrument throughout one’s life might incur an advantage that we would see in terms of nervous system function,” Kraus said.

The short answer is yes.

How does that translate into day-to-day life and what will older musicians be able to do that older non-musicians can’t?

“Hear their friend in a noisy restaurant and remember what they said,” Kraus said.

She said it is not good enough to just listen to music throughout life. You have to play it.

READ MORE ABOUT THE STUDY HERE

As CBS 2’s Susan Carlson reports, Steve Ferkau is getting ready for his 10th climb this year, and he proves the sky is truly the limit.

“I have cystic fibrosis,” Ferkau said. “It’s a genetic disease that I was born with.”

Ferkau struggled to breathe until he had a double lung transplant in 2000. Despite his challenges, for the past nine years he’s managed to reach the top at the Hustle up the Hancock.

But he’s not in it for the notoriety, or even the fact that he’s raised more $250,000 for the Respiratory Health Association.

“I’ve always done this to tell people about Kari,” Ferkau said.

Kari Westberg is the 17-year-old girl whose lungs Ferkau now uses to breathe. The day before her junior prom, the Iowa girl died of an aneurysm.

“In my heart, they’ll always be her lungs and they’ll always be her gift, but I lived for 40 years without understanding what it felt like to breathe normally,” Ferkau said. “I never imagined it would feel this amazing.

What is also amazing is the bond that’s developed over the past decade between Ferkau and Kari’s friends and family.

“Twelve years after she passed away, they still come out and honor her by climbing with me,” Ferkau said. “This year, it’s my 10th climb and I have 20 of them coming out.”

Another regular on Ferkau’s team is his wife of 23 years, Laura. She, too, holds Kari’s family in high esteem.

“Her family just has a special kind of grace, that they would think of others at such a horrible time in their lives,” Laura Ferkau said. “I’m so grateful to them.”

Ferkau says he feels like Kari is with him all the time.

“It’s always like there’s a guardian angel over my shoulder,” he said.

In the month before Kari died, she told her family twice how strongly she felt about organ donation. When tragedy struck, her family had no doubt about her wishes.

If you would like to participate in the Hustle up the Hancock, there are still spots available for the half-climb. Click here for more from the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Fessler said Kirk remained in serious, but stable, condition as of Thursday morning, with no change in his prognosis.

The surgery performed Wednesday involved removing two small pieces of tissue that had been rendered non-functional by the stroke.

On Thursday morning, Kirk was “alert, responsive and gave us the thumbs up on request,” Fessler said in a statement.

On Friday, Kirk’s best friend, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) will fly in from West Virginia to pay Kirk a visit. During President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address Tuesday night, Manchin kept an empty seat next to him to honor the absent Kirk.

Kirk called his personal physician, Dr. Jay Alexander, after feeling light-headed and noticing a change in his vision while driving.

Alexander ordered a CT angiogram, which revealed a dissection, or tear in an artery supplying blood to Kirk’s brain.

By 3 p.m. Saturday, Kirk was admitted to Lake Forest, and placed on bed rest and blood thinners. Six hours later, it became clear he was having a stroke.

Kirk has been hospitalized since, but Fessler said Tuesday that the senator was “doing better than expected” and even asked for his Blackberry within two days of first having the stroke.

Doctors have said they don’t know when he might be cleared to go back to work.

CHICAGO (CBS) – The Chicago Board of Education has approved a new plan to make sure that teachers are ready to help the thousands of kids with asthma in public schools.

Under the plan, the Chicago Public Schools would mail each student’s family a questionnaire asking whether their child has asthma, what medication the child might need, and what precautions are needed to prevent asthma attacks from occurring in school.

Amy Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children, said this will sensitize the teacher to the possible problems facing the child. The teacher will know if an inhaler is needed and used and where to find it if that child has an asthma attack.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports

The program will also allow teachers to know how to avoid triggers for asthma, such as keeping kids indoors during recess or gym when temperatures are low.

“If the weather is, if it’s very, very cold, yes, you would take them inside,” Zimmerman said. “It’s not that you would have them sitting in a corner, you would just find another type of physical activity for them if they were going, for example, going outside for gym.”

Schools would also be able to know how to minimize other triggers like pesticides or strong cleaning compounds.

“Fur can be a trigger, so if … there are pets in a classroom, that might be a trigger for a child,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman also said she thinks the school system’s estimate of 20,000 students with asthma is about 50 percent too low.

The school board also approved a new measure to supply all schools with epipens by the next school year to make sure medication is on hand to treat allergic reactions that could prove deadly to students. Epipens are life-saving injections for people with severe reactions to certain foods.

Crain’s Chicago Business reported this week that the hospital plans to start construction next year on the new facility, which will occupy the site bounded by McClurg Court on the east, Erie Street on the north and Ontario Street on the south.

The hospital is currently located a couple of blocks to the north at 345 E. Superior St., among Northwestern University medical and campus buildings. The current hospital was built in 1974.

Citing an application to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, Crain’s reported the hospital plans to increase the size of the hospital by 50 percent, to 272 beds from its current 182.

Crain’s reports the hospital had net patient revenue of $155 million last year, and wants state approval to spend $26 million more on planning for the new hospital. A total of $7.5 million have already been spent on preparations, Crain’s reported.

If the state approves the plan, the Rehabilitation Institute would file a second application asking to begin construction of the hospital at an estimated total cost of $462 million, Crain’s reported.

The new facility will total 690,000 square feet, almost double what the hospital has now, Crain’s reported.

The Rehabilitation Institute bought the now-vacant lot at 630 N. McClurg Ct. in December 2009, several months after the old CBS Chicago headquarters were demolished.

The storied building that had stood at the site opened in 1924 as a horse stable, then operated as the Chicago Arena, with an ice skating rink and bowling alley, until CBS purchased the building in the 1950s.

The stations we now call CBS 2, WBBM Newsradio, and B96 began operating from the building in 1956. The building was also the site of the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon in 1960, and the first-floor CBS 2 newsroom doubled for many years as the famous on-air set, beginning when Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson first became the station’s principal anchors in 1973.

WBBM Newsradio and B96 moved to 2 Prudential Plaza in 2006, and CBS 2 left the building for the CBS 2 Broadcast Center at 22 W. Washington St. in 2008. The building was demolished in early 2009.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Alex Degman reports, mental health care advocates and parents of those in state-run facilities have blasted the governor’s plan, which aims to transition all residents into less expensive community settings within three years.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Alex Degman reports

But Quinn says the decision shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

“I think it’s important that we put the person first,” he said. “The money of the state is going to follow the person. This is a policy I’ve enunciated before. We’re going to implement it in a very positive, humane way.”

The Tinley Park mental health center, and a center for people with developmental disabilities in downstate Jacksonville, will be the first to close.

Quinn’s office predicted closing facilities in Jacksonville and Tinley Park, which together employ about 550 people, would save nearly $20 million.

In total, Quinn hopes to move 600 people out of institutions in the coming 2 1/2 years.

Last week, worker and a former patient at Tinley Park tell CBS 2’s Kristyn Hartman that closing that facility in particular is a terrible mistake.

“To me, it’s difficult because we want to have a place to work, but the people, too, they matter,” employee Chanel Jennings said.

She was talking about psychiatric patients who need acute, short term care, which Lisa Guardiola needed when she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

“My road to recovery started at Tinley Park Mental Health Hospital,” she said. “If I didn’t go there I’d probably be out on the street.”

Quinn’s administration says community based care settings allow individualized attention based on the person’s needs. Critics say the closing facilities are the best option for some residents, who aren’t ready for community living.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports, fewer than 42,000 abortions were performed in Illinois in 2010, the lowest since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the procedure nationwide in its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

In total, there were 41,859 abortions in Illinois in 2010, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. That was down from 46,077 in 2009.

In Cook County, 23,840 abortions were performed in Cook County in 2010, compared with 25,196 in 2009, the Sun-Times reported.

Planned Parenthood president Carole Brite tells the newspaper she is not sure about the reason for the drop, but does say hers and other pro-choice groups have been promoting contraception over abortions.

An Anti-abortion activist attributes the drop to abortion opponents having growing influence over women’s attitudes, the Sun-Times reported.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Roberts reports, CPS personnel serve 77,000 breakfasts and 289,000 lunches a day to students; 86 percent of students qualify for either free or reduced-price meals, based on family income.

The system has moved in the past two years to menus it believes to be healthier. But some veteran lunchroom personnel, such as Deanne Hillsman, say a lot of the food is ending up in the garbage can instead of children’s stomachs.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Roberts reports

Hillsman said hummus is easily the least popular food at North Lawndale Prep High School, followed closely by turkey gyros that she says is today’s equivalent of the “mystery meat” of old.

“It doesn’t resemble a typical gyro that the children would eat,” she said. “The color is off and it’s not highly favorable among my children.”

She cites another turkey-based dish – turkey nachos – as one of the most popular.

But the major point being made by Hillsman and her union, the Service Employees International Union, is that pre-packaged meals don’t get nearly as warm a reception as hot meals.

The Service Employees union wants full kitchens installed in all schools and nutritional training for cooks.

A delegation of about 75 “lunch ladies,” as they called themselves, briefly rallied outside of Chicago Public School headquarters Tuesday and tried to present a copy of a survey of lunchroom personnel conducted by the union to Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard.

Brizard was unavailable.

Some of the study’s findings:

Of those surveyed, 75 percent reported not having any input on the new recipes and food. Only 42 percent of those surveyed believe students are eating the new food. Half surveyed rarely or never see school principals eating in the lunchroom. The survey found 73 percent of those surveyed believe food cooked in the schools is superior to frozen, pre-packed entrees that are warmed up and served. And 62 percent of those surveyed wanted more training about healthy food.

School board officials last year imposed new standards that require each lunch to contain whole grains, a different vegetable each day and lower amounts of salt. Only reduced-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise are offered as condiments.

The union said many newer schools lack full kitchens and only have facilities to reheat pre-packaged food.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Conway reports, under a state law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn in August of last year, Illinois school districts are permitted to stock Epipens and administer shots of the hormone epinephrine to any student suffering a severe allergic reaction without worrying about liability.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Conway reports

Under state law previously, students could carry their own Epipens and staff could administer injections. But schools could not stock Epipens themselves.

By the beginning of next school year, CPS plans to stock four to six Epipens for each school, at a total cost of about $195,000, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Even though schools have been allowed to stock Epipens for five months now, as late as just two weeks ago, the Chicago Public Schools had not received any and had no indication that any were coming.

Dr. Richi Gupta of Children’s Memorial Hospital had been seeking to change that, but she said there were issues, such as addressing potential liability concerns and cost. The price is about $100 per pack.

There is also one loophole in the law. Only nurses are supposed to administer epipens and most of CPS’s nurses are part-time.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s office pointed out last year that a growing number of American children are being diagnosed with food allergies. A total of 1 in 13 children suffered from food allergies as of 2011, and nearly 40 percent have a severe reaction, the governor’s office said.

Peanuts are the most common allergen, followed by milk and shellfish, the governor’s office said.

Just over a year ago, a Kateyln Carlson, 13, died of a severe allergic reaction to food while in school at the Thomas A. Edison Regional Gifted Center, 4929 N. Sawyer Ave.

Katelyn had eaten peanuts inside food her seventh grade teacher ordered from Chinese Inn Restaurant for a Dec. 17, 2010, class holiday party.

As WBBM Newsradio’s David Roe reports, in about a year, the U of C will open the New Hospital Pavilion new 10-story, 1.2 million square-foot hospital, which is under construction of 57th Street between Cottage Grove and Drexel avenues, with a bridge over Maryland Avenue.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s David Roe reports

The New Hospital Pavilion was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly, who was also behind the Charles M. Harper Center for the U of C’s Graduate School of Business.

The long building features 18-foot floor heights and a structural grid to allow the hospital to modify continually for future technology.

It also features a seventh-floor sky lobby that will include the central reception area, family waiting areas, and a chapel – all with views of the U of C campus on the east and Washington Park on the west.

The U of C has said the new hospital will house its most distinguished clinical programs, including those focusing on cancer, gastrointestinal disease, neuroscience, advanced surgery, and high-tech medical imaging.

Meanwhile, the U of C Medical Center is also unveiling a new name, “University of Chicago Medicine,” that will reflect the connection with the medical center and its clinical programs with the U of C Biological Science Division and Pritzker School of Medicine.

As the push continues, Quinn hopes to move 600 people out of institutions over the next 2½ years. That would eliminate the need for up to four hospitals and developmental centers, aides said.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Dave Dahl reports

Quinn’s office emphasized that the goal is to improve quality of life for people who depend on the state for care. But doing away with costly institutions should also save money. They predicted closing facilities in Jacksonville and Tinley Park, which together employ about 550 people, would save nearly $20 million.

Many advocates for people with mental illnesses and disabilities support more use of community care and less emphasis on institutionalizing people. But some family members fear the change will be mishandled or their loved ones will wind up in new institutions that are further from home. Unions and local officials generally oppose closing institutions because of the loss of jobs.

“It’s wrong to cut mental health and disability services for men and women in dire need,” the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said in a statement.

A worker and a former patient at Tinley Park tell CBS 2’s Kristyn Hartman that closing the facility is a terrible mistake.

“To me, it’s difficult because we want to have a place to work, but the people, too, they matter,” employee Chanel Jennings said.

She’s talking about psychiatric patients who need acute, short term care.

Lisa Guardiola needed it when she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

“My road to recovery started at Tinley Park Mental Health Hospital,” she said. “If I didn’t go there I’d probably be out on the street.”

The administration presented the plan as a final decision.

No public hearings are planned, said spokeswoman Brie Callahan, and there’s no need for a review by the legislative panel responsible for issuing advisory opinions on proposals to close state facilities. Lawmakers and the public got their chance to speak out last year in a series of hearings on a broader Quinn closure plan that ended up being shelved, she said.

“Ultimately, this is an executive branch decision,” Callahan said, “but we’ve done it with a lot of input from the General Assembly and a lot of responsiveness to the concerns they raised with us in the fall.”

The Legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability recommended in November that the Tinley Park hospital be kept open, partly because of the need for mental health services in Chicago’s southern suburbs. The commission also voted against closing the Jacksonville facility, citing its importance to the local community.

However, those recommendations involved quick shutdowns in response to a lack of money. Lawmakers eventually supplied the money and the closures were canceled. It’s possible the legislative commission might have reached different conclusions if it had been looking at a long-term plan like the one Quinn offered Thursday.

The announcement was made while Quinn was on a trip to Washington. Callahan said it was pure coincidence that details came together when Quinn was unavailable to present the decision himself.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office says the ordinance, intended to save taxpayer money, allows some restaurants to “self-certify,” provided that the Chicago Department of Public Health deems them “low-risk.”

Meanwhile, the Health Department will change its inspection methods so they will focus on “high-risk” rather than targeting all restaurants equally, the Mayor’s office said.

Currently, each and every food establishment must undergo an inspection once every six months, whether it has a perfect health record or a kitchen full of mold and cockroaches.

But under the new plan, restaurants will be deemed “low-risk” if they mostly serve pre-packaged foods, as well as restaurants that have passed an inspection within a year, or that gone for three years without being shut down by health authorities or being deemed the source of a foodborne illness outbreak.

Such restaurants will be allowed to self-certify without the repeated visits from inspectors, while high-risk restaurants will be the target of more frequent visits, according to the Mayor’s office.

“This ordinance will allow the City to better ensure the health safety of Chicagoans by allowing a more targeted and streamlined approach to inspections,” Mayor Emanuel said in a news release.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Mike Krauser reports, the volunteers call themselves Team Haiti – doctors, builders, architects and relief workers pitching in together to build a new children’s hospital in Haiti.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Mike Krauser reports

“So many generous organizations and people in our great city of Chicago have offered helping hand over the last two years, and it’s been critically important. However, as you might guess, there is still a tremendous amount of work that is yet to be done,” said Children’s Memorial Hospital chief executive officer Patrick Magoon.

Chuck Andrews of International Child Care USA calls the aftermath of the earthquake “both a devastating situation and an opportunity.”

Bob Gallo, of Powers Construction, says the people of Haiti are looking for advancement, not mere charity.

“They need help. They want help. They want support. They don’t want handouts. They want education. They want expertise,” Gallo said.

The Team Haiti members are making an intellectual investment, and now they need cash – about $35 million.

As CBS 2’s Susan Carlson reports, it sounds too good to be true. But a spa in Naperville is one of only a few places in the country now offering what claims to be a miracle solution to feeling completely rested.

Taylor Bianchini has suffered from insomnia for 10 years.

“I just have problems just turning my brain off and then just going to sleep,” she said.

After trying diet, exercise and home remedies with no luck, Bianchini discovered a new way to relax – the zen bed.

“Once I did it, it was just fantastic,” she said. “It works almost instantaneously.”

Bianchini says the zen bed didn’t make her insomnia go away, but it made her feel as if she got the sleep she was missing.

“For the rest of the day, I had so much energy. I got so many errands done, “she said. “It’s just a wonderful experience.”

The Timeless Spa and Salt Cave, at 1324 E. Ogden Ave., Suite 100 in Naperville, is one of only five places in the entire country that offers the zen bed experience.

“There’s a liner between you and the table of the bed. The table lowers down into the water,” explained Timeless Spa owner Jody Buckle. “You feel like you’re floating in water without getting wet.”

While submerged in a pool of 98-degree water, clients are also treated with colorful light therapy.

Buckle says the zen bed promises to be so relaxing, studies show just 20 minutes is the equivalent of a full night’s sleep.

“When you’re weightless, it takes away aches and pains and it just takes you to a different state,” Buckle said. “It brings you to the theta state of sleeping.”

Bianchini agrees that it sounds far-fetched that one could actually feel the effects of a full night’s sleep in 20 minutes.

“It does, and I didn’t believe it until I actually did it,” she said.

“Another client got on it and as soon as she was lowered down, she said her sciatica went away,” Buckle said. “It’s not fixing any of the problems, but it’s giving relief to the problems that we do have.”

If you’re curious and want to test it for yourself, the zen bed at Timeless is $30 for a 30-minute session.

More and more toddlers and young children are tapping away even as they wobble toward their first steps.

But is it good for them? CBS 2′s Mary Kay Kleist reports.

Four year old Anthony is learning to read and learning to navigate through the apps on his iPad. So are Jacob and Annabelle, who are just two.

Their mom, Laura Shulman, said, “He does a lot of the matching and the thinking things and she does a lot more of the artistic and creative.”

More toddlers are tapping their way into the endless world of educational apps. In fact, half (52 percent) of all kids 8 years old and younger have access to a smart phone, video iPod or iPad.

In a typical day, 11 percent are using one of the devices to play games, watch videos or use other apps.

And they spend an average of 43 minutes a day with their digital device.

Is that OK?

Chip Donohue, an early childhood education expert from the Erikson Institute, says the jury’s still out.

“We don’t know,” he said. “We have a lot of research we still have to do about how much is enough and how much is too much. What we do know is this is a very compelling bit of technology for children and for adults.”

What’s the best age to introduce young children to these devices?

“The comfort level in the field seems to be 2 and above,” Donohue said.

Preschoolers at the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center in Naperville spend 10 minutes every day playing learning games on iPads.

Domenica Aguilera, a teacher at the school, said, “They have a great time seeing visuals, listening to the stories and seeing the pictures that reinforce their learning.”

Early language development expert, Dr. Dana Suskind, agrees that puzzle apps can build math skills and word game apps can increase literacy skills.

But, parents must be involved while their kids use the device. Don’t let it become a babysitter.

“An iPad cannot replace the warm embrace of a mother or a father and rich language interaction,” Suskind said.

Experts say start with just a few apps. Choose apps that both you and your child find fun. And make sure the app prompts conversation between you and your child.

Shulman says the iPad is not interfering with regular play.

“It’s just an addition or complement to their daily routine, which is really cool,” she said.

For Information On The Best Apps And Devices For Kids, Check Out These Links:

Common Sense Media – Best Apps For Kids

Children’s Technology Review

As WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports, as the county health department continues to talk to more people who ate at Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling, the number of cases of gastrointestinal illness continues to rise.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports

As of Wednesday evening, at least 50 cases had been connected to the restaurant and the health department expects that number to rise.

Dan Erdman, manager of Bob Chinn’s Crab House, said the restaurant was open again on Wednesday, after being closed for almost two days. And he said they’ve spent the past two days cleaning and sanitizing the restaurant “and working with the health department to make sure everything is ready to go, from codes to cleanliness; and we’ve done everything we can on our part.”

Erdman said Bob Chinn’s is marking its 30th anniversary this year. He said it is the fourth busiest restaurant in the country.

As CBS 2′s Mary Kay Kleist reports, simple changes to your lifestyle can put a stop to sleepless nights.

Tracy Eraci is constantly on the go; a full-time mother and wife and part-time pharmacist.

She knows all too well what it feels like to toss and turn all night and then drag through the next day exhausted.

“Sometimes I may fall asleep for the 15 minutes that I’m sitting in the school parking lot, waiting for the kids to get out of school,” Eraci said.

She’s not alone. Experts say insomnia is two to three times more common in women than men, which raises the risk for heart disease and obesity.

Dr. Eve Van Cauter, a sleep expert at the University of Chicago, said, “We may over eat, even despite our best efforts. Our blood pressure may be higher and we may have difficulties metabolizing sugar, glucose normally – which may present an increased risk of diabetes.”

Women are biologically programmed to fall asleep earlier than men, but often can’t.

“Sometimes it’s as late as midnight, depending on what projects I’m working on,” Eraci said.

The two hours right after you fall asleep and the two hours before you wake up are the most critical to the quality of sleep you’ll get. During that time, unfamiliar noises like storms, or in Tracy’s case, her husband’s snoring – even the light from the alarm clock next to your bed – can be disruptive.

Another obvious reason women lose sleep is because they have babies. A newborn can cause parents to lose one to two hours of sleep every night. Over a year’s time, that adds up to one entire month of lost sleep.

New mothers can make up for that lost sleep by napping when the baby sleeps. Other things women can do, is work out during the day. If you can’t, definitely don’t work out within two hours of bedtime.

“It will prepare your brain for more activity rather than for sleep,” Van Cauter said.

One hour before bed, you should start winding down. A glass of wine can help. Then, turn off the TV and stay off the computer.

Eraci said she occasionally takes medication to help her fall asleep, but more often, she reads before turning out the light.

“I read something soothing or maybe that’s not really that interesting, if i just need to get drowsy and fall asleep,” Eraci said.

If you’re going through menopause, hormone therapy might help you get a better night’s sleep.

Turn down the thermostat. 60 to 68 degrees is ideal.

Try to listen to your body clock. Go to bed earlier, and let your significant other finish the late-night chores.

Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling was closed after customers reported illnesses that might be linked to the eatery.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports

“We received information about reports of people with gastrointestinal illness that is potentially linked to Bob Chinn’s restaurant,” department spokeswoman Amy Poore said.

County health officials have been at the restaurant most of the day, talking to employees and going over the place, according to Poore.

Dan Erdman, the manager of Bob Chinn’s, said the restaurant got two or three calls from customers and then voluntarily closed in the morning. He says the restaurant has spent the day cleaning.

Erdman and the health department both said the source of illness has not been found, nor has it been definitively linked to Bob Chinn’s.

The manager of Bob Chinn’s says the restaurant is expected to re-open Wednesday morning.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, on Monday, the first operation was performed there.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

Otolaryngologist Dr. Guy Petruzzelli had the honor of performing the first operation ever at the new hospital.

“It was a robotic operation on a very nice woman from the South Side who had a little tumor in her throat,” Petruzzelli said.

He says even the patient was excited about being the first.

Petruzzelli added that all the newest technology was available to him in the operating room, including video communication with a pathologist who looked over a sample of a tumor that was shot to him in a pneumatic tube, instead of being walked over to the lab.

“Everything is brand new. There’s the new OR smell,” Petruzzelli said.

The 14-story, butterfly-shaped Tower building is visible from the Eisenhower Expressway.

It includes the new Rush emergency center, which is designed to handle 60 patients at a time normally, but is large enough to deal with 120 patients in the event of a disaster.

At the base of the building, the hospital has put together an “interventional platform,” which combines units for diagnostic testing, surgery, interventional services and recovery within close proximity of each other to improve convenience for patients.

The building also includes an advanced imaging center for such procedures as MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds.

The Tower is the keystone of a 10-year, $1 billion transformation plan at Rush.

Last summer, Illinois lawmakers passed a law making it legal for all schools to stock them, just in case a child has a life-threatening food allergy reaction.

But CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov wanted to find out why Chicago public schools still don’t have them.

Jason Gustaveson and his wife are on a crusade to get CPS to stock epipens.

“It’s like fire extinguishers or fire alarms,” says Gustaveson, whose son is allergic to eggs and some nuts.

One injection could save a life.

Since the law allowing general use epinephrine auto injectors in schools passed last summer, Gustaveson has been contacting CPS. But so far, he says, he has not gotten a response.

Jennifer Jobrack and the food allergy initiative pushed to get the law passed. Jobrack says one in 13 kids now have food allergies. That’s two students in every classroom.

Other districts and private schools already have epipens. Dr. Ruchi Gupta also has been working to get them at CPS.

Gupta says there are issues, such as addressing potential liability concerns and cost. The price is about $100 per pack.

There is one loophole in the law. Only nurses are supposed to administer epipens and most of CPS’s nurses are part-time.

“We know it’s a big loophole. It was one of the compromises we had to reach to get the legislation passed,” Jobrack says.

A CPS spokesperson says the district expects to present the school board with a stock epipen policy this month. Officials are also developing a plan to pay for them and train people on their use.

A year after a CPS student Katelyn Carlson died from an allergic reaction in school, health advocates hope this finally happens.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports, the research finds that while pediatricians often recommend medication as the first line of treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, changes in a child’s diet can also be effective.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports

Dr. J. Gordon Millichap of Children’s Memorial says by switching your child to healthy foods, you can ease ADHD.

“Fish and lowfat dairy products, and to avoid diets which seems to promote or exacerbate attention deficit and hyperactivity, and that’s red meats and high-fat dairy products,” Millichap said.

The study comes in the wake of a recent interest in nutritional therapy for ADHD, particularly the use of omega supplements, the significance of iron deficiency, and the avoidance of what the study calls a “Western pattern” diet.

The study points out that a restrictive elimination diet is “time consuming and disruptive to the household,” and is not the right solution for every case, but greater attention to a healthy diet is “perhaps the most promising and practical complementary or alternative treatment of ADHD. “

The study by Millichap and Michelle M. Yee is published in the journal Pediatrics.

Researchers studied women and their workouts. Those who put on tightly woven nylon and spandex leggings after a workout were less achy one to three days later than those who wore no tights.

The reason it worked? The tights provided compression. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research reports, constrictive clothing may actually help decrease swelling and boost blood flow.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, the old emergency room at the medical center stopped accepting new patients overnight, in preparation for the opening Friday morning of the new emergency room. It was designed by the medical professionals who will actually use it.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

“It’s rare that you have the opportunity to design and build your space from scratch,” said Rush emergency department chairman Dr. Dino Rumoro. “Usually, you’re retrofitting an old space.”

The new Rush emergency center is designed to handle 60 patients at a time normally, but is large enough to deal with 120 patients in the event of a disaster.

“In this facility, we designed an over 130 percent surge capacity,” Rumoro said.

The ER also features a decontamination center – complete with decontamination showers and an enclosed ambulance bay for potentially contaminated patients – that makes Rush the only bioterrorism preparedness center in the nation.

The opening of the emergency department Friday will be followed by the transfer of patients Sunday from the old emergency room – housed in a building constructed in the 19th century – to the new, 14-story “Tower” building, the butterfly-shaped structure that is visible from the Eisenhower Expressway.

But does that mean they should put the brakes on driving?

A new study out of the United Kingdom says maybe you shouldn’t. As CBS 2’s Kristyn Hartman reports, it might be like getting behind the wheel under the influence.

The research shows it’s like drinking four double whiskies.

“Quantifying equivalence to alcohol is a unique subjective issue, but I think the point being is you will be impaired,” says Dr. Mitch Weinstein of St. Joseph Hospital.

Taking medication can affect concentration, he says.

“I don’t know if I’d want to be driving in front of you or behind you,” Weinstein says.

The study — which looked at speed, breaking and cornering — found driving performance with a heavy cold dropped off by about 50 percent.

Weinstein believes you probably should put the keys down when you’re sick.

Leonard Miller III didn’t give his dad a sweater or set golf clubs for Christmas. The Chicago man gave his father the gift of life, CBS 2′s Suzanne Le Mignot reports.

Leonard Miller II says he has his son to thank for his new-found well-being. The junior Miller donated one of his kidneys to his father this past Christmas.

“A lot of people, they give gifts, things that have to do with fashion, the latest toys, electronics, things like that,” the son says. “But how many people can actually give their dad a kidney for Christmas, or give them something that they’re actually going to have inside them for the next 15, 20 or 30 years.”

The younger Miller underwent the surgery to save his father’s life on Dec. 12. His father had been suffering from renal failure for the past three years.

“The toxins were building up in my system. My body wasn’t able to process them and get them out,” he says.

Miller II is now looking forward to a long life ahead with his family, his wife of 32 years, Jacqueline; their granddaughter Janeya, and their four other adult children.

“I want him to be around when I start having kids, so he can meet Leonard Miller the fourth,” the younger Miller says.

The elder Miller says the life-saving transplant made possible by his son was not just an early Christmas gift but a birthday present, too. He’ll be celebrating his 60th birthday on Saturday.

As CBS 2′s Vince Gerasole reports, they’ve ranked her diet plan the healthiest in the nation.

You’ll eat, for example, cashews and salmon and lots of fruits and vegetables — five servings each day, all on the DASH Diet Action Plan.

“It’s an eating pattern — you are developing a new plan on how you would eat,” Marla Heller says.

“It tends to emphasize a lot of plant-based fruits, fruits, vegetables, whole grains,” she adds.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet was selected by U.S. News’ panel of medical professionals as the nation’s best overall diet for two years now.

The registered dietician’s book sales are now booming. On Thursday, her book was ranked number five by Barnes & Nobel.

“The DASH Diet was developed by a team sponsored by the National Institutes of Health,” Heller says. “It was always considered kind of ‘researchy,’ so I wanted to make it practical, understandable for regular people who have busy lives.”

So what do you eat under the plan? For breakfast, try sensible amounts of cereal, low fat milk, strawberries and even a 4-ounce glass of orange juice.

“We’ve got a portion control here,” Heller says. “A lot of people are doing really large servings and then they get a lot of extra calories.”

For dinner, with your fish, you can also enjoy mashed potatoes, as long as you are bulking up on things like peppers and green beans.

Followers like Christine Ambrose have posted their success stories online. She shed 90 pounds in a little over a year, and that’s what Heller finds most gratifying about her success.

“The important thing is I am influencing a lot of people around the country to eat more healthfully, and that’s really the payoff,” Heller says.

The diet isn’t about only losing weight but also getting healthy, which is why it was singled out. It’s been medically proven to lower blood pressure in just 14 days. It can also lower bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol and decrease risk of heart attacks.

The Near North Health Center, at 1200 N. LaSalle Blvd., has begun no-scalpel vasectomy services for men.

The clinic is offering no-scalpel vasectomies, in which the vas deferens tubes that carry sperm from the testes into the seminal fluid are blocked via a small incision in the scrotum. Planned Parenthood says the procedure is 99 percent effective, and does not result in any change in sex drive or sexual performance.

“No-scalpel vasectomy is a safe and easy outpatient procedure,” Kai Tao, vice president of clinical operations at the center. “Patients are provided with anesthesia and numbing medication to make the procedure virtually painless. There is little recovery time and most men return to work the next day.”

Planned Parenthood emphasizes that the procedure does not work instantly. It takes eight to 16 weeks, or 12 to 20 ejaculations, to release all the sperm that were ready to launch before the procedure.

A follow-up test is conducted three months after the procedure to ensure it worked, Planned Parenthood said.

The procedure, along with pain medications and follow-up appointments, are cheaper than similar procedures at private doctors, Planned Parenthood said. A vasectomy is also much cheaper than the cost of a lifetime of birth control for a woman, the agency said.

Many insurance plans cover the procedure, and some patients might qualify for additional discounts, Planned Parenthood said.

The clinic is located at the northwest corner of LaSalle Boulevard and Division Street. Planned Parenthood says more information is available at (800) 230-PLAN or the Planned Parenthood Web site.

Willie James Ramsey was diagnosed five years ago with lung cancer. On Wednesday at the University of Chicago Medical Center, he was a patient proud to call himself a cancer survivor.

“I just felt like if I didn’t give up, then God wouldn’t give up on me,” Ramsey said.

Lung cancer is one of several cancers on the decline, according to a new report by the American Cancer Society.

At the same time, Dr. Otis Brawley said, “We’re seeing a rise in cancers of the thyroid, cancers of the esophagus, cancer of the liver, cancer of the pancreas and cancer of the throat.”

It translates to more than 1.6 million new cases of cancer overall. More than 500,000 people will die of cancer in the U.S. this year alone.

Doctors say obesity, lack of exercise and high caloric intake is behind many of the new cases.

“It’s clear that there’s an increased risk of getting cancer among people who are overweight,” said Dr. Richard L. Schilsky, of the University of Chicago.

As for the drop in cancer rates for other forms of cancer, Schilsky said, “I think we should all be encouraged. I think there’s still a lot of work to do. I think people need to take personal responsibility for their health. … People need to follow a healthy lifestyle.”

Researchers and doctors credit the drop in cancer cases to patients being better educated about keeping themselves healthy.

CHICAGO (CBS) — If you’re like a lot of people, you may be resolving to get fit and lose some pounds in the new year.

WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya has some tips for helping to ensure you’re successful.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

Jim Goudos knows there will be large numbers of people signing up in the next couple of weeks at the Charter Fitness he manages in the Beverly neighborhood.

“It’s definitely our biggest time of the season – huge flux in membership, huge number of people trying to get fit,” Goudos said.

He says not to expect quick, dramatic results.

“You have to think realistically and safely – a pound or two pounds of fat loss a week,” Goudos said.

Goudos also emphasized that training alone will not be enough.

“Basically, you start slow. Diet’s huge, you know – you want to see your goals, don’t eat fast food every day, and then just get in here and put in the work, three times a week, at least,” Goudos said.

Persistence can pay off in a big way, Goudos added.

“I’ve seen people lose 60 pounds over the course of six months,” he said.

Brian Friend was doing strength training when we caught up with him. He has some advice for getting and staying fit.

“Stay at it – just try and stay consistent and work year-round,” he said.

Added fellow gym member George Lynch, “In order to start getting fit, I think you need to start eating healthier.”

And Pam Ahern is a very fit 54-year-old grandmother. She has worked out for decades, and just started running at the age of 50.

“I always set goals for myself – I’d like to do a half (marathon) next year, that’s my goal for next year. I’ve done two triathlons, and there’s always something around the corner,” she said. “You’re never too old to start to be fit. Never, never, never.”