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Even though the State of Illinois recently moved into Phase 4 of its reopening process, that does not mean the risk of COVID-19 lessened.

In the last couple of weeks alone the amount of COVID cases hit a staggering milestone. As of June 26th, 2020, there have been 2.47 million  Americans that have tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 126,000 children, siblings, spouses, and parents have passed away. Per Johns Hopkins, Cook County is the county in the US with the most cases of COVID-19. This disease is still here and is still something that we need to respect.

Here at The Wright Center for Women’s Health, we are continuing to do everything in our power to help keep our guests and their families safe from COVID-19. We screen every patient before they walk in the door and we are minimizing the number of patients that we have in the office at a given time.

During slightly busier times, we are utilizing a virtual waiting room where our guests are checked in outside and if need be, wait in their car until we are ready to immediately room them and minimize contact.

We also have each guest who enters The Wright Center wear a face mask for added protection to everyone in the building. We are also offering telehealth visits with all of our providers and we regularly monitor members of our staff for symptoms.

Lastly, here is some information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on helping protect yourselves, your loved ones, and your community from COVID-19.

Important COVID-19 Facts

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person and between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
• Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

How to Slow the Spread

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
• Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home.
• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
• Do not gather in groups.
• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
• Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
• If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

Keeping Your Environment Clean

• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household will work.

If you have more questions about what The Wright Center is doing in the fight against COVID-19, please feel free to call our office today at (630) 687-9595.

As we continue to make our way through the Coronavirus pandemic we are hearing from many of our guests that they feel their levels of stress and anxiety has increased.  You may know that long periods of stress and anxiety can leave you feeling tired and worn out, but did you know that it can have serious long-term effects on your health?

Because the “fight or flight” response that is manifested through stress and anxiety is so powerful, it can cause your body to react in extreme ways. Typically, patients who are exhibiting symptoms of long-term, chronic stress will often complain of:

• Headaches
• Low energy
• Upset stomach, including diarrhea or constipation
• Chest pain
• Insomnia
• Loss of sexual desire

A powerful side effect of stress and anxiety can be a break down of the body’s immune system. Something none of us need as we work to avoid COVID-19. 

One test that can help us get a look into a guest’s nervous system Autonomic Nervous System Test or ANS. There’s a lot to know about this test, and we’ve provided a pretty comprehensive look at it on our website where we answer questions like:

What is the Autonomic Nervous System?

The ANS is comprised of the nerves that control the function of the internal organs including our heart, intestines, stomach, bladder, sexual organs, and sweat glands. The ANS plays an essential role in keeping the body’s internal environment optimal via monitoring and maintaining proper temperature, electrolyte balance, blood glucose, blood oxygen concentration, blood carbon dioxide concentration, pH, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate to name a few. As you can see, the nervous system is complex and the ANS plays a huge role in keeping us alive and healthy.

What is an ANS Test?

An ANS test is a simple, painless, and essentially effortless test that we perform in our office. This test consists of having you sit down and place your feet on metal plate. There is also a component where you have your blood pressure monitored. Your heart rate and vascular health can easily be assessed with a pulse ox device on your finger while you perform different breathing patterns. It takes less than 15 minutes and is painless and non-invasive while providing us with important information.

Why is an ANS Performed?

We perform ANS testing because of the vast amount of information it gives us. ANS testing looks at ANS activity, mental stress, vascular health, insulin resistance, and sudomotor function. We get individual scores for each of these components of the ANS and are then able to assess these areas individually. ANS testing allows us to identify areas of the ANS that could be improved on and help you optimize your health.

What Are the Benefits of an ANS Test?

The main benefit of this test is the early detection of ANS diseases, damage, and dysfunction. Since the ANS is not a system that is easily observed, early detection of dysfunction can enable medical providers to help you make changes in your life to prevent disease or early death. Every disease state affects the ANS in some way and this testing helps us identify early, subtle signs of disease.

How Often Should I Get an ANS Test?

Generally, we recommend having an ANS test performed once per year, usually during your Complete Health Assessment prior to your annual. There are some circumstances where the frequency of ANS testing is increased and if necessary, your provider will discuss this with you.

How Much Does an ANS Test Cost?

Here at the Wright Center for Woman’s Health, we bill your insurance for the cost of the ANS test. Since we see so much value in this test and the powerful information we receive, we make the ANS test available to all of our guests at no out of pocket cost to them.