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Be Your Own Health Care Advocate in 5 Simple Steps

May 27, 2022 Comments Off

The American Journal of Medicine reports that 60 percent of bankruptcies in the United States are due to medical bills accrued by middle class, well-educated homeowners. With the cost of health care continuing to rise, understanding how to be your own health care advocate is essential in order to survive in today’s economy.
1. Understand what your insurance does and does not cover
Utilize the help of an expert. Health insurance brokers know and understand the fine print of health insurance plans. With their expertise, you can be confident in knowing what your premium covers and what goes towards your deductible.
2. Discuss potential costs before proceeding
If a doctor suggests a procedure, test, or surgery, ask for the total cost before scheduling it. Speak with someone in the billing office to get an itemized bill with all costs, and then go over the list with your insurance carrier so you know exactly what you’ll be required to pay.
3. Document everything
Whenever you speak with anyone-insurer, doctor, etc.-regarding your health care needs, make sure to document the date of contact, date of service, name and phone number of the person contacted. Also notate the results of the conversations and any necessary follow up. Keep a copy of all bills, explanations of benefits and services together in one place. Finally, keep records of all your non-reimbursable medical expenses, including car mileage, parking fees, telephone bills and lodging. These costs may be covered through Medicare or be used as an itemized deduction when you file your income tax return.
4. Question doctor recommendations
Respectfully inquiring why a doctor recommends one specific drug or treatment over another can provide information concerning both your health care needs and potential health care costs. On occasion, an alternative treatment or generic drug can be utilized to the same benefit at a lower cost.
5. Check local pricing resources and negotiate before procedures, if in a non-emergency situation
The Healthcare Blue Book allows you to determine fair pricing for procedures in your area. If a non-emergency situation requires extensive care that may not be fully covered under your current health insurance plan, negotiate with doctors and hospitals for the best price before scheduling the procedure in question.
In the current state of our nation, being proactive about our health care is becoming a requirement, rather than an option, as we attempt to stave off increasing medical bankruptcies. Be your own health care advocate; it’s good for your health, and it just might save you some money.…

Your Back Can Get Better By Following Some Simple Advice

October 10, 2020 Comments Off

Unfortunately, if you visit the doctor due to back pain, there’s not much they can do for you other than giving you medication and advising you to keep movement to a minimum. This article can help you deal with your back pain.

People sometimes have to endure much pain before they are able to see a specialist for their back pain. A lot of people have discovered that lying flat on one’s back with one’s knees bent is the least painful resting position when dealing with a back injury. This position allows the lower back muscles and the tendons in the lower hips and thighs to relax.

Do not repeatedly stress your muscles in the same manner, no matter what you are doing! Do not move the same way for a long stretch of time, especially when you are doing tasks that you need to repeat, like cooking or cleaning. Make sure you switch the way you are standing and move around frequently.

If you are suffering from back pain try laying down in the same position you would sit in a chair. Sitting this way increases your comfort level while reducing pressure so that your back stops hurting. But, feel free to use whatever position feels most comfortable; just make sure you aren’t twisting your spine when you sit.

Drink a half gallon of water a day. Proper nutrition has many health benefits, not just alleviating back pain. Staying well-hydrated can help you to stay fit and lean, meaning your back doesn’t feel the strain that excess weight can bring. Water is also necessary to lubricate your joints, providing relief to your back.

If you suffer from back pain, a good rule of thumb is to make sure you know what is in a box before you lift it. You could be in for a very heavy and painful surprise. Never rely on what the picture looks like on the box to determine how heavy it is. Some things that don’t look heavy can be extremely heavy.

Treat your back pains with the simplest remedies first. Avoiding intensive activity for a couple of days can help. While resting your back, ask your doctor about common anti-inflammatory analgesics for pain relief. These include ibuprofen, acetaminophen and naproxen. Cold compresses can calm inflamed tissues, and heat can be helpful in soothing tight muscles.

Some conditions that result in paralysis can be corrected through surgery, but it’s dependent upon how extreme it is and the situation. There are other back conditions, although rare, where there is no other option but surgery. In most cases, these conditions are degenerative afflictions or situations that do not have a specific cause, symptoms or cure.

Contrary to what many people believe, it is crucial that people who suffer from back pain exercise often. Many think that exercising a sore back will make the pain worse, but it can actually help the pain. The stretching involved with exercise, as well as increasing strength in muscles, can ease tension and relieve back pain.

Back pain is one of the many things that can alter your plans for the day. If you are a back pain sufferer, you can use the information from this article to get your life back.…

Live Without Anxiety With 8 Simple Tips

May 24, 2018 Comments Off

It can get annoying dealing with anxiety day in and day out. You can have a great time and just get anxious, all of a sudden. This can cause you to be in a bad mood and have a bad day. Look through this article and see how you can prevent your day from going bad because of anxiety.

If you are experiencing a serious anxiety, or panic attack, you should remember to breathe properly in order to calm down. We need to remember that our bodies are like machines, and taking proper breaths is what fuels them properly. Remember, to lengthen your exhalation, in order to relieve your anxiety a bit more.

Think happy thoughts. If you have problems falling asleep at night because of anxiety, think about everything good in your life and the positive things you are going to do the next day. While it may seem hard to do at first, the more you do it, the more you will get used to it.

A good way to get rid of your anxiety is to treat yourself to a snack that you like. When you start to feel a bit anxious, one of the best ways to calm yourself, is to make your taste buds happy. When you make your taste buds happy, your stomach is happy, and then you’re happy.

When you start feeling anxious in public, find ways to distract yourself. When in line at the store, start looking at the items hanging near you or the products in your basket. Observe the ceiling, count the number of checkstands, and do anything else you can to preoccupy your mind and keep it from dwelling on anxious thoughts.

If you suffer from anxiety, it is important to maintain positive thoughts at all times. By thinking negatively, you are only going to stress yourself out and make your anxiety worse. If you are unsure of how you can control your thoughts, you may want to speak with a medical professional.

If you suffer from anxiety, try your best to quit smoking, as soon as possible. Smoking reduces the functionality of many different organs in your body, putting you in a position where you may be more stressed than usual. Quitting smoking can refresh your body and increase your overall outlook on life.

Sitting at home and letting your anxieties stew does not make them disappear. Try finding activities to keep your mind busy. Consider starting a new activity or creative endeavor capable of taking your mind off of problems.

A terrific method of managing anxiety is to engage in vigorous physical activity. If stressful situations start to get the better of you, heading out for a bit of moderate exercise can cause physiological release of feel-good chemicals into the bloodstream. This, in turn, will cause a sense of happiness and relaxation to take hold in no time.

Live your life without allowing anxiety ruin it. You can create a life that is full of happiness. You may find yourself in need of rereading the information in this article to really absorb the tips about how to fight your anxiety. Reclaim your life by learning how to win the battle against anxiety.…

Simple Guide On How To Deal With Anxiety

February 6, 2018 Comments Off

Anxiety is a disorder that plagues people of all ages and types of people. Anxiety can take control of your life and keep you from functioning properly if you do not address this issue. With the tips in this article, you can learn how to deal with your anxiety, and you will be able to control it.

Laughter can be a cure for anxiety because it releases endorphins that reduce anxiety. Funny movies, shows, books and even friends make for great therapy.

Sometimes, people that have a lot of anxiety start to crave salt often. This happens because your body actually needs salt and is asking you to consume it. Do not add sodium, which is often responsible for hypertension, to your diet without the advice of a qualified physician.

To help control your heaving breathing during anxiety, you should perform deep breathing techniques. Anxiety causes some to hyperventilate and take shallow breaths. Instead of breathing this way, breathe deeply. When you take deep breaths, you force oxygen in to your system. Just count to five or six as your inhale, and do the same when you exhale.

It is necessary to have a balanced and nutritious diet, but even more critical when anxiety attacks are involved. A diet that is balanced contains many helpful vitamins and nutrients which your body desperately needs to stay healthy.

Sitting and dwelling on what makes you anxious will not help it go away. Instead, find ways to keep yourself busy, so that you can keep your mind off of your worries. Creative hobbies are a great way to reduce stress or anxiety.

You should always have someone you can call to talk about your feelings. A support system could be vital to people who are suffering from anxiety. Talking about the issues that you are experiencing could be beneficial and it could reduce your anxiety levels as well.

Find people you are comfortable with so you can talk about your problems. When you speak about your bad thoughts you can make them go away a little bit. This only works if you use rational thinking and really want anxiety to go away. What works even better is finding someone you can trust, who has also dealt with these same issues. This way you can get good advice that will help you cope with anxiety.

It is sometimes possible to distract yourself and prevent an anxiety attack. Spend time with loved ones and participate in fun activities. This will cause you to worry less about your problems and it will help you to relax.

Minimize anxiety by doing yoga with your friends. When you are on a yoga mat, it can erase feelings of frustration and help you to focus on the positives that life has to offer. These exercises can help with physical balance which can help you feel better.

Now that you have learned a little bit about the topic, you are hopefully better equipped to deal with your anxiety. There are many simple tips and techniques for managing your stress and anxiety, but doing it by yourself is not one of them. Help for anxiety comes in many forms, and you absolutely can find the right treatment for your anxiety issues.…

Simple Hair Care Techniques You Can Master

December 14, 2017 Comments Off

You must comprehend what potentially damages your hair if you desire to have great hair. By knowing the right products and styling tools to use, you can achieve beautiful, manageable hair. Keep on reading for the best in hair care tips.

Think about improving your diet if you notice your hair looking dull. If you eat a lot of Omega 3, vitamin E, and ironm you should have better looking hair. Make sure you take a comprehensive multivitamin if you cannot get enough of these nutritional elements through your diet alone.

Despite popular belief, frequent trims do not cause your hair to grow faster. Human hair grows at a constant rate, about 1/2 inch each month, no matter how much you cut it. Hair growth has nothing to do with stylist’s trims. Occasional trims can remove split ends, however, leaving your hair looking much healthier.

Learn how to use your blow dryer in ways that are less damaging to your hair. Ditch high heat, and use the coolest setting on your hair dryer. Try untangling the hair with your fingers when you are drying it to minimize damage.

You may be one of the people who have noticed your hair is particularly attractive after you take a dip in the ocean. You can use specially-formulated products to mimic this effect. Seek out sprays that are called “salt spray” or another similar name. If you’re the type of person who likes to make recipes at home, just mix a teaspoon full of sea salt with about eight ounces of purified water. Next, put in lavender oil (roughly ten drops of it), and you have created a bottle of ocean happiness.

If your hair is looking dull and dingy, try using a clarifying shampoo. The cause of dull hair is often the build-up of other hair products. To avoid this, use a clarifying shampoo a couple times a week so that all gunk and hair product buildup is stripped clean from the hair.

Avoid exposing your hair to the frigid weather during the cold fall and winter months. When it’s cold outside, your hair can get dried out, which means it doesn’t have all the nutrients and natural oils it needs to stay healthy. Therefore, if you have to stay outside for a long time when it is cold, ensure that you wear lots of layers.

Using alcohol-based styling products may dry your hair out after prolonged use. Also, keep avoid putting hair products on your scalp. They can irritate your scalp. Either of these problems may cause your hair to look dull and lifeless.

When getting out of the shower, try not to towel dry your hair too roughly. Being rough can cause breakage. Gently squeeze excess moisture from your hair instead. Then, pat it dry with a towel. Also, choose a towel which is soft and not rough.

As you have learned from this article, you have to know about everything that can damage your hair. Now, the most important thing you can do is to learn from these tips as you implement them. If you can follow the advice laid out here, you should have no trouble caring for your hair.…

Simple Solutions To Dealing With Asthma Problems

November 25, 2017 Comments Off

There are many people who are afflicted with asthma. If you are among them, and find it challenging to live with it, this article was written specifically for you. Below, you will find advice on dealing with asthma that comes straight from the experts. With this information, you can begin to live a life free of those troublesome asthma symptoms.

Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.

Asthma is ongoing. Therefore, it also requires continual management of your health. Be certain that you are prescribed or using the appropriate medicine to manage your daily symptoms, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.

If you are suffering from asthma, stay away from any type of cigarette smoke. If you smoke, try quitting. Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.

Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. On smog-free, low pollen days, open your windows to improve airflow in the house.

While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.

Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.

For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These include mold, dust and spores. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.

Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you’re taking the best care of yourself.

This informational guide about ways to deal with asthma will surely help you to regain the full benefits of living a healthier life. Now that you learned some insightful information you can now try your best to change your life around and become more active so you don’t miss out on anything.…

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Happy is the Key to Health