Tim Ditman, River Bender Journalist Profile

Articles

College Student Home? Here’s How to Check Their Mental Health

2 weeks ago | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

College students will soon be home for summer break. They’re embarking on their independent phase, so opening up about mental health to their parents might not top the summer to-do list. It can leave parents wondering: How did the school year go? Did they make friends? Are they doing OK mentally? Rachel Brown, LCPC, a psychotherapist at OSF HealthCare, says there are dos and don’ts to get the most out of a conversation with a young adult.
Boating Safety: Key Tips To Prevent Summer Injuries

1 month ago | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

Tim Ditman March 21, 2025 11:21 AM Warmer weather means people flocking to lakes and rivers in droves to enjoy some fishing or time on the boat. But something as simple as the wrong type of footwear can lead to an injury that ruins your day and maybe even your life.In 2023, the United States Coast Guard reported 3,844 instances of something going wrong on a boat and 564 boating deaths. The numbers were down from 2022 and don’t capture what’s happening on every waterway in America.
Allergy Relief: Know What Works

2 months ago | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

Spring allergies will be here soon. If you’re suffering from a runny or congested nose, watery or itchy eyes or sneezing, it’s tempting to grab the first medicine that catches your eye at the pharmacy or rifle through the bathroom drawer for some pills you’re hanging on to. Not so fast, says Maddy Draper, APRN, a health care provider at OSF OnCall. She says it’s important to know what to take and when in order to avoid side effects that can be serious.
Cardiovascular Health: Women Face Double the Heart Attack Risk

Feb 13, 2025 | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

It’s no great surprise to read that men and women both benefit from working out. But women may receive greater benefits from regular exercise than men, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study centered on the importance of exercise as a way to avoid dying prematurely. The researchers studied data from 400,000 people and found that women who exercised were 24% less likely to die early from any cause.
CT Calcium Scoring: A Game Changer for Heart Disease Prevention

Feb 7, 2025 | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

Here’s something new to bring up the next time you visit your health care provider: Should I undergo a CT calcium score screen to take stock of my heart health? It’s not for everybody, but it could mean the difference between a long, healthy life and finding yourself on an operating table. “The number one killer in the United States is heart disease,” says Ash Al-Dadah, MD, an interventional cardiologist at OSF HealthCare. “We have to do a better job.
What To Expect When You Call An Ambulance

Feb 5, 2025 | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

When it comes to ambulances and the services they provide, Lisa Reid, APRN, knows a thing or two because she’s seen a thing or two. The family medicine provider at OSF HealthCare was an ambulance first responder for more than 15 years before moving to the nursing side of things. As such, she’s heard a lot of “Should I do this or that?” when calling an ambulance. Now, it’s time to clear up the misconceptions. Who’s coming to get me? Should I be concerned about their qualifications?
New Year, New Diet

Jan 24, 2025 | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

Among the New Year’s resolutions worldwide, many people have pledged to find and stick with a healthy diet. But there’s a lot more to it than just grabbing every “reduced fat” item off the grocery store shelf. Karen Whitehorn, MD, an OSF HealthCare internal medicine physician, hears questions all the time about diets. Her first question back is usually: what do you want out of your diet? Do you want to be healthy? Lose weight? Manage a medical condition?
Don't Lose Your Head Over Lice

Jan 23, 2025 | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

It can cause panic for parents, but it doesn’t have to. Emily Isom is talking about head lice, something she sees often as a mother and a certified medical assistant in pediatrics at OSF HealthCare. The good news for parents: in most cases, your child doesn’t have to miss school and can be treated with over-the-counter remedies. Lice basicsIsom says lice (the singular form is louse) are tiny insects that sit on your scalp.
Asthma and Exercise: How to Stay Active Safely

Jan 23, 2025 | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

For the thousands of people who have asthma (a chronic lung disease that impacts your airways), the thought of vigorous exercise may be daunting. They may think, “What if I’m working out alone and find myself short of breath or worse?”Enter Brittany Delaney, an athletic trainer at OSF HealthCare who works with young athletes on a variety of conditions, including asthma. She says workout warriors and their parents need not be afraid.
Mental Health Awareness Day: Mental Health Medication And Pregnancy

Jan 23, 2025 | riverbender.com | Tim Ditman

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Mental Health Awareness Day is Jan. 23, 2025. This is a story reflecting on that day from an OSF-certified nurse midwife). As the stigma around mental health continues to improve, people are more likely to seek treatment. A woman who has just learned she’s pregnant may wonder: should I stop taking medicines like Zoloft or Prozac? Will they hurt my baby? Sarah Shoemaker, a certified nurse midwife at OSF HealthCare, says first of all, you’re not alone.