Month: June 2022

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General Article

Running – The Best Form of Exercise to Lose Weight

June 8, 2022 Comments Off on Running – The Best Form of Exercise to Lose Weight

Running – The Best Form of Exercise to Lose Weight

Running is regarded as the best from of exercise if you are trying to lose weight. However, to successfully use this form of simple exercise to lose pounds and inches you need to know how to implement the right form of training program and how to schedule it into your life so it becomes a natural part of your daily lifestyle.

The most efficient form of running is interval training or alternate training sessions that makes use of a few minutes of intensive running activity and then followed by periods of slower and more relaxing forms of exercise.

For instance, you can use a fast paced running activity for 5 minutes followed by brisk walking for 15 minutes. Then this cycle is repeated again once or twice. This pattern of intense activity followed by periods of relaxation can give you the best kind of fat burning workout to lose weight fast.

You can start off with a smaller goal such as an intensive running activity for half a minute before you stop and walk for 5 minute and then repeat the cycle again. Each time the cycle is repeated, your body would get activated and force your metabolism to run high to compensate for the rapid burning of calories during the intense activity.

The most effective way is to run along a road or a jogging track; you won’t be able to achieve this if you use your treadmill. Treadmill forces you to use you fat storage as energy while proper running along a steady path makes use of your entire body mass.

Running is perfect if you have a toned body and are looking to drop just a few extra pounds. If you are severely overweight, running can cause you to suffer from joint pain; your ligament can get injured by the impact caused by the running motion.…

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Health Tips

Important Basic Legal Documents That Adults of Any Age Should Sign

June 7, 2022 Comments Off on Important Basic Legal Documents That Adults of Any Age Should Sign

Every adult should execute basic legal estate planning documents, including a Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy.
The need for these basic legal documents is even more compelling when you have a child with disabilities. Failing to properly plan could result in your child losing his/her government benefits, including Medicaid and SSI.
A Last Will and Testament is a document expressing your wishes as to how you want your estate distributed at the time of your death. A Will also allows you to designate a guardian to raise your children. Finally, a Will can designate that any assets to be distributed to your children be held in a Trust.
For parents with children, there are two important types of Trusts to consider for your Last Will and Testament.
For a child who is not expected to require any government benefits, you can leave his/her share in a special asset management trust for minors.
This Trust for minors can be used to pay for the support and education of your child (or grandchild) until he/she reaches a designated age (for example, to age 25). Once he/she reaches the designated age, he/she would then receive the balance outright.
For a child (or grandchild) who is expected to require government benefits such as Medicaid, his/her share can be left in a Supplemental Needs Trust.
As long as the Supplemental Needs Trust complies with the strict legal requirements, assets from the Trust can be used to provide for the well-being of your child with disabilities without disqualifying him/her from receiving government benefits. You would then name a remainder beneficiary to receive any balance left in this Trust after the death of your child.
A Power of Attorney is an important legal document where you give a person the legal authority to handle your finances on your behalf. If you become incapacitated in the future and have not signed a Power of Attorney, then a Guardianship proceeding in Court might become necessary.
When you have children, a Power of Attorney can be critical to allow someone to access your finances to be able to pay for your minor children’s needs.
A Health Care Proxy designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated. If properly drafted, the Proxy should include the authority to carry out your wishes regarding the removal of life support machines, feeding tubes and hydration. Also, the Proxy should permit the release of private medical information under HIPAA.…

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General Article

What Causes A Weak Pelvic Floor in Women?

June 6, 2022 Comments Off on What Causes A Weak Pelvic Floor in Women?

What You Need to Know About Pelvic Floor Health

Pelvic floor issues are a relatively common female problem. Results from a national survey in the United States revealed that one in four women over the age of 20 would have at least one pelvic floor disorder in their lifetime. Though it is often treatable, many ladies suffer in silence from pelvic floor problems. They often worry about sneezing or coughing in public or keep away from social situations altogether for fear of having an accident.

For many women discussing pelvic health issues is embarrassing. As a result, few seek medical information about what causes a weak pelvic floor. Many women think it’s just part of being a woman, something they have to live with. However, consulting a doctor is highly recommended since there are treatments that can restore quality of life, and possibly even help avoid the need for surgery.

worried looking older woman

What Is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor consists of muscles, ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, and nerves that stretch from the pubic bone at the front to the tailbone located in the back. They help keep the pelvic organs – bladder, vagina, uterus, cervix, urethra, rectum – in the correct position. It also helps to control the elimination of urine, faeces, and wind from the body. The muscles contract to prevent unwanted leakage and relax to allow elimination of the waste. In addition, good pelvic floor muscles play an essential role in female sexual function, like increasing sexual sensation.

Causes of a Weak Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor muscles can become weak or overstretched, damaged, or torn, just like other muscles in the body. This results in a weakened pelvic structure. So, what causes a weak pelvic floor?

Here are six instances where it can happen:

  1. Pregnancy and childbirth: Women who have had assisted vaginal births (using a ventouse or forceps), experienced severe perineal tears, or delivered large babies are at a greater risk of pelvic muscle damage.mother holding newborn baby

  2. Chronic constipation: Constipation can cause straining during bowel movements. However, if this continues for a prolonged period, it can lead to a weak pelvic floor or pelvic organ prolapse.

  3. Menopause: Decreased levels of estrogen due to menopause can cause the pelvic floor muscles to weaken.

  4. Surgery/radiotherapy: Women who have undergone procedures like a hysterectomy or radiotherapy treatment in the pelvic area are likely to have weak muscles as a result.

  5. Heavy lifting: Using incorrect posture when doing heavy lifting or high-impact exercises while working out can increase abdominal pressure, which may strain and weaken the pelvic floor muscles.

  6. Being overweight/obese: When a woman has a high Body Mass Index (BMI), her pelvic floor has to constantly support a heavier load, leading to high intra-abdominal pressure. Consequently, the pelvic floor ligaments may start to weaken.

Symptoms of Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles

Living with weak pelvic floor muscle symptoms can have a significant impact on everyday life. A study carried out on women with advanced pelvic floor disorders found they were more likely to feel self-conscious and less likely to feel physically attractive. In addition, they tended to avoid people because of how they felt about their appearance and their bodies.

You may need to seek professional medical advice about your pelvic health if you have more than one of the following symptoms:

  • Accidental urine leakage during routine activities like running, sneezing, laughing, coughing, or exercising Sudden urge to use the toilet and not making it in time
  • A constant need to urinate
  • Accidentally breaking wind from the vagina or anus when lifting something or bending over
  • Anal incontinence
  • Distinct heaviness or a bulge at the vaginal opening
  • Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area
  • Decreased vaginal sensation during sexual intercourse

Treatments For A Weak Pelvic Floor

Diagnosis

Your doctor will usually start by taking a medical history as well as asking about your symptoms. Honest and thorough answers are essential for questions about urinary tract infections, sexual activity, bladder, or bowel movements.

A physical exam may also be carried out to determine how well you can control your muscles. Tests like an anorectal manometry (to measure how well the anal and rectum sphincters work together) or a uroflowmetry (to check how the bladder is working) may also be carried out. None of these tests are painful.

Treatment

Depending on the pelvic floor issue and its severity, your healthcare professional will tailor a treatment plan that may combine different approaches. Treatment options include:

Biofeedback: This is a non-invasive way to retrain the pelvic muscles. Electrical sensors are used to monitor the muscles as the patient relaxes and clenches them. After that, the physical therapist gives feedback and works with the patient to improve muscle coordination.

Pelvic floor physical therapy: For those suffering from pelvic pain, pelvic floor physical therapy may prove to be effective. Often

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Department Of Health

Health Insurance – Shocking Revelation! A Major Cause of Death

June 5, 2022 Comments Off on Health Insurance – Shocking Revelation! A Major Cause of Death

I was watching CNN the other day and there was this report of the result of a study which shows that a person dies every 12 seconds as a result of lack of insurance. I don’t know about you. To me, this is shocking.
It is very obvious that this is not the very best time to joke with our health insurance policies. With the high cost of health care, you can not dare to leave your health to chance.
These people who have died and who at every count of 12 seconds die are not suicidal. They are everyday people who would have loved to live to a full ripe age. They suddenly needed health care they couldn’t afford and because they had no health insurance coverage, they couldn’t get the necessary treatment they needed and their lives had to be cut short by circumstances that could have been avoided had they taken up an adequate health insurance plan.
Someone reading this might be wondering if the writer understands that some people can not afford to have a health insurance policy. This might be true. But one thing I know is true also is that some who can afford it either don’t know they can afford it or did not care enough to be covered. Besides, if you want to know how to find a health insurance policy you can afford, you would search for it and believe me, if you search, compare quotes, talk with agents, you would eventually have enough options from which to choose one within your reach.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,…9, 10, 11, 12 one person has died because of lack of health insurance cover. It is really sad. One thing I want to advise is that people should just stop waiting for the Government to change things. Start doing somethings for yourself. Make a move to protect your family, your loved ones and yourself. There are numerous health packages from which you can make a choice. Do not let your excuse be that you can’t afford it. Have you really searched for an affordable health insurance plan?
Go to quotes comparison sites. In fact, go to as many as you can and get and compare as many quotes as you can. You would likely find a policy that would work for your budget. You can also talk to insurance agents to find out what other options you may have.…

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Department Of Health

Health Savings Accounts Should Be Available to All Americans

June 4, 2022 Comments Off on Health Savings Accounts Should Be Available to All Americans

All Americans should have the right to save for current and future healthcare expenses with pre-tax dollars. Health Savings Accounts provide some Americans with precisely that opportunity, but it is too limited in its scope to benefit the majority of the US. I love the concept of Health Savings Accounts (HSA), if you’re not familiar with them they are savings accounts in which money can be put away for future medical expenses on a pre-tax basis. In order to be eligible for an HSA you must be covered under a qualifying high deductible health insurance plan (HDHP). These are health insurance policies that typically cost less because they require their holders pay a high deductible (typically greater than $1000 annually). Unfortunately, the eligibility requirement to participate in a health savings account precludes the majority of the population from receiving a privilege that should be as basic as saving for one’s own retirement.
In a recent response from my Congressman, he suggested I consider using a sister product, the Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Although beneficial, the benefits of an FSA fall short of the benefits in an HSA; primarily because the balance of unused money in an FSA expires annually where an HSA rolls over from year to year. This is a monumental difference. With an HSA I have a means to cover current and future medical expenses which can accumulate to a retirement vehicle which becomes available for any purpose at age 65.  The rollover benefit becomes an even greater benefit when you consider the funds in Health Savings Account are eligible to pay the premiums on Cobra. Contributing to an HSA provides financial resources to use should one lose their job. Americans can use their HSA to pay the necessary 102% of their health premiums through COBRA or they may roll the money into a less expensive high deductible health plan (HDHP) with the resources to meet the high deductible.
Let’s look at a couple of case studies.
Dick and Jane
Dick and Jane are engaged. Jane has been submitting $2600 into and HSA for the past five years. During that time she has only consumed $1600 in health care costs that means Jane has been able to build up a health nest egg of $11,400. After they are married Dick begins carrying Jane as a dependent on his health care plan which does not qualify as a high deductible health care plan. Under current laws, Jane would be forced to discontinue contributing to her HSA, but it if all Americans were eligible for this savings incentive she wouldn’t have that problem. Instead they could increase their contribution $5,150. After a year, Dick may lose his job, but the family has been able to save $16,550. Their healthcare nest egg provides Dick and Jane with additional options. They may select to continue their current coverage through COBRA or they can select an alternate health care option. If COBRA were to cost $400 a month they can utilize their HSA funds. With these funds they would have the means of paying for coverage for 41 months. They could also choose to purchase independent health coverage. Their $16,550 nest egg minimizes their risk on a high deductible healthcare plan. They could conceivable absorb a $10,000 deductible and reduce their monthly payment to about $200, or half the cost of their cobra payment.
Scott and Laura
In the scenario of Scott and Laura, Scott is a severe asthmatic. His condition leads to a hospital stay about once a year costing about $3000. He must also have continuing medication at a monthly cost of $112. Scott and Laura are both on her employer’s group health plan. They pay $112/month with a $500 deductible and a 20% coinsurance. Their annual healthcare responsibility is approximately $2610 with insurance or approximately $4340 without insurance. Their insurance saves them approximately $1700 annually from paying full price on their medical care. Their FSA saves them about 20% (their tax bracket) on their prescription charges. Because Scott and Laura will lose the money in the FSA if they don’t spend it by the end of the year, they only save the cost of Scott’s prescriptions. Now, if Laura loses her job their healthcare future becomes much less secure because Laura’s plan was not HSA eligible, they do not any residual savings from their health care expenses nor were they granted guaranteed tax savings from their medical expenses. If they keep the medical insurance they clearly need through COBRA they now need to pay $400/month. These annual premiums total $4000 alone meaning that Scott and Laura only save about $340 a year by having health insurance. This does not include the cost of any of the co pays. Keeping the insurance could increase their medical expenses to about $6000 a …

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General Article

What Is a Plant Based Diet?

June 3, 2022 Comments Off on What Is a Plant Based Diet?

What Is a Plant Based Diet?

A plant based diet is a diet where you only eat foods that come out of the ground and have not been processed in any way. The foods are generally consumed raw, but you can enjoy a lightly cooked meal at the end of the day.

Foods to Eat

Fruits. Fruits are the most tasty foods on the plant based diet, as they contain many natural sugars. Once your taste buds begin to recuperate from all the processed sugar, then you will be able to taste just as much sweetness from a banana as most people taste in their ice cream or banana cream pie.

Vegetables. Vegetables, especially leaf vegetables are said to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. However, the only thing with leaf vegetables is that they can be bitter, and may not be appealing when you first transition to the plant based diet.

Herbs. Herbs are also bitter, but as with leaf vegetables they are very healthy for you, and can even be used for medicinal purposes.

Nuts. Nuts are high in protein and other healthy fats, and thus they are a great substitute for meat. You can add nuts in with the rest of your foods, or you can take them along in a small bag or container and snack on them in between your meals.

Health Benefits

There are many health benefits associated with the plant based diet. One of the main benefits is that you can avoid many health problems and serious diseases so that you can enjoy a long and healthy life.

Cardiovascular Health. Heart disease is often caused by high cholesterol levels in the blood which can block and narrow the arteries causing the heart to work extra hard. This cholesterol comes from animal proteins and other saturated fats from processed foods. Plants do not contain unhealthy fats, and thus you can avoid high cholesterol levels so that you don’t have to worry about heart disease.

Cancer. Cancer has been widely associated with red meat. A raw plant based diet can provide you with all the necessary enzymes and amino acids to create the same nutrients in your body as what meat provides you with. Thus a raw food diet can help you to avoid cancer.

Diabetes. The diet can help you to avoid and even reverse the symptoms of diabetes as plants do not spike your sugar levels as most other foods will.

The best part about it is that you can make it a permanent part of your life for an overall better quality of life.…

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Health Articles

Checklist of Things to Consider Before Obtaining a Quote for Canadian Health Insurance

June 1, 2022 Comments Off on Checklist of Things to Consider Before Obtaining a Quote for Canadian Health Insurance

Canadian health insurance quotes can be easily obtained, thanks to the Internet. But getting the rates of each and every provider is not the only thing you should consider. In fact, there are a number of other important factors to be taken into account in order to guarantee that you get the best price for the insurance coverage that is most appropriate for you and your family. The steps below are designed to help you out.
1. Decide how much of a deductible your finances can afford to shoulder. The deductible is the specified annual amount payable by you towards the sum of all the medical expenses you have claimed from your insurance company during the year. Keep in mind that the higher the deductible, the lower the premiums. Hence, before obtaining Canadian health insurance quotes, determine the amount of the deductible that your budget can handle with regard to your yearly health-related expenses.
2. Check if you require supplemental coverage. Because basic health insurance provided by the Canadian government is limited, you may want to include supplemental coverage in the health insurance policy you are considering i.e. critical illness insurance, vision care, as well as other types of coverage. Critical illness insurance provides assistance in the event you are unfortunately diagnosed with any of the debilitating or life threatening diseases covered by the policy. Vision insurance covers various eye care services. Once you have determined which supplemental coverage best suits your situation, the Canadian health insurance quotes you obtain will better reflect accurate prices.
3. Determine whether getting coverage for prescription drug is necessary. Coverage for prescription medications is provided under the Canadian basic health insurance plans. However, you may be limited to a specified monthly amount. Hence, if you are required to take multiple prescription drugs whereby costs are not sufficiently covered by the government health plan, you might want to consider getting additional prescription drug coverage.
4. Consider how often and how frequently you travel. If you travel several times a year, whether for business or personal purposes, you should take travel insurance into account when researching Canadian health insurance quotes because basic plans do not typically provide coverage for individuals who travel for more than one week at a time.
5. Obtain multiple health insurance quotes every time. Without a doubt, getting health insurance quotes from a few insurance providers helps in your search for the cheapest yet most appropriate health insurance coverage out there. Fortunately, this task is made easier now that it can be readily done online. Simply fill out the online forms provided on the websites of the insurers you have selected, and you can get multiple quotes within minutes. Remember, if the information you provide is essentially precise, you will obtain quotes that are relatively accurate.
6. Compare plans based on the coverage and not on the price. As thrift-minded consumers, we often tend to buy the first, cheap health insurance plan we are offered. Now, this practice can initially save you money, but should a case of illness in the family occur, you may be left with insubstantial coverage. So when you are checking out insurance plans, make sure you do not assess them merely on cost, but also on the details of the coverage.
7. Opt to enlist the assistance of a third-party. Examining Canadian health insurance quotes can be tedious and time-consuming, but there is a way to expedite the process. A third party firm can review the various insurance health plans you have investigated so that the task of meticulously examining and comparing the insurance coverage is simplified. Not only will it save you time, but it will also enable you to make informed decisions.
Bear in mind that the insurance quotes you obtain online may not be exact. For that reason, it is essential that you consult with a health insurance agent in order to get precise calculations for the coverage you want and, at the same time, get answers to all your insurance questions.…