A new medicine currently undergoing human tests could hold the key to a cure for methamphetamine and even heroine addiction, according to reports from the Huffington Post.

Methamphetamine, known widely as meth, has been amongst the country’s deadliest drugs for several decades – both highly addictive and extremely harmful. But new research could now be pointing towards the most effective treatment yet for those dependent on it.

Researchers based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have been trialing the drug Ibudilast on human test subjects in an attempt to gain FDA approval. Early results are showing promise, pointing to the effectiveness of Ibudilast in relieving the symptoms and creating a detachment from dependency in addicts.

Ibudilast has been available commercially in Asia since the late ’80s as an asthma treatment. Funding in the last decade has been directed at examining other properties of the medicine and, in addition to helping ease the effects of strokes, it is now thought the drug could be a boon for those addicted to meth.

Meth addiction has been a hot topic for health professionals for decades, with previous courses to recovery proving less than satisfactory. Counseling and behavioral treatments could help curb the mental dependency and attitude to meth, but  – with a strong physical element – the cycle of addiction has proved eternally hard to break.

But some are now suggesting that Ibudilast could provide the missing link to more complete, successful rehabilitation. The Valley Hope Association, which runs drug rehab centers across the United States, suggested that this drug could be a turning point in the history of addiction treatment.

“The very physical impact of meth addiction has made it a challenging drug to work with over the last 20 years, and we welcome the UCLA trials and the potential they hold. A breakthrough in treatment could give a result that saves hundreds of thousands of Americans from addiction, not to mention the massive societal benefits it could bring to communities across the country.”

Extensive tests for safety and excessive side effects have been completed. Researchers are now optimistic the drug could help millions of meth addicts worldwide, in addition to those addicted to many other drugs. It is thought that Ibudilast helps switch off brain cells linked to physical cravings, which researchers are hoping will make encouraged and supported rehabilitation more achievable.

The UCLA trials are focusing on a sample of 140 meth addicts, and follows from extensive study into its effects on monkey meth addict subjects. The results of the program are expected to be released in 2014, which could lead to a whole new approach in easing the cravings and physical dependency on meth.

For the arguably bigger global problem of heroine addiction, Ibudilast could also shape how addicts are treated in the future. The first potential heroine substitute to be free from opiates, it is thought Ibudilast could prevent transferred addiction – a common phenomenon where opiate addicts become addicted to opiate-based substitute treatments.

Meth and heroine addiction blight lives and communities across the world. Nowhere is immune from the problems these drugs cause, and only with the right treatments can communities and addicts rebuild their lives. While it’s still relatively early days for Ibudilast, professionals are now starting to get excited over the potential this drug might hold for a less drug-dependent future.

Image source: http://www.talktofrank.com/sites/default/files/drugs/Crystal%20meth.jpg

Choosing a health care plan can take a lot of effort. There are so many options to choose from, that it can take a lot of time to figure out what it is that you need. You must consider your deductible, the amount of coverage you need, and a plethora of other factors before ultimately making a decision that will have a profound impact on your life.

When choosing a health care plan, there are quite a few things that you should keep in mind. This is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and all of your options should be compared so you choose the option that’s best for you. Having the right health care plan could be the difference between paying out of pocket for a visit to Lapbanddallas.com, or having that visit covered. If you’re currently considering switching health care providers, check out these things you should keep in mind when shopping for a new provider.

Include a Health Savings Account

When choosing a health insurance provider, consider that you might benefit from a health savings account. An HSA is can be a fantastic option, and it works especially well for people who only use their insurance a few times a year. If you have an insurance policy with a high deductible and low premiums, a health savings account might be a good choice for you.

The money that you don’t spend on premiums each month will be deposited into your health savings account. That money is available to be used in order to pay for medical bills that aren’t expected, but when you turn 65 you can use that money as cash to pay for anything you want. It’s a great way to save some money for retirement, and it’s a great thing to include in your health insurance policy.

Consider Using a Broker

Using an insurance broker might be a good idea for you, especially if you don’t fully understand health insurance. Just like a real estate agent helps you navigate the house buying process, an insurance broker will help you navigate the insurance buying process.

An insurance broker will analyze your needs and help you find the best rates and a good plan for you. When you look around for an insurance broker, you’ll want to make sure that he or she has credentials with the National Association of Insurance Underwriters, so you can be sure you’re getting a qualified broker.

Take a Test Run

You may not be aware of it, but many health insurance providers offer trial periods. While there will be many restrictions when it comes to this “free look” as it’s called in the industry, you’ll no doubt be able to get a trial if you ask.

These trials typically last for a few weeks, and there’s an awful lot of paperwork that goes into asking for a refund. But if you’re interested in trying before buying, then ask the provider if they offer a trial run.

Image credit: http://thinkprogress.org/

Have you long dreamed of a job in the medical field? A career in the health sector is rewarding, exciting, and of course well-compensating. Many people want to join the healthcare world, without spending eight years of medical school and hundreds of thousands of dollars to become a
doctor.

One way to get into that field is by obtaining your bachelor of science in health services administration. A degree in health services administration opens up a ton of doors, and puts you on the track to some pretty awesome career choices. Healthcare jobs are in high demand now, too, making your degree go even further.

Keep in mind that an individual with a BS in health services administration can make up to $40,000 more per year compared to someone with just an associate’s degree. If you’ve been considering going back to school to get your BS in health services administration, check out these career choices that will be available to you, so you can be inspired to enroll in classes in the near future!

Healthcare Administrator

A job as a healthcare administrator comes with a nice starting salary, and lot of responsibilities. A healthcare administrator is responsible for running a lot of the behind the scenes operation of hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, and other types of health care facilities.

Job descriptions as a healthcare administrator vary heavily from facility to facility, but you can expect some similar responsibilities throughout. Healthcare administrators typically are in charge of the hiring and oversight of staff, while making sure all policies are followed thoroughly.

While hours are often long and irregular, the average yearly salary for a healthcare administrator is about $96,000 a year. Salary depends on how large your facility is, so working your way up is very possible.

Health and Safety Specialist

Hospitals can be very dangerous places that must be prepared should any type of disaster occur, and that’s where a health and safety specialist comes in. You’ll develop disaster plans, and insure that proper safety techniques are being practiced in all areas of the hospital.

This includes duties like making sure spill kits are constantly updated and all records are complete. The health and safety specialist is absolutely vital to the well being of a hospital or clinic, making it a very lucrative and rewarding career that you’ll enjoy.

Medical Records Clerk

A medical records clerk has a lot of responsibility, especially now that lots of medical records are shifting to paperless. A medical records clerk will typically create new medical records and retrieve previous medical records for patients, upon request by doctors or insurance providers.

It can be a tough job, because it requires using a variety of sources to compile an accurate medical record. It’s also important that a medical records clerk have a very strong attention to detail, so no mistakes are ever made. A degree in health services administration can help you prepare for a job as a medical records clerk, and you’ll enjoy it immensely.

Image credit: healthjobsweb.com

Getting your Staff Engaged and Excited with EHR Technology

If you haven’t already switched over to an electronic health record system, you are falling behind when it comes to meeting your potential to be more productive, accurate and quicker. In addition, you could be offering better care to your patients while reducing your carbon footprint in this ever-growing Eco-friendly world we work in. By contacting one of many EHR Consultants who are educated in cutting edge electronic health record systems, you will be taking the first step towards revolutionizing the way your outfit functions, shares data and cares for the community. However, many medical practices face the challenge of gaining mutual support and shared excitement by all staff members. This article will examine the importance of unity in embracing EHR technology, and will offer some tips that may aid in raising the bar of optimism.

Why make the switch?

It is important that all staff understand why EHR technology is being implemented, and why the change will better the lives of both employees and patients.  By outfitting the practice with an EHR system, the following results will take place:

• Improvements in care coordination
• Better engagement with patients and their family members
• Reduction in healthcare disparities
• Improvements in providing adequate privacy and security
• Improving public health

Be sure to call a staff meeting and go over the benefits to having the EHR system in place of paper filing systems. On the flip side, point out the downsides to keeping the old paper method. Some of these include:

• Files getting lost or misplaced
• Deciphering and reading penmanship
• Extra time to gather and record information
• Extra space used in office for filing cabinets
• Security concerns
• Unnecessary office expenses
• Slower communication between doctors and patient

Extra strain on the green environment

Clearly, going electronic makes sense, and when the staff beholds the benefits of going paperless, they will be motivated to embrace the change. Furthermore, by including them in an active meeting where feedback is welcomed, and by showing them how their working lives will be easier as a result of the change, their natural inclination to cast aside the methodology they have grown accustomed to will be muffled in favor of innovation. Also, show them how institutions across the country are embracing EHR systems. In an article published by NBC News the journalist examines the growing number of hospitals that are going paperless. According to the article, Federal officials have been trying to convince medical facilities across the country to go paperless, as they say electronic records can make hospitals more efficient, reduce medical errors and lower health-care costs.

Ask for concerns and ease minds

Most health care workers, including nurses and technicians, express doubt in EHR systems primarily because they fear the standard format will be too far from what they have all grown accustomed to. The best EHR systems will have record standardization but they will also include interfaces that can be customized to each individual provider institute. By selecting a vendor that provides customization, the physician’s input interface can mimic his or her previously implemented paper forms while providing clinical staff with familiarity.

Organizational change

Celebrate the advancements in communication and welcome organizational change with all those employed within your walls. Be sure to engage all staff members in your communication efforts to convey the benefits of adopting EHR technology and how each individual team member will benefit from it. When all clinical staff members engage in change together, all will achieve success and professional growth.

Stepping forward and taking responsibility for your health and for the wellness of those around you is a priority that every person should make in their lives. Sexual health and the process of getting tested for STDs is no longer taboo, nor does it give a shady reflection of the patient visiting the clinic. We no longer live in a time when TV sitcom married couples had separate beds, nor do we shun women who are unmarried and go out with different men. Our society has, overall, progressed enough that grown men and women can go out and socialize and partake in activities as they see right for themselves. And if people are sexually active with multiple partners but take one day out of the year to get an annual STD screening, they are to be commended for investing in their health. Herpes testing in San Diego is readily available at multiple clinics throughout the county. All it takes is some Internet surfing and/or a phone call to book your lab appointment, and continue your year with peace of mind.

Do you have Ostrich Syndrome?

If you are sexually active but have not, nor do you plan on getting tested for STDs, then you may suffer from ostrich syndrome—sticking your head in the sand and hoping for the best. Although some symptoms of herpes and other STDs include blistering of the genitals, discharge from the vagina or penis, itching, and a burning sensation during urination, other symptoms can be less aggressive and therefore lead people into thinking they have something minor and not worth looking into. Furthermore, scores of people have STDs, but show no sign at all of infection. These people are the most dangerous, as they are neglecting much-needed treatment to maintain their health, and they are infecting others without even knowing it. In an article published by the massive wellness organization Livestrong, the author examines some risks that come with failure to treat herpes. A weakened immune system is one real possibility. The article informs readers that if you are infected with herpes and another STD, then you are at risk for a weakened immune system. Also, you can have more severe outbreaks of genital herpes than you normally wouldn’t have if you were receiving treatment. Complications can also result from treatment failures that include fever, swollen glands and severe headaches. If you have ostrich syndrome, you face the chance of pulling your head from the sand when it is too late, and your immune system is shot to shreds. It is better to just get tested once a year. This is a smart decision anyone can make for investing in his or her health.

The Process is Easy

Make an appointment online or via the phone with a nurse to set your appointment. In some cases, you can even get same-day appointments. The procedure only takes a minute, and for that 60-second investment, you will have an entire year of knowing that you are healthy and not putting others at risk. San Diegans are known for working hard, and playing even harder. Make sure you are around for many more years to come so that you too can enjoy your active lifestyle in America’s Finest City.

If you’ve landed on this page, congratulations! You are taking the first step to taking your health back into your own hands. In today’s fast paced, instant gratification society it may seem almost impossible to get healthy and stay healthy but don’t fret – believe us when we tell you it is 100% possible.

When you realize that the fate of your health is primarily dependent on the investments you make in your life, yourself, you will understand that it is not as difficult as people make it out to be. It is very unfortunate that there are still so many people who would much rather opt to outsource the important responsibility of their personal health to a medical establishment.

For these folks it seems much easier to let a doctor tell them what to do instead of taking the time to learn how to prevent getting ill in the first place. Some people may not want to admit this but understand this is fact – traditional medicine does not have all the answers to every problem. There does not exist any magic pill, potion or formula that is magically going to cure you of every ailment or prevent you from getting ill. We are not however shirking the benefits of traditional medicine carte blanche.

We acknowledge the important role it plays in the health of society and the great strides it has made in eliminating many diseases that have plagued mankind up until just a century ago. Unfortunately, the industry has become very profit focused and commercialized. A good example of this is that the big drug conglomerates don’t seem to be too upset with creating, marketing and profiting from medicinal preparations that have side effects that eclipse the primary disease or condition they claim to resolve. Some of these side effects are downright dangerous. It is widely known that our overuse and abuse of medicines and traditional hyper-marketed drugs have been very instrumental in creating super bugs. These are antibiotic resistant strains of illnesses that are so strong because their “cures” have been so over-prescribed.

What’s even more disturbing is that we’ve become so lazy and dependant that we are treating diseases such as chronic fatigue, depression, high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol solely with synthetic chemicals. We have still not realized that this is doing us more harm than good. The chemicals reduce some symptoms but do not cure the actual issue. The lifestyle choices we make now and in the future are the choices that will create solutions for most if not all of our preventable health problems.

To experience the full benefits of optimal health, we have to accept that healthy living is a lifetime commitment. Through the guidance of health coaching, you will be able to realize the importance of syncing healthy body and healthy mind principles to help alleviate and in most cases, prevent the most frequently occurring health issues. Once you accept that your health is in your hands, you will embrace a lifestyle that is conducive to your best self. It may be a little difficult at first to transition, but trust us; it will become second nature in no time.