Your Kids & Smoking

It would be a long stretch for anyone to say that they do not know nowadays the negative effect on health that smoking has. The link of smoking to lung cancer and heart disease is well documented as is the severity of nicotine addiction and its hold onto the addicted individual. While it might have been true thirty years ago, I doubt if there is a person in the western world that has not been warned about the dangers of smoking, including your children. The sad fact is that the thousands of young people that pick up the habit of smoking every year prove that merely knowing the truth is not enough to ebb the tide of new smokers.

If you are a parent that smokes, you need to know that as long as you continue to light up, your children will be twice as likely to smoke as the children of non smokers, and even if you quit now, depending on how long your children were exposed to your habit could greatly impact their decision to take up the habit or not.

Parents who so not smoke or have never smoked need to understand that just because the temptation is not in the home does not mean that it is absent from your children’s life. Peer pressure to seem cool is as strong today as it was when we were kids and often the atmosphere of advancement through the ages is at a much faster pace than when we were younger. Our children are being faced to make many more choices at a much younger age than in previous generations.

Communicating about the choice of smoking and the effects that this choice will have on your children’s lives should be an open discussion, and understanding that teenage rebellion and the chasing of forbidden pleasures is still very much a part of growing up will allow parents to realistically deal with the challenge of supporting your children by trying to help them make the best lifestyle choices for their future while not pushing them into a cycle of rebellion on accident.

If you do find out that your child has experimented with cigarette or other forms of tobacco use, try to approach the problem as a health issue and not necessarily as one of just bad behavior or failure to follow instruction. While personal feelings of disrespect are sure to play a role, the serious impact on the future of anyone who chooses to smoke should be the major consideration when approaching this issue. Your children’s life depends on it.

»»  READMORE...

Protein

Protein, along with carbohydrates and fats, make up the major building blocks in a healthy diet that allow for proper body function. Without any one of these compounds, called macronutrients because the high amounts needed as compared to other nutrient, the body would quickly run into problems and show signs of malnutrition. Carbohydrates supply the blood with much needed sugar fuel, fats provide the body with the ability to gain weight as well as save energy for later use, and proteins help with muscle production as well as energy production. Proteins are readily found in meats, cheeses and other dairy products as well as certain vegetables. Protein is also an important source of the Amino Acid Phenylalanine which is important to alertness and other brain function. Without an adequate source of protein in your diet, muscle production would be impossible, and muscle breakdown and atrophy would begin. This is the reason that protein is so important to bodybuilders and those with muscular dystrophy, as atrophy of the muscles is exacerbated by a lack of protein, and additional protein can be utilized for increased muscle mass production.

Most people get enough protein in a balanced diet for good muscular health, and many get much more protein than they actually need. In Western culture meat is often considered the main, and largest course in a meal, and while providing the body with much needed protein, too much meat, especially red meats, can also bring along massive amounts of fat and if prepared in a restaurant, usually plenty of salt to go along with that. The extra fat and salt are retained by the body, and the excess protein is either stored as fat or exits the body as waste.

The more active a person is the more protein the body can utilize, and the more muscle can be built. Inactivity causes even the smallest amount of protein to go to waste or go to the waist. It is either converted to fat and will later be used as energy, or passed from the body. Smaller cuts of meat and the introduction of vegetable, fish, and soybean sources of protein can be a great way to maintain proper protein levels without overindulging. The other option is to increase exercise that also brings with it increased benefits in both the present and for the future. Protein rich fish is also high in Omega 3 fatty acids that promote heart health, which can give it a healthy edge over beef or poultry.

»»  READMORE...

Wipe Out Bad Sugar In Order To Wipe Out Bad Health

A regular can of soda contains the same amount of sugar that you would find in 10 teaspoons of table sugar. While sugar is a carbohydrate, and the body needs carbohydrates to function, other types of carbohydrates are available, such as whole grains and many fruits and vegetables. The amount of sugar, especially in the form of glucose, as is found in soft drinks and candy is an extremely unhealthy and high percentage intake compared to what is actually needed on a daily basis for good health. Glucose enters the bloodstream at a very fast rate, and is especially hard for the body to utilize in any efficient fashion. Processed foods, especially bleached or otherwise ‘enriched” breads and pastas produce high amounts of glucose when digested and present the same problem.

Simple carbs are sugars that are formed previous to digestion, and can be found in fruits and vegetables and milk products. While both naturally occurring sugars and processed carbohydrates and sugars are considered simple carbohydrates, the two are not the same. The naturally occurring sugars are accompanied with all of the other nutrients, vitamins, and fiber that the sugar host provides, while processed foods are usually deprived of any nutritional value upon taking their processed form. This state of nutrition-less processing labels these as “bad carbs” and contribute to obesity and other health problem while offering little or no benefits.

Eating processed foods and sugars are not only an easy way to flood the body with an excess supply of simple sugars with no real nutritional benefit, there are also other negative factors that need to be considered when considering the effects of processed foods on the average person’s health.

* The chances of becoming obese is increased literally exponential to the amount of sugars consumed and the amount of nutrition value absent due to processing.
* In pastas and processed breads, the carbohydrates and sugars added significantly increase the chances of tooth decay as they tend to advance damage and change to sugar more rapidly that have complex carbohydrates.
* Flooding the system with simple sugars at regular intervals can actually result in sugar addiction, making the risk of developing serious health related issues and the inability to control intake often lost without the help of an physician or mental health professional.

In order to protect yourself from the harmful effects of processed carbohydrates and sugars, knowing the other terms and names that these added ingredients go by can be quite helpful. Look for all forms of the word sweetener, as in corn or the words glucose, fructose, and syrups such as malt or maple, any honey, molasses, and even white grape juice (which is almost pure fructose).

»»  READMORE...

Carbohydrates: The Body’s Edible Food Factories

Carbohydrates are needed for proper body function. They are the main source of fuel used foe energy in a person’s diet. As carbohydrates are introduced into the body, the body breaks them down into sugars that are then used as food for cells in the body such as the muscles and other organs, including the heart. While the emphasis in diet trends over the last few years has focused on a low carbohydrate intake, how the body processes carbohydrates in relation to blood sugar levels and weight gain would be better approached by looking at the type of carbohydrates in the diet as well as their amounts.

There are two types of carbohydrates, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates process into sugars very quickly as well as having very little nutritional benefits. One example is fructose. Fructose, usually eaten in the form of processed grains or sweetener, rapidly floods the blood with sugars that are above and beyond the processing ability of insulin in the system. Excess sugars are instead stored in the body as fat, and the binge leaves the body with too much too fast, with complete absence nutrition in its wake.

Complex carbohydrates on the other hand go through a more gradual and balanced processing, are usually part of foods with the added vitamins and minerals that provide the body with much needed nutritional support, and provide the body with needed energy at a more reasonable level over a longer period of time. Whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables often are great sources of complex carbohydrates, though some fruits do contain sucrose and fructose in higher levels than vegetables and whole grains.

This is the very reason that it is easier for a person with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels with complex carbohydrates than with simple carbs. With society pushing for faster and faster food on the go, and the emphasis on cheap production in large quantity the norm in commercial food production, the amount of processed foods and simple carbohydrates consumed by the general population, and intake of complex carbs and other nutritional food on the decrease. Many diseases that top the charts for fatality every year could be significantly decreased if this trend could be reversed, even if the amount of food consumed did not change. The absence of nutrients in our diet, combined with forcing our bodies to respond to the rollercoaster of chemical reactions involved in digesting the unhealthy food we do eat has created an environment prone to imbalance and extremes. Carbohydrates are our friends, and we have turned them into our enemy.

»»  READMORE...

Is health insurance worth?

Waiting for hours thinking,
How much should I charge will be a doctor,
Or will accept cash or checks
And whether to treat us?

During the week I spent in line at the doctor (going into the room 2 weeks ago!) 4 hours - a female doctor - for 2.5 hours, the ENT - 40 minutes on the recorded time.

Well, one person said: why do I need to register for a certain period of the visit and plan your day, if in the end I had to wait all night at the surgeon? These cases occurred clinics' treatment "Rušonu Street 15" Doctor, to whom I went to Briska and L. V. Beltiņa. In addition, the first doctor said that is very good and that women are expected to each visit with a 3-hour, and I neiedeva examined two visits.

Total madness is also one that both my family doctor and the doctor does not serve customers Balta women. This, of course, once again, depends on me, ought to apply to a family doctor, who still meets my requirements, namely - What can trust and work with insurance companies. Of course, when applying to a receiving physician, I always ask him if there was cooperation with the insurance company. Usually the answer is "Dr. Interesējaties in '. But in the settlement of the line for 2.5 hours, there is no power to resist and think about signing elsewhere - time has been spent and there is a desire for constant visits to the doctor led galam.Varbūt attract their customers, knowing that after such a long waiting list, people are willing to everything, just to get a positive result on the same night?

I was really disappointed in our healthcare system, public institutions, ganārstu in private practice, which seems to indicate readiness to take the client a better doctor.

And the key to me comes to mind - or even doctors do not know how to plan your time??

»»  READMORE...

Compulsory health insurance

Compulsory health insurance


Current Health Minister Baiba Rozentāle some media have made a statement that the health care needs more funding than the year 2009. annual budget. How, for example, "Universities and hospitals greater regional emergency health care provision that may be even just about two months, after which only the bankrupt hospital. Therefore, the budget allocated to the urgent need for the hospital at least 45 million. Ls. . '

All sectors of the budget is now reduced. This means that if health will not be able to balance the budget in the expenditure of income, then the 45 mln Ls would have to bear the other lines, such as retired teachers, police officers' salaries. Still increase revenues by increasing tax rates to get people to extend or create new taxes. This course is very unpopular move. Of the many reasons why not lift the tax burden, I want to emphasize that the difference between it and who pays taxes and who does not pay, it becomes more and turn to honest taxpayers in mind, the shadow economic benefits. I want to redistribute health care costs from the budget allocated. In contrast, a linear decrease in the current funding will be enough. I believe that the need for real reform. And in my head, as a logical solution for nearly all health care is nedienām - statutory health insurance (ova).

This idea is not new or unique, but still not implemented. Pamaklēju online by the idea that knowledgeable people say:

* Indulis Emsis (ZZS) - against, because it will only return for insurance;
* Valdis Keris (Latvian Medical Association vice-president) - to, as a proportion of private health insurance is not enough;
* Ivars Eglitis (TP) - for people who work and save for time spent ill, although he later changed his mind.
* Valdis Zatlers (National President) - to, as it will allow doctors to increase wages and reduce the proportion pateicābu;
* Baiba Rozentāle (TP) - to, as the number of insurance will be deducted from the wages;
* Jelena Alfejeva (BTA Vice President) - for, if it has improved in parallel, the existing system;
* Eric Gailāns (RSC Chairman of the Board) - for, workers take care of themselves, of other countries;
* There are several opinions about the fact that the health ministry to prepare a project or that have not been calculated. As a result, ova šobrīt introduced.

Of course all these views tend to reduce the significance, saying this is that populism or point of view, the author talked about personal interests, but the real model and calculation, which eliminates speculation about the topic, no. I think the point of view, the author did not become the minister of health, but health agencies. Namely health care is health care for residents of Latvia.

Why do I feel that the ovum will be exactly the model that can solve problems samilzušās health care, and improve the economy and health of the population?

1) Personal Experience - Since my employer, I have nopirics health insurance, I no longer neuztrucos for medical procedures. Of course, I followed him, did not exceed the limits, such as vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is provided only once a year. But all other tests and my health insurance. I like it because I went to every specialist, if necessary, and not worry about the cost. Knowing that this insurance is paid four times more expensive than manīm is VSAOI paid monthly, will think that the year 1200Ls insurance should cover all, and for all.

2) Competition - insurance companies will compete with each other, offering the best prices and / or quality. Medical institutions that provide more of these services is the number of larger claims, the medical authorities to ieintereseātas treated and to choose their service directly.

3) Thanksgiving. Now, as a rule there, providing medical services they pay for in addition to gratitude, because it is believed that medical staff are not paid enough. Gratitude must be expressed and they have to pay taxes, but practical. Medical authorities have set their own prices and jānoalgo relevant specialist. The insured knew that the services received will be paid.

4) Speculation.

* While the current increase in the amount of tax revenue. So far, the state is to provide health care and it was done with the money collected in taxes. Why, if this money to help manage the insurance was suddenly not enough?
* Corruption. Is the situation in which public authorities regulate the flow of funds, not the real market is less risk of corruption?
* Insurers would return. Is that bad? Is the economy will not be warm? VOAVA direct salary will not be bound by the institutions that benefit the public authority has long followed the procedure to minimize the threat of corruption, and operates in accordance with politskajai position with the state to deploy resources more efficiently than private insurance?
* Insurance covers only capable. The basic insurance program should be guaranteed for all citizens. There are several ways to do it. You can identify the insurance from a particular obligation to ensure% of people who do not work. Or maybe not working with government guarantees in the main program, each of the selected insurance companies. In short, the following applies: the higher the salary, the better your insurance policy. But the insurance money collected in taxes for those who are not able to do so.

5) Envelope wages. Part of the social tax to be paid by insurance. These workers and employers wanting to understand. When an employer pays 24.09% of the social obligations, he saw this part of the tax return and possibly even parallel to ensure workers. Can be concluded that the interests of social payments increased.

6) GDP. If people regularly check the health, treatment costs and duration must be smaller. In turn creates a higher GDP are more healthy.

7) OE.

* Currently, the State pays for medical education, but that amount (this year: higher education milj.Ls 14.7; 5.9 million. Ls-service training) could be reduced partially transferred to private clinics and doctors appeared wallet. This is to ensure that medical education would benefit from investing in their future and those who choose to learn, not just those who have good grades, but also those who regard it as a professional perspective. And clinics would be interested in their personal literacy, if it can attract more of patients.
* Promotion of public health (8.3 million this year. Ls). Who else can better improve public health, and the opportunity to attend the annual health examination, sports activities and obtain the necessary vaccines for free? Part of this amount should be transferred to the insurance.
* Health care (503 million this year. L) - the percentage of the amount of space for the medical authorities will reach through insurance, which supports medical facilities of the most busy. National health expenditures 223, 11 L / year per capita. Is the money already nesanāktu good insurance policy? But that's not all.
* Health public funding agencies (24.6 million this year. Ls). How to privatize - 'Tuberculosis and lung disease state agency, state agency "Latvian Infectology Center" and "Sports medicine in the country aģetūru" and to move into the insurance fees required. Body above, now the company can get the same amount through their services. There is no way that someone could negribēt to privatization, but because there are currently hiring.
* E-health guidelines for implementation (0.47 million this year. Ls); Program funding has not changed, but must be improved to ensure communication between medical institutions and insurance. Today, e-health is such that I have every medical facility has a card, and medical history I knew no one - including my own.
* Quality Compliance and economic evaluation, market supervision (18.5 million this year. Ls). Kvaitātes and economic assessment contribute to the increased competition. In other words, the proportion of this amount is allowed to drain to the insurance provider.
* Russian Federation, a military retiree health care (3.5 million. Ls). Not to mention that this number tends to increase, which, in my opinion, would not say directly about social groups are. Following one of the numbers 2006 on the note that the retiree is 18 thousand. Relatives ~ 196 Ls uz vienu pensionāru, par summu so varētu viņiem apmaksāt veselības apdrošināšanu. Although it is clear that today the number of retirees like that higher, but I have not found the data.

Finally. All my thoughts of course are not made by a health care professional from an experienced expert opinion. However, I have been happy to see what the doctors saw the fact that you have insurance, and how they react, if it is paid by government manipulation. Although there are people who feel that they are healthy as a horse and hope that they are insured - the existing system today and because it was taken from healthy and sick pay. Only much more effective to help implement competitive conditions. Considering how old this idea jāuzkata negligence was not ready for a real plan, and should introduce a system like this. Those who fight ova, inefficient support functions, perhaps by self-interest or peer pressure.

»»  READMORE...

My study covered on Reuters Health hosted on thedoctorschannel.com

Here is a story from Reuters Health covering my recent study in Chest. There is a video there too!

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Patients on prolonged acute mechanical ventilation face an increased risk of Clostridium difficile-associated disease, according to a report in the September Chest.

“C. difficile is frequent in this population, and we need to be vigilant in our prevention efforts,” Dr. Marya D. Zilberberg from University of Massachusetts, Amherst told Reuters Health by email. “Once present, it is critical to contain the spread of C. difficile to other patients.”

Dr. Zilberberg and colleagues used 2005 data from the Health Care Utilization Project/Nationwide Inpatient Sample to examine the rates and outcomes of C. difficile-associated disease among 64,910 hospitalized adults who received prolonged treatment with acute mechanical ventilation.

Among these patients, 5.3% had a concomitant diagnosis of C. difficile-associated disease at death or discharge.

On unadjusted analysis, the primary outcome of the study – hospital mortality – was 32.6% in patients with C. difficile-associated disease and 33.0% in patients without it. In the adjusted analysis, there was “a small but statistically significant difference” in mortality risk, with patients who had C. difficile-associated disease “somewhat less likely” to die in the hospital (adjusted relative risk, 0.89).

In addition, C. difficile-associated disease in patients with prolonged ventilation was associated with substantially greater median hospital length of stay, higher median costs, a greater likelihood of being discharged to a skilled nursing facility, and a lower likelihood of being discharged to home.

“This infection rate of 530 cases per 10,000 hospital admissions is strikingly high compared with that noted in the general hospitalized population (11.2 cases per 10,000 hospitalizations,” the investigators say.

“The most important thing is to minimize the use of antibiotics as much as possible, particularly the classes that are known to select for C. difficile (e.g., quinolones, etc.),” Dr. Zilberberg said. “We are finding that there is a fair bit of community-acquired C. difficile, which may act as a reservoir for hospital-acquired disease. So limiting antibiotics should be a community-wide effort, not just that in the hospital.”

Reference:
Chest 2009;136:752-758.

»»  READMORE...