Julie Deardorff

It took more than two decades of labor, but Illinois is finally poised to permit its first free-standing birth center, an alternative model of care for low-risk pregnant women who want to deliver in a homey environment with a reduced chance of medical...

The state agency charged with protecting patients in Illinois says it plans to lay off most of its medical regulators next week, a move officials say will drastically affect their ability to license and discipline physicians. The Illinois Department of...

What do a chiropractor, a meditation teacher, a truck driver and an "adventurpreneur" have in common with an outdoors enthusiast, a workplace wellness provider, a Lake Michigan circumnavigator and a paratriathlete? They all share an interest in fitness,...

KidCo PeaPod travel beds are marketed as cozy sleeping spaces for newborns through age 6. Lightweight and portable, the colorful pop-up tents are often considered a practical alternative to bulky play yards. Earlier this month, however, Canada's...

As part of her marathon training, Daisy Carranza has taken an over-the counter pain reliever nearly every day for the last several months. On race day Sunday, she's prepared to pop at least seven Extra Strength Tylenol capsules: two at the starting line,...

Chicago's Brian Thies was at home when the ache he'd been feeling all day suddenly turned into crushing chest pain. Inside the ambulance, paramedics quickly determined he was suffering from the deadliest type of heart attack, an aptly named "widow-maker."...

Even if you are reading this without glasses, it's not too early to start taking your eye vitamins. Some nutrients can stave off the burdensome vision loss and eye disease that occur as we age, mounting research suggests. But claims by supplement...

Jillian Michaels, the hard-driving fitness trainer from television’s “The Biggest Loser” and now “The Doctors,” hasn’t worked over a group in about four months. Now she’s just getting warmed up, taunting those...

There’s a very interesting and unusually civilized debate going on over at the Atlantic.com, where David H. Freedman has written a boldy-headlined piece called “The Triumph of New Age Medicine.” In the essay, Freedman explores why...

 Chicago's first protected bike lane on Kinzie Ave., which uses soft plastic posts and a parking lane to buffer cyclists from car traffic, could make city riding safer. And if these separated lanes appeal to women, they could dramatically boost the number...

Neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor has always loved the brain’s complex beauty. But she developed an unexpectedly deep appreciation for her own in 1996 after a blood vessel ruptured and she suffered a massive stroke. The life-changing moment destroyed...

My friend Kendra recently conducted a short but nerve-wracking experiment with her two boys, ages 7 and 9. “Go out and play,” she told them. “Don’t come in until dinner time.” One of her boys wasn’t sure what to do....