Healthcare, Health Insurance, Vitamins, Nutrition

July 15, 2009

No more balding worries

Filed under: Healthcare — Tags: , , , , , — @ 9:38 am

Baldness and hair loss are devastating for everyone. Androgenetic alopecia or common male pattern baldness (MPB) accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. By the age of thirty-five two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and by the age of 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair. Approximately twenty five percent of men who suffer with male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach the age of twenty-one.

Contrary to societal belief most men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. Hair loss affects interpersonal relationships as well as the professional lives of those suffering. It is not uncommon for men to change their career paths because of their hair loss.

In the past few years, medicine has made tremendous strides in the treatment of men’s hair loss. With the advent of 5-a-reductase inhibitors such as Propecia and the evolution of surgical hair restoration, for many, living with noticeable hair loss is no longer inevitable. For the first time in the history of mankind it is now possible to stop or slow the progression of hair loss and to replace lost hair through follicular surgery with completely natural results. A unique feature of hair follicles is the way these miniature hair-growing organs cycle through growth and rest cycles. In addition to hairs being grown and then shed in these phases, the follicle itself disintegrates almost entirely by the end of the regression phase, and an almost entirely new follicle is created at the beginning of the next growth phase.

Approximately, 99,000 surgical hair restoration procedures were performed in the United States in 2008, according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, a non-profit medical association. Of them, close to 93,000 procedures were scalp transplants (hair transplants to fill in bald or thinning areas), followed by 3,484 eyebrows, 1,369 mustache/beard procedures and eyelashes with 531 procedures.

July 14, 2009

Transfats – NO, NO!

Filed under: Nutrition — Tags: , , , , , — @ 9:22 am

Many manufacturers started including transfats in their processed foods about 20 years ago to prolong their products’ shelf life, but public health experts warn that these kinds of fats clog arteries and cause obesity. By far the largest amount of transfat consumption today is created by the processed food industry (cookies, crackers, icing, potato chips, stick margarine, microwave popcorn to name a few).

Transfats are formed when liquid oils are made into solid fats by adding hydrogen in a process called hydrogenation. A common example of this is partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is used for frying and baking and turns up in processed foods like cookies, pizza dough and crackers. Transfats, which are favored because of their long shelf life, are also found in pre-made blends like pancake and hot chocolate mix.

Unlike other dietary fats, transfats are not essential, and they do not promote good health. Transfats pose a higher risk of heart disease than saturated fats, which were once believed to be the worst kind of fats. While it is true that saturated fats — found in butter, cheese and beef, for example — raise total cholesterol levels, transfats go a step further. Transfats not only raise total cholesterol levels, they also deplete good cholesterol (HDL), which helps protect against heart disease. The consumption of transfats increases one’s risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of “bad” LDL(low density lipoprotein) cholesterol and lowering levels of “good” HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Health authorities worldwide recommend that consumption of transfat be reduced to trace amounts.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration began requiring food labels to list transfats in January 2006. Transfats are listed under the Fat category of the Nutrition Facts panel. Many foods are now formulated to be transfat free. Naturally low fat foods are generally the best: fruits of all types, vegetables, chicken, turkey, fish, beans, whole grains, breads and some cereals. So carefully read the nutrional chart of the food products and say NO to transfats.

July 13, 2009

Over Exercising

Filed under: Healthcare — Tags: , , , , , , — @ 9:39 am

Did you know that there are people on the other end of the spectrum who exercise obsessively? Sounds strange, right? I know looks like they are not from the same planet as me. Ok, for starts, Over-exercising, also called compulsive exercising or obligatory exercising, is when an individual engages in strenuous physical activity to the point that it is unsafe and unhealthy.

A regular exercise program provides many benefits, and it is normal to be mildly sore and a little tired following your workouts. But, if you overdo it without allowing your body to recover, it can break down. To maintain a normal healthy state of the body, 2,000-3,500 calories should be burned each week through exercises. Exercise beyond 3,500 calories per week, however, leads to decreased physical benefits and increased risk of injury.

Compulsive exercise, particularly if it’s combined with an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia), can cause serious and permanent health problems, and in some cases, death, doctors say. The typical signs of over exercising include continued achiness or pain in the muscles and/or joints, fatigue, insomnia, elevated morning pulse rate, headaches, loss of appetite, lack of energy and increased susceptibility to sore throats, colds and other illnesses. Female exercisers are particularly vulnerable. A female who loses too much weight or body fat will stop menstruating and ovulating and will become increasingly susceptible to stress fractures and osteoporosis.

A sufferer may see deterioration of their personal relationships or failure at work or college and become socially withdrawn. Always stop exercising if you feel pain as it’s often a sign that something is wrong, and learn to recognize the signs of over-exercise, such as injury, exhaustion and not being able to perform as well. Exercise should make you feel refreshed and energized not exhausted. If it’s causing fatigue, soreness, or a feeling of utter dread, listen to your body! It may be time to make a change.

For any queries on insurance you might want to visit: http://www.nriol.net/

July 10, 2009

Plastic surgery and Insurance

Filed under: Health Insurance — Tags: , , , , , , , — @ 9:42 am

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, approximately 6 million Americans undergo plastic surgery in year. That comes out to a lot of money in doctor fees, so who is paying for plastic surgery costs? Well, that depends entirely on your insurance company.

Typically in order for an insurance company to cover a plastic surgery, the surgery needs to be deemed medically necessary. Reconstructive surgery is considered medically necessary by many insurance companies. For example, breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Nasal surgery performed with a diagnosis of deviated septum is considered medically necessary and normally some cosmetic repair is performed at the same time. A breast reduction may also be covered in cases where the patient experiences moderate to severe chronic pain as a result of having very large breasts. In addition, some reconstruction of cosmetic defects following an accident may be covered under certain plans, and repair of certain birth defects, such as cleft palate, are often covered as well.

Cosmetic surgery is the reshaping of normal structures on the body to improve the self-esteem or appearance of a patient. Take for example, the procedure of circumcision on infant boys. In the past all insurance companies paid for this procedure, but it is now becoming more common that insurance companies will not pay for the procedure because is considered cosmetic. What is considered cosmetic is entirely up to what insurance company holds your policy. What is typically not medically necessary is breast implants (no previous mastectomy), face lifts, liposuction, surgery to remove excess skin around the abdomen, etc.

Plan provisions vary widely. Even one insurance carrier can have 20 different plans available, each with variances regarding covered/non covered services. It is always best to contact your insurance company directly.

July 9, 2009

Drug Abuse

Filed under: Healthcare — Tags: , , , — @ 10:17 am

Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, involves the repeated and excessive use of chemical substances to achieve a certain effect. These substances may be “street” or “illicit” drugs, illegal due to their high potential for addiction and abuse. They also may be drugs obtained with a prescription, used for pleasure rather than for medical reasons.

Prescription drug abuse is just as dangerous as street drug use. When used appropriately, prescription drugs can have beneficial effects medically or psychologically. Prescription drugs in the opiate family, such as vicodin and oxycontin, are often prescribed for chronic pain or recovery from surgery. Benzodiazapines, such as valium or Xanax, are prescribed to treat anxiety. The problem arises when these drugs begin to be used ‘off label’. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), “prescription drugs account for the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs.”

Most abused drugs are not only mentally addictive but physically addictive as well. Tolerance is built up to the drug.  More and more of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effect. As the body physically adjusts to the drug, trying to cut down or stop is unpleasant or even painful. These withdrawal symptoms, depending on the drug, can include shakes, chills, severe aches and pains, difficulty sleeping, agitation, depression, and even hallucinations or psychosis. Avoiding withdrawal adds to the urgency of keeping up drug abuse and increases drug dependence.

As the mystery over Michael Jackson’s death is clearing, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Michael Jackson’s prescription drug addiction was the cause of his death. The sad and painful reality is that his prescription drug addiction has a long and intense history. Perhaps the rest of us can recognize and utilize Jackson’s story as the wake up call for the nation.

Learn the Latest News About Cancer Treatment, Prevention and Research from EIN News

Filed under: Nutrition — Tags: , , — @ 9:04 am

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