Sabtu, 18 Juli 2009

Hot to Get Hot News And Hot Trends


google trends is the main criterion to see whether a situation or news that happened in the USA in particular .. Hot Trends And Info very people in need to find out what events are happening around him .. to see the hot news you can see in www.papomix.com or some site that provides news at this time .. Hot News and Trends at this time continue to change according to who's going on in the world at this time ..

image source :www.google.com/trends

Selasa, 07 April 2009

What is your Leg worth to you? Health Insurance has got you covered!

If you think that health insurance is unnecessary and too costly to find and fit into your lifestyle right now, think again. All too often people think that they don't need health insurance.


They believe that they are healthy and will just get it "later". What if there is an accident, though? Imagine you are going on a snowboarding trip and break your leg; you go to the hospital and can't afford the medical services. Do you pay for it out of pocket and go into debt? You have no choice-you have no insurance. With health insurance, you don't have to worry.


You just show your insurance card and pay the minimal co-payment fee at the emergency room and have nothing but a great story to tell your friends about how you broke your leg. It pays to simply pay the monthly rates of your health insurance. While you may never have to use it for medical emergencies like a broken leg, there is always the possibility that you will have to use it and if you do, imagine the breath of fresh air you'll breathe knowing that you are paying the lowest possible rate you can for the medical benefits and costs you need.


Enjoy sleeping soundly knowing that you are covered with your cheap health insurance plan.

Overweight and a smoker - WOW! Are you in trouble!

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004, about two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight and almost one-third are obese. If this were to continue, everyone in the U.S. could be overweight in forty years time. Some groups are already heading in that direction. For example, 80% of African-American women are overweight. Some 90% of Mexican-American men could be overweight in 25 years time. But there will probably be one or two people who resist the lure of the land of plenty and stay thin. We'll probably never actually get to 100%. Whoopee!


Why should this matter? Well, there's a proven link between being overweight and life-shortening conditions such as stroke, congestive heart failure, cancer and osteoarthritis. It would be fair to say that life insurance companies get very interested when you start talking about behavioral risk factors and mortality rates. Now add in the fact that overweight women who smoke are five times more likely to die young than non-smokers.


So the life insurance companies have produced a type of list. They classify people according to their risk of dying. If you're a "super preferred" you're disgustingly healthy with no bad habits. You're going to live decades longer than anyone else so you get the lowest premiums. But if you're only "preferred", the premiums have started to rise because you have a shorter life expectancy. The average U.S. life pays the "standard" rate. And then come all the others with depressing titles suggesting you may die tomorrow.


How does this affect you? Well, your premiums will be high if you are overweight. The rates will rise further if you have high blood pressure or high levels of cholesterol. If there's a family history of cancer, stroke, heart disease or anything else dealing out death, more increases. And then some companies double the rate if you're a smoker.


What should you do? Well, never lie about it. That gives life insurance companies the right to cancel the policy. The companies want real evidence that you're prepared to change your lifestyle. Obviously, you can't do anything about your family history, but you can quit smoking and lose weight. Make regular visits with your local health provider and have blood tests to show improving levels of cholesterol and lipids, keep records of falling blood pressure, etc. With evidence of continuing motivation for better health, you can resubmit your application for a life policy and negotiate a premium reduction.

Propecia - the Hair Loss Recovery Drug

It is not news lots of men lose hair. Fortunately for them, there is a treatment that will definitely improve the situation for the better. This drug is called - Propecia.


Propecia is a prescription medicine that has been licensed for the cure of the problem regarding male pattern baldness. Women and children are not recommended to use it.


Hair loss factors: There are a few causes that could lead to hair loss for men and women.



  • Genetics -- genetic baldness (baldness that "runs in the family") is usually due to the male pattern baldness gene.

  • Hormones -- many different hormones, including testosterone and thyroid hormone, have an effect on hair loss.

  • Medications -- hair loss is a common side effect of many medications.

  • Cancer treatment -- chemotherapy and radiation can cause hair loss.

  • Infections - there are some temporary infections can cause hair loss.

  • Pregnancy - it is common to start losing hair after giving birth.


How Propecia Works


Propecia works by blocking the enzyme Type II 5a-reductase. This enzyme is responsible for converting the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone most related to male pattern baldness. By decreasing DHT levels, Propecia helps to stop hair loss related to male pattern baldness. Propecia is not a savior for baldness, and hair loss is known to return within a year of stopping Propecia. So if you want to "keep it" on your head - advice your doctor about the use of the drug for a long period of time.


Propecia and Kids: Most of the time doctors do not advice parents to treat their kids with Propecia. They warn the latter about the risks and affection of certain hormones. The drug might not be worth the trouble gotten later on.


Order Propecia: If you don't have enough time to run around the pharmacies looking for a good deal on Propecia, there are many online pharmacy stores that could save you time and provide you with the same service. The major thing here is to find a good trustworthy online store. Mainly patients stay satisfied with this type of option.

Forget the word "Pain"

Pain is definitely the word and the sensation you least want to think and experience. Ultram is a highly effective pain reliever that helps forget about the word you don't want to think about.


Pain the most unpleasant feeling experienced by a great number of people all over the world. Whether it is physical pain or mental pain - it is still traumatizing. The world we leave in doesn't accept slackers. We have to work to earn enough that is why we have very little time for rest. Pain is not an outstanding thing - most of us experience it but very little have time to get rid of it for good or establish the reasons why we feel it in the first place. There is a solution that will definitely kill your pain - Ultram.


Ultram is helpful in the treatment of severe pain. Talk to your doctor about it - tell him how you feel, what bothers you most of the time. If the pain you feel is moderate the doctor might recommend you a comprehensive release Ultram. Most anti-depressants will cause you some side-effects if you get dependant on them. But not Ultram if you are careful about it - you should take advices on Ultram before you start consuming it. Please visit your physician, orthopedic surgeon, neurologist and psychiatrist.


If you are going to buy ultram, then don't go to any medical store in the market because there you have to stand and discuss for rates. Buy Ultram online from any online store because it is time and money saving way. Buy Ultram online is the right way for them who don't want to go to market to by medication only.

Buying Ambien online

Today it is very easy to buy drugs online and Ambien, being one of the most popular medications to help relieve insomnia is no exception. Learn about buying Ambien online with no worries.


Drugs are easy to order. Nowadays you don't even have to get out of your house to buy anything you desire. Internet is here to help us do it. As this is an article about how and where to buy Ambien online and why it is so beneficial. There are a lot of discounts and the selection is bigger. You can order drugs from various countries and nothing is problematic.


Ambien was launched in France in 1988 under the trade name - Stilnox, and in the US in 1993, where it is marketed by Lorex. Ambien is used primarily for temporary treatment of insomnia in adults with a selective hypnotic action lasting for six to seven hours.


When you buy Ambien online you can see this drug has an advantage of being free of adverse effects such as daytime loss of memory and attention as well as a minimal risk of dependency. It is perfect for those who are scared of getting addicted to the drug or have a history with it. Ambien was tested on people from all over the globe and showed magnificent results compared to other drugs that are dealing with the same issue.


Of course no drug will offer you zero size effects. If you ever find information on the drug that does not - know, it is a lie. Daytime drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, lightheadedness, and dry mouth may occur. If any of these effects continue or become bothersome, inform your doctor. Tell him about everything that you go through with the drug and don't be afraid to mention every little detail. When it comes to health - everything matters. If you happen to have the side effects that are not listed above and meet some other problems - call your doctor immediately. You organism may totally differ from the commonly tested case.


Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, drug dependency, depression, breathing problems, any allergies. This medication should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Since small amounts of this medication are found in breast milk, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Jumat, 03 April 2009

Emergencies? What emergencies?

Well, the good news is that you do have a health insurance plan. So many people today are finding it too difficult to keep their insurance in place. The bad news is that it may still be difficult to get treatment or even medical examination. Huh? Well, accidents and sickness don't always strike at the most convenient times. Because there's a shortage of physicians prepared to work in general practice, it's often difficult to get a same or next day appointment. Worse, getting access to your physician at night or over the weekend can be next to impossible. Too many prefer working conventional office hours and will not offer a service "out of hours". Very few offer any kind of telephone advice service to cover the gap.


This leaves you with self-treatment (not always so cheap) or one of the alternatives. Starting in drugstores and now spreading, there are a new run of walk-in retail clinics staffed by nurse practitioners. These are open 24/7 and offer basic treatment for non-threatening conditions for a set fee. An increasing number of health insurance companies cover visits to these clinics for a modest copayment. Check out the wording on your policy. If your injuries or sickness are more serious, you can try one of the urgent-care centers/clinics. These are staffed by physicians but their opening times are limited to nights and weekends. They are not open 24/7! But, as with the retail clinics, more health insurance companies will cover a visit for a copayment.


Why is the emergency room the last on this list? Well there are two main reasons. The first is that waiting times are growing ever longer in hospitals as more people head in there for treatment. If this is not a major emergency, you will get treatment faster in an urgent-care center. More importantly, the copayments required in a hospital tend to start at $100 and go up. But be careful: if you go to an emergency room and your health insurance provider does not classify your problem as an emergency, you have to pay the whole bill for treatment. So what are emergencies? If the injury is acute or the sickness serious, there is unlikely to be a problem.


It is always better to be safe than sorry. But it's not an emergency if you have a throat infection or your chest is wheezing. Minor skin problems, bug bites or problems in sleeping will not be covered. If you do have a chronic condition, the symptoms must have significantly worsened if this is to be an emergency. It's almost impossible to count having a prescription refilled as an emergency. You can always learn more about health insurance features and get online quotes in the internet.

Pay more, get less! What’s going on ?

Just when it looks as though you can make ends meet, health insurance costs go up again. A growing percentage of every paycheck is going on health and, for the most part, you're getting less for your dollars. The result? Every month, more people give up on rising premiums and drop into the ranks of the uninsured. Worse, if big bills hit, people face personal bankruptcy. This was mostly affecting low-income working families and those with chronic conditions requiring more continuous treatment like diabetes or depression. Now, it's starting to bite the middle class. Employers are also feeling the pinch and more companies are dropping medical cover or reducing the benefits packages, and introducing wellness programs with teeth.


This combination is placing a growing burden on taxpayers who fund Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Why is this happening? Well, let's come down to a short list. The economy is not in great shape. The population is ageing and, as people get older, more goes wrong with their bodies. New technology is producing new treatments but that is often more expensive. The pharmaceutical industry keeps raising prices to maintain its profitability. Put all the causes together and you have a broken system. The real problems start with the "entitlement" trap. Because people pay their health insurance premiums out of their own pockets, they feel they're entitled to get all the medical care they like.


This leads to a significant amount of waste as health providers supply expensive services on demand regardless whether those services are needed. Mostly, the providers are driven by the need to make profits to keep their investors happy, and not by the patients' needs. This makes general medical care unaffordable and shifts ever more of the costs on to the insurance companies and the tax payers. Health insurance premiums therefore go up.


The Republican approach is to reduce taxes which makes funding public health provision more difficult. If people are uninsured, they wait longer to see a physician or go to an emergency room when their conditions have worsened. What could have been treated early on for less money suddenly becomes a bigger bill as costs are higher in emergency rooms. Why are costs higher? Because a significant proportion of patients cannot pay. The hospitals costs therefore have to be recovered from those who have the money or still carry health insurance. The moral of this story is for political parties to have the will to fix the problems.

How to Lose Weight Without Exercises ?

Many of us are trying to find ways of losing excessive weight fast and without much efforts. This article provides some helpful tips on how to lose weight without exhausting yourself with exercises.


Sometimes people here in US start out over big amounts of weight before setting out losing it. This article's intention is to tell people about the different ways in which they can lose excessive weight. Because all of those, struggling with exorbitant weight, want their lives normal back and are annoyed with staring at their reflection in the mirror and not seeing what they want to see. Essentially burning away fat is very easy. There are a lot of living proofs.


You should eat 'poor' food. This suggests you have to stay away from foods with a high saturated fat concentration. This is all because the metabolism: the mechanism of fat burning finds it arduous to withstand saturated fat.


You also have to drink warm drinks, not the cold ones. Warm drinks are heating up the body, which assists in losing fat. In this case fat is withdrawn in form of sweat. This procedure is best done with a morning cup of coffee on the account of the fact that the caffeine will as well put the body in condition which burns fat. Also remember to have a cold drink occasionally. Of course, this runs counter the aforesaid, but the body also consumes calories, by calefaction of the cold liquid in the body up to its temperature. This will help you in losing your weight as well.


In the last instance, you have to sleep for as long as you are able. This is required because while you are sleeping your body is burning calories all the time because it is in a catabolic state. As a consequence the body begins to panic and is trying to find a source of energy that after all turns out to be the fat. So, as a result, fat is being burned away.


You can also take phentermine HCL. It will help you reduce the amount of food you eat. It simply works by helping to free some chemicals concentrated in the brain which control your appetite. So, phentermine should also help losing fat.


In case you hold onto this you must lose weight at a constant rate.

Three factors preventing you from fat loss

Loosing excessive weight and fat is a very good choice for your health but sometimes it doesn't go as easy as you want to. Here are some reasons you don't get that effectiveness in losing weight you need. This is an article for those who are having a struggle losing weight. If you are following diet rules but you cannot seem to get any thinner or if your scale is making you mad day by day showing you some crazy numbers you don't want to see - consider one more fact - you might me eating more calories than you are burning. There are three rules to follow in order to lose some weight and become the body you want to be. 1. Weight loss routines: Dreaming can get us anywhere. Unfortunately it isn't so, at least when we talk about burning calories. Let's take a look at one example: Let's say you are a woman that is over 35, short and not very active. Obviously if you aren't moving much you are not burning enough calories and if it is loss than 1800 a day you might end up in trouble. Sitting home, being a couch potato is cool but how will it help getting the perfect body you desire? It won't. So what is the solution? Be more energetic - do yoga, pilates or walk distances. All of this will burn around 300 calories an hour. If we multiply this by two, three or four time it will show a bigger number. But what if it is still not much? Do more! Sky is the limit! Jogging is better than walking. If you jog for a full hour every single day you will lose a pound a week. If we think about it - it is not much, but in combination with exercises and diet it can turn out to be a success. 2. It is a terrible mistake thinking you can ease it up and treat yourself with a dessert when you are following a strict diet. Most people consider that a candy once in a while won't make a difference and it honestly will. It is about your attitude towards the things you do. The type of food we usually reward ourselves with has many calories. Junk food, sweets, chocolate bars, ice-cream so on - they become our guilty-pleasure enemies. If you take your weight loss seriously you might be surprised with how seriously great the result may be. You can create a special schedule and note your achievements in the duel with the caloric food. A little piece of a yummy cake can cost you up to 12 hours of walking distances. So think about it! 3. Don't get caught up in a lie. Most manufacturers know how fragile and sensitive people are about their weight. They try to mark their food as "good for you" and "light" when they want it to sell good. "Fat free" labels nowadays are bombarding the market. But don't let yourself get fooled - fat free products can have a tremendous number of calories just from carbohydrates and sugars contained. If you want to know the " real deal" , check the back side of the tag to see the " serving size" of the piece of food you are about to eat. Sometimes doing math calculations can ruin your day as "fat free" might turn into "making you fat" type of food. If you don't trust yourself to lost weight on your own, go to the nearest drug store and ask about phentermine. Most grown-ups use it as a reliable "hunger fighter" that will leave you with a positive result, causing you the less trouble. Phentermine HCL is good for both - men and women. It is not problematic to lost weight. Most of us make it a problem by doing something wrong and not being able to stop with the things that make us unhealthy and unhappy deep inside. Be active and care about your body - as this is all you need to do at the end of the day!

Senin, 23 Maret 2009

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All reliable sites providing content on personal trainer, will nearly always have a 'contact', or an 'about', page which will provide you with the owner's details. The details should disclose major points regarding the owner's proficency and credentials. This means you can conduct an appraisal about the vendor's education and practical knowledge, to offer help regarding personal trainer.

Parkinson’s Disease & TAI CHI THERAPY

In a special to CNN, the Mayo Clinic’s mayoclinic.com reported that, “Parkinson's disease is progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms become worse over time. But although Parkinson's may eventually be disabling, the disease often progresses gradually, and most people have many years of productive living after a diagnosis.” This would indicate that there may be effective interventions that could perhaps slow the progress of the disease. When we get such a diagnosis, our first reaction might be to withdraw and give up. However, the old adage “use it or lose it” tells us that just the opposite is true. If you have Parkinson’s, you’d likely be best off to use everything your body is, every which way, on a regular basis.

Tai Chi movement’s gentle balance enhancing motions can obviously help the Parkinson’s patient by helping to reduce the gradual loss of balance that Parkinson’s sufferers often experience. However, there may be much more it offers. For example, Tai Chi movements rotate the human body in about 95% of the ways the body can move, when a long form is practiced. This is far beyond what other exercise offers, and in fact the closest would be several swimming strokes, which together would only rotate the body in about 65% of the ways it can move. For Parkinson’s sufferers, or anyone for that matter, this would indicate that by “using” 95% of the body’s possible motion several times a week, the possibility of “losing” the ability to do so diminishes accordingly. This isn’t rocket science, but simple common sense.

Yet, perhaps Parkinson’s patients have even more to gain from Tai Chi. A few years ago I taught several classes at local medical centers. I was continually frustrated because although I’d seen emerging reports that Tai Chi was beneficial to people with Parkinson’s Disease, or arthritis, or chronic hypertension, etc., even though the departments that specialized in those conditions were often just down the hall from my Tai Chi class . . . they might as well have been a million miles away. Because the physicians who ran those departments were either ignorant of or unwilling to refer their patients to the possibilities that Tai Chi offered their lives.

I remember though, that at one medical center a visionary neurologist began to refer patients with balance disorders to my Tai Chi classes and the result was very beneficial for his patients. Another physician actually wrote prescriptions for my Tai Chi classes to treat the chronic hypertension of his patients, who’d seen a significant drop in their blood pressure since beginning the classes weeks before. A clinical psychologist brought me in to teach Qigong (Chi Kung) meditation and Tai Chi to her patient group to enhance their sense of well being and provide effective stress management training. So, even back then some physicians were seeing the potential Tai Chi offered their clients, and even more are now, but the number of physicians who are still not informing their patients of Tai Chi’s direct therapeutic or at the least adjunct therapy benefits to their patient’s efforts to deal with their conditions and life, is increasingly indefensible in this day and age. Given the research that has exposed the many physical, mental, and emotional benefits Tai Chi offers, for physicians to not educate themselves on this and share their knowledge with each and every patient is tantamount to mal-practice. Health educators should likewise be making such therapies part of their medical student education programs as well.

Tai Chi for Parkinson’s is being recommended increasingly by support groups and some progressive medical centers, but until everyone that has Parkinson’s knows about it, then our work at World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is not done, nor is the medical community’s. There are many obvious reasons everyone with Parkinson’s should be doing Tai Chi, but it’s the ones that are not yet obvious that may be the most intriguing. One obvious reason is that Tai Chi is the most powerful balance and coordination enhancing exercise known. In many studies at major universities Tai Chi was found to be TWICE as effective in reducing falls as the other balance enhancing exercises being studied. For people with Parkinson’s, who often see their balance deteriorate as their condition progresses, it is unforgivable for them to not be informed of Tai Chi’s potential benefits at the earliest stage possible while their balance is still good.

Now, regarding the less obvious reasons Tai Chi may benefit Parkinson’s patients. Both my wife and daughter, who co-taught a Tai Chi class together noticed that a young man with severe Parkinson’s tremors . . . completely lost his tremors once he joined the class in flowing through the Tai Chi movements in class. In another class I was teaching an older man with advanced Parkinson’s attended my classes for many months, and he always came in very slow with his walker. Once we began the Tai Chi movements he no longer used his walker, and had learned the entire long form of Tai Chi I taught, which was over 15 minutes of continuous changing forms. His form was unique and tailored for his limitations, but nonetheless a challenging set of exercises he was able to accomplish without the use of his walker. What do these anecdotal experiences portend for others with Parkinson’s? I don’t know, but there should be massive research dollars coming from the National Institutes of Health to find out. Given the promise Tai Chi seems to offer people on so many profound physical, emotional, and mental fronts from preliminary research, the current total research money earmarked for complimentary and alternative medicine’s (CAM) is a mere pittance.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), now in its sixth year, supports more than 300 research projects and has an estimated budget of over $120 million for 2005 (up from $50 million in 1999). Total spending on CAM by all NIH institutes and centers is expanding as well, and is expected to reach $315 million by 2005.

Sounds like a lot? However, $120 million is less than “one half of one percent” of the total NIH FY2005 budget. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges the NIH’s total annual budget for FY 2005 is $28.8 billion (http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/05pch8.htm). Remember, we are talking about only spending much much less than one half of one percent to study an exercise that preliminary research has shown to: n Lower High Blood Pressure (about 1/3 of Americans have hypertension – roughly over 90 million Americans) n Boost Immune Function profoundly (a study sited at drkoop.com indicates that a Tai Chi practicing group was TWICE as resistant to the shingles virus, and researchers believed this would carry over to other viral resistance as well.) n Dramatically reduce falling injuries by about half (complications from falling injuries in older Americans is the 6th leading cause of death for seniors in America)

If Tai Chi only addressed this chronic condition affecting 1/3 of Americans, while boosting the immune system of all practitioners profoundly, and cutting in half the sixth leading cause of death for seniors, without any negative side effects, that would seem to be, for the rational person a reason for pouring massive resources into researching it further. However, Tai Chi’s benefits only begin with the above preliminary findings. We also know that it may very well relieve depression, anxiety, and mood disturbance, as well as reduce ADHD symptoms in teenagers diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. There are indications that Tai Chi may greatly reduce or even eliminate chronic pain conditions, and lessen allergic and asthmatic reactions, and improve overall respiratory function.

My point is, “where is the massive attention this would garner on talk shows, and in health newspaper sections, if this were a drug or surgery that could provide such a seemingly massive breakthrough in health treatment?” Peter Chowka, in a brilliant two part series for Natural Health Line, entitled “Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2000,” wrote, “Conflicts of interest are not uncommon in most aspects of life. But in medicine, the biggest business in the U.S. (over $1.5 trillion a year constituting over 14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, according to the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine report issued January 10, 2001), serious conflicts are particularly well entrenched.” Mr. Chowka wrote of physicians like Dr. Marcia Angell voicing concerns of the “troubling” result massive research money from drug and medical-equipment companies was having on the scientific process. In the New England Journal of Medicine’s May 18, 2000 issue, Dr. Angel wrote an editorial entitled, “Is Academic Medicine for Sale?” She wrote, "As we spoke with research psychiatrists about writing an editorial on the treatment of depression . . . we found very few who did not have financial ties to drug companies that make antidepressants. . .The problem is by no means unique to psychiatry. We routinely encounter similar difficulties in finding editorialists in other specialties, particularly those that involve the heavy use of expensive drugs and devices."

So, who can make a multi-billion dollar fortune teaching Tai Chi to people? No one can. Tai Chi cannot be bottled, or mass marketed. It is a decentralized labor intensive industry that employees many people, but keeps the profits small and local. Yes, there are videos and DVDs that teach Tai Chi effectively, but ultimately even those who utilize videos are drawn to live class like structures. As I mentioned before with the “anecdotal” experiences of my students with Parkinson’s, Tai Chi seems to offer something profoundly beneficial to the quality of life of Parkinson’s sufferers. It needs further study. We are in a catch 22, where many health professionals feel they cannot recommend Tai Chi because too much of the preliminary research is anecdotal. However, when Tai Chi is jockeying for position to get a crumb of the .5% of total NIH money going to ALL complimentary and alternative medical therapies . . . the result will be many long years of millions of people suffering needlessly from conditions or symptoms of those conditions that Tai Chi could likely safely lessen or even eliminate.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT TAI CHI AND PARKINSONS?

Tai Chi is being recommended by some forward thinking medical institutions already. The Cleveland Clinic of Neuroscience Center encourages Parkinson's Disease patients to seek out a hobby or activity they can enjoy and stick with such as “Tai Chi” and other activities. The Alexian Neurosciences Institute in Illinois offers a course in their The Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center. Also, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association at Stanford University Medical Center, in it’s “Beyond Pills.... Alternative Approaches to Coping with Parkinson's Disease” program, offered “Tai Chi, The Art for Living with Parkinson's” by Mwezo & Jane of Kujiweza Healing Arts. (Learn more at: http://parkinsons.stanford.edu/symposium.html). The Parkinson’s Society of Canada recommends Tai Chi for Parkinson’s patients, suggesting “Tai Chi may prevent or at least slow down the onset of degenerative diseases; in the long run, it can reduce need for rehabilitative care.” (http://www.parkinsons.ca/managing.html#taichi)

In the United Kingdom a Parkinson’s Tai Chi study was conducted at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, Cornwall. Their conclusion of the study was such, “Tai Chi training was well tolerated by PD patients in this study, but had no measurable effect on motor performance using UPDRS score or GAG time. There was a non-significant improvement in quality of life scores (PDQ 39). Larger studies would be needed fully to evaluate the value and efficacy of Tai Chi. However our results are encouraging, and provide evidence for its safety and tolerability and would support the feasibility of further study.” (http://www.pdcornwall.org.uk/showarticle.pl?n=30&id=81)

WCHS TV during a news report focusing on Tai Chi’s ability to boost immune system function, also reported that “Tai Chi has also been shown to help illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and arthritis.” (http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/healthyforlife/2177.shtml)

The Neurology Channel reported, “The slow flowing movements of Tai Chi help maintain flexibility, balance, and relaxation. The Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Minneapolis, which teaches a modified form of Tai Chi, consistently reports benefits achieved by patients in all stages of Parkinson’s.” (http://www.neurologychannel.com/parkinsonsdisease/surgery.shtml)

Physicians at the Mayo Clinic recommend Tai Chi for Parkinson’s therapy, under their Parkinson’s “self-care” section for avoiding falls, where they suggest you “Ask your doctor or physical therapist about exercises that improve balance, especially tai chi. Originally developed in China more than 1,000 years ago, tai chi uses slow, graceful movements to relax and strengthen muscles and joints. “

At a popular health website called “RemedyFind.com” viewers can vote on therapies they’ve found benefited their condition, or didn’t benefit it. The rating there for Tai Chi as a Parkinson’s therapy received a rating of 9.8 out of a possible 10. (http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=13945)

A Study at the University of Florida in Jacksonville found that patients who attended Tai Chi classes for one hour each week for 12-weeks were less likely than a group of control patients to experience an increase in the severity of their condition and a decrease in motor function. . . .[of alternative therapies] the most popular therapies being Tai Chi, yoga, and acupuncture. (http://www.worldhealth.net/p/275,1526.html), (SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 13th November 2002)

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported, “Parkinson’s Meets It’s Match in Tai Chi.” In this article they write that Dr. Mark Guttman, director of the Centre for Movement Disorders in Markham, Ontario, recommends people with Parkinson's do exercises that involve a lot of stretching, similar to the movements of tai chi.

"Tai chi is wonderful; it can help people with disabilities as well as people with Parkinson's," he says. He added that studies on animals show exercise induces a change in the brain that prevents the symptom’s of Parkinson’s from emerging.

The Tai Chi teacher for this program, Ms. Embree, spoke of how people with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and Parkinson’s often attend her classes . . . “Doctors are now sending people here," adds Ms Embree. (for the entire article, go to: PARKINSON’S MEETING IT’S MATCH IN TAI CHI, April, 13, 2005, http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/0304/lvtaichi7.html)

At the National Parkinson’s Foundation site, Melanie M. Brandabur, MD NPF Center of Excellence, University of Illinois at Chicago and Jill Marjama-Lyons, MD NPF Center of Excellence, Shands Jacksonville, wrote, “Most patients derive a great deal of benefit from today's medications and surgical therapies for Parkinson's Disease . . . However, benefits of these therapies can be limited. As time goes by, the medications may not seem as effective as they once were. Side effects or unpredictable response may develop. Surgical therapies are not curative and often treat only selected aspects of Parkinson's Disease. For these reasons, patients may decide to explore other modalities, such as massage therapy, Tai Chi, yoga, or herbal preparations to augment their Parkinson's medication . . . Many patients with Parkinson's Disease have become interested in complementary therapies to supplement medications and other traditional PD treatments. These physicians also suggest that as Tai Chi and other modalities benefits are exposed by clinical research, physicians will advocate their use more widely. (http://www.parkinson.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dJFJLPwB&b=238635)

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day joins a growing number of health professionals specializing in fields like Parkinson’s who believe that much more research needs to be done to illuminate the full spectrum of benefits Tai Chi offers all people as well as those specifically with chronic conditions. This will enable more physicians to make Tai Chi a regular prescription written as therapy or adjunct therapy for a host of maladies many are already enjoying the benefits of for their condition, but paying out of pocket for. Ultimately more and more health insurance plans should and will make Tai Chi classes a deductible medical expense for their clients. The end result of this shift may portend the savings of hundreds of billions of dollars annually in saved health care costs as patients are better trained in self care techniques, training the great visionary Thomas Edison referred to as “the care and maintenance of the human frame,” which Edison envisioned would more and more reduce the need for expensive surgeries and life long dependence on medications as human beings maximized their own self healing abilities. Traditional Chinese Medicine has spent centuries developing and evolving self healing technologies like Tai Chi. Now the west can learn about their results, and physicians can prescribe them to their patients and our entire society will be healthier and more abundant for it.

Consistency Is The Key

Okay, so we already know that exercise is good for us. We try to work out on a regular basis, reminding ourselves that the payoff is well worth the effort.

Still, we all have times when we 'fall off the wagon' and somehow miss those exercise sessions. We get sick, there's a big deadline at work, relatives come for a visit, or the kids are out of school.....there's no end to the reasons why we take a break from exercising.

But did you know that CONSISTENCY is the key to success in health and fitness? It takes only about two weeks to start losing your level of cardiovascular fitness when you stop exercising. After about three to four weeks without exercise, you'll start losing muscle (losing muscle is the WORST thing we can do when trying to lose fat!). Source: Shape magazine; June 2005.

We agree, it just doesn't seem fair that fat 'goes on' faster than it comes off and now we learn that we can get 'out of shape' in just a few short weeks! Hey, we don't write these rules, we just report them!

So what's the take-home advice? Stay consistent in your workouts. Get into the gym at least three times each week. Can't make it three times? Two is better than none! For that matter, one exercise session is better than none! We only really backtrack in our fitness levels when we quit exercising completely.

Consistency is the key, so let's all take whatever steps we need to take to make sure we're getting to the gym regularly. Maybe we need to set an appointment to work out with a friend. Maybe we need to go to the gym early, before the day gets crazy. Maybe we need to go to the gym late, after dinner is done and the day is winding down. Whatever we need to do, let's do it today. Let's be consistent with our exercise.

We'll see you at the gym.....consistently!

THE TOP FIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS

Exercising and staying fit doesn't have to mean hard work. Simply being active will help you get or stay in good shape. So with that said, here are some enjoyable activities that can help with your fitness goals too.


Bicycling

When you ask many adults when the last time they rode a bike is, they cannot answer. Although bicycling is a favorite pastime, many adults do not take advantage of this great option for exercise. Not only does bike riding exercise the body and build a stronger cardiovascular system, it allows you to get out and enjoy nature, fresh air, and see new sites.


Jogging or Walking

Both jogging and walking are GREAT ways to get fit. Not only do they tone the muscles, relieve stress, create a healthier heart, and improve lung capability, they make you look wonderful, which in turns helps you get excited about doing other exercise for fitness activities.


Swimming

Swimming is an excellent way to get into and stay in shape. If you do not own a pool, many high schools have aquatic centers, or there is always the YWCA or YMCA, or your local gym. Many offer water aerobic classes that will help you tighten your body, lose weight, and get a good overall workout.


Tennis Anyone?

Tennis is not only a fun sport, but also a great way to exercise. You do not have to be a Venice Williams to play; in fact, you do not even have to be good. Just running after the ball alone will help get you into shape. This is a great way to strengthen your cardiovascular system and lose weight. You can find tennis courts in just about every city and if you would like to play but have no idea how, lessons are reasonable.

Tip: Raquetball is sort of a "one person tennis". If you don't have someone to play tennis with, or you aren't feeling sociable, try raquetball instead.


Dancing

Dancing is so much fun and whether you enjoy a slow, Ballroom dance or a nightclub packed with people all moving to heart-pumping techno, as long as you are moving, it really does not matter what type of dance or music. The whole idea is to move your body. Dancing has long been recommended as an avenue to fitness.

Tip: Belly Dancing is an excellent workout for your stomach, waist and hips ladies!


VCR

If you have a VCR or DVD, rather than just using it for your favorite comedy or action-packed movie, try sticking in some good workout tapes. Even taking 15 minutes every day to work out will get you started. Try that for two weeks and you will be surprised at the results. Once you see that 15 minutes a day makes a difference, you will be encouraged to increase the time spent.


And one of my personal favorites... Yardwork!

Whether you're pulling weeds, planting flowers, mowing the grass or chopping wood: All of these activities can help you get into better shape. Don't cheat yourself though. Using a riding mower to cut the grass won't help you use the muscles or get your blood pumping ;)

So go out and get active, have fun, and work on getting or staying fit too!

How Effective are Your Nutritional Supplements?

Excessive weight gain is a big problem in America. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly two thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Most people want to do something about it, but don’t always make good decisions.

This year alone, fifty million people will go on some of form of weight-loss program, spending some $33 billion on weight loss products and services that are fad diets, unsafe or ineffective nutritional supplements. Countless others who have tried to lose weight and failed will give up altogether.

“What people need to realize is that there is no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off,” says Jeff Zwiefel, vice president of the Nutritional Products Division of Life Time Fitness, a national health, fitness, and nutrition company. “For many people, losing weight can feel like a daunting task. It takes a balanced approach that includes education, exercise and good nutrition, coupled with effective weight-loss supplementation.”

A good beginning point is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of weight gain. Do you ever wonder why some people can eat all the time and never gain weight while others seem to put on pounds at every sitting? “It’s all about metabolism,” says Zwiefel.

Simply stated, your metabolism is the way your body burns up all of the calories from the food that you eat and regulates energy. The speed at which your body burns up calories is called your metabolic rate. The faster your metabolism, the more calories you'll burn, and the less likely that you'll be overweight. “A small percentage of people naturally have a better metabolism than others, but for the most part, an individual’s metabolism is determined by their lifestyle”, says Zwiefel. So what can you do to place yourself in a better position to manage your weight?

Diet represents one of the primary ways to shed those unwanted pounds and keep them off. Although it might sound easy on paper to simply put less food in your mouth, the reality is that reducing calorie intake is a significant problem for most of us. It is more complex than just calories in and calories out. Factors such as stress and diet will dramatically impact how our bodies process the calories we consume. That’s why Life Time Fitness recommends you not only change what you eat, but your eating and lifestyle habits.

Instead of eating three meals a day --- breakfast, lunch and dinner --- eat five nutritionally balanced meals and two snacks per day. Spreading your food intake over the day is the best way keep your energy levels up and to burn calories for energy versus storing them.

You should also reduce the consumption of simple and refined carbohydrates that offer little nutritional value. Concentrate on eating foods that are high in fiber to reduce appetite and help reduce the risk of cancer. Look for good sources of protein throughout the day such as lean meats, fish, eggs, low fat dairy products, beans and nuts. Complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread, wild rice, whole-wheat pasta, multigrain cereal and potatoes are great ways to boost your energy level throughout the day. Eat 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables; take a multivitamin with antioxidants each day to ensure you are getting the nutrients your body requires throughout the day.

Because our busy lifestyles can interfere with upholding the ideal dietary plan, proper supplementation can help fill in the gaps. However, there are dozens of supplements on the market today offering big promises. How do you know which brand is best for you?

“If a product promises, ‘effortless,’ weight loss, it doesn’t have your long-term health and wellness in mind,” says Dr. Bill Wheeler, Ph.D. and R.D., a former staff nutritionist to the President of the United States and independent consultant for Life Time Fitness. “Supplements need to be worked into your overall plan.”

Life Time Fitness’ LeanSource weight loss supplement is a patent-pending blend of four active ingredients shown in recent studies to help naturally speed up metabolism, burn body fat, and curb sugar cravings without the use of harmful stimulants. Unlike many other supplements on the market today that hype unbelievable before and after testimonials, LeanSource is based on real science and a proven safe and effective formulation. All Life Time Fitness nutritional products are regularly tested in independent lab settings to assure consumers they really contain what’s on the label.

Now available at Target, RiteAid, Kroeger, Kmart and Meijer stores, as well as Life Time Fitness locations nationwide and via www.lifetimefitness.com, LeanSource products are conveniently available in a gel cap form, bars, and ready-to-drink shakes in multiple flavors.

Good diet and the use of beneficial supplements are just part of the equation. Regular and balanced exercise is also a critical part of the process. “Just going to the gym once in a while isn’t going to cut it. You need to make a commitment, and stick with it,” says Zweifel.

Life Time Fitness recommends that people who are serious about shedding the pounds and keeping them off participate in aerobic training exercise regimens a minimum of three times per week for at least 30 minutes at a time. Aerobic exercises include brisk walking, biking, jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and dancing. Dieters are also urged to take part in resistance training exercises, such as weight lifting, at least twice a week for a minimum of 30 minutes per session.

New HIPAA Rules Could Affect Your Organization's Email System

a new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) security rule went into effect. The requirements of this rule, which are basically information security best practices, focus on the three cornerstones of a solid information security infrastructure: confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.

The HIPAA regulatory requirements encompass transmission, storage and discoverability of Protected Health Information (PHI). Given the widespread use and mission-critical nature of email, enforcement of HIPAA encryption policies and the growing demand for secure email solutions, email security has never been more important to the healthcare industry than it is right now.

Although many assume it applies only to health care providers, HIPAA affects nearly all companies that regularly transmit or store employee health insurance information. HIPAA was signed into law in 1996 by former President Bill Clinton, with the intent of protecting employee health and insurance information when workers changed or lost their jobs. As Internet use became more widespread in the mid-to-late 1990s, HIPAA requirements overlapped with the digital revolution and offered direction to organizations needing to exchange healthcare information.

HIPAA in the Workplace
Collaboration between employers and healthcare professionals has grown increasingly digital, and email has played an ever-increasing role in this communication. However, email’s increased importance can lead to severe consequences without proper security and privacy measures implemented.

In addition to the usual concerns about privacy and security of email correspondence, even organizations that are not in the healthcare industry must now consider the regulatory compliance requirements associated with HIPAA. The Administrative Simplification section of HIPAA, which, among other things, mandates privacy and security of Protected Health Information (PHI), has sparked concern about how email containing PHI should be treated in the corporate setting. HIPAA, as it relates to email security, is an enforcement of otherwise well-known best practices that include:

* Ensuring that email messages containing PHI are kept secure when transmitted over an unprotected link
* Ensuring that email systems and users are properly authenticated so that PHI does not get into the wrong hands
* Protecting email servers and message stores where PHI may exist

Organizations regulated by HIPAA must comply and put these practices in place. However, the need to comply with regulations puts particular pressure on the healthcare industry to enhance their use of technology and “catch up” with other industries of similar size and scope.

Privacy and Email Security
The privacy protection provisions in HIPAA pose a major compliance challenge for the healthcare industry. These provisions are intended to protect patients from disclosure of any of their individually identifiable health information. Organizations that fail to protect this information face fines ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 for each instance of unauthorized disclosure. If the disclosure is found to be intentional, HIPAA provides for fines ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 and possible jail time for individuals involved in the violations.

The clock is ticking – it’s time to get started
Bringing an enterprise into compliance with the rules set by HIPAA can seem like a very daunting task to even the most experienced executives. Nonetheless, the growing dependence on email as a mission-critical application requires that your organization implement comprehensive security and privacy policies – and soon. A solid combination of security policies and the technologies to enforce those policies can ensure improved security as well as HIPAA readiness and ongoing adherence.

Weight Loss and Fitness - Facts not Fiction

The world of weight loss and fitness is certainly vast, and the American consumer can absolutely get lost in the thousands of easy effortless and ostly useless ads if not careful. With my books and research I want to clear the air about the various myths and false statements regarding our ealth and fitness that have clearly muddied the waters for many Americans.

What I want to stress in particular is that there is no magic answer, potion, or diet pill that is going to make everything better. The ad on TV where the pretty lady says "it's easy. you'll love it", is appealing to our need for instant gratification with no effort. We don't want to hear the facts so we continue to look for the instant solution. If there was a magic diet pill, or diet plan, over 60% of Americans wouldn't be overweight, in spite of spending over $35 billion annually on
diet products.

Achieving weight loss and fitness requires a commitment on your part to strive for a healthier you. What you will get in return for all of your hard work and dedication is a fit body, a renewed clarity of mind, better quality sleep, and perhaps even a pronounced increase in your libido. I have found that through the positive changes I have made in my own life regarding weight loss and fitness, all areas of my life are exponentially better. I wake up energized, I feel excited about my day and my interactions with people, my body feels strong and capable, and my entire utlook on life has improved significantly.

The Weight Loss and Fitness Commitment show that claims that teach you shortcuts on how to drop 30 pounds in 30 days are improbable at best and unhelathy at worst.

That claim is water loss pure and simple. You do the math: 1 pound of fat = about 3500 calories 30 pounds of fat = 105,000 calories. To lose 30 pounds of fat in 30 days you would need to reduce caloric intake by about 105,000 calories or about 3500 per day. If you are eating 3,000 calories a day now, that might be tough. OK you say I'll exercise it off. 1 hour on a stationary bicycle running at an average over 20 miles an hour burns about 400 calories. Meaning to burn 3,500 calories a day on the bike, you'd need to ride it for about 9 hours.

If you are looking for a quick fix, you will continue to be frustrated about health and fitness.

However, if you are tired of feeling fatigued and know for sure that you are ready to make a solid commitment to your own health and mind, Living to Be Younger can act as a guide. It is my
hope that you will read each page with an open mind and a willingness to make some changes that will enable you to break out of your rut.

First, lose the idea that there is a magic diet pill or supplement that will transform your body to a svelte shape. Losing weight requires that you expend more calories than you ingest—plain and simple. This means that you must get up and moving at least three to five days per week, for at least 30 minutes each session. If you were considerably overweight, it would be ideal to aim for at least five workout sessions per week. Always consult with your physician before embarking on
any new exercise plan. Second, take a good look at what you are putting in your mouth on a daily basis. Aim for natural foods that are high in vitamins and minerals, fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates. Limit your intake of foods high in saturated fats, sodium, refined sugars, and preservatives. When you take the Living to Be Younger Challenge, you will find that your zest for life isn't gone—it's just been hiding. Congratulations on taking this first step towards a ealthier
you.

Treatment Options for Prescription Drug Addiction

There is help available for people addicted to prescription drugs. There are countless inpatient and outpatient programs around the world that are specifically created to help people kick their drug addictions. These programs usually include detox centers, psychologists, and often include safe alternative substances to help curb withdrawal symptoms. The level of treatment needed depends on the length and severity of the addiction. It is important that people realize that some type of treatment or rehabilitation is always a good idea. It can be dangerous for an addict to try to quit taking drugs without any medical advice or intervention.

Inpatient treatment centers are the best option for people with severe addiction problems. These centers require that the patient live in the facility for a specified length of time while receiving treatment. Inpatient treatment centers can be extremely expensive, but they are sometimes covered by health insurance policies. The prescription drug addiction treatment provided by these facilities has several phases.

Outpatient prescription drug addiction centers are a great option for other people. If someone cannot afford to live in an inpatient facility, or if the problem is not so severe, outpatient treatment is a great alternative.

There are several components to a prescription drug addiction treatment. First is a period of detoxification, which is when the drug is slowly cleared out of the addict’s body. This can be the most difficult part of the treatment. Withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that medical intervention is needed. At the very least, detox is time consuming and uncomfortable.

Another aspect of prescription drug addiction treatment is psychological counseling. This helps the recovering addict cope with a drug free lifestyle, and deal with any symptoms of withdrawal. Availability of emergency counseling is vital for keeping addicts from relapsing. Counseling helps the patient see how much better life is without the complications of a drug addiction. Counselors also help the patient figure out how to avoid situations that could lead to a relapse.

Many prescription drug addiction treatment programs give replacement drugs to patients who need them. Some of the most common drugs of this type are methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone. These are safe alternatives to opioids; they can help curb withdrawal symptoms while helping the addict detoxify. Drug alternatives are usually only available for opioids and not for CNS depressants or stimulants.

It is vital that anyone who is addicted to prescription drugs gets treatment. Prescription drug addiction treatment helps the addicts to safely deal with their drug problems in a supervised and secure environment.

5 Quick and Easy Fun Ways to Get in Shape

Getting and staying in shape doesn’t have to be dull and boring! Try some of these fun fitness activities to make your workout time more enjoyable.

MUSICAL EXERCIES – Put on your favorite music and do some yoga! No need for slow, levator music. Move to your favorite beat. Or pop on the headphones or earphones and grab your MP3
rcassette player or handheld PC and bike to a nearby park. Too cold or rainy? Then head to a all or other enclosed area where you can walk. Caution: make sure you are alert while listening to usic with headphones or earphones.

FUN IN THE SUN – Check out the latest tanning solutions and try fun, scented versions with funky, multi-colored sunglasses. Grab your cassette player or MP3 player and favorite tunes. And pack some flavored water, new flavored health bar that you’ve been dying to try and some frozen berries in your carryall for breaks and have a “sense”-ational time.

FITNESS CLASSES – Try out a new fitness class for fun. Enjoy a full water aerobics workout with less stress on your joints. Grab some colorful water gear and swim to the beat. Or try a dance or Jazzercise routine. No need to commit long-term, just ask about popping in for a class or two to check it out and enjoy. Meet new friends and get fit all at once.

VCR / DVD – Head to the library or local rental store and grab a fun fitness video or DVD. Crank up the sound when your favorite tunes come on and join the taped workout participants in the
privacy of your own home.

GYM / FITNESS CENTER – Dig out those coupons you’ve been receiving in envelop mailers and those money saving coupon magazines. Again, no need to commit long-term. Just head on over
and use the free or low-cost trial / invitational period and enjoy!

JOURNALING – Spice up your logging routine with an inexpensive new journal from a discount or dollar store nearby. Crate snazzy charts with colored markers. Add bright colored stickers for each workout. Paste or tape clipped pictures of your goals throughout the covers and inside sections. For example, paste pictures of that vacation spot you want to travel to with your new, healthy YOU wearing a new swimsuit.

So add some fun in with your fitness activities. Wake up your senses with new taste, smells, sights, touches and sounds. Forget that “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” stuff. Workouts plus play make Jack a fun, fit boy!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.