Todays Health Article

March 19th, 2012

Today we will shortly be amongst the legality decisions regarding our health care. I am not a profound lover of politics, as to the value it has presented itself. Many times honesty, morality, and personal responsibility has been compromised or lacking,  which seem to be overwhelmingly lacking in our past.

Having said all that, I still try to follow what’s going on. The  big question is… Why should I even care? Well like it or not… because we all need to know what’s going on.  For one reason, if I plan to vote, and how can I expect things to get better (or not get worse) if  we do or do not do anything about it.

For those who have not caught up on what’s happening with the Health Care Reform bill, this may be the last time, until 2014 to speak out. Just to review for a moment, your health care is being decided as we speak. Though the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010, now the law (along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress. 

documentation of  http://housedocs.house.gov/energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Full title	The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Acronym	PPACA
Colloquial name(s)	Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Reform, Healthcare Reform, Obamacare
Enacted by the	111th United States Congress
Effective	March 23, 2010 Specific provisions phased in through to 2020
Citations
111–148
Stat.	124 Stat. 119 through 124 Stat. 1025 (906 pages)
Codification
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as the “Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009″ (H.R. 3590) by Charles Rangel (D–NY) on September 17, 2009 Committee consideration by: Ways and Means Passed the House on October 8, 2009 (416–0) Passed the Senate as the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” on December 24, 2009 (60–39) with amendment House agreed to Senate amendment on March 21, 2010 (219–212) Signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010
Major amendments
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011
Supreme Court cases
None

With PPACA reforms, certain aspects of the private health insurance industry and public health insurance programs, increases insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions, expands access to insurance to over 30 million Americans, and increases  the projected national medical spending ^{( 8 to 900 + million)}  while lowering projected Medicare spending.

OPPOSITION  TO HEALTH CARE

A majority of the states, and numerous organizations and individual persons, have filed actions in federal court challenging the constitutionality of PPACA.

As of January 2012,

Two of four federal appellate courts have upheld the bill.

A third declared the individual mandate unconstitutional.

The fourth ruled the federal Tax Anti-Injunction Act prevents the issue from being decided until taxpayers begin paying penalties in 2015.

The Supreme Court has scheduled six hours for oral arguments March 26–28, 2012, and will issue its decision by the end of June.

Today’s Health Comments

This is probably one of the more important reforms our health care has seen. It is certainly one of the most confusing, costly, and longest written bill ( over 2000 pages) if you so desire to read, and our health care is on the line. To bring this to our laps and say you will own health insurance under these terms presents a legal issue, and government control. If you choose not to abide by such law, you will be penalized by taxes. This almost reminds me why we had a Tea Party many years ago and separated our connection with the then government control. That is the direction this bill enacted into law… Now we are being confronted with its terms and conditions… and who has the time to read 2000 pages. There is no doubt that we need an health care reform in this nation… What is your Solution?

Further Reading

Is-our-health-a-forcast-of-facts-guidelines-reform-and-legal-actions.html

Understanding-todays-health-care-reform-may-only-be-a-disappointment.html

Todays Health Article

February 3rd, 2012

The fact  is much information has been dedicated to the topic of how sugar is related to cancer and much of it has been construed or misunderstood. I like others, know that sugar has been beat up out of concern for our health.  There is other reasons not relating to our sugar consumption but marketing strategies. Never the less most do not understand the simple explanation, and this may clarify some peoples concerns.

The  Facts

Simply put, the facts about sugar and cancer can be confusing. More often tha not, many articles have  presented the material in a format  that is so misleading  that it creates a high level of anxiety for people with cancer.

With that in mind, if you learn a simple amount  of science behind the connections between sugar we eat and cancer risk, you can make wise choices for better health.

The Concept Is…

Sugar feeds cancer!  This is not useful for our understanding, as this is too broad to understand. For  those  who understand the purpose of sugar in our bodies,  the truth … Sugar feeds every cell in our bodies.

Our bodies have a need for glucose, or simple sugar, for energy. So if you were to cut  out every bit of sugar (NADA ,NONE) out of your diet, your body will  step up and make the sugar from other sources, such as our protein, or fat. Sugar substains the energy reguired for healthy cells.

Cancer Cells need Sugar…

Cancer cells, just like healthy cells,need sugar to grow. Now I am reminding you this, so you will  remember that there  is nothing  in particular as to the feeding of cancer cells versus the sugar that feeds the other cells in our body. (the healthy ones)

Yes, You need to Limit Amount of Sugar!

Understanding this further, sugar being the basic ingredient, when you eat a lot of sugar, your body produces a lot of insulin.

Insulin is a natural substance made by the body. Insulin can actually instruct cells to grow.  With this in mind, like the accelerator on the car, can speed up  or rev up our cell growth. Continuing this example, this is a good thing forthe healthy cells.  Why is this a good thing, because the cells in your body grow, divide, die, and are  replaced . This is just part of the natural process of living.

The downside of this, cancer cells can be or will be encouraged to grow more, too. So while some insulin in the body is normal, excess insulin may encourage cancer cells to grow more, which is not a good thing. It’s just unhealthy if we make too much of it.

Best Sources

I t is literally impossible to avoid every bit of sugar in your diet.   Nor should you do so. understanding that healthy cells need to grow as well.The best sources for healthy, complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes (beans), are the very foods that appear to fight cancer best. So  you do not need to avoid all sugar and other carbohydrates.

What is your answer?

There are three other things in the diet that can help reduce the amount of insulin produced by the body when you eat sugar and carbohydrates. These are protein, fat, and fiber. When eaten along with even the simplest sugars, these three items help the body to make less insulin in response to simple sugar.

If you eat sugar with some protein, some fat, or some fiber, your body won’t produce as much insulin. Eating this other food helps your body process sugar more slowly, and this means that your body does not overproduce insulin. In short, protein, fat, and fiber help your body process sugar in a more healthful way.

Making it Work for You

Here is an ample of how this  may work for you. I am  thinking about fruit and fruit juice. The quanity of insulin your body makes after you eat a piece of fruit is much lower than the amount of insulin produced when you drink fruit juice.  The  reason is whole fruit contains fiber as well and that fiber helps balance out the sugar in fruit.

T o continue this same frame of mine about eating specific foods together to get a healthier snack or meal.  So nstead of having two or three pieces of fruit as a snack, you could try having one piece of fruit and a small handful of nuts. The nuts contain protein, fat, and fiber. These three things help your body keep insulin in balance.

Today’s Health Comments

Today it is important to remember sugar itself is not all bad, it just too much sugar, without enough protein, fat, and fiber to balance it out, can cause our bodies to make too much insulin.

The point here is, it is not the sugar, but rather the insulin that may be a problem for spurring cancer cell growth. To  take preventative measure, you should limit the simple sugar in your diet.

Trying to follow a stringent diet and ward  off every single dessert. is virtually very difficult and remember you need sugar to feed the healthy cells as well. So the bottom line here is moderation. You might find these tips to helpful concerning your food choices:

• Stick with naturally occurring sugar, such as the sugar that is found in fruit.
• Avoid concentrated sources of sugar. It is OK to have 100 percent fruit juice in moderation. Avoid fruit drinks that don’t contain any real fruit juice.
• Limit your  treats, and proportions
• Focus on whole, healthy, unprocessed food, including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils, and peas), nuts, and seeds.

Further Reading

Our Sweetest Addiction known Today

Todays Health Article

June 16th, 2011

In todays world of crossing this and that, I came across the word “Tayberry“, with my love for Blackberries. I had not known or been familiar with what they were. I thought perhaps others had not either.

The Tayberry is a cultivated shrub in the family Rosaceae patented in 1979 as a cross between a loganberry and the black raspberry.

It was developed at the Scottish Crops Research Institute, in Invergowrie, Scotland, by Derek Jennings and David Mason.

The  Tayberry is sweeter, much larger, and more aromatic than that of the loganberry. The Tayberry is a blackberry and red raspberry cross. It is named after the Tay river, in Scotland. The Tayberry is grown for its edible fruits which can be eaten raw or cooked to make jam or other dishes.

 The Tayberry bears its fruit  from early July to mid-August. Unfortunately, tayberries do not pick easily by hand and cannot be machine harvested, so they have not become a commercially grown.

Nutritional Content

Like many other berries, the tayberry is low in calories and high in fiber. Recent research has shown that they and other brambles have other antioxidant properties as well. The nutritional content of tayberries is summarized in the table at right.

How to Store:

Because the Tayberries aren’t harvested until they’re practically falling off the bush, they become  much more delicate than their blackberry and raspberry parents.  Its best to leave the berries uncovered in the refrigerator for up to three days. The cardboard boxes they’re sold in keeps them fresh longer than plastic. Also you can freeze these  berries up to one year.

How to use:

Tayberries have a naturally high level of pectin, and make the perfect jamming berry. Alan Carter, the executive chef of Mission Beach Cafe, describes the flavor as a tart red blackberry and says you can swap in a tayberry in any raspberry recipe. Also Tayberries can be made into a sauce, and their deep, rich flavor of the berries goes well with just about any chocolate dessert. Add a little lemon juice and sugar to berries, blend and strain to get rid of any seeds.

Todays Health Comment

The Tayberry is sweet berry with a tart  that seems to be a likeable and enjoyable berry for those berry lovers. I enjoy berries on my oatmeal and salads and my fresh bowl of fruit. They provide fiber and nutrition for a healthy diet. They are good for jams and tarts.

Todays Health Article

June 6th, 2011

Today  maybe just another day where by dry cereals, if not saturated in sweet stuff, are loosing out to other breakfast foods, or  to no breakfasts at all. Those cereals that  may actually be healthy for you, providing the much needed fibre that  every one is missing in their diets today. So where is “Mikey” whom we grew to love… from the many commercials that all related to about eating their breakfast cereal?

Where is Mikey?

Life Cereal was popularized during the 1970s by an advertising campaign featuring “Mikey,” a hard to please four year old boy. The commercials featured the all but famous catchphrase “He likes it! Hey Mikey!” The ad campaign ran from 1974 to 1986, becoming one of the longest-running television advertisements since.

Little Mikey was a character of a young boy played by John Gilchrist in an American television commercial created by art director Bob Gage (who also directed the commercial) and copywriter Edie Mann of the Doyle Dane Bernbach agency for Quaker Oats to promote their breakfast cereal, Life.

First airing in 1972, the popular commercial would be in regular rotation for more than twelve years, ending up as one of the longest continuously running commercial campaigns ever aired. http://www.quakeroats.com/products/product-frequently-asked-questions.aspx

Dry Cereals May Be Loosing Out!

Just like the Mikey’s commercial that put Life’s cereals on our breakfast table, all has been forgotten about today. Most people are on the run these days, eating their power bars, yogurt, or their egg McMuffin and a cup of coffee on the go. The day when the family sits down to the breakfast table is a thing of the past. The box of cereal would sit in the cupboard for weeks in most households today so it is not as popular as it once was. Many of the dry cereals have seen many different advertisement campaigns since the Mikey success, but not anything have proven to be as successful. They have tried the diet aspect, health and fibre, to celebrities and toys, but few are grabbing  up the idea that Corn Flakes or Cheerios are going to be on the breakfast table. Though they still are eaten by some of us who actually sit down for breakfast, I am almost sure that I one day I may find them to be obsolete like many others that were tried and failed. This maybe, not for a lack of trying to re introduce the idea that once was found in most households, but they may just become a healthfood on some lonely shelf, restocked once a month.

Who Cares

 We all have come to recognize that  life changes yet at some time in our life it also slows down and we come to require that healthy diet of fiber, and nutrients that are needed to keep us healthy. If the proper dry cereals are chosen, they provide a great source of fiber and vitamins that we so dearly need. Also its companion, Milk which provides the calcium and vitamins that allow us to keep stronger bones. I come to recognize that young children love eating them right out of the box for their snacks, I know ours did even years ago.

If we overlook this product as part of our diet, it is not going to be the end of the world, but when we come back to having breakfasts again, as life slows down… it may just may not be as we once knew them to be. http://www.cheerios.com/

Todays Health Comments

Today we may be loosing to the fast pace our society has chosen, and breakfasts for many is eating on the go, therefore having a bowl of dry cereal seems to be out of the question. Yet many of these cereals provide great fiber for our diet as well as can be nutritious for us. Adding milk and fruit on top for me seems to be one of my summer time favorites, and a variation from oatmeal during the winter months. My children loved Mikey commercials… and Life cereal did have its place on our breakfast table and they did like it. Seems to me our youth are missing out on what used to be a great place of conversation and family gathering…breakfast!

Todays Health Article

June 4th, 2011

Today, is drinking alcohol, readily accepted, having been defined by our Society, perhaps now defying our past culture. For some, drinking is a past time , but for all who do drink, they have become  part of our defining our rights as as a Free Society. Drinking is an exercise defined by society, and by legal age and consumption. This definition, defining drinking has been a around  for generations “If your able to fight for the Freedom of our country and vote for those you choose to run your country, then by all means your are entitled to drink, it is your right in today’s society”. There is no rebuttal to the fact, that it is your right to do so, and it has been defined by our society, since man discovered it to be considered a beverage of  pleasure.

 What has been perhaps a pastime of pleasure for some, or an addiction for many, with those actions are we on our way to defining a new Society?  What are those actions, exercising our freedom to do so, what is our Society facing today?

Society Defines…

Drinking of Alcohol

Is a beverage  containing ethanol, most commonly known to us as alcohol.These drinks are divided into three categories: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption. In particular, such laws specify the minimum age at which a person may legally buy or drink them. This minimum age varies between 16 and 25 years, depending upon the country and the type of drink. Most nations have age requirements 18 to 21′

In many cultures, drinking plays a significant role in social interaction — mainly because of alcohol’s neurological effects.

Alcohol is a psychoactive drug that has a depressant effect.  By drinking such beverages a high blood alcohol content may be obtained and is usually considered to be legal drunkenness, because it reduces attention and slows reaction speed. Alcohol can be addictive, and the state of addiction to alcohol is known as alcoholism.

Drinking by the Under Age

Underage Drinking

 The alcohol use by persons under age 21 years is defining  a major public health problem to our Society. Alcohol  has become the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States. It has exceeded  tobacco and illicit drugs. Although drinking  under the age of 21 is illegal, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.

 Did you know that more than 90% of this alcohol, is consumed in the form of binge drinks.  Also on the  average, underage drinkers, consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers.

In 2008, there were approximately 190,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.

  http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/

 http://www.udetc.org/documents/Drinking_in_America.pdf  [PDF–1.08MB]. Accessed March 28, 2008.

 Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility.

Drinking Levels among Youth

The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days

• 42% drank some amount of alcohol.
• 24% binge drank.
• 10% drove after drinking alcohol.
• 28% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

Other national surveys indicate

• In 2008 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 28% of youth aged 12 to 20 years drink alcohol and 19% reported binge drinking.
• In 2009, the Monitoring the Future Surveyreported that 37% of 8th graders and 72% of 12th graders had tried alcohol, and 15% of 8th graders and 44% of 12thgraders drank during the past month.

Drinking by College Students

Drinking by College students, has long been an ongoing part of College atmosphere, although most colleges would like to redefine this part of their  Society, it has severely  been ingrained by years of active drinking college students. Through the drinking, underage students as well, have now defined alcohol by college students as their greatest health risk.

Further Reading  www.yic.gov/drugfree/alcabuse.html

Defying a Free Society

A Free  definition…  used somewhat derogatory is for every Freedom defined by Society, comes responsibility for our actions and to the Freedom given to us, yet we by our very human nature seem to defy the responsibilities of these action. In other words we as a Society readily have accepted that people are going to drink, pain and suffering may be inevitable, lives may be endangered, yet there is the continuous use of those acting in drunken capacities, threatening to be completely irresponsible to our Society.

So with the staggering stats of underage drinking, whom will soon be adults, college students whom are knocking on the door to become Doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Fireman, Policeman, and much much more, and add those stats to the acoholic  problems the world already knows…Is this the Society we are currently defining?  A Society either with massive alcohol problems or the Freedoms of drinking will come under tight scrutiny of laws and regulation.

The Fedral and State laws may come to intervene if those now drinking do not become more responsible to others. The perfect example of this was the use of tobacco products. Advertising curtailed, warning Labels, to where you can and can not smoke. High taxes continue to haunt most smokers today and their freedoms to light up any where… has gone for good. Otherwise by defying some freedoms of our Society, new ones have been defined.

Todays Health Comments

If you believe the writing is on the wall regarding alcohol, just wait, you will see, that we can not have a Society defined as a nation or a world ( if you care) full of  intoxicated people acting irresponsibly.Its a matter of time… Perhaps Prohibition will return, or most likely deterrents will come to be with stiffer regulations fro m the State and Federal levels. Drinking is now the number 1 health risk for youth, and that is a lot of unsupervised youth and parents and our educational systems need to step up and do their part. The stats are shocking how many young people loose their lives to drinking each and every year.

If we continue down this road, are we not redefining what use to be unacceptable in our Society, to now defining excessive drinking to be looked upon as a way life for all, now  including our children? The Stats show almost 20% of all alcohol consumed today, is drank by underage… our youth!

Todays Health Article

June 1st, 2011

Today this question is presented to all whom have experienced the use of any medication and it’s “Side Affects”. Why would those ill or annoying effects somehow become branded with the name “Side Effects” that seem to come  along with any medicine ever made for human consumption! Seems that no longer can we  be relieved or cured from what is ailling us, without the multiple pages of  ”What If”s”, if we choose to take any medicine prescribed or otherwise. The  label space occupied on any medical container, used for our benefits or it;s purpose, and or directions, is so little compared to  the disclosure of  all the Side Effects that seem to follow every medicine ever created.

More about Side Effects

A side effect is  mostly regarded as an undesirable secondary effect which may occur in addition to the desired therapeutic effect of a drug or medication.  Now there is no knowing if such a  Side effects may actually occur to you… as they vary for each individual depending on the person’s health or medical state, age, weight, gender, and  your ethnicity.

Side effects can occur…

• Either when commencing, decreasing/increasing dosages, or ending a drug or medication regimen.
• Side effects may also lead to non-compliance with prescribed treatment.

• SEVERE side effects of a drug or medication are  experienced, the dosage may be adjusted or a second medication may be prescribed.
•  Lifestyle or dietary changes may also help to minimize side effects.

Todays  Health Article

May 21st, 2011

TODAY  health is just as important as when the day you born, we are rejoicing as a healthly baby and  through the years of living a healthy life, we all know at sometime we are going to face some health issues along the way. Some people face the challenges of health at early ages and  yet others seemed to get by til they are in the upper ages. Never the less when health issues strike, they not only can be emotional but may face desperate decisions  prompted sometimes by the medical needs.

Now the month of May, actually the 3rd of May, means nothing to most people, but to I and my wife, it was the beginning of a new life and the ending of  a past medical way of life, up to this date. She had received a Gift of Life from her brother and now would no longer have to be on Kidney Dialysis, which for six years she was attached emotionally to this way of life. Now do not get me wrong… “It is Life Saving”…the miracle of these machines and technical advancement of today, but the desperation of how we arrived there was definitely emotional.

This article was prompted by the story of  the Ohio man whose wife has been diagnosed with sciorosis and will eventially need to have a transplant. They are now facing some of the very same decisions that we were faced with.

Your Medical Coverage

Medical coverage, regarding transplants, is as technical as the surgery within itself. In fact most of the folks (the Transplant Doctors were more easily understood) than the  fine print and the interpretation of the medical coverage. Any time you are in need of a transplant, your life is being threatened, it is just a time element of When! However, your medical coverage just does not take it that way nor does it take it personally!

They deal with massive data and technical data that has been given a price tag! IT IS OVERWELMING EMOTIONALLY, that this price tag now hitting the $500,000 range, for most people, that is not an amount that is easily found in some miscellaneous fund. Medical coverage may be and is usually looked upon as the answer, only to find out that other than kidney transplants, others are considered to be selected surgeries. Who knows where that came from? There is NO Logic or medical justification, as you can live a long period of time without a kidney,of which was just mentioned, providing you meet the criteria, all coverages usually cover. But if in need of a heart or liver transplant, it is another matter.

 If you check out most coverages, like the people from Ohio who have now discovered, like many people before them, that their medical coverage was updated most likely to reduce cost and so were their benefits. Many people who are in this same situation, before the transplant actually occurs, or in fact does not, racked up huge medical bills, like ourselves.  This data now has prompted limitations on medical coverages to be reached and now you  have become a liability to the insurance company. I can explain that at a later date. Therefore under these conditions… a transplant may never occur.

Desperate Actions Prompted

I was not surprised by the viewing of the Ohio couple regarding the social worker’s suggestion of Divorce as a consideration, after all we had heard the very same suggestion. Like the couple from Ohio, after many years of happily being married, that it was coming down to getting divorced because we could no longer afford the medical care… ours was the exorbitantly high Cobra provisions from my past medical plan. Why would it come down to this….Marriage to some people is a covenant between a man and woman, and God, how dare our medical coverage put us between choosing an action that would violate that covenant. Yet, many are having to do so for the sake of loved ones health needs and turning their medical costs over to the State.  Now I wonder why our States are in such financial crisis.

Others choose to leave our medical bureaucracy and seek  care outside of our country do to the more affordable health care found else wheres. Now some have found this to be desperation and also not without its strings attached and risks that could endanger your life or if they should fail, perhaps limit your options later in life.

If you are unable to provide medical coverage,  Medicare, Medicaid, Personal Financial Resources, you may actually die due the lack of financial means to have this medical transplant perform. This actually happens everyday…this site provided the facts of this alarming data at”: http://todayshealthsite.com/why-these-keyw…save-your-life.html ”

Before Your Options Run Out!

This can actually happen, health care along with medical complications can quickly erase the option of a transplant. Timing may become your worse enemy along with your age. The need for and lack of organ donors, may be time sensitive, and even if you have the financial means, does not insure you will have will receive a transplant. This is where emotions again play or prompt desperate emotional decisions. You must inform all medical professionals that you are a candidate for a transplant, as their treatment may differ for your treated needs.

Todays Health Comments

Today the health needs have prompted desperate emotional decisions due to the health coverages lack of insuring the individuals health needs when their life may be threatened. We are faced with millions of individuals who have no coverage at all, and many more millions that are unemployed as well, what happens to these people when faced with this life threatening need. Now many of the State programs may cover some or all, but they have criteria too, and divorce may become a solution for some, though not may be popular. For our love ones we may due whats necessary for Life. The family is the first place to look at for donors and it was a Gift of Life for my wife.

Todays Health Article

May15 th, 2011

Today, another year has past by, and long hours, a great deal of research, and thousands of comments read, many articles written, and many new looks on the website have taken place. It has been not only rewarding that http://todayshealtsite.comhas been filling a niche that many of you have been seeking, but I have been overwhelmed by the many sincere comments and requests.

Todays Health Issues are more widely discussed on the Internet, and access is readily available for those seeking the latest  regarding general health issues, latest diets and whats the latest scoop with our health. Though we are a simple in tasks of being informative…I believe this site can play a part in translating good health to everyone who wishes to be a part.

Todayshealthsite is about being a community as well and has added its forum page as well, though many of the visitors have been using the comment section for this purpose, now you can shoot comments to the forum which I will address personally. Please take advantage of this and I ask you be friendly with the language as this site has tender ears. http://todayshealthsite.com/todays-health-chat

Todayshealthsite has added many new options regarding the Social Media, Stumble Upon, Twitter, and Facebook Fan Page, and a Selection of others under each article posted.

Todayshealthsite with its continued growth, has recognized the need for translation, due to our global visitors, so now 5o languages are on site translation along with Google.

Where the Site is Going?

A newsletter has been in the works, and hoping midsummer, to be available. There has been many requests for a Newsletter. When I started this site. I was unaware of the needs this site could provide, now trying to fulfill that in a capacity that will have added value to your health.

Also had many requests for guests posting articles and that may become a reality as to the volume of information that could be provided and am considering exchanging articles as well for those that may find my writing of value.

Todayshealthsite has had also many requests for Add space and I Have chose not to do so, not bombarding my visitors with those distractions, before or after getting to the real reason you were there for…to read a selected article. However, my time is becoming more and more dedicated to the sites visitors, so like everyone else… may have to be compensated for my time. I actually prefer the choice of DONATION FOR THE AUTHOR if you find the article of value….allowing me not to clutter up this site.

A world of  Thanks and Thank You!

THIS SITE WOULD NOT HAVE GROWN …WITHOUT YOU!

THANKS to ALL and great appreciation to all who have commented and have been viewing for the last couple of years. ALTHOUGH this site is a youngin compared to most health sites, you the viewers are what keeps this site going. For those all over the world, 132 countries roughly visit this site every month now…I thank you.  This site just had its first 10,000 plus visits a day, and I am looking forward to the six figure visit. BEST OF HEALTH TO ALL WHO SEEK …and may this net year provide even great rewards to those who choose to use http://healthsite.com 

 Dj

Todays Health Article

April 24th, 2011  

Today, as a baby boomer edging  closer and closer to health care changes, Medicare, Medicaid, health care in general, and just understanding the medical practice and its future, several thoughts have arrived. Why should I be concerned. Would I be better off, if I knew less about medicine, our health care policies,  knowing the importance  for cost containment, our abuse of self-referral, the potential that my own future could be decided by… INDIVIDUALS  IN MEDICAL PRACTICE with LIMITED Medical Education or by TECHNOLOGY! After all I had spent a good share of my life explaining these policies.

Medical Facts or Technology

Now According to Money magazine, (March 2011 pages 98-106),

The Association of American Medical Colleges has projected that in 2015 there will be 63,000 fewer physicians than it needs.

 The Atlantic, “Artificial Intelligence Is the Next Killer App” referenced a statement by a Microsoft executive in a New York Times article speculating that future applications might include a “medical doctor in a box” that could help with basic medical issues.

Martin Ford told NPR’sLinda Wertheimer “Radiologists basically focus on looking at visual images from medical devices — things like X-Rays or CAT scans, that type of thing. Now, machines are getting much better at analyzing that type of visual information.”

As identified in the February 26 New York Times article, “Treat the Patient, not the CT Scan,” patients are not “looked at” anymore. As a patient, either in the office or in the hospital, does your doctor look at you, shake your hand or is he/she fixated on the intake information, the chart and/or the monitors?

Medicine has become so dependent on lab tests and imaging examinations; the “art” of medicine is being lost. Even more disturbing, is that most laboratory examinations highlight when the results are too high, too low, or abnormal in some way. Medicine is being dumbed down at the same time that technology and communication of results is becoming faster.

Where is all this Headed

Now, how  concerning or thrilled should we all be… that the intelligence designated for our  future health care decisions will become limited or Artificial Intelligence readily present. This so reminds me of a past song… “In the year  2525.” 

 Perhaps this may be the story…  A typical visit to the doctor’s office. where upon you are welcomed by a voice activated computer, doors automatically opened and upon you entering lies before you all the most advanced computer and artificial intelligence known to man. You will directed to enter your hand upon a screen where by your finger prints will be scanned, identified, medical records pulled from MIB, pulse and vitals obtained. Health card inserted and like the automated phone options, health options will be selected. Upon your selection you will be escorted by a computer driven piece of equipment to a cubicle that now will have a library of medical knowledge… and like a piece of software driven by a Microsoft Program will predetermine your needs and the proper technology will continue from there, by which a print out of your diagnose given, and prescriptions written out. You now escorted out the door by the same piece of machinery.

 With the advancement of technology you saw no body at all other than robotics, voice activated machinary, and high tech medical devices. No longer the need, for that family doctor and all those nurses, eliminating all those personal touches and diagnoses given.

 Just think of it, as I do, a do it yourself diagnose with hi tech, no touch medicine If  you think this is a joke… you have not visited any major hospital lately. Where I live they have robots doing deliveries between floors… robotics in surgeries, Hi-Tech machinery helping make analysis, and this is just the beginning. How advanced has computer driven equipment become in the last decade?

What Should the Practice of Medicine Mean?

 What is it you want in your physician? For me, Personal Care! I want him/her to listen to my complaints/concerns. You and I know, not all patients know what symptoms to prioritize or what signs and symptoms might be significant or related to the medical problem at hand. I or they are not Doctors, that’s why we go to see them. So Personally, I need a physician to ask appropriate and sometimes probing questions. This may be a typical example, a complaint of  being tired and unable to sleep should prompt questions such as are you going to the bathroom all the time? This additional information might mean, the difference between getting a B12 shot or being evaluated and treated for diabetes or a prostate condition.

 As medicine and science and technology have evolved, the medical specialists have also become a way for medical practice. So no longer is the family doctor around who was there at your birth and the birth of your children. Perhaps necessary, given the accelerated influx of information and research discoveries. To know all areas of medicine thoroughly is virtually impossible.

The problem with the specialist scenario, are going to the “right” one? Specialists may tend to ”listen” only to those symptoms/signs relative to their specialty and assume some other specialist is dealing with “everything else.” In most instances, triage from an astute general internist or primary physician or other health care provider is required.

A Typical Medical Visit Today

EKG

Today there is no time for you even to get a relationship in with your doctor, no additional  listening, there is also the laying on of the hands, palpation, and the physical examination. The Doc’s assistant (PA) many times, sees you instead. How many doctors these days even know how to take a good history or perform an accurate physical exam? Many times the typical visit may consists of an EKG, a stress test, an X-Ray, and a bill. You may have seen the Doctor actually 5 minutes for your hour and half, and after waiting another hour just to get that five minutes of his time.

To answer the question…the complication of needs and health care, a shortage of medical staff who are being over worked, technology may be the only answer, and varying levels of education, experience, and Artificial Intelligence may be calling your health care. Can this become a normal medical practice, whereby the computer is calling the diagnose of the future?

Todays Health Comments

 Today I can only speak for my self as to the frustration I feel when I am speaking to a computer, regarding voice activated and options when you choose the wrong number or it does not understand, and burps out some irrelevant option, and you have to start all over. You just want to speak to a person,  in this case a Doctor. I know you and I are not perfect, so now if we make wrong options from  the AI “medical doctor in a box”, can it understand, that I misunderstood while I am coughing  my lungs out and about to die because I have a blood clot!  Or will it say “Sorry I  could Understand your option Clearly…Please Repeat. No longer will you have to worry, because it was your last breathe.

Unless we request more personal attention, and others who show up just for every sneeze, do not, then this is where we are headed. No longer with the current medical profession, can the staff not depend on technology to make up the difference. Something is going to have to fall short.

Todays Health Article  

April 4th,  2011

Today, this may become just another article, added to the masses of writings, about Chocolate… Why would another article be even considered. Chocolate is loved by almost every body, and has been given much delight, for its taste. Yet, Chocolate has also had it’s share of bad raps handed out over the years, for being bad for about everything concerning your health. Many studies have attributed to this fact, and recently another has been added to the long list, regarding your health. With all the bad raps of chocolate, a simple search on the Web will tell you all those, chocolate lovers may have seen some encouraging news, based on a recent study.

 However, with Easter around the corner, your favorite CadburyEgg may cost you a lot more. In fact chocolate is and has become News, regarding the outcome of what may become a civil war on the Ivory Coast, and chocolate is caught up in the middle. This along with sugar prices on the rise has led to, perhaps your favorite chocolate soaring.

The Good News for Chocolate Lovers:

A new Harvard study has found that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people withhypertension.This study has joined the growing research, into the heart-healthy benefits of flavonoids. The flavonoids are compounds found in unsweetened chocolate, which may cause dilation of the blood vessels.

 This  Harvard study was  announced in Atlanta, at the American Heart Association’s science session on cardiovascular disease.

The Study…

Resulted in analyzing 24 chocolate studies involving 1,106 people. It’s findings presented…  that dark chocolate, the kind that contains at least 50 to 70 percent cocoa, lowered blood pressure in all participants. But what was most notable about the study, was the results within those with hypertension.

Eric Ding of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a coauthor of the study, says researchers also found that… chocolate increased insulin sensitivity,  which is good for lowering diabetes risk.

Dark chocolate also appears to affect cholesterol. The Harvard researchers found some evidence for a small decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and a significant increase in HDL (good) cholesterol. Triglycerides, however, were unchanged.

As the researchers write, there is “rather strong evidence” that cocoa consumption improves several important cardiovascular risk factors “and likely reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Defining Dark Chocolate

 How much cocoa… to be healthy?