Current Health Care Issues

July 16th, 2010
Gary Giardina asked:




There are several health care issues that are in the news and in the minds of many people these days. Perhaps because of the push for universal health care, misuses of the current health care system have come to light. The health care issues that plague Americans need to be addressed with intelligent debate and understanding.

One of the health care issues is the overuse of emergency rooms by the poor. It is not their faults. They are simply responding to a situation in which they have no other recourse. For example, a low-income family may have a child with a cut finger. If they had insurance, the parents would take the child to a doctor’s office or an urgent care clinic to get the finger stitched up.

Since they have no such option, they take the much more costly route of going to the emergency room for the same service. This puts a strain on emergency rooms and costs taxpayers much more than if the poor families were given adequate medical coverage in the first place. Health care issues like this one are difficult to fathom when there are so many sources of cheaper medical care.

Other health care issues involve preventative medicine. Insurance companies do not all support the patient’s right to preventative medical screening procedures and treatments. This also makes health care more expensive in the long run.

Many health care issues revolve around the older population. There are so many elderly people who are given little or no help with their prescription medications. Insurance companies make drug coverage available – at a price that is so high that most seniors cannot afford it. This does little to resolve these health care issues.

With all the health care issues that are in the public eye, there needs to be a better system of communication on these subjects. People can have an impact on their health care system if they know where to have their ideas on health care issues heard. It is time for the government and other organizations to give them a voice.

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How to Avoid Medical Bankruptcy Using Portable Heart Devices?

June 19th, 2010
Jenny Starling asked:




The increasing regulatory pressures in the hospital system are set to increase the cost of health care delivery to patients. Traditional care models relied on manual techniques to observe patients with chronic disease. This process is not only expensive, but also inefficient with errors.

In outpatient scenarios, the huge escalation in the incidence of long-term chronic conditions is placing an ever-greater burden on over-stretched resources. Patient care models today are ill-equipped to cope with the realities of tomorrows health demands.

In times of recession, many are filling for bankruptcy. Medical related bankruptcies are now dominating them. In a study published by the American Journal of Medicine in June 2009, it showed that health related issues left patients with highest medical expense due to chronic conditions like stroke. Around 92% of medically bankrupt patients, high medical bills were the major contributions to their bankruptcy.

Traditional approaches to health care management

This involves to wait for the disease to develop and then run to the health care provider for solutions. These solutions can be expensive with the use of wide array of diagnosing investigation. If the disease is already progressed, then the cost of treatment of these can be exorbitant.

Some of the scary statistics which come from various studies published in scientific journals show that that Health related expenses for stroke can be as high as $23. 380 per individual. The total cost of stroke to the United States is estimated at $43 billion per year. The direct costs of medical care and therapy are estimated at $28 billion per year. Indirect costs from lost productivity and other factors are estimated at $15 million per year. These facts about stroke are not meant to scare you or shock you. But they are real and you must be aware of them if you want to keep you and your family safe from deadly killer.

Best Solutions to manage your health.

There is a old adage that Apple a day keeps the doctor away. This is much more relevant in the current era. With recession looming all over the world, and business spending for employers cut, In the corporate world, 0. 25% of the companies cancel coverage, if an employee has disabling illness.

Prevention is the key for better health

To better manage these scenarios, it is quite vital that healthcare management begins at home. Adopting healthy lifestyle, by quitting smoking habits and excessive caffeine consumption. Maintaining a healthy diet with regular consumption of green leafy vegetable rich food and cutting down junk food.

Following Regular exercise programs like walking, r unning and jogging. Visiting health care professionals annually if above the age of 40 years for regular health check. In addition to the above, by using simple techniques like

1. Digital Weight scales to check your weight regularly and measure Body Mass Index.

2. Portable ECG/EKG devices to monitor heart rate and any changes in abnormal heart rhythms like Atrial Fibrillation.

3. Portable Hand Held Heart Rate Monitors to check your heart rate while jogging, walking or any sports related activities.

4. Body fat analyzer to check your body fat and analyze it your height and weight.

By following these simple techniques it is possible to avoid the long term high medical expenses for disease management, and also medical related bankruptcies in future.

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Pros and Cons of Getting Group Health Insurance Vs Individual Health Insurance

June 16th, 2010
Patrick Attlee asked:




Individual health insurance involves one individual obtaining health coverage, based on the individual’s prior health history. For self-employed or unemployed individuals, individual health cover is usually the only option available. Applying for individual health insurance involves filling out an application and taking a physical exam. Current poor health or past health issues and problems can make the cost of individual health insurance very expensive. In some cases, an individual who is a poor health risk can be denied health insurance coverage altogether or eligible for a very limited policy at great expense.

Group health cover is insurance obtained through an individual’s employer and rates are usually much more affordable because a group of people is being insured rather than just one individual. Part of the premiums are paid by the employer when an employee is covered by a group health insurance policy as one of the benefits of their job with the employee also paying part of the premium. Although an individual can be refused coverage when applying for individual health insurance, the same is not true for group health insurance which cannot discriminate against high-risk individuals or individuals with previous health risks or issues.

Individual insurance can be tailored to fit the individual either by adding or eliminating policy riders for certain situations. In group health insurance, the employer decides what kind of coverage is best for the majority of individuals who will be covered by the policy, to the benefit of some employees and to the detriment of others. Group health coverage policies often cover a range of services, including doctor’s visits, emergency care, dental care, vision care and disability or accident, with the deductible cost, or the amount the employee must pay up front, varying.

Affordability is usually the best reason to be covered by a group health cover plan rather than an individual health insurance plan because the rate set for a group of people is always less expensive than the rate set for just one individual. Because group health insurance is usually very comprehensive, the individual does not need to pay additional fees unless they want coverage for some aspect of healthcare that is not offered to the entire group of employees. Employees who participate in a company’s wellness plan can sometimes see their premiums reduced over time because the overall medical costs incurred by the insured group tend to go down when staying healthy is emphasized.

Individual health cover should only be investigated by individuals who are self-employed or unemployed and have no group affiliation that guarantees insurance coverage.

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Health Tests Every Women Needs

June 11th, 2010
Brent McNutt asked:




No matter your current health status, if you’re a woman, you’re going to need to undergo some standard testing regularly, to make sure that any changes in your health are identified early, when they can best be treated; undergoing regular health tests and screenings also makes sure you stay healthy if you already are.

There are several tests women should undergo regularly, both to prevent disease and catch diseases early enough that treatment can be provided to effect the best cure. Let’s take a look at the top ones.

Testing for a proper weight and body mass index

If you are overweight or obese, this can contribute to or even cause a number of other health factors in and of itself, so maintaining a normal weight is going to help you forestall or prevent health problems you might otherwise have. Ideally, most women should opt for a body mass index of under 25; your doctor can help you determine what your own best body mass index is. (In certain cases, very muscular or athletic women are going to have body mass indexes of over 25, but still will be perfectly healthy and of a good weight, so have your doctor help you determine what your own best body mass index should be based upon your own lifestyle and body type.)

Cholesterol

If you are age 45 or over, you should be getting your cholesterol checked regularly. If you have diabetes, if you have high blood pressure, if you smoke, or if you have heart disease, you should probably get your cholesterol checked earlier than that. This is a simple test that requires just a simple pinprick of blood.

High blood pressure

Known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure is so deadly because it’s usually asymptomatic. Get your blood pressure checked regularly by your doctor and/or by going to one of many free locations available, such as your local pharmacy or drugstore.

Diabetes

You are at risk for diabetes if you are significantly overweight or obese. In addition, if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you should also be tested for diabetes regularly. Caught early, type 2 diabetes may be able to be controlled with dietary changes and in some cases medications. If necessary, insulin injections can also be given to control blood sugar. (Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, and must always be controlled with insulin injections.) Left uncontrolled, though, diabetes is deadly.

Breast Cancer

Beginning at about age 40, you should have a mammogram every one to two years. If your family has a history of breast cancer, your doctor may advise you to take mammograms earlier. Breast self exams, too, may be used to check for lumps or any changes in breast tissue. Report any changes to your doctor to have them checked out further.

Cervical cancer

Between the ages of about 21 and 65, you should get a Pap smear every one to three years if you’ve ever been sexually active.

Colon cancer

Colon cancer is one of those cancers that can be completely cured with little to no discomfort if caught early. Doctors can remove precancerous lesions or polyps right away, and nothing further should need to be done. By contrast, colon cancer can be deadly if not caught early enough, and treatment is devastatingly unpleasant even if you can be cured. For most people, having regular screening tests after the age of 50 is enough, but if you have a history of colon cancer in your family, ask your doctor if you should start screening before that age.

Skin cancer

If you’re a so called “Ssun worshiper,” you are at particularly high risk for skin cancer. Make sure your doctor checks out any moles or spots you have at every checkup for changes, and report any changes you see. If a mole begins to bleed, itch or hurt, make sure you see your doctor right away. Caught early, skin cancer is one of the most curable types, but once it spreads, it can be difficult to cure and may even be deadly.

And to help prevent skin cancer, use sunscreen when you are out in the sun and avoid being a “sun worshiper.” If an appeal to vanity works for you, you should know that sun exposure also causes wrinkles and sagging skin at an early age, too. So stay out of the sun or use sunscreen to both look and feel better.

Depression

Not just something you can “snap out of,” depression is a major medical condition that can certainly impact your life negatively, and even threaten it. If you have depression, don’t simply ignore it. Talk to your doctor and seek treatment; in the vast majority of cases, depression can be treated with talk therapy and/or medication.

Sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV

If you are sexually active and nonmonogamous (or your partner is), make sure you get checked often for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Many sexually transmitted diseases are curable, and therapies for even incurable diseases like HIV have greatly improved. If you must be sexually active, and you and/or your partner are not monogamous, make sure you use barrier protection like condoms. This can at least help prevent the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases, but will not entirely prevent it even so. Remember that the only safe sex is monogamous sex between two partners who are not infected with a sexually transmitted disease, or abstinence.

Osteoporosis

You can get osteoporosis if you’ve reached menopause, especially if you are at risk; osteoporosis is a thinning of the bones, and can occur more often in small boned women, women who smoke, and women with a family history of osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about getting a bone density test if you are at risk or if you are approaching menopause. New medications on the market can help rebuild bone density even if you’ve already lost it. And if you’re not yet menopausal, you can help ensure bone health by doing weight-bearing exercise and following a good nutritious diet, including one that has enough vitamin D, calcium and magnesium.

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Dealing With Current Water Pollution Problems

May 27th, 2010
V K Rajagopalan asked:




The current water pollution problems that have recently plagued our awesome world are a serious cause of concern. Contaminated water can cause illnesses and death in humans on a scale unparalleled in history. But the predicament is not largely affecting humans alone. Endangered animal species are forever threatened with extinction if nothing is done about pollution. Therefore for the general sake of humanity it is important to come up with concrete measures to redress the problem we have on our hands.

More effective law enforcement and the granting of steeper penalties for pollution are two ways of using the power of federal laws to instill a greater awareness on pollution. When people realize that their actions can land them in prison there will be an increase in preventative measures aimed at making our world a cleaner place to live in.

Where possible visible policing should also be carried out. Law enforcement agents should be deployed to various water bodies to monitor dumping activities. A great deal of pollution is caused by there not being monitoring structures in place as is the case with poaching. In instances where poaching is a problem more game wardens are deployed into nature reserves to scare away possible perpetrators. Therefore the same should be done with water pollution if there are going to be any visible changes in the way we tackle pollution.

Another way of dealing with pollution of water bodies is by developing advanced destabilization procedures. Such procedures must be aimed at burning possible waste before there comes the need to get rid of waste the dirty way. Used grease and industrial pollutants normally dumped into rivers, dams, seas and lakes must be rendered harmless using advanced destabilizing methods similar to those used with biological weapons.

Because the direct perpetrators are not only industries it is important to increase public awareness about the dangers of polluting our water. Children must be taught about pollution at school and competitions must also be started as a way of making people passionate about preserving the precious water resource.

Television programs and radio shows can also be introduced as another way of ensuring that people know more about pollution. The way the recent oil spill was covered by the media is a good way of garnering support for rehabilitative initiatives as people begin to know more about what exactly is happening in the world.

Stopping pollution is possible when the right measures are implemented. But without implementation the problem can only worsen.

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Are We to Blame For the Rise in Weight Gain and Health Issues?

May 24th, 2010
Erik Armstrong asked:




There has been a huge rise in consciousness of what we eat in recent years. We have all been taught that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us. On the flip side, we have also been taught that eating lots of fatty foods will give us heart attacks and lead to obesity.

How true is all of that? How much attention should we really be paying to what we put into our bodies?

I like to remain as healthy as I can be. I try to keep active by working out at least four times a week. I try not to load up on junk food. Of course, “try” is the key word here.

Growing up, I had my fair share of junk food, just as most of us did. But I turned out fine. Am I one of the lucky ones?

Unfortunately some of my childhood friends are already suffering health problems, due, in large part, to the diets they had while growing up. Two of my friends are morbidly obese, and one of them came from two thin parents, so I doubt this is a genetic thing. Another friend of mine now has bowel problems.

At least two of these friends had absolutely horrid diets while they were growing up. I’m talking about daily lunch at the deli, sugary soft drinks, many sweets, and at any time of the day or night. Also one of those friends smoked, so I am sure that didn’t help his current health.

Worse yet is that many of the teenagers I see now are following in their footsteps. While I acknowledge that some people from my generation had unhealthy lifestyles growing up, it was no where near as common as it is today.

Yes, eating junk food does affect our bodies, our health, and our quality of life. I’m not saying that we cannot eat junk food, just that when we do, we need to do so in moderation.

The gap between these young kids of the ‘Jamie Oliver’ generation and my own generation is never so obvious as when I look at our common eating habits. However, providing that these kids do not pass their bad habits on to their own kids, and the new heath consciousness keeps up, I am sure this won’t be a long term problem.

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Jack Herer – The Emperor of Hemp

May 18th, 2010
RestoreHemp asked:


Footage: Jack Herer discusses his movie ‘The Emperor of Hemp’ and how cannabis oil is helping thousands of cancer patients to win their fight with the ailment. Portland, Oregon – All are invited to a benefit event scheduled this Friday, December 4th at 8pm at the Village Ballroom for hemp icon and author, Jack Herer. The Village Ballroom is at 700 NE Dekum Street, which is located above the Oregon Cannabis Cafe, Oregon NORML’s new medical marijuana patent resource center that has received a firestorm of publicity since opening last month. The benefit is organized by The Hemp & Cannabis Foundation (THCF), and cosponsored by Oregon NORML and Texas-based Waco NORML. We are joining together to raise money for Jack Herer, who suffered a heart attack after delivering a passionate speech on stage at the Portland Hempstalk Festival this past September 2009. Jack had been traveling around the world for decades, promoting industrial hemp and his seminal book on the subject, The Emperor Wears No Clothes. The first edition of Jack’s book was written in Portland in 1985. Jack has a business in Portland and lived here for several years. Jack Herer was also the subject of a video biography, The Emperor of Hemp, that played on PBS and HBO. The benefit features music from two bands, Pass Margo and Tim Pate and Friends, who are donating their time to show support for Jack. It is sure to be a memorable evening and a great chance for the community to give back to the founder of the hemp …

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Lung Cancer – So Much Advice, So Little Time

May 18th, 2010
Tim Giardina asked:




As a current lung cancer survivor I continue to look for things that I believe might be helpful to anyone who has been diagnosed with lung cancer and the people that surround those individuals.

I am constantly reading articles that were written by people who have opinions on what are the right and wrong ways to treat lung cancer and most of them have merit in the fact that they are usually backed up with some facts and testimonials but I have yet to read anything that would give me the confidence to say, “This will cure lung cancer.”

I am confident that there are some very exciting things being researched out there that hopefully provide steps in the right direction like these tidbits of information that came from the ‘Cancer Update From Johns Hopkins’ that I received in late February.

The Article begins by reminding us that we all have cancer cells lurking in our body being held in check by our immune systems. When our immune systems are strong and on the job, cancer cells are destroyed before the can multiply and form tumors. When a person is diagnosed with cancer it is an indication that there has been a breakdown in the defenses that your immune system provides. So what causes these breakdowns? Generally the arrival of cancer is an indication of multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic factors, environmental or food and lifestyle factors. A solid diet including supplements are key to keeping the immune system strong and functioning.

Where Johns Hopkins is starting to change their thinking is in regards to chemotherapy and radiation as the only way to try to eliminate cancer.

For those of you who are not familiar with the ‘Batman and Robin’ of cancer treatment, we will start with Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells which is a good thing. The downside to chemotherapy, it knows no boundaries so it will destroy rapid-growing healthy cells just as quickly. Chemotherapy can also cause damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. There are various medications that you can take while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment that will assist you in reclaiming things like red and white blood cells both crucial in your on going fight and survival, but these provide short term assistance.

Radiation is a little more cut and dry in its effects it destroys cancer cells but also destroys healthy cells and can damage healthy tissue and organs. Radiation is the proverbial ‘Bull’ in the ‘china shop’ that is your body. I could write another three pages on the immediate effects of both on the human body, but I think that you get the point, both have the potential to do as much harm as good. As far as long term consequences, as a current lung cancer survivor of three years, I’m not sure what long term means. Sounds like another article for another time.

Although both chemo and radiation can reduce the tumor size, when the body has too much toxic burden placed upon it by these two, the immune system can be compromised or destroyed altogether. This is what almost took my life in June of 07 when I found myself fighting off an infection with a very depleted immune system. The equivalent of fighting off a lion with a toothpick. Luckily for me, I ended up in intensive care before the various infections that were raging through me ended up putting an end to me.

Chemo and radiation can also cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.

With myself, surgery was not an option. There was a fear with my small cell lung cancer spreading quickly by exposing the cells, so surgery has not been an option at any time. I will tell you this much, the two of them together, Chemo combined with radiation, comprised the treatment that I received for small cell lung cancer, that treatment has been the driving force behind my fight and has helped me stay alive as long as I have.

So here it is, John Hopkins thought is that an effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not making the foods that these cells need to multiply available to them.

According to Johns Hopkins, depriving cancer cells of such things as sugar and sugar substitutes, table salt, milk, beef and pork as well as coffee, most tea and chocolate will have a huge positive impact in your fight. As far as water is concerned drink purified or filtered water no tap water or distilled.

A diet consisting of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seed nuts and a little fruit combined with about 20% cooked food including beans would be ideal to move your body from the acidic breeding ground for cancer cells to a more alkaline and healthy environment. I cannot begin to tell you the benefits of fresh vegetable juice which will put live enzymes into your system within 15 minutes to help enhance the growth of healthy cells. I would like to add that the introduction of organic vegetables and food into my system have been a key component of my early cancer success. There are some very good cancer diet books at your local library that can help you get on the right track as well as the internet and your health provider who will also be able to answer your questions, point is do some research in the field of proper cancer diet and nutrition it could mean the difference between life and death.

They also talk about the importance of the right supplements to help build up the immune system. I will tell you also to think about the importance of vitamin D to the health of the human body. Exercising daily which can be as simple as walking for a half hour a day and deep breathing to help get more oxygen to the cells since cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Johns Hopkins also talks about keeping a positive attitude and trying to limit stress as keys to fighting a successful battle.

I agree with all of the things that they are saying,(how often do you here that?) Let me ask you, “Why would a drastic change in your diet have such a dramatic effect on your health?” Do I really need to point this out to you?

You might want to sit down while you read this next section if you are startled by things that are as obvious as the nose on your face.

Had we paid more attention to begin with what we have been eating, we might not be a country that faces more health issues then the rest of the world. I am not just talking about cancer. I’m also talking about heart issues, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, diabetes and probably includes a number of things that you are now taking one of the hundreds of new medications that have been advertised non stop as of late. About that, did it ever occur to you as you were listening to the various side effects of everything being advertised that these new wonder drugs are more detrimental to your health then what ever it is that they are treating? Here’s another thought for you, how many new prescriptions will you eventually need to counteract the side effects of the first prescription that you never needed to begin with? I don’t want to get too far off subject, but the prescription craze that we have so easily fallen into coincides nicely with the amount of poor nutritional choices we make. We have become the “happy meal” society, surrounded by giant size portions of questionable products. We are far too busy to prepare our own meals so we eat fast food and pre made dinners packaged in plastic containers for our convenience. Problem being that we have no idea of the quality of the product and the container that we are heating by microwaves releases toxins into the food we eat when we heat it. I am not even going to discuss the various chemicals that have been in use to grow our food or the amount of toxins that we ply upon ourselves in an attempt to make our teeth whiter, our breath fresher our skin firmer. The amount of children being born with autism coupled with the steady increase in life altering diseases that we are inflicted with should be telling us something. The childhood obesity epidemic in this country should be telling us something.

We could look back over the past few decades and look at the trail of personal destruction that we have opened ourselves up to if you want starting with banks foreclosing on our Nations family owned farms which I believe was the beginning of things all the way through the get rich quick decade where wealth on paper backed by exaggerated real estate values helped us all reach a little farther then we had any business reaching. Bringing us to today where unemployment and foreclosure have brought us back down to the Earth which we continue to destroy.

Our view on the environment seems to follow suit with the rest of the way we choose to live. In denial. But again, I’ve strayed off my path. Back to what we were talking about, Johns Hopkins is right, for the cancer patient, our diet helps determine the outcome and overall success of our treatment. My point in case you missed it is that you should not wait for a life altering event to begin taking better care of yourself and taking responsibility for your health, which means paying attention to your eating habits as well as the quality of the food you eat. If you are responsible for a family you have an obligation to ensure that your family is being provided for properly. There is a very simple thought here, change your eating habits now by investing a little time, effort and thought up front and the return on that investment will be reduced health cost in the future and a longer, happier life for the people you are responsible for.

I don’t know what the cure for cancer is hopefully someone will find it and make it available for anyone and everyone who needs it regardless of their financial status or health care plan. I do know this for a fact, lung cancer is the leading killer among all cancers. Diet, Chemotherapy, radiation and any other alternatives that are found to be of value should be explored when it comes to your treatment. As of today the only guaranteed treatment for surviving lung cancer that I know to be 100% effective is avoidance.

Look at early detection testing, (Respiragene is the only one I know of) along with a strong smoking sensation program(many available programs out there) if you are a person who smokes. Review your diet and change your eating habits if need be to become a healthier person. A little exercise and some vitamins and maybe your immune system will remain at a level that allows you to avoid many life altering illnesses. Take the money you were going to spend on the next PlayStation game for your 6 year old and build him or her a sandbox or swing set instead. I believe that kids who are active and allowed to get their hands dirty reduce their chances for immediate and long term health issues.

Sure there is no accounting for your genetic makeup which makes us all individuals and many times is the main catalyst in deciding which of us will be more susceptible to what. What I’m talking about is controlling the things in your life that you can control to lessen the likelihood of you needing to make life and death decisions regarding treatments. Who knows maybe we can change the path we are currently on and set a better example for generations to come.

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Safe Cat Food For Health

May 17th, 2010
Lori Matthews asked:




For the cat lover, their cat is more than a pet; he or she is a valued member of the family. It is essential in maintaining your cat’s health to feed a high-quality cat food. Many cat foods and treats claim to have the highest quality ingredients, but not all of them make the grade. In this article we will discuss the essential ingredients to look for in choosing a quality cat food as well as the three to avoid. When you’re finished reading, you will have the information you need to choose the most healthy and nutritious food for your precious cat.

When choosing a food or treat, check the label and make sure the first listing is protein. There are many cat foods which will use a filler ingredient such as wheat or corn instead of protein as the main ingredient. Cats are obligate carnivores, which mean that they must eat meat; no matter how wonderful vegetables may be for the health of a human being, they are not essential or even needed to maintain the health and happiness of our feline friends. Feeding a cat food that has wheat or corn as its primary ingredient can lead to health problems in the long run, including joint, skin, coat, and eye conditions. Also, it is important to remember the wheat gluten contamination that led to the recall of so many cat foods as well as multiple deaths in 2007.

Another problem with cat foods that contain corn or wheat gluten is that cats can develop allergies. If you notice that your cat is scratching more, or develops scabs around the head and neck, you will want to discuss with your veterinarian switching your cat to a different cat food that contains higher quality ingredients not found in your cat’s current diet.

Many people think premium cat foods are expensive, but in fact, because they have less filler, the cat is able to gain a full day’s nutrition eating as little as half the amount as of a lower quality food. As a result, often the cost per day is the same. The difference is, with a high quality cat food, your cat is not immersed in a diet of artificial preservatives such as BHT, BHA or Ethoxyquin, animal by products, or unnecessary fillers. Removing these unfavorable ingredients makes a significant difference in the overall health and well being of your cat, improving quality of life, as well as reducing the likelihood of developing health issues and frequent trips to the vet.

Humans may eat junk food once in awhile but we surely couldn’t survive or thrive with a daily diet like this. Imagine now that we tend to feed our felines the same thing everyday. Daily feeding of junk food (which unfortunately some cat food brands are) would not be healthy for them. Sometimes we will see this manifest into a dull coat or bowel/urinary issues. Sometimes we may not see anything wrong. However, as most people know quality nutrition and proper absorption of nutrients is beneficial to over all health and the same is true for our cats.

Whether we have two legs or four, what we eat makes a difference. Avoid animal bi-products, fillers such as corn or wheat gluten, and keep your cat on a food that promotes health.

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The Overtaxed Emergency Room

May 8th, 2010
Lawrence Pohl asked:




One of the major areas of concern to analysts observing the current health care crisis in the United States is that emergency rooms are being used more and more each year, at great cost to the health care system as a whole. The seriousness of this issue has caused some startling reactions among health care providers. In one case a hospital in California was forced to set up a tent outside the hospital in order to accommodate the number of people flocking to their ER. In a second example two hospitals in the state of Louisiana are fearful that their emergency rooms will not be able to handle the number of visitors who will begin to arrive once a third emergency room closes in the area.

What exactly is the appeal of the emergency room? After all, if you have ever been to visit one, and the chances are high that you have, considering that in 2009 emergency rooms handled over 119 million separate visits, there is very little to recommend it. The average wait to be seen by a physician is long; it varies greatly among hospitals, but can easily take an hour or sometimes much more before you are examined. Usually it is not a comfortable place to wait, especially considering that you are surrounded by some extremely ill people.

An argument has been made that the extreme overcrowding in emergency rooms is caused by many uninsured people using the ER as their primary care option. Since the uninsured can’t afford to see a doctor to treat the common illnesses of life such as colds, flu and a host of other ailments better seen by a doctor after making an appointment, they go to the ER for their routine treatment and care that they need; they do so knowing that they won’t be turned away just because they can’t pay.

This has proven to be just a theory, however, at least in the case of the state of Massachusetts. Recent reforms there have given all residents medical health coverage, but the rate of emergency room usage is still exceedingly high. This finding has surprised many people, especially those who believed that universal health insurance would curb the overuse/misuse of this facility. Since this hasn’t been the case in Massachusetts, according to a study done by the non-profit organization Urban Institute based in Washington D.C., analysts are now scrambling to explain these unexpected results.

According to some, the most probable explanation for the continued overuse of emergency rooms comes down to convenience. Anya Rader Wallack, the interim president of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, a co-sponsor of the report, explains the finding this way:

“People having a stronger connection with a primary care doctor, people being able to get same-day appointments, and people being able to get after-hours care would potentially make a big difference,” Wallack said.

In other words, according to Wallack, the alternative to using the ER for primary care must also change. It’s not just a question of coverage, but of access; until people are happier with their primary care doctors and feel they can see them sooner at more convenient times during the day, the emergency room will still be inundated with non-emergency visits, at great cost to the health care system.

The study also found some interesting characteristics among those that use the emergency room as a substitute for the traditional primary care model. People from Massachusetts that used the emergency room at least three times within the past year were discovered to be:

o They are more ill and more disabled than people in the general population.
o They are more often among the low-income strata of society, or have less years of formal education.
o They tend to live in Boston or the southeastern part of Massachusetts.
o These frequent ER visitors account for almost 25% of the total annual visits to ERs in the state.

The emergency room is an amazing life-saving adjunct to the health care system, which is responsible for saving many thousands of lives in many different circumstances. However, by overtaxing the system, we risk diminishing the effectiveness of these emergency care centers. Therefore, it is important to become educated to identify true emergencies which require a visit to the ER, and when it is better to make an appointment to visit your doctor.

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