Nearly 35% of Americans say they haven't visited the dentist in a year. To those with adequate dental coverage this number might seem shocking, but it's a powerful indicator of the growing dichotomy between the haves and have nots…having teeth that is. In the poorest states in the union the percentage can be almost 50% - in Mississippi for example 47% of those asked said they haven't seen a dentist in years. Meanwhile Massachusetts, the third wealthiest state in the U.S., enjoys being the state with the best dental hygiene. Whatever your political ideology you can't ignore the correlation between poverty and poor dental care.

Dentists don't want it to be this way. Like any other person that earns money through a service, however specialized, dentists and other dental professionals are always welcome to broadening their clientele. The estimated quarter of Americans with untreated cavities and other mounting maladies of the mouth could be a big boom for those whose business is caring for teeth. The problem is these individuals simply don't have the monetary means to do so.

This problem is amplified by the fact that overseas in the UK, where citizens are offered the option for dental coverage through the single-payer National Health Service; public officials are noting similar dental neglect among their poorer inhabitants. Remember all those jokes about the British and their teeth? Statistically speaking we aren't much better, and considering they've got access to cheaper options our poor mostly don't, our problem could get much worse.

The healthcare reform law passed last year won't make much of a difference either. The sweeping mandates barely touch teeth. If anything is going to curb the looming oral hygiene crisis in this country (if you don't already accept that we're in one) it's going to be another sweeping change in healthcare law, only as it applies to the science of caring for the mouth.

It aggravates a lot of people that healthcare and dental care are a divided aspect of life. But the intricate study of oral care and the delicate dental skills one must acquire to work on the mouth are hard earned talents. Not that standard healthcare talent isn't as hard earned, but to make it as simple as possible: they're just priced differently. Maybe we need to figure out a new way of looking at healthcare economy.

Photo Credits: Jinx!

Originally posted 2011-05-07 20:56:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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As our bodies age, there are a number of health concerns that people need to stay aware to avoid lengthy treatment and health complications. Over ten million people suffer from osteoporosis, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and most of these sufferers are women. Women are twice as likely to have issues with bone density and osteoporosis than men. However, there are steps women can take to stay healthy, avoid developing the life-altering disease, and understand their health information.

Osteoporosis is a disease that literally means porous bones, and it affects bone density. The disease develops when bones lose critical nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorous. While the disease affects all the bones in the body, the bones most likely to break are hips, wrist, and spine.

Many people already suffer from the disease, but have no idea. Some of the warning signs that you may have osteoporosis include:

• Fractures to the vertebrae, wrists, hips or other bones
• Loss of height in conjunction with a stooped posture or other spinal deformity
• Severe back pain from a collapsed vertebrae

Changes in hormones have a major influence on the possibility of osteoporosis, but there are other possible factors, such as bed confinement, thyroid issues, bone cancer, inadequate calcium or vitamin D intake, age, sex, and body size. There are medical treatments for osteoporosis, but it's better to start early with preventative measures.

Here are some of the preventive measures that can help lower chance of osteoporosis.

Calcium/Vitamin D Intake

Changes the amount of nutrition in your diet to increase amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Taking a multivitamin also helps with the intake necessary to avoid this disease.

Weight-Bearing Exercise

This type of exercise, specifically jogging and walking, stimulates new bone growth and increases muscle mass, which protects bones against deterioration.

Other options are the following:

• Add soy to your diet
• Avoid caffeine
• Limit alcohol and smoking
• Hormone Therapy, for post-menopausal women

While these preventative measures are no guarantee that you won't contract osteoporosis after you start to lose bone mass, around 30, they will help to lower your chances. Proper nutrition and exercise are key to avoid the pains of this disease

Photo Credits: fromcolettewithlove

Originally posted 2011-05-06 20:46:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Just over 59 million Americans currently live without insurance according to an article that appeared late last year in the Huffington Post. This doesn’t even account for the millions of Hispanic migrants who suffer from poor health, or “salud”, and like many Americans can’t afford to get sick. The number of the uninsured has only seen a steady increase over the years. This issue is what prompted President Obama to try and get a health care reform bill passed. It did pass but many government officials are currently looking for ways to overturn the measure, which has lead many to question what the point of it was. Having quality health care is one of the most important things a person can have, which is exactly why there’s so much debate in Washington over the issue. So many either don’t have insurance or don’t understand the insurance plan they currently have.

Knowing the ins and outs of your insurance plan is essential for future situations where you will need to use it. If you need insurance then you can contact an insurance broker and ask questions about what kinds of plans are available and which one would work best for you. A broker can also help you negotiate a good deal with an insurance provider and ensure that getting swindled. You can also go online and shop around for different plans that vary in coverage.

It’s probably a good idea to pick from a few different online health insurance quotes and contact each one, either through their web site or personally by phone. By doing this you’ll have a chance to have a more comprehensive discussion on your benefits and areas of coverage. When you start shopping you’ll find that there are two major types of insurance providers:

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) –

This is usually one of the cheapest options. It’s a plan that provides coverage to patients through a network of doctors. Think of an HMO like a club of doctors and you can pick from anyone in that club to see to your various medical needs. A policyholder usually picks a primary care physician and then chooses from a specialist by referral or based upon need. HMO’s are more widely used but they can be very restrictive on who is covered. If you end up going to a doctor who isn’t apart of your HMO, you’ll end up covering all your costs out of pocket.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) –

A PPO is a network of physicians and specialists who personally work out and negotiate deals with health insurance providers. They establish a rate with your insurer and are preferred but they’re also more expensive. You get better care through a PPO and more flexibility but it also comes with higher co-payments. They do work, basically like a HMO, but the main difference between the two is you don’t need a primary care physician (PCP) for referrals.

It’s always important to know what you’re getting with insurance providers and the patient usually ends up looking out for themselves. This is because the doctors, providers, and company’s are already busy doing the same. Dealing with insurance companies is a necessary evil in order to ensure your health and well-being. So whether the government keeps, gets rid of, or improves upon the current healthcare plan, you’ll likely want to shop around for personal coverage while using some of these helpful tips.

Photo Credits: @alviseni

Originally posted 2011-05-03 22:45:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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The average American, as you can probably expect, is something of a salt connoisseur: on average we consume 3400 milligrams of salt daily, a figure that far surpasses the 2300 milligram limit advised in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This poses a serious issue for many people. While sodium certainly has its benefits – the element balances fluids, controls muscle contraction, and regulates pH levels – it can lead to harmful consequences if consumed in excess over a long period of time. Some of these consequences are well-publicized, such as heart issues, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.

Others, however, are not; salt consumption can increase the chances of Ménière's disease and tinnitus, conditions both of which can lead to hearing loss.

Although a hearing loss cord blood clinical trial recently found that these issues can be countered through stem cell treatment, the fact remains that sodium is harmful for the average American at its current consumption level. But reducing our salt intake is easier said than done. After all, most of our foods contain salt and most of us are conditioned to desire the taste. So how can reduce lower and minimize our sodium intake in an effective manner? Here are a few tips:

-Take salt off the table. It’s one thing if we put salt in our meals from the onset, but many of us go the extra step and shake some extra sodium on our food while sitting at the kitchen table. The easy fix for this problem? Get rid of your salt shaker, or at least remove it from your dining area.

1) Cook more, eat out less. Processed foods and restaurant-cooked meals are, on average, far more salt intensive than a similar product cooked at home. As such, the extra time it takes you to cook in the kitchen could translate into substantial and immediate sodium reductions in your diet.

2) Substitute spices. We use salt so as to insure that our food doesn’t taste bland, but there are other products that can accomplish the same ends without the same consequences. Garlic, onion powder, thyme, oregano, and pepper are always great options in this regard.

3) Transition slowly. Sodium is not an addictive substance, but it nevertheless reflects an acquired taste that we desire more when our bodies are accustomed to higher consumption rates. This means that a gradual reduction of your salt intake can conceivably accomplish the ultimate goal – make you less desirous of salt in the first place. Such a move could stand to improve your eating habits for the long term.

Following these tips can hopefully help you reduce your sodium intake and bring your salt consumption in line with the dietary guidelines. Although sodium has its benefits, you probably can get those benefits without any added salt in your diet. As such, any reduction is an advantageous one – both for your heath and for the substance of your diet.

Photo Credits: kevin dooley

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Having a healthy outlook and low stress level is just as important as the best regiment of diet and exercise. Various factors affect us on a daily basis like money, job, and family demands. It’s easy to let stress overwhelm you and very hard to keep it in check. There are some easy ways that you can include in your everyday like that can help improve your stress level and keep your outlook healthy.

Get Plenty of Sleep:

Depending on the person, most people require an average of six to eight hours of sleep every night. No two people are the same and only you know how much you need. Don’t try and get by with less. Maintaining a healthy and consistent amount of sleep can be one of the best ways to combat high stress levels. Getting a healthy amount of sleep can help you feel revitalized while providing you with more energy to get through your day.

Physical Exercise:

Oddly enough, getting a lot of physical exercise is one way that most people combat stress levels. It’s directly linked with the endorphins that the body sends out when it is engaged in physical movement. Doctors recommend a good regiment of exercise for those who suffer from depression. It’s amazing how much control the body has over the mind and vice versa. This has fostered a lot of growth in different areas like acupuncture and massage therapy. Schools like MassageSchool.org have seen increased enrollment over the last several years.

Seeking Some Advice:

There are times when the best regiment of exercise, a balanced diet, and all the positive thinking in the world just won’t cut it. If you’re finding that you just can’t cope with the stresses of daily life then you might be in need of some basic counseling. There are a lot of professionals out there that can help you and sometimes just having someone to listen can make all the difference.

Getting stress under control is more than just an immediate concern. Long-term stress levels can cause serious health problems in some extreme cases. By implementing some of these techniques, you can have a positive effect towards its reduction. If you have a major concern for either yourself or someone you love then you should contact a health professional that can discuss any major changes that may be necessary.

Photo Credits: Samael Kreutz

Originally posted 2011-04-25 18:01:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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There is no doubt that the obesity epidemic is one of the most troubling health issues affecting not only the United States, but most of the modern industrialized world. The number of those suffering from Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure has skyrocketed in recent years, and all over the world people are starting to see their pants become tighter and tighter as they continue to rely on quick, convenient, and often unhealthy meals as their prime source of

Unfortunately, these diseases so closely correlated to diet and exercise don't always have clear indicators. Diabetes symptoms are usually silent and only until someone passes out from a blood sugar crash do they find out they have diabetes. While symptoms of heart disease are often more apparent, most don't realize that they have heart disease until they suffer from a stroke or heart attack.

To best combat these types of diseases, we need to use preventative care. Proper diet and exercise is a must. However, with so many diets floating around and new reports linking to the “Best Heart Foods For You” detailing different foods each time, most of us don't understand what health food is any more. One of these types of food that has received much attention thanks to diets such as the Mediterranean Diet and the South Beach Diet is fat.

What is a Good Fat?

There are several different types of fat that can be found in our everyday foods, and aside from certain oils, nearly all derive from animal products. Good fats are those that are unsaturated fats which help lower bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol. There are 2 main types of good fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated and both provide great benefits to your health. While monounsaturated fats are better for you, polyunsaturated are great because they are normally found in foods which are high in omega-3 fatty acids – an essential fatty acid we can't produce ourselves.

Where Can I Find Good Fats?

Good fats come from a variety of food sources – not just animal products like other fats do. Great sources for good fats include:

• Cold-water fish
• Nuts such as pistachios, walnuts and almonds
• Olive oil
• Artichokes
• Avocados
• Dark, leafy vegetables

What are Bad Fats?

Trans fats, which are often found in fried food and highly processed foods, such as cakes and doughnuts, are the worst types of fats and have been shown to raise bad cholesterol. Saturated fats are also bad for you, and are found in most dairy products. Although a few studies have suggested that some saturated fats, such as those found in coconut oil, are good for you, people are still advised to eat limited quantities or low fat options of such foods.

Eating a proper diet is the first step in preventing diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and can greatly improve your overall quality of life if done right. There are several websites that provide great recipes such as this one and DiabeticConnect.com, that can help you get on the right track to a healthier you.

Photo Credits: sweetbeetandgreenbean

Originally posted 2011-12-19 14:46:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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If you are not striving to consume a healthy pregnancy diet during your pregnancy, then you may be missing some vital ingredients that are necessary for pregnancy health. Imagine leaving an important ingredient out of a complicated recipe. This is what it is like to leave the wrong nutrients or the wrong food sources out of your diet - You would be missing a vital ingredient that will prevent you from getting everything that you need nutritionally. There are a number of components of a healthy pregnancy diet that you need to take care to consume in order to boost your health during pregnancy.

Your healthy pregnancy diet does not have to be complicated in any way in order to be successful. Use the following healthy pregnancy diet tips as a foundation to ensure that both you and your unborn baby are healthy and happy.

The food pyramid is going to serve as a suitable foundation for determining what types of foods you should be eating. You should be eating healthy carbs, fruits and vegetables and dairy while avoiding fatty meats in favor of lean meats and fish.

Your healthy pregnancy diet should absolutely contain a wide variety of different vegetables. Each vegetable contains different nutrients in different levels. You should strive to introduce plenty of dark leafy green vegetables in your diet, as they provide you with an excellent natural source of iron.

Rather than having three typically large meals every day, you should consider having more frequent portions of smaller meals. When you eat more often but choose smaller meal portions, the result is a healthier metabolism.

You should not be trying to lose weight during your pregnancy through any unhealthy means. The neat thing about eating right is that if you have some weight to lose, it will come off naturally, you do not have to rely on fad diets or other extreme measures to lose weight. Your body knows how much weight you need to promote the wellness of your baby.

Take a multi-vitamin to supplement the nutrients that you are getting from meals, but do not rely on a multi vitamin to replace healthy meals all together. Your body needs to break down real, natural foods in order for you to be healthy and you cannot simply eat poorly and rely on a multi vitamin to make up for it.

Make sure that you are drinking enough water every day. The bare minimum that you should be drinking is 8 glasses of water, but you may need more depending on your body's unique needs.

Consuming a healthy pregnancy diet really is not difficult, but it can go a long way in promoting good health for you and your unborn child.

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Originally posted 2009-10-08 03:35:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Understanding a breast cancer diagnosis often begins with understanding the causes of the cancer. This article is dealing with some of the causes that are associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. This cancer involves abnormal growth of cells that are present in the breast, and breast cancer is something that both women and men can actually get. Some symptoms associated with breast cancer diagnosis include a lump in the breast or a puckering of the surrounding skin. Other people experience an inverted nipple as a symptom before they obtain a breast cancer diagnosis.

Some people experience Paget's disease in the breast, and this contributes to obtaining a breast cancer diagnosis. Other people still may experience swelling, pain, itching, redness or tingling in the breast, or they may experience discharge coming from one of their nipples. All of these symptoms are not going to happen all at once, but each and every one of these symptoms is capable of being a manifestation of breast cancer or a number of other breast diseases as well.

Let us look at some of the causes associated with breast cancer. Here is a list of some of the most common risk factors for breast cancer not only for women but also for men as well:

• The gender of the person,
• Whether or not they are childbearing,
• Issues pertaining to hormones,
• The age of the person,
• The amount of alcohol the person drinks,
• How much fat the person consumes in their diet,
• Propensity for obesity,
• Whether or not the person smokes or consumes tobacco,
• Whether or not the person has been exposed to radiation,

Causes of Breast Cancer

• If you have had a personal history with cancer in one or both of the breasts, then your risk of another breast cancer diagnosis is going to be higher, especially in the other breast.
• If you have a family history of breast cancer diagnosis, then there is a chance that your breast cancer risk will be higher as well.
• Some women have unique cells that appear abnormal when they are looked at under a microscope, and these abnormal cells may actually increase the risk associated with breast cancer and a breast cancer diagnosis.
• Breast cancer happens to be diagnosed much more commonly in women that are Caucasian in comparison to other ethnicities.

Being diagnosed with a breast cancer diagnosis is something that can be really difficult for the patient and his or her family and friends as well. In order to cope better with this period, it would be wise to research more information on your breast cancer diagnosis to gain an understanding of what is happening in your body.

Photo Credits: obo-bobolina

Originally posted 2009-11-30 03:16:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Because breast cancer is so prevalent these days, it is vitally important that you get a mammogram often, which generally means once every one to two years once you are old enough to start having sex. It is vitally important that you begin to take care of your health now, and one of the ways that you can achieve this is to know when to get a mammogram for the best possible health.

Do you know if you are at risk for developing breast cancer? Unfortunately, simply being female and aging is going to put you at risk of developing breast cancer and this is why it is so vitally important that you get a mammogram regularly. The older that you are, the greater your chances will be for you to develop breast cancer in your lifetime. There are also other risk factors that need to be considered as well. If someone in your immediate family has had breast cancer for example, then you are going to be at a much greater risk of developing it your own self.

The real key to knowing whether or not you need to get a mammogram is actually knowing and understanding what a mammogram is and what it can do for you. Breast cancer is unfortunately the leading type of cancer when it comes to women. There are many people that unfortunately are completely unaware of the fact that they have breast cancer and so they do not get the help that they need until it is too late for them to do anything to stop the spread of the cancer, and at this point it can be a silent killer.

Before you know when to get a mammogram, you have to have an understanding of what a mammogram is and what it is all about:

A mammogram is a X-ray picture of your breast. Along with a standard breast exam, a mammogram that is administered by your physician or your nurse can find instances of breast cancer even during earlier stages when they can be treated in the most effective way possible. When you decide to get a mammogram, you are not getting cancer or causing cancer but you are giving yourself a real fighting chance to ward off breast cancer before it is ever allowed to become a problem in your life or to cause problems with your health.

When you get a mammogram, you are just going through a really simple test. There is a technician that takes the picture, and they place your breast in between two panels, and they are X-ray panels that push your breast in between them so that a good picture can be taken. The test may be a little bit uncomfortable and first but it is something you will not have to worry about because the test is quick and painless.

Photo Credits: rfarmer

Originally posted 2009-11-06 03:28:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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How much sugar (cane sugar/beet sugar) do you think each person eats in a year?

A lot! Each person the U.S. consumes about 70 pounds of sugar a year. An individual from Europe, about 92 pounds. Brazil had the highest consumption per person at 123 lbs for this last year! To say we like our sugar is an understatement!

Pros/Cons: Sugar might make foods taste better and give that temporary "sugar high" which makes one feel pretty good. However, increased sugar consumption is associated with obesity, diabetes, and cavities, not to mention crashing after your "sugar high." Some people argue that sugar affects the brain like a drug and can be addictive to certain individuals. Also, sugar has no nutritional value whatsoever. In sum, we could do very well without even eating a bite of the refined stuff.

How much do you eat? Do you know how much refined sugar you eat in a typical day? To put it in perspective, let's take a look at some foods/drinks and their sugar content.

g = Grams; 14 Grams = 1 Tablespoon

• Peanut Butter, 2 Tbsp = 2.5g
• Ketchup, 1 Tbsp = 3.1g
• Graham Crackers, 2 = 7g
• Honey Nut Cheerios, ¾ Cup = 9g
• Krispy Kreme Original Glazed doughnut = 10g
• Edy’s Slow Churned Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, ½ Cup = 13g
• Fruit Loops, 1 Cup = 14g
• Hershey Kisses, 9 kisses = 21g
• Starbucks Nonfat Café Mocha, Tall = 25g
• Reese Peanut Butter Cups, 1 package = 25g
• Ben And Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream, ½ Cup = 28g
• M&Ms, 1 package = 31g
• Slim Fast, Milk Chocolate, 1 can = 34g (and people drink this to lose weight!!!)
• Dr Pepper, 12 fl oz = 40g
• Mountain Dew, 12fl oz = 46g

Tips:

In the days to come, see how you can decrease your sugar intake. You might feel all the better for it too!

If you're craving something sweet, try fresh fruit which has nutrients, fiber, and fewer calories. Or you check out Healthier Sweet Snacks for other ideas on how to satisfy your sweet tooth.

photo credit: lusi
data from

Originally posted 2007-11-09 08:00:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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