Monthly Archive for April, 2009

Swimming may be better for longer life

Published
by
Jana
on April 28, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

Swimming has always been known as a great form of exercise, but researchers have new evidence that it might be the absolute best.

Not only is swimming easier on your joints, it may just help you live a longer life than other kinds of exercise. A new study from the University of South Carolina revealed that when swimming was compared to running, walking, or being sedentary it decreased men’s risk of dying from a variety of diseases by almost a whopping 50%.

Within a 32 year time frame, 40,000 men were observed by researchers. They discovered that the men who were regular swimmers had elevated levels of aerobic fitness than men who did other exercises such as walking.

Although they studied only men in this certain analysis, the doctors are strongly convinced that there is no reason why swimming would not give women similar benefits.

Money is great motivation for weight loss

Published
by
Jana
on April 28, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

A monetary reward is one of the most ideal motivators for losing weight, according to a new study from the University School of Medicine. 

Researchers there found that people who thought that they would lose money if the did not accomplish their weight loss goals, tended to drop significantly more weight. 

The main thing to remember if you want to lose weight is to set an attainable goal and then put away or let someone hold a certain amount of money for you. If you do not reach your goal by a certain date, have them give the money away to your favorite charity or fundraiser.

Smoking may increase risk for breast cancer

Published
by
Jana
on April 28, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

It has long been a fact that smoking causes lung cancer and is a culprit in several other cancers as well, but, until recently, scientists have usually claimed that it did not have an effect on breast cancer. A Canadian panel of experts is now disputing the long-standing view.

On Thursday, April 23, the panel revealed the findings from new studies indicating that smoking increases the risk of breast cancer and cautioned that young women and girls were vulnerable to certain risks when exposed to smoke. Even exposure to secondhand smoke during their important period of development may raise their risk for breast cancer later in life.

In the report, heavy evidence was found that secondhand smoke played a key role in pre-menopausal breast cancer, but did not find enough proof that it increased the risk in post-menopausal breast cancer.

In the wake of these findings, most scientists say that there is not enough evidence to conclude that smoking plays a role in breast cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer said in a current report that there is scarce if any link between active smoking and breast cancer. In 2006, the surgeon general’s office announced that there was not enough evidence to claim that secondhand smoke causes breast cancer.

A message women have received in the past is that you must go and get a mammogram because there is nothing you can do to stop breast cancer. Dr. Anthony Miller, a member of the panel and associate director for research of the University of Toronto’s school of public health, says that is total nonsense. He said, “You can be more physically active. You can eat a good diet and avoid becoming overweight. Do not drink heavily – and do not smoke.” Miller said, in so many words, is the main thing for young women to realize is that if you smoke, you not only increase your risk for lung cancer but for breast cancer as well.

Certain foods may increase your appetite

Published
by
Jana
on April 27, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

We have often heard that when it comes to dieting, it doesn’t matter what you eat as long as you burn more calories than you consume. But many seasoned dieters have come to understand a harsh reality for those who love bread, pasta and sweets. It seems that specific foods seem to enhance the appetite, sometimes making it incredibly hard to stop after seeming to lose a sense of fullness.

A new book called “The Skinny”, by Louis J. Aronne, the veteran director of the Comprehensive Weight Loss Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center,  explains this theory. In the book, he talks about how what you eat and when you eat can make a huge difference in your appetitie, satisfaction and willpower.

Dr. Aronne has treated patients for 23 years. He has come to believe that refined carbohydrates and high sugar foods encourage what he calls “fullness resistance.” He says that they seems to tamper with the elaborate hormonal messages the body normally sends to the brain to cue that it’s time to stop eating. Instead, people actually can fell hungrier. This happens when refined carbohydrates cause blood sugar levels to rise, making insulin increase and pushing blood sugar down again, which causes rebound hunger. This insulin surge also has a blocking impact on leptin, the hormone that is secreted by fat cells that usually tells the body to stop eating. Obese people have plenty of leptin, but sometimes it doesn’t reach the brain or the brain gets resistant to it. Dr. Arboone writes that “this is not a failure of willpower, it’s a physical mechanism.” This opens the door for diabetes, because the body becomes resistant to insulin. Other researchers have claimed that refined foods with a lot of  sugar and carbohydrates can be as addictive as alcohol and tobacco.

The good news is that eating foods that are high in protein, vegetables, fiber and water have the opposite effect according to Dr. Aronne. In his plan, he suggests changing what you eat, one meal at a time, to bring back your sense of fullness.

For breakfast, he says to load up on lean protein, preferably from egg whites or a protein shake. When you eat this way in the morning, it can reduce hunger throughout the day. 

As for lunch, many dieters like to skip this meal, but going for more than 5 hours without food makes hunger hormones increase and fullness hormones drop, sending more of the calories eaten at dinner right to the fat cells. Dr. Aronne suggests beginning lunch with a salad; at least 2 cups of lettuce. After this, have more vegetables and then a lean protein. Try to eliminate the cheese, croutons, bacon and creamy dressings, he says. He claims that using vinegar by itself will decrease your appetite and slow blood sugar spikes.

Obese people eat usually eat more calories at dinner than slimmer people. For dinner, eat plenty of salads, clear soups or high-protein appetizers. In contrast to other diet programs, Dr. Aronne permits a half cup of grains or a small dessert at the end of the meal when you are still a little hungry. He also says that eating bread before dinner can make people lose their sense of fullness and actually cause them to eat more. He cautions that drinking alcohol can lower your resistance and promote fat storage.

When it comes to snacks, he believes that mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks can be like appetite suppressants, because they prevent blood sugar from getting too low; just make sure your snacks are consistent with the plan.

As for beverages, we all know that juice and sweet soda can add lots of extra calories, and some studies have revealed that even artificial sweetened drinks can cause people to crave real sweets during the day. Try to cut back on all liquid calories and just drink water.

The weight-loss debates and theories will continue to be in the forefront of the news. Dr. Aronne says that because every one’s metabolism is not the same, and weight loss is a very complicated area, he suggests trying his plan for yourself. He says to experiment by having 200 calories of egg white or protein shake for breakfast and then have 200 calories of juice  on another day, and observe  your hunger hour by hour.

U.S. plans attack against the swine flu

Published
by
Jana
on April 27, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

On Sunday, U.S. officials called the swift outbreak of the swine flu to be a public health emergency. In response, 12.5 million doses of the antiviral medications Tamiflu and Relenza have been released to help in the battle to fight the disease. An additional 7 million courses of Tamiflu is being made by the Defense Department. Although both Tamiflu and Relenza help lessen the intensity of flu symptoms, but it is still not clear if the medications will work on the swine flu.

State and local authorities, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the international health community have increased public awareness, testing and surveillance in an attempt to try to terminate the disease before it becomes a global epidemic.

The outbreak developed in Mexico where more than 100 people have died and more than 1,500 have become sick in recent weeks. In the capital and the states of Mexico and San Luis Potosi, schools have been canceled until May 6. Tons of public events such as concerts and sports events have been halted to keep the virus from spreading in large crowds. Also, zoos were closed and visits to juvenile correction centers were postponed.

The majority of people who died reached out for medical help when it was too late, and the disease became too advanced. Once Sunday rolled around, thousands of Mexicans were bolting to hospitals, although some had just a fever.

It is unsettling that The World Health Organization claims that this new flu strain has “pandemic potential.” A flu pandemic happens when a new influenza virus manifests, people have scarce or no immunity to it, and there’s no vaccine.

Thankfully, there have been no deaths reported yet in the United States, but it was confirmed Sunday that eight students from a New York City high school have tested positive for the disease. Some of these students recently went to Cancun, Mexico. There school has closed as a safety measure. Other cases have been confirmed in California, Kansas, Texas and Ohio.

Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security Secretary, is leading the federal endeavor to handle the outbreak. Many other departments such as the Health and Human Services and Agriculture are also engaged.

The virus in the U.S. seems to be the same strain as the one in Mexico, but health officials are puzzled as to why the U.S. outbreaks have not been as serious. So far, all the victims in the U.S. have recuperated and only one was hospitalized. Unfortunately, that may change because infectious diseases, especially the flu virus, are unpredictable.

So what exactly is the swine flu? It is a respiratory disease of pigs that is usually common among people who have close contact with pigs. It can spread from person to person because it is so contagious. Swine flu has the same symptoms as the human flu such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills and fatigue.

All citizens are urged to help stop the spread of this dreaded disease. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services urges anyone with flu symptoms who has recently traveled to Mexico or one of the five U.S. states with confirmed cases, to contact your doctor or a health-care provider right away. Also, if you have flu symptoms, stay home from work or school to prevent the disease from spreading. Do not go back until two days after your symptoms are gone. Of course, always cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands often throughout the day! Important to mention is that the disease can not be contracted by eating pork.

BCBSNC changes for Blue Medicare Supplement makes Explanation of Benefits less confusing for members

Published
by
Jana
on April 23, 2009
in BCBSNC
. 0 Comments

Since January 1, 2009, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBSNC) has altered the arrangement of its Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for Blue Medicare Supplement products, to reveal what the provider charged and what Medicare allows. This information is found in the column, “Amount Provider May Bill You”.  In the past, even though this amount was a precise statement of the difference between the two charges, many beneficiaries were perplexed about the correct amount that they were responsible for. Because of this confusion, BCBSNC has redesigned the EOB presentation for Blue Medicare Supplement Products in order to make it easier for members to understand what they actually owe.

Last year, there was perhaps too much detail about the amount that was not owed by the members on the EOB in the section of the EOB titled “Paid by Medicare or applied to deductible.

The contractual difference between what the provider charged and what Medicare allows is shown this year in the ‘Explanation of Amount Provider May Bill You’ section. Any amount that the member is responsible for under their current plan is also shown. Now, to make things clearer for the member, the ‘Explanation of Amount May Bill You’ section now states, “This amount represents remaining expenses after Medicare and BCBSNC Plan determination.”

So what do members need to do? Well, the member should compare their EOB with our EOB to see how much they are financially liable for. They can do this by looking at their EOB that is sent to them once every quarter from Medicare.

Brown fat may be key element in future obesity treatments

Published
by
Jana
on April 15, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

We all know that there is both good and bad cholesterol. Now, it seems, there is good and bad fat as well. Scientists have long believed that this good fat was usually gone or inactive once adulthood is reached.

So what is so special about this fat? Well, it induces the body to burn calories so it can create body heat. This fat is important in infancy, because it helps to keep the newborn warm.

Recently researchers performing three separate studies – from Boston, Finland and the Netherlands – have found that some of the good fat remains in adulthood. This good fat affects metabolism and could possibly help people lose weight in the future.

An endocrinology and metabolism researcher at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Dr. Francesco Celi, announced that the studies reveal that this certain kind of fat burns substantial amounts of energy. He also said that this fat could be used in a pill that could rev up the fat. 

Dr. Louis Aronne, former president of the Obesity Society and a weight control expert at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, proclaimed that the discoveries are the most convincing proof of the function of this fat in regulating body temperature and weight. He said that because the fat seems to be eliminating calories, it could possibly be used for a sort of ‘exercise-in-a-pill’ treatment. He also said that any treatment for obesity that is developed from this special fat could also be a possible treatment for diabetes.

This good fat is brownish in color, while the more prevalent fat is whitish or yellow. The neck and under the collarbone are the areas in which the brown fat is mostly stored. The waistline is the area that the white fat is mostly found. There it stores excess energy and releases chemicals that control metabolism and insulin use.

The existence and occurrences of the brown fat was recorded by the three research groups by looking at tissue samples taken from patients. High-tech imaging was used to reveal how much sugar and calories that the fat burned.

The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of these studies on Thursday, April 9, 2009.

N.C. newborns now being screened for cystic fibrosis

Published
by
Jana
on April 15, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

Infants in North Carolina are required to be screened for more than 30 disorders. Cystic Fibrosis was recently added to that screening list. Cystic Fibrosis can cause a child to have poor growth, weight loss, abdominal pain and additional problems. 

Last year, legislators decided to add this disease to the list of required screenings. To perform the entire group of tests, only a few drops of blood are needed from a heel prick performed on the infant before they are discharged from the hospital. The blood is then sent to the State Laboratory of Public Health.

Cystic fibrosis can produce a heavy buildup of mucous that can cause recurring lung infections and airway blockages. It can also block the pancreas and inhibit the organ’s capability to break down food and take in nutrients.

The advantages in paying BCBSNC with automatic bank draft transactions

Published
by
Jana
on April 15, 2009
in BCBSNC
. 0 Comments

When you are going through the procedures for purchasing health insurance, and you have finished the quoting part with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, they will help you make the best selection for you and your family. After this, you will need to supply BCBSNC with the initial premium payment. If a credit card is used, it will be charged at the time that coverage is accepted. Even though your insurance policy’s effective date is thirty days from your acceptance, your credit card will be charged instantly.

Your credit card will be used for the first payment only. All succeeding payments will be billed to you monthly. Actually, BCBSNC will let you pay with the credit card monthly, but the credit card portion of the premium statement must be filled out each month. With monthly billing, most members will pay with a check because it tends to be easier.

Arranging to have your account automatically debited, is most likely the easiest method to ensure that your health insurance payment is taken care of every month. All you have to do is to give them your name as it is printed on your check and the routing and account numbers. It really is better for everyone involved, mainly because you don’t have to remember to write a check each month. It would be terrible to have your insurance lapse, simply because you were too busy or on vacation. It is less costly and more green for the environment for BCBSNC to debit your account than to deal with a paper check and send you a paper bill.

If you have to cancel your insurance, you don’t need to worry about BCBSNC forgetting to stop your automatic debit. Unlike some businesses that carelessly forget to stop automatic debit once a customer ceases business, BCBSNC is extremely conscientious when it comes to stopping automatic debits on time. The North Carolina Department of Insurance regulates all North Carolina insurance companies, so as long as you follow the right steps to end an automatic debit, there shouldn’t be any problems. All you have to do is to give BCBSNC a letter asking for cancellation of your policy on a certain date, the policy number, the names of persons covered on the policy and your signature.

Blue Advantage BCBSNC bank draft transactions are processed on the 5th of the month in which a policy is effective. On-going drafts take place on the 5th for bills at the first of the month and 12th and 15th of the month for mid month bills.

The Blue Options HSA(SM) product will always be processed at the 1st of the month bill cycle, no matter when an individual chooses their effective date. With this product, the usual rule for drafts is that they happen on the 2nd day of the month that a policy is effective. The draft will occur right away if it is effective after the second of the month.

For those with the Blue Options HSA(SM) plan with an effective date on the 15th, they could draft right away for only 15 days of the premium, then succeed with an additional full month draft on the next 5th of the month. Here is an example: Effective date is 3/15, enrollment is 3/23 and an immediate draft takes place for 15 days. On 4/5, there is a draft for the full month. Also, a 45 – day draft will happen in this example if enrollment doesn’t occur until 4/1 of after.

To sum up everything mentioned, it is easiest and safest to have BCBSNC automatically debit your checking account each month. But if you still prefer to be billed monthly, use your credit card for the first payment.

Obama signs bill for paralysis research

Published
by
Jana
on April 8, 2009
in Health and Wellness
. 0 Comments

A bill that will provide paralysis research and rehabilitation, and was named after Christopher Reeve, the “Superman” actor, was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday March 31.

Obama signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act as part of a collection of bills created to broaden wilderness protection. The Reeve bill will provide care to disabled and paralyzed people.

In 1995, Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident. After this, he became a promoter for embryonic stem cell research. He died in 2004 of heart failure. Sadly, his wife, Dana, later died of lung cancer. Matthew Reeve, their son, was there for the bill signing.

} catch(err) {}