Posts Tagged ‘health news’

Breast Cancer and Emotional Stress

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Emotional stress going through your mind during your time in medical treatment for breast cancer is weighing heavily. You need time to discuss the pros and cons with your affordable health insurance provider and your medical physician. You need to know if you have insurance coverage to see you through this unsavory ordeal.

You are traveling such a long and difficult road, but the outcome will be a positive one. This ordeal though will remain with you for the rest of your life. Emotions do take their toll, and you remain very apprehensive and unsure of the direction to take next which is leaving you in a depressed state.

Health care surveys indicate part of the difficulty is your age when diagnosed with breast cancer. Clinical, biological, and pathological features of breast cancer as per the health care provider vary between younger women and older women. When you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer before reaching age forty, this is an indication of a more palpable mass rather than the mammographic indications.

In younger women, statistics through the medical community and with your low cost health insurance provider will show the breast tissue is generally dense therefore by the time a small lump is even noticeable, the cancer spread and became more advanced.

Your health insurance provider will have a list of those medical professionals that will help you to cope with the stress you are currently experiencing. Are you feeling nervous and apprehensive when you are surrounded by your family and friends? Make time to read your affordable health insurance policy to find what they offer in your case.

There are support groups in your local area that will help you to re-adjust back into the community and feel confident. When you join together with other women who have experienced the same ordeal, it gives you a sense of belonging. It makes you realize that you survived for a reason.

The health care medical community can only go so far and then you have to pick up the ball and run with it. Your health insurance provider and the medical community, understands your plight. Many younger women had chemotherapy and now face the problem of an early menopause, but they all find the will power to get through, as you will.

The exposure to chemotherapy has caused many changes such as the loss of hair, the perception of yourself, and how you believe those around you see you now. You will experience more difficulty finding employment than finding acceptance from your family members. Unfortunately, your health care renewal policy is one of the more noticeable changes you will experience because of the increase of rates.

However, regardless of what happens, even if your health care rates increase upon renewal, the point still remains that you survived. Now you must have the faith and confidence to continue your life from here and share your story with other women so they will also learn to remain strong and pass their stories along to their children and grandchildren.

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Americans, Enhance Your Fitness

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Sports have become an all-American pastime.  Some of the more popular sports are football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, and soccer.  Of course, there are other sports, as well, where people enjoy viewing the competitions.  Ice skating, skiing, gymnastics, and even bowling make up some of these sports.  The American educational system of schools and universities also include sports in their curriculum of physical education.  Overall, sports entertain much of the population.  However, there are those individuals who need to be more than just spectators; these people also enjoy playing sports.

Professionals, semi-professionals, and amateurs are all members of a growing population of sports player enthusiasts.  For the professionals and even some of the semi-professionals, sports have become their chosen career path—at least, as long as they are physically fit and still young enough to compete.  Major sports, such as football and basketball, are rigorously physically demanding and retirement usually begins in the thirties.  The viability of a player’s sports career depends on his age and his physical stamina and abilities.

Yet, when amateurs play their chosen field of sports, physical fitness and age requirements are not so strictly observed.  Although physical fitness is a factor to an extent, most amateurs vary in their fitness—some may be somewhat overweight or underweight with varying degrees of fitness.  Furthermore, ages can vary, as well.  Today, men and women in their 40’s, 50’s, and even 60’s are participating in a wide range of sports.  Of course, their participation may be less vigorous and less physically difficult as compared to the professionals and semi-professionals.

Americans are encouraged to enhance their physical fitness by such participation.  Sports activities are a great approach to implementing healthy exercise into anyone’s life.   Such activities benefit the cardiovascular system, muscle tone, and bone health of humans.   They also help manage their cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and weight.  Sports exercise even promotes the mental acuity of older people.  Moreover, sports can boost an individual’s moods and better his or her outlook on life.  Adding sports to one’s life can positively affect the quality of living.  However, any person who does take part in sports must observe a few guidelines in order to prevent injury or health complications.

First of all, if the individual does decide to participate in sports, he or she must make sure they have health insurance to cover medical expenses in case of injury.  Some of the insurance companies to choose from are the following:   Excellus Group Insurance; Aetna Health Plans; Blue Cross and Blue Shield; and Cigna Health Plans.  Another very important guideline concerns whether or not the individual has lived a sedentary lifestyle, is overweight, and unaccustomed to any vigorous, sustained activity.  In such a case, the person will definitely need to visit his or her doctor and be cleared for further physical activity.  The physician will suggest what activities to join or to avoid as well as how often to play and to what degree to participate.

Furthermore, another guideline for the amateur sports player is the necessity of “warming-up” before actually playing the sports game.  Often this will take place as warm-up muscle stretches which help prevent initial muscle spasms and injuries.   Another guideline is to learn how to avoid injuries or accidents while participating in sports.  Some injuries will usually involve the knee, ankle, elbow, shoulder, and back which will often show up as sprains, strains, factures, and muscle pulls.

Some other guidelines to follow in order to further prevent injuries or bodily damage are the following:  do not increase sports activities by more than ten percent in intensity or time at one sports session; gradually increase intensity or time of playing by small increments; and monitor heart rate during playing and even noting how one is sleeping that following night after playing.  Any increase in heart rate more than ten percent and decrease in sleep more than ten percent should be a warning to slow down.  These are just a few of the guidelines that the sports amateur should follow.  Wisely following them will enable the sports enthusiast not only to enjoy the activity of sports, but also to reap the health benefits involved.

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Longest Running Study into Aging and Dementia Renewed for 5 More Years!

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

The ACT study was recently awarded a grant of twelve million dollars from the National Institute on Aging so that it can continue its work for the next five years.  This group has been running a study for the past twenty-three years, which is the longest study of its kind.

Every couple years more than 2,000 senior aged health patients check in with the ACT program for monitoring, questions, and helpful advice.  This group is being monitored for the onset of late Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia and is the largest ongoing group in history to be studied.

Because this group has a dedicated group of patients and leading scientists, plus a superb staff backing it, they are able to learn what their research subjects value as they grow older.  The study is to help people find the best approach to meeting their needs to help them age well.  This means often promoting independent living and providing them with the coping skills necessary to deal with any problems that arise.

The patients are monitored bi-annually so that the team can observe how the patients walk and do many other mental and physical tasks.  The observation monitoring also includes a selected group of questions that the patients are asked to answer.  Some of these questions include whether or not the patient will allow an autopsy on their brains after they have passed on.  Because of this study and patients willing to undergo the autopsy, the team has learned how blood flow and vascular disease affects late life Alzheimer’s and dementia diseases.  They found that injuries that affect blood flow and the blood vessels carrying the blood could be instrumental in late onset brain problems in older people.

This group is planning to spend the next five years worth of funding looking deeper into the findings of their recent studies so that they can determine just how much damage to the blood vessels can trigger the brain to decline through micro-infarcts and what physical activities, if any, can be done to counteract the affects.  The group is hoping to find ways to keep people’s minds healthier and disease free.

So far, this study group has learned that in order to keep the mind healthy and reduce the late onset diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, one requires regular exercise which reduces the risk.  They have learned that when people cannot walk normally and proceed at a slower pace it is a prelude to these two diseases.

Studies of this type have also led to changes in the way that patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are cared for and assisted with the burdens these specific diseases cause.  These studies have proved that various drugs, especially sedatives, can cause falling and confusion in these patients.  Drugs that are used to treat high cholesterol can linked to changes in the brain, especially in Alzheimer patients.  Anti-oxidants do not seem to prevent the brain from declining, although regularly consuming fruit and vegetable juices do reduce the risk.  Avoiding environmental toxins assists in the brain not declining as quickly.  Wearing shoes, not slippers etc, prevents these patients from falling in their homes and disturb sleeping complicates the patients life and makes them and their families deal with increased agitation in the patients.

This great study group recruits around 240 new patients each year to replace patients that have passed away or withdrawn from the program for one reason or another, so that their numbers always remain constant around the 2000 mark.  This group was founded in 1947, and is still doing great work in research in 2009.

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Ingesting Drugs has Become the New American Diet

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

The crisis is consuming America and it is also consuming the rest of the world.  All you have to do is google “ a nation of pill poppers” and you will see the crisis is affecting the UK to Singapore.  More and more people around the world are turning to drugs as their solution for their physical and mental health care issues.  It makes the big pharmaceutical companies happy, but it does not necessarily make the individuals using these medications very happy.  There is no such thing as a “happy pill.”    Could it be that individuals especially with mental health issues are just trying to drown their sorrows with medication instead of the traditional alcohol? Furthermore what is the impact on the lives of people that are using medication and alcohol?

The media is a facilitator in this quest to medicate for mental and physical ailments.  At one time you went to the doctor with your complaints and he or she would prescribe medication if it were needed.  Now you go to the doctor and say, “I want this medication or that medication.  I saw it on TV and it explains my symptoms completely.”  Although it is a wonderful idea to take an interest in your symptoms and know exactly what it is you have and what are the treatment plans for it.  There are several things to look out for. Could the ailment be managed other than with chemicals? For example, Irritable Bowel Syndrome often responds to a change in diet and a reduction in stress.  Implementing these treatments and or prevention strategies will have a positive affect upon the general health care of the American people.

The question often left unanswered is, are these medications for everything and anything always safe?  Painkillers are so prominent in America; they can be purchased over the counter or by prescription. Yes, the advertisements warn of the side affects, but at what cost to our health care? It seems to take several years before you finally hear that certain drugs have been pulled from the market and this only because they wait to see what the affects on the public will be.

In October 2009, American Regent Voluntarily recalled Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection, USP 30/mg/ml; 1ml single dose vials. Ketorolac Tromethamine is a nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory used as a painkiller for mild, but not chronic pain. Sometimes it is used for severe pain, but only used for a few days. Ketorolac Tromethamine is sold under the brand name Torodol. The product was recalled because of the crystallization, which could obstruct the blood vessels and produce a heart attack or stroke.

In October of this year, the FDA recalled Heparin, which is an anticoagulant.  One of the concerns was the unit dosage.  The contaminated dosage has been associated with certain adverse affects including death of its users in the USA.  There you have it, two products recalled within the same month for different reasons and both products endangering the health care of some many Americans who rely on these drugs.

On Sept 16, the FDA issued a warning about the labeling for the product Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection, which is sold under the brand name Phenergan. This product is a sedative used for treating nausea and vomiting. Promethazine Hydrochloride is also used as an antihistamine for hey fever. When the injection form is not administered properly it will cause serious tissue damage.  There have been reports as far back as to 1969 – 2009 where cases of gangrene and amputation have been reported after using this drug.

The question remains, what is more beneficial to our over all health care, relieving nausea with this drug or risking its harmful affects when the health care professional makes a boo boo and boo boo’s our lives?

The list of products, which have been, recalled over the years go on and on. Sometimes as consumers we get to hear about them and sometimes we don’t. In the mean time we continue to pop pills, inject chemical drugs, but really do we feel good? Is the state of our health care better for it?

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Other Medical Complications That Affect The Health Care of Diabetics

Monday, October 19th, 2009

High blood pressure

About 73% of diabetics suffer from high blood pressure.

Blindness

Up to 24,000 new cases of blindness is reported every year and this is due to a disease called diabetic retinopathy.  High blood sugars damage the nerves in the retina.

Kidney disease

The number one cause of kidney failure is diabetes.

Nervous system disease

Up to 70 percent of people suffering from diabetes also have some form of damage to the nervous system.  This damage could include slow digestive systems, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lack of sensation in the legs and feet.

Amputations

People with diabetes have a 10 times greater chance of having their legs or feet amputated.  This is caused by excessively high blood glucose levels, which can cause infection in wounds or slow up the healing process allowing the opportunity for gangrene to set in.

Dental problems

Tooth decay and gum disease is common among diabetes victims. In addition, high levels of sugar in the saliva will create problems as well.

Sexual dysfunction

Impotence, and other sexual dysfunctions in both men and women are common

Many more complications can result from diabetes and improper health care.

In 2007 $27 billion dollars was spent on medical expenses for diabetics.  The costs are rising by 8 billion dollars each year.  Health insurance companies are overburdened, which in turn trickles down to the insured that must pay higher premiums.  Then there is more government expenditures including disease related unemployment disability, and in the private sector, we have employers who end up with higher absentee rates among their workers who have diabetes.

Diabetes does not only affects the individual suffering with it, it affects families, government, health insurance companies, employers and more.  The epidemic is overpowering our culture and needs to be curtailed.

For those people who need help, make sure you do see your doctor, if you are obese and have not been testing for diabetes get the test immediately before complications set in.  If you are overweight it is always good to get testing in case you are in the pre diabetic stage.  Eat a sensible low carbohydrate, low sugar and fat diet, exercise and stay on your meds. Your health care is important not only to you but to your family and friends and America as well.

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The Diabetes Crisis in America is on the Rise

Friday, October 16th, 2009

It has long been known that the obesity epidemic in America today will cause all kinds of medical complications and a drain on the medical system due to rising health care costs.  The expanding waistlines of Americans reaches far beyond aesthetics, it is a national health disaster.  Obesity is the known factor in type 2 diabetes, also called sugar diabetes or diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus or onset adult diabetes mellitus generally hits a person who is obese and over forty years of age.

Each year new cases of diabetes mellitus are reported in America.  More and more patients flock to their doctors and are put on medications to control their blood sugar levels.  Actually the crises is not isolated to America, as Canadian and UK medical experts report alarming increases in reported cases of type 2 diabetes as well. Almost 8 percent of the American population has diabetes and that translates to 23 million people. These cases are taxing the health insurance companies with various claims. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are still 5.7 million people who remain undiagnosed, and still another whooping 57 million people who are in the pre-diabetic stage.   Over 11 million women have diabetes and do not have any idea that they do.  Over 12 million men have diabetes.  Also, certain races are more prone to diabetes than others.  These groups include: Hispanic and Latino Americans, American Indians, African Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Islander women. Furthermore the health care of children is compromised. There are more cases of children and adolescents who are now getting type 2 diabetes, which, was once considered an adult onset disease.

There are several serious health care complications for diabetics. For example, there are 65 percent of deaths resulting from heart attack or stroke. Adult diabetics are at a two to for times higher risk to contract heart disease than the non-diabetic population.  Stroke is another common complication from diabetes and diabetics are also at a 2 to 4 percent higher chance of getting a stroke with nearly 3 percent higher chance of dying from it.

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