Health Connections – How To Improve Your Physical Health

July 2nd, 2010
Jenny Stinson asked:




If there were a way to improve your physical health right now – today – you’d probably want to know how, wouldn’t you?

Good news! You can!

When you literally take the first step, you are moving toward the energy, appearance, and healthy body you desire. A lot of people say, “I can’t even run a mile.” That may be true on your first day. But it doesn’t matter. Run. Walk. Run-walk. Ride your bike. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. On day one, just go out and do something – anything. Then, you’ll be amazed at how you also begin to elevate your emotional state, strengthen your relationships, and enrich your spiritual connections.

You will notice that you:

Enjoy a greater abundance of energy Look forward to exercising more regularly Want to take care of your health (i.e., dental and physical exams) Appreciate that your health is not a burden on anyone Inspire other with your improved body and physical appearance

5 Suggestions for Taking Action:

Choose a form of exercise (walk, run, bike, etc.) for 10 minutes 3-5 times per week. Gradually add minutes every week. Schedule a physical or dental appointment. If you schedule it and write it on your calendar, you’ll be more likely to go. Join a gym. If you are uncomfortable going to a gym, get a DVD to follow at home. Hire a personal trainer. Again, if you are uncomfortable going to a gym, there are many personal trainers who will come to your house. Keep a Success Log of each step you take towards improving your physical health.

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How Do You Get Continued Health Care Coverage When You Lose Your Job?

June 12th, 2010
Meg Eynon asked:




There has been a lot of talk in the news about health care coverage and health care coverage reform. But for those without a job and in need of an insurance plan any type of reform that may come from our government doesn’t address the issue of what to do about insurance right now, today.

If you have recently lost your job, and by recent this has been qualified to mean as of September 2008, you may be entitled to receive health care coverage from your former employer. With the recent passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act employers are required to offer and to pay for a portion of former employees’ health care insurance. But, how do you get this type of coverage?

Your former employer should have sent you a letter telling you that you qualify for this coverage. If you did not receive a letter then you should contact the human resources department of your former company and have them walk you through the process. If you worked for a smaller company there may not be a human resource department. In which case you will want to get in contact with a supervisor and have them point you to the right person to speak with.

Be aware that continuing coverage for health care insurance does vary from state to state. But if you are currently without health insurance it is important to find out what your options are and to utilize them as best you can.

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Depression is a Risk Factor For Developing Heart Disease

May 27th, 2010
Anthony M Wilson asked:




A Canadian study published in July has found that women who are depressed are much more likely to develop heart disease.

The study focused on a group of 4,948 men and women aged over 40 years who were followed for around 12 years. The study found that women who experienced depression in some form were around 70% more likely to develop heart disease than women who experienced no depression over that period. Depressed men on the over hand did not appear to be any more likely to develop heart disease than those men who were not depressed.

The study backs up the findings of similar studies in the past that have found depression is strongly linked to heart problems. It is believed that cortisol, which is a stress hormone, is found in higher levels in stressed individuals. High cortisol levels are believed to have many negative effects on the body such as increased blood pressure, impaired insulin sensitivity, and increased fat levels around the belly area.

It is also possible that depressed people are less likely to care about their health and therefore might engage in poor lifestyle choices such as poor eating habits, smoking, drinking, and a lack of physical exercise.

While this particular study did not find a direct link between depression and heart disease in men, other studies have found evidence of a relationship. One study, published in the British Medical Journal in 1998, found that men who had been diagnosed with depression were three times more likely to develop heart disease.

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the western world and accounts for more than a quarter of all deaths in the United States each year.

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Insurance News – Research Finds That Little Health Improvement Options Could Have Covered More

April 16th, 2010
Cheryl Bloom asked:




According to the latest insurance news, the RAND Corporation’s new analysis states that the newly enacted national health care reform law provides health insurance coverage to the biggest number of US citizens while observing federal expenses as small as practically possible.

The lone alternative that may have covered more Americans at a lesser cost to the central government were all politically unsustainable – substantially higher penalties for those who do not comply with mandates, lesser government subsidies, and less-generous Medicaid development.

Of all the proposals on the table that will expand health insurance to more US citizens, the last health reform law included those that covered a major number of people at the lowest price to the national government.

The RAND analysis estimates that 28 million Americans would be newly insured by 2016 in the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The law builds on the existing organization of health insurance in the US, which is a mixture of private and public sources of coverage.

The research examined how the expected result of health care reorganization would have changed if components of the law were structured in a different way. For instance, would more citizens receive coverage if companies with lesser employees were required to give health insurance to workers or pay a fine? In addition, how may the rate to the central government alter if the revenue level for Medicaid eligibility was raised to a superior level?

Researchers simulated more than 2,000 diverse policy scenarios by means of the RAND COMPARE micro simulation model that was designed by RAND to offer independent examination of how various reform proposals would have an effect on the US health care system.

The study found that only a small number of policy scenarios would create better results than expected under the latest health reform law and those scenarios correspond to only minute improvements more than what will be expected by 2016.

Case in point, the RAND investigation found that an extra 4 million citizens would be insured without additional outlay to the national government if the consequence for those who fall short to purchasing health insurance increased to $1,200 yearly per person, from $750 in the law.

The assessment also showed that a combination of strategies might cut national spending by $20 billion yearly without lessening the amount of recently insured. However, this would need an arrangement of measures that would put an elevated financial load on the lowest-income section of the nation’s populace.

These substitute strategies hit us as politically demanding, if not weak. On equilibrium, the latest law appears to have landed on a characteristic plain of the policy border where the costs and coverage levels achieved were sensible enough to safe passage of the law.

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Avoiding Health Care

December 28th, 2009
Jack McCafferty asked:




Probably the top thing affecting your health is stress. The top stress in most American lives is money or should I say the lack of it. Everyone thinks they want more when in reality they just want what it brings, like power, prestige and stuff. How you get it isn’t by working harder. How you get more isn’t by working for someone else. You will achieve your goals by changing the way you think. You will have a paradigm shift. You wouldn’t be reading this if you were satisfied with your wealth or your health.

If you continue to live as most American’s, you will die sick and you will die broke. Whats the answer? Listen to people whom are more healthy at 70 or 80 than you are, or were, at 25 or 30. Especially those not selling something. You want more money? listen to people whom are wealthy, and not the ones whom must sell books and advice.We are out there. ( I have an E-book for sale but my life will not change if you don’t buy it.)

According to The Employee Benefit Institute if you retired in 2009 you will need an additional $ 800,000 beyond what insurance will provide. If you plan on retiring in 2019 you will need an additional $1,400,000 just to keep up with rising health care costs. No problem. Just save up right? Anyone suggesting an IRA or other financial device is playing with the numbers. The old ways of acquiring wealth no longer work. The new millionaires are being created by selling information. Content is King, however its information and ‘how to’ now, not stuff.

You know things that I don’t. I will likely pay you for what you know. We all have become information junkies. We want to know ‘how to’ everything. We can’t use all that we learn but we trade with other people for what they know. It has become the new social game plan. What do you know that I can use or forward and impress others in exchange? Everyone wants to be the expert, and that’s O.K. Also it’s said that every one has a book in them. Think about that. There is a ton of advice on how to write. Don’t discount this. The very site you’re on is exceptional at this.

We all rave about what we have bought on sale or have found at an exceptionally lowered price. We are addicted to sales and the advertising that brought us there. The reasoning being that is if we buy enough stuff cheaply enough we get ahead. Not true. You will never spend your way to prosperity. This is one reason your broke. (Your broke if you can’t quit work for a year and be ok with that.)

You are the exact reproduction of your decisions, your choices. Your current situation is your responsibility. Don’t whine about the ‘breaks’ or what someone else has done to you. You have made every decision (or let others) that caused you to be in exactly the position and condition you find yourself in today. Go to my web site and read the article on ‘recreating you’. It will give you a system for understanding and possibly changing your paradigm. Its free and no obligation. If you are not wealthy by now you have made every decision keeping you from it. At no time in history are there so many opportunities to be truly healthy and wealthy. Its your decision. Its your choice.

Remember the movie ‘The Secret’. The missing link was action. You can daydream all you want, that bicycle is never going to manifest on your front porch. The Secret never told you to do something. Your actions create. Get off the couch and give thanks everyday for the ability to do so. If you don’t have a job, sweep the floor, rake the leaves. Stop waiting for the lottery. Do something today for cash. Anything (legal). It will lead you to something. Make a plan. Write down every day what you are going to do that day. The real Secret is to concentrate on where or what you want to go or be, not where you’ve been. Yesterday is gone. You get zero effect in dwelling on it.

The news media concentrates on what has already happened. Get off the news. It has never created a positive attitude or enriched anyone except those that sell it. I’ll admit it was harder than quitting smoking. Its extremely additive and even hypnotic. It builds stress and is killing you. To strong? Have you ever felt wonderful after the news? Try being without it for some period and see how you feel.

Do some research on Bio-feedback and Homeopathy. Those two words meant nothing to me until my life was saved from cancer and a badly damaged leg healed. I couldn’t get around without a fancy brace that caught on things and caused me to fall. Today, no brace and I’m back jogging again when ever I choose. The story is on my web site.

Health care is killing us financially. There are alternatives. You don’t own your health care system. Others own it and you pay the premium without any control on rising costs. You are renting a system you can’t control. Can you sell your plan? The trick came when they began calling it ‘your plan’. If its yours, you should have some control. What you own you can sell. Stop paying and its gone. POOF. Create your own music and stop dancing to the “Health Casino” tune. Of course if you have already given up your autonomy and depend on others to take care of you (i.e.: social programs that now eat up more than half of our national budget) you may not have much freedom remaining in controlling your life. At least, if that is the case, think about your children.

Just a passing thought as I leave for now. Who was the wise guy (politician) that came up with the word “Health Care”? For me those two words are opposed to each other. If you have health, why would you need care?

My motto is: Those that say it can’t be done are not allowed to talk to those doing it.

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Are Fish Oil Tablets Good For Your Health? – Why Some of Them Are Not

December 11th, 2009
Laurel Cohen asked:




Are fish oil tablets good for your health or not? Recent news reports seem to indicate that some of them are not. Here’s why.

The health benefits of increasing your omega-3 intake may be numerous. But, the risks could outweigh the benefits if PCBs, mercury or other toxins are present in the food or the dietary supplement. PCB exposure can cause cancer, liver damage and birth defects. Mercury is a poisonous heavy metal that can cause hair loss, skin problems, muscle weakness and kidney damage. Industrial activity and coal-fired electrical plants are the most common cause of environmental contamination. The most common cause of mercury poisoning is eating contaminated fish.

To date, there are no known cases caused by taking contaminated fish oil tablets. But, people who consume a lot of seafood and also take the supplements could be at an increased risk.

When it comes to PCBs, safe exposure limits have been established. Recent independent testing has revealed that some brands contain amounts that greatly exceed that limit. For that reason, litigation concerning excessive PCB content is currently underway in the state of California. That’s what all the news stories have been about.

I won’t mention any brand names here, since the litigation is still ongoing. The defendants of the case were mentioned in the article, but it really doesn’t matter. There are ways to make sure that you are always getting the highest quality supplements.

The better manufacturers post a copy of their COA (Certificate of Analysis) on their websites. Batch testing for contaminants is not required by law.

Most companies avoid testing, because they have to pay a licensed laboratory to conduct the tests. That can be expensive. So, you can expect to pay just a little more for fish oil tablets that have been tested.

You can also protect yourself by finding out what species was used to create the supplement. Some species are more likely to contain mercury and/or PCBs. Larger species are an example, although small filter or cleaner species like the menhaden are known to contain high levels of PCBs.

Some companies do not list this information on the label, even though it is an important consideration. Not only is it important for your health, but also for the health of the environment.

Over-fishing in the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia and other areas has resulted in ocean “dead zones”, areas where the oxygen content is too low to support life. One of the largest suppliers of fish oil tablets in the US is guilty of using the menhaden, which helps to keep O2 levels stable by cleaning toxins out of the water.

If you choose a good brand, taking a supplement is the most affordable and the safest way to increase your omega-3 intake. Other factors to consider include the total omega-3 content included and the total DHA content. Just because the capsule contains 1000mg of oils does not mean that you are getting 1000mg of omega-3s.

I take fish oil tablets every day, without worry. You can, too, as long as you choose the right brand.

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Imagine a Healthier Life, Then Start Living It

November 13th, 2009
Jackie Orman asked:




If you’re a baby boomer who has either been out of shape for the past few years, or maybe for most of your life, you might worry that it’s too late for you to get in good shape and to be in good health. The good news is it is never too late to start a diet and exercise program that will have you feeling better than you have in years, with plenty of energy for all the things you want to do today.

Imagine what it would be like if you were in good health; maybe you need to lose a little (or a lot of) weight, want to increase your energy levels, your enthusiasm for life, and increase your self esteem. If you were healthier you would feel better about your appearance, be more active physically and socially, have better flexibility and sleep better.

You could also improve your eyesight, strengthen your bones, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and make your heart and lungs stronger. Imagine how your outlook on life would improve if you had the energy and physical ability to do whatever you wanted?

Yes, it takes some work on your part to make these things a reality, but if you’re also imagining long hours at the gym and eating foods you don’t like, take those images out of your mind. Getting fit can be a lot of fun and doesn’t have to include a lot of struggle.

There are so many more reasons to do this for yourself than there are reasons to avoid it. Think about what your future life will be like if you don’t make a change. Will you continue to gain weight, maybe get diabetes, high blood pressure or another health issue (if you don’t have them already)? Maybe it will get harder and harder for you to move around, and you won’t be able to do the traveling or take up the hobbies that you always wanted to.

You’d probably end up feeling depressed, wondering what happened to your life, to those wonderful golden years you’d been looking forward to.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You can start taking the steps now to make your future the one you want. Take time to learn about nutrition and exercise, and incorporate small changes into your day like eating more fresh vegetables or playing a round of golf without the aid of a golf cart. Once you start taking your life in a healthier direction, you’ll see how easy it can be to make that dream of a healthy future a reality.

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Health Insurance Providers in Texas

November 3rd, 2009
Marilyn Katz asked:




How to Find Affordable Texas Health Insurance

There is no question about the size of Texas. This is a big state. Even though the size of this state gives us a lot of choices, it can also make it tougher to narrow down the search for affordable health insurance. But we can help you start looking, get quotes, and then find the best insurance provider for you.

Everybody wants the same things when they search for a health plan. They want affordable premiums and a top quality insurer who will make it easy to access medical services. We need to be able to afford our payments, but we know that those premiums will not help us if our insurer does not help us when we need to get medical services.

Top 10 Health Insurance Companies in Texas

US News & World Report published a top 10 review of Texas health insurance companies. This can be a good place to start looking for highly rated companies. But not all of these plans were even working in all part of the state. So, again, you can use this list as a starting point, but it may not help you choose the right plan for you.

For example, Human Health Care System of Texas was first on the list, but that was only for the Austin, Texas area! Humana plans for the south region and Houston also made the list. That may not help you if you live in San Antonio, Dallas or Austin though!

Humana Health Care System of Texas (Austin, Tx) CIGNA Healthcare of Texas Scott and White Health Plan AETNA Health – Texas United HealthCare of Texas Humana Health Care System of Texas (South) Pacificare of Texas (Austin / Dallas) Humana Health Plan of Texas (Houston) Pacificare of Texas (San Antonio / Houston) Missouri Health Plan of Missouri (Texas) Can You Afford Premiums?

You must also make sure you find premiums you afford. Your major medical plan will not help you if you drop it because you cannot afford to pay premiums. So it is important to compare premiums. You should have some choices which will affect this when you purchase insurance. For example, the premium for a policy should be much cheaper if you pick the $1,500 yearly deductible option rather than the $250 option. Just keep in mind that you will have to pay that additional deductible. You can probably save enough money to cover it within a short time.

Declined For Insurance in Texas

Texas has a high risk pool for people who have been declined, because of health conditions. This provides a safety net for many Texans. The premiums are rather high though.

Low Income Health Insurance For Texans

If you cannot afford premiums at all, there are some helpful government and private plans that may help. Very low income Texans should look at Texas Medicaid. Moderate income families may benefit from Texas CHIPS (Children’s Insurance Program). There are other resources too. Look for county health systems, low cost clinics, or foundations that provide financial aid to people with specific health issues. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has a handy zip code search.

How To Compare Texas Insurance In Your City or Town

Most plans are marketed and priced at the zip code level. That is why many internet health insurance quote forms start by asking you for your zip code.You will not pay the same price, in many cases, as your twin who lives in another zip code.

You simply have to enter your basic information one time. Then you can get multiple insurance policies and premiums returned to you in the comfort of your own home or office. This beats calling around to compare quotes.

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Health News: The Secret To Good Health Is Simple

October 12th, 2009
I-key Benney asked:




How good is your health?

Most people forget that good health is the greatest asset they can have in life.

They work hard all their lives without taking proper care of themselves
for many years until one day they break down.

Don’t wait until you’ve a nervous break down, to face the reality.

You should balance your activities with the proper amount of rest.

Some of the leading experts in the field of aging now believe that regular exercise along with the proper amount of rest may actually add years to the life span.

Results from a number of tests indicate that speed and muscular strength of many of the elderly can be extended.

Leading authorities agree that this new data is going to shatter many of the myths about aging and physical performance.

The conclusion now is that the performance and ability of the elderly has long been underestimated, diet, proper sleep and exercise along with rest and relaxation are all important factors in preserving our bodies.

Laughter is one of the best things for your mental and physical state.

People are naturally attracted to someone who has a good sense of humor.

You can develop a good outlook and a good sense of humor by associating with and surrounding yourself with pleasant happy people.

Recognize that stress is a killer. A life filled with stress can really wreak havoc on your body causing a number of illnesses such as hear attacks, strokes, asthma, gastric problems, menstrual disorders, ulcerative colitis, angina, irritable colon, increased blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, etc.

There are different types of stress such as mental, emotional and physical.

Emotional stress seems to take the greatest toll on everyone.

All stress is not bad; in fact, life would not be very interesting if it were not met with challenges.

However, too much stress, too often with no effective and appropriate outlet, does not allow the body and soul to recuperate.

You might review a typical week to see if you can identify things that might be making you anxious or causing you stress.

Once identified, stressors can be attacked and eliminated.

Are you a worrier? Chronic worriers don’t have more serious problems than others – they just think they do.

Many worriers try to cope by trying not to think about their problems, but this just makes things worse.

Doctors say that chronic worriers feel less anxious if they actually spend a half-hour a day thinking specifically about their problems.

Get plenty of exercise. People who are physically fit look good and feel good.

A good exercise regimen will lengthen your life. Improve your appearance, build self confidence and help delay the aging process.

Remember that you need to do something physical every day.

If you don’t use your joints, quite simply they’ll tighten up with age to create the stooped, bent and worn out appearance we so often associate with old age.

Studies have shown that people with arthritis experience less pain if they continue to keep their joints flexible.

As one gets older, the bones tend to get brittle which is why it is common for senior citizens to break bones and especially their hips when they fall.

Eating right, getting proper sleep and learning to relax are all very valuable in maintaining a healthy body and mind.

And keep in mind that eating healthy foods and avoiding those high in fats, sodium and cholesterol will help to decrease your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and associated problems.

May these good health news and insights help you to live a longer, healthy and happy life.

Warmly,

I-key Benney, CEO

Kansieo.com

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Good News (and Bad) For Individuals Who Qualify For the COBRA Subsidy Extension

October 6th, 2009
Daniel Allen asked:




Around Chicago, health insurance policies can be found with help from health insurance brokers- but be aware of the government’s deadlines. The eligibility period for reduction on Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health insurance came to an end on February 28, 2010 after a two-month extension signed by the president in December. The 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, an amendment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also referred to as the ARRA or Stimulus Bill),increased the maximum amount of time for receiving the subsidy from nine to 15 months.

Individuals should be aware that there is currently no indication of any further extensions. This means that any American workers involuntarily terminated after this point will not see the government’s assistance with 65 percent of their premium unless Congress takes further action. Fortunately for future qualifiers of COBRA insurance, bills to further extend the subsidiary have been introduced into the Senate and the House of Representatives.

According to the United States Department of Labor, the funding process works by allowing “assistance eligible individuals” (AEIs) to pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums while the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. This policy applies to individuals involuntarily terminated on or after September 1, 2008 and the payment reduction applies to periods of insurance beginning on or after February 17, 2009. An AEI must also meet certain other requirements, including potential income limits, having a “qualifying event” for continuation coverage under COBRA or a comparable State law, choosing this insurance within 60 days and not being eligible for Medicare or other group health plans. Steve Price, a Chicago health insurance agent and industry expert recommends, “Find an agency that will listen to your situation and write a policy that will meet your needs.”

The new act also established a transition period for applicable AEIs along with new qualification and notification requirements, but it maintains the refund and credit rules of the original ARRA bill to any AEI whose subsidy expired in November and who has since paid the full COBRA premium. It allows workers who have used up their funding by completing their original nine month eligibility since October to receive six more months of support, and those who did not choose to continue with COBRA insurance once their grant expired to make payments retroactively, receive the subsidy and continue with coverage. Finally, workers involuntarily terminated on or before February 28 qualify for the financial assistance no matter when their eligibility begins. To find out if you are still able to receive the government’s reduction, ask any further questions about the extension or find insurance that best suits you, contact the Department of Labor at www.dol.gov or get in touch with your local health insurance broker.

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