Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival

Take Charge of Your Health Care - May 25, 2008

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:44:00 +0000

Welcome to the May 25, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. Beginning with next month’s Carnival, this carnival will be hosted at my http://www.healthplansplus.blogspot.com/ blog. This blog has a page rank of 3 on Google and enjoys some exposure.

Here in the United States, the summer season officially begins with Memorial Day which is being celebrated Monday, May 26th. As we gather here in the States for picnics and outdoor activities, let us not forget the sacrifices that are being made all across the world by soldiers of free countries to protect our citizens’ rights. Although I, along with most of my readers, strongly disagree with the situation that was created in Iraq, we must still honor our soldiers for the duty that they carry out on a daily basis to protect our country.

Now that the summer season has begun in the Northern hemisphere, it is especially important to pay attention to health and safety. Protect your food supplies in the summer heat and during outdoor activities, be careful not to expose your skin to excessive sunlight, and give special attention to swimming pool safety. With the emphasis on outdoor activities during these summer months, I have added a new topic: Health and the Environment.

Health Insurance

Vera Lang presents

Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Alternative Medicine posted at Be Safe Insure .com, saying, "Health Savings Accounts allow you to set up a tax-deductible account to pay for medical expenses that are not covered by your health insurance. This article explains how to take full advantage of this. Must read." Editor's note: This is very much in keeping with the consumer driven healthcare trend.

Ben presents

Health Insurance for New College Graduates - Shopping Around for Affordable Coverage posted at Money Smart Life, saying, "Health insurance tips for college graduates." Editor’s note: It’s nice to know that there are affordable alternatives for college students and recent graduates.

Jose DeJesus MD presents

Cash Before Treatment - The Crisis in Medical Care Funding posted at Physician Entrepreneur, saying, "Dr. Jose DeJesus discusses the unsustainable current arrangement where large payers, including government, insurance, and large employers have negotiated payment rates that do not reflect real healthcare costs. Those who have limited benefit or no health insurance face rates that often reflect distortions created by these large payers, and mandated but unfunded costs. Finally, Dr. DeJesus suggests some alternatives to the current situation."

Health and the Environment

Lavender Farms- Young Living presents

A Better, Healthier Home posted at For the Love of Lavender, saying, "Be smart with your home and its health. A few tips to make a healthier home" Editor’s note: This article has some great tips for a cleaner and healthier home.

Mark Schauss presents

Smog and Premature Death - Science Has Linked Them, The White House Denies It posted at Toxic World Blog - Detoxify and Heal Your Body. Editor’s note: As the author discusses, the Bush White House refuses to acknowledge the science showing the effect of smog on the health of the public. This is true of other countries as well as the almighty dollar is put ahead of the health and welfare of the citizens.

Helene Zemel presents

Stop Smoking in 5 Days with Smoker's Last Chance Home Work Shop posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "The Smoker’s Last Chance Workshop is a 5-day computer and audio program which uses a combination of education, behavior modification, and self-hypnosis to help you stop smoking."

Dental Health

Alex Bo presents

Just Fly Abroad For Cheaper Dental Treatment posted at Worldental - world dental treatment guide. Editor’s note: Dental tourism is one solution to the high cost of dental care in the U.S. As the article points, out do extensive research first.

Alex Bo presents

Travel, Save Money And Treat Your Teeth posted at Worldental - world dental treatment guide. Editor’s note: More information about traveling abroad to save money on extensive dental treatment. More and more Americans and Europeans are doing this.

Helene Zemel presents

Dental Plans vs. Dental Insurance posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "When is a dental plan a better choice than dental insurance? With caps on annual allowable expenses, age limits, disallowance of pre-existing conditions, complicated paperwork, waiting periods, and no coverage for cosmetic dentistry or dental implants, a dental plan may be the better choice."

Phil B. presents

Brush then Floss or Floss then Brush? posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "Do you brush your teeth first and then floss, or do you floss and then brush your teeth?" Editor’s note: Some good dental hygiene pointers are given in this blog post.

Alternative Medicine

Webmaster presents

Living with Pancreatitis posted at Alcoholic Pancreatitis. Editor’s note: Thanks for sharing your experience with pancreatitis. This advice will be helpful to any of our readers who suffer from pancreatitis or know someone with this condition.

Niharika presents

50 Tips for Healthier Skin at Any Age posted at RN Central. Editor’s note: Some great advice, especially with the hot summer months just a few weeks away.

Aparna presents

Home Remedies for nose bleed posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Nose bleed is also called as ‘epistaxis’. It occurs more often in summer and especially in young children as a result of spending long hours in the sun, constant nose-picking, nose polyp or any other infection."

Aparna presents

Aspirin for acne-prone skin posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Aspirin is remarkable for your skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties, capability of sloughing off dead skin cells thus preventing the clogging of pores makes it a terrific product in the treatment of acne and other skin inflammations." Editor’s note: The aspirin face mask formulas in this informative blog post will be helpful to acne sufferers.

Tip Diva presents

Top Ten Tips - Stocking And Organizing A Medicine Cabinet posted at Tip Diva, saying, "Everyone should have a medicine cabinet in their homes in case of a sickness or an emergency. Here’s what to do to make sure you’re stocked and prepared" Editor’s note: The tips on keeping the medicine cabinet safe with small children around are especially important.

Mag Herrera presents

Natural Recipe for a Healthy Prostate posted at Life. Money. Development., saying, "Sharing a reader's natural recipe for a healthy prostate." Editor’s note: The tomatoes in this recipe are a natural source of lycopene which is beneficial to prostate health.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Shaheen Lakhan presents

Medicine and the Law - Part 2 posted at GNIF Brain Blogger. Editor’s note: Shaheen Lakhan makes the point that physician’s need to know the standard of care in their community, and patient’s have an obligation not to bring frivolous lawsuits against doctors who do exercise this standard of care.

Walter presents

Tired? You May Not Be Getting Enough Sleep posted at Highlight HEALTH, saying, "A good night’s sleep is increasingly losing out to late night television, the internet, video games and other modern day distractions, and our health is taking the toll. According to a recent four state study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70% of adults report not getting enough rest or sleep at least once over the past month; 10% report insufficient rest or sleep every day."

Alvaro Fernandez presents

Exercise your brain in the Cognitive Age posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Key questions on Brain Health that consumers should pay attention to."

Alvaro Fernandez presents

Brain Research Interview Series posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "Check out these interviews with leading neuroscientists and psychologists on a variety of topics: brain health, happiness, weight loss, memory..."

Diet & Fitness

FitBuff presents

Waist to Hip Ratio - Men Can't Stomach the Facts posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "One of the most accurate measurements is the waist to hip ratio. The WHR is better for tracking your visceral fat (the most dangerous kind that gathers around your stomach). It's very simple (provided you can handle 3rd-grade level math), and all you need is a measuring tape. Here's how to find your number..."

Ellen Landauer presents

Natural Alternative Health CoachingHealth Freedom Coaching: addiction recovery posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "While this article offers solid nutrition information that can help if you or someone you love is recovering from drug or alcohol dependence, there is a wealth of knowledge here for health-oriented people. In my research on substance abuse, I found a lot of parallels between alcohol and drug addiction and sugar addiction. If you simply want to eat less sugar, this article will help."

Ellen Landauer presents

Belly Fat: Causes and Cures posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "More than exercise and diet are covered in this definitive guide to bringing beauty and suppleness to an area of the body that is the focal point of so many peoples' fitness woes and wishes. A simple exercise anyone can do is part of the rich content of this article I so enjoyed writing. Some of the information may surprise you..."

Paul Li presents

Chocolate + Sports = Better memory posted at Lumosity Brain Health, saying, "With the proper diet and daily physical exercises one can improve their brains, especially in older adults."

Dr Martin W. Russell presents

“I Can Make You Thin” by Paul McKenna - A Review posted at Dr Martin W. Russell. Editor’s note: An excellent book review of “I Can Make You Thin” by Paul McKenna with some advice on eating to stay thin.

Fenny presents

latest-beauty-tips.com • View topic - Nutrient that is needed daily by the body. posted at Fenny Lopez, saying, "Protein is a nutrient that is needed daily by the body. These nutrients are essential for health and must be provided in the foods eaten. We are here to give you an idea of the amount of protein you can find in certain foods, check out."

Trevor McKay presents

Gastric Bypass Surgery And The Food Police posted at All About Gastric Surgery, saying, “After receiving a gastric bypass, many patients feel like they are under constant examination when it comes to the food that they eat. A lot of people have reported that their friends and relatives begin monitoring their eating habits more closely than they do themselves. It is for this reason that individuals are also taught skills that allow them to cope with the added pressures that they will undergo after their gastric bypass is over.”

Larry W presents

How celebrity moms lose weight! posted at Fatbliss. Editor’s note: Some good information on getting back to that pre-pregnancy figure is presented in this blog post.

Larry W presents

Healthy foods which aren't healthy posted at Fatbliss. Editor’s note: This blog post exposes the myth that all health foods are created equal.

Sagar presents

50 Healthy Habits to Take Off 50 Pounds In a Year posted at Nursing Degree Guide. Editor’s note: These 50 weight loss tips will be helpful for anyone following a weight loss program.

Joshua Seth presents

Obesity In America posted at Joshua Seth Blog. Editor’s note: Joshua Seth makes the point that so many people are taking prescription drugs today for preventable conditions that could be controlled by taking control of their health care through better health habits and mind control.

Emma Deangela presents

Body Detoxification – Simple Ways To Detoxify Your Body posted at eDetoxify.com, saying, “If you feel that you are easily tired, feeling sluggish, mind completely drained, you may want to consider detoxify your body. Detoxification is about cleansing and getting back your body to your normal state – eliminating impurities from the blood of liver, lungs, kidneys and other vital organs.”

Emma Deangela presents

Delicious and Yummy Detox Recipes to Keep Your Body Healthy posted at eDetoxify.com. Editor’s note: Emma Deangela presents some good recipes that will help you detoxify your body.

Travis presents

All About Creatine posted at Exercise and Diet Tips Bodybuilding Supplements Reviews - Blog by Travis, saying, "Are you one of the misled who believe that Creatine is a steroid-like compound that is bad for you? Find out all of the facts and more here."

Russ presents

Limu - Breakthrough Nutrition is Changing Lives. updated Fri May 16 2008 11:07 am CDT posted at Restoring Your Finances and Your Faith, saying, "Scientists have called the key ingredient, "possibly the most powerful immune supporting nutrient ever discovered"."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Take Charge of Your Health Care - April 22, 2008

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:13:00 +0000

Take Charge of Your Health Care - April 22, 2008

Blog Carnival
take charge of your health care

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Welcome to the April 22, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. I enjoyed reading this month’s excellent blog posts.

I will be adding a new category to my blog carnival. This category will on dental health. Good dental health is so important to your overall well being, but good dental care can be hard to find and very costly. I have started this category off with my post on Questions to Ask when searching for a Discount Dental Plan.

In celebration of the 16 years that AmeriPlan has been in the discount dental and health benefits field, our team is offering a choice of a free trip or membership in an online discount shopping mall with rebate checks. See my post below entitled: Discount Dental & Health Plans – A Free Gift for You for more details. You must be a resident of the United States to become a member. Our benefit plans are not available in the states of Vermont, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and in Puerto Rico.

I have been asked to host the First Course of the Soup to Nuts Progressive Dinner Carnival on my carnival hosted on April 30, 2008 at http://www.healthplansplus.blogspot.com/. There is still some time to submit posts to the carnival. Just visit blogcarnival.com and look for the A Soup to Nuts Carnival. You can also go directly to the Carnival submission form by entering the following URL: http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_3164.html .

save money on health care

Deb Serani presents At-Home DNA Test For Bipolar Disorder posted at Dr. Deb, saying, "This post looks at the breaking news of at-home genetic testing for Bipolar Disorder."

Tola Seng presents The Inside Tips on How to Save Money On Your Prescriptions posted at Rx4Life.info - Empowering Healthy Living. Editor’s note: Excellent and thorough article on how to save money on medications. The author gives many good tips on how to save money on your prescriptions.

Sonja Stewart presents Infertility…The Low Cost Way Parenting Squad posted at Parenting Squad, saying, "Counting every penny to keep up with infertility bills? Here are tricks and tips they don't want you to know about that can drastically cut your expenses." Editor’s Note: No family should be denied access to fertility treatments due to a lack of finances. This advice should help many families.

Heather Johnson presents Save Money. Live Better? 10 Effects of Wal-Mart Clinics on Healthcare posted at The Nursing Site Blog. Editor’s Note: These low cost Wal-Mart Clinics are a step in the right direction in saving consumers money on health care costs. This will be especially helpful to those who are uninsured or underinsured who might neglect doctor visits.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Lowering Prescription Drug Costs posted at Physician Entrepreneur, saying, "Physicians are primarily concerned with the health and well-being of their patients, and most of them will choose the medicine that will do the job effectively, with minimal side effects, at a price that the patient can afford." Editor’s note: I hope that our Congresspeople read this informative blog post.

Alex M presents What Everybody Should Know About Secured Medical Loans Within Employment Benefits posted at eloanex.com, saying, “Employment benefits are the indelible feature of corporative culture of any self-respecting company. They may comprise from 1/3 to the half of the salaries.”

health insurance

Helene Zemel presents Discount Dental and Health Plans - A Free Gift for You posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "If you are uninsured or underinsured, AmeriPlan's discount dental and health plans can help you save money on your healthcare. Now you can receive a free gift when you sign up for one of our benefit plans."

Deb Serani presents Is The Right To Privacy Gone? posted at Dr. Deb, saying, "This post highlights the loss of privacy in health care."

dental care

Helene Zemel presents Finding an Affordable Dental Plan - Questions to Ask posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Seven out of 10 Americans do not have dental insurance. A discount dental plan may be an affordable alternative. Here are some questions to ask when searching for an affordable dental plan."

alternative medicine

Tiffany Washko presents Natural Remedies for ADD and ADHD posted at Natural Family Living Blog. Editor’s note: This is a very informative and thorough post on alternative and safe treatments for ADD and ADHD.

Ellen Landauer presents Dandelion: Herbal Liver Cleanse, Better Digestion, and More! posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Naturally increase your happiness and health by getting nutrient-rich food right from nature, while being out in the sun and fresh air. Dandelion leaves and buds can be made into delicious dishes while supporting good health of liver, gallbladder and kidneys."

Ellen Landauer presents The Best Probiotic in the World! posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Did you know that truly potent probiotics (beneficial bacteria for digestive system) helps build strong bones by increasing absorption of calcium and other minerals? Not only that, they can even help fight depression!"

Niharika presents Green Health: 30 Environmentally Friendly (and effective) Alternatives to Traditional Medicines and Procedures posted at Online Nursing Degree Directory, saying, “there are a number of alternative medicines and natural treatments which are both effective and green-friendly.”

Aparna presents Healing powers of French clay and cosmetic benefits of clay posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Clay therapy is held in high esteem in alternative medicinal systems like naturopathy and Ayurveda.For long, clay and mud packs have been used to cool the body. Naturopaths insist that clay has a wonderful and unique property of absorbing toxins from the body. According to them, the significance of clay or mud as an external therapeutic agent rivals that of water itself."

Susan presents Medical Marijuana Vending Machines posted at Medical Marijuana. Editor’s note: This is certainly an interesting but controversial idea. Marijuana for medical purposes probably has fewer side effects than many of the so-called legal in all 50 states pain relief medications.

Joe Lasiter presents Find Painful Menstruation Relief posted at Natural Pain Relief, saying, "Adding a vitamin B complex supplement to your daily vitamin can help with menstrual problems. Evening Primrose Oil, taken as a supplement, is said to be very beneficial to those who endure menstrual pain, etc. as well."

James Chambers presents Sweating Problems Treatment Advice posted at Hyperhidrosis. Editor’s note: Some good information on excessive sweating is presented in this blog post.

James Chambers presents Excessive Sweating Advice and Treatments posted at Hyperhidrosis, saying, “Excessive sweating is a medical problem - this sometimes sounds strange, but the irony is that for the person who is suffering from it - it is a real problem and there seems less or no solution for this!.”

consumer driven health care

Tip Diva presents Tip Diva Top Ten Tips - Dealing With A Medical Diagnosis posted at Tip Diva, saying, "Getting any medical diagnosis, regardless of the seriousness, can be a frightening experience. Unfortunately, you can’t change the diagnosis, but you can take charge, and here’s how." Editor’s note: Excellent advice for patients to follow. By getting a second or even a third opinion and by asking lots of questions, you will educate yourself about your illness and know that you have chosen the best treatment course available.

Health Chaos presents Here we go again; more drugs posted at Health Chaos. Editor’s note: The author presents an interesting critique on drug advertisements in newspapers and on television. I have personally noticed that the so-called normal levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose are constantly being reduced to make more of us patients who have to take expensive prescription drugs to stay healthy.

James presents Are Drugs Killing You? posted at FOODMATTERS. Editor’s Note: The fact that modern medicine is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. is a scary notion. There is so much unnecessary surgery done, prescription errors are very prevalent, and the side effects of drugs can be very debilitating. This drug will help your rheumatoid arthritis, but it might give you a life threatening infection or lymphoma (a cancer). Scary. Even scarier is the dosing of healthy children with Ritalin and other psychotropic medications just to control school behavior.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Health and Alzheimer's Prevention posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "Can something be done to improve brain health and reduce Alzheimer's risk? much, it seems...starting with one's job."

diet & fitness

Anmol Mehta presents Free Online Illustrated Kundalini Yoga Poses & Exercises E-Book posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "A free online book of the most important and beneficial Kundalini Yoga Poses and Exercises."

Marc and Angel Hack Life presents 5 Reasons Why Weight Loss Products Keep You Fat posted at Marc and Angel, saying, "Next time you’re tempted by the latest and greatest weight loss craze, ponder these 5 reasons why it’s almost certainly far from great."

Roger Baillargeon presents The Book Reviewer Fan Club posted at The Book Reviewer Fan Club. Editor’s Note: If you eat out at restaurants or fast food places or buy a lot of frozen foods, you will want to read this book review entitles: Eat This not That by David Zinczenko.

Mike Remer presents A Great Weight Reducing Secret My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog. Editor’s note: Some good substitutes for salt are presented in this short blog post.

James Brausch presents This Week Is Meat Only posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s Note: A swap diet definitely keeps a diet plan from getting boring. You actually have something to look forward to each week.

James Brausch presents Calcium + Niacin For Weight Loss? posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: It will be interesting to follow the results of James Brausch’s experiments with different diets and weight loss supplements.

Alex M presents What Everybody Should Know About Low Carb Dieting For Beginners posted at Ways To Become & Stay Slim. Editor’s note: Some good advice for those wishing to follow a low carb diet.

Alex M presents Find Out About The Dangers Associated With Dieting posted at Ways To Become & Stay Slim, saying, “ Dieting should have a sensible basis otherwise it may do nothing but undermine and ruin your health.”

Joshua Seth presents Aspartame Dangers posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, "In my weight loss hypnosis sessions I repeatedly implant the suggestion to “make healthy food choices”, but how are you supposed to know what’s healthy when deadly poisons are labeled as sugar-free “diet food”?"

Alvaro Fernandez presents Relaxing for your Brain’s Sake posted at SharpBrains, saying, "On the importance of stress management for brain health, by Gregory Kellett"

Mark Schauss presents Links to Help Inform You About How To Achieve Victory Over Our Toxic World posted at Toxic World Blog - Detoxify and Heal Your Body. Editors Note: Some excellent links on the subject are presented in this post.

Ellen Landauer presents Natural Alternative Health CoachingHealth Freedom Coaching: probiotics posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Did you know that probiotics (beneficial bacteria for the digestive system) can do more than just helping digestion? They can help assimilate protein and minerals to build better muscle and bones, and even help you feel happier!"

George L Smyth presents One Minute How-To - How To Keep From Sneezing posted at George L Smyth, saying, "George L Smyth offers a handful of tips that could help keep you from sneezing."

Astrid Lee presents Alkaline Foods That Will Help You Restore Alkalinity To Your Body posted at World Healing, saying, "What does it mean to have an acidic system? Acid causes oxidation which in turn causes decay. Disturbances related to excess acidity are: weakening of the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and bones. Acid has also been linked to problems with digestion such as: leaky gut syndrome, IBS, Ulcers. It has been linked to Candida and many types of allergies. Chronic Fatigue is just one of the many symptoms of excess acid. This article sets out what to eat to shift the balance for good!"

miscellaneous topics

Alex Blackwell presents Seven Practical Personal Development Strategies posted at The Next 45 Years, saying, “Sometimes building a solid foundation when we make the decision to walk away from our comfort zones gives us the firm footing we need to go forward – to explore and to live what’s next in our lives.”

Life. Money. Development presents The 7 Attributes of Leadership posted at Life. Money. Development., saying, "An excellent presentation of the attributes every leader should have."

George L Smyth presents One Minute How-To - How To Clean A Sponge posted at George L Smyth, saying, "George Smyth explains how you can rid your sponge of 99.9999% of the bacteria in the sponge you wipe on things."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival

Take Charge of Your Health Care - March 23, 2008

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 10:26:00 +0000

take charge of your health care - March 23, 2008

Welcome to the March 23, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. As you gather with your family this weekend, may I wish all of my readers a happy and healthy holiday. Spring is the season of renewal and hopefully these health tips will help your family stay fit and healthy and also save money on your healthcare.

We get some excellent, high quality submissions to this carnival. I do accept about 80 to 85% of all submissions. If you submitted more than 2 posts, I have chosen your 2 best or most relevant posts. I have also eliminated any posts that are duplicates from the last edition or that are not relevant to healthcare. Please feel free to resubmit any posts that were not included to the next issue of Take Charge of Your Healthcare Carnival.

health insurance

Helene Zemel presents Affordable Dental Plans posted at Affordable Dental Plans, saying, "Good dental care is so important to your family’s good health and well-being. Who can underestimate the importance of a pleasant and attractive smile and the good health benefits that come with that healthy smile? Yet over 7 out of 10 Americans lack affordable dental plans. Discount Dental Plans can provide an affordable alternative to costly dental insurance and offer benefits not provided by insurance policies."

Wenchypoo presents Universal Health Care Blues: Patient Stacking posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. Editor’s note: An interesting perspective on some of the problems with universal health care.

Shaheen Lakhan presents Are Insurance Copayments Unethical? posted at GNIF Brain Blogger, saying, “A large-scale study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients who are required to pay $10 or more for a mammogram are significantly less likely to have the examination on a biannual basis when compared to individuals whose insurance plans provided complete coverage.”

John Cogan presents State efforts to increase health coverage come with a price--higher income taxes posted at Regulating Health Insurance, saying, "In an effort to increase health insurance coverage, many states have passed laws to increase the maximum age limit for young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance policies. Whether you are in favor of these coverage mandates or not, there’s one hitch to such laws that isn’t often mentioned: the tax consequences for parents keeping their twentysomething children on the family's employer-based health insurance coverage." Editor’s note: One must weigh this cost versus the probably higher cost of obtaining a separate health insurance policy for the grown child. With the economic downturn, there aren’t a lot of entry level jobs for people fresh out of high school and college which would offer decent benefits.

Raymond presents How To Avoid A Major Cause Of Bankruptcy By Getting Basic Health Insurance Coverage posted at Money Blue Book. Editor’s note: as the author notes, having adequate health insurance can help you avoid bankruptcy provided you can afford health insurance and are not turned down due to pre-existing conditions.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Usual and Customary Charges Artificially Rigged posted at Physician Entrepreneur, saying, “Out of network health insurance claims and claims paid through indemnity based health plans are settled based on a percentage of the “usual and customary” or “reasonable and customary” charges prevailing in the area where the service is performed. Physicians and patients have long felt that these rates were understated, which leaves patients with a much larger share of healthcare costs than they should actually bear.”

save money on health care

Helene Zemel presents Great News! AmeriPlan $25 Business Opportunity Extended to March 31st posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Great News! Our $25 new business promotion has been extended to March 31, 2008. Now you can start your own business as a benefits consultant for just $25." Editor’s note: If you are interested in a home-based business in the health benefits field, there are just a few days remaining to take advantage of this opportunity.

Alex M presents What Everybody Should Know About Secured Medical Loans Within Employment Benefits posted at eloanex.com. Editor’s note: Some good information here on employee benefits.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Discouraging Frivolous Malpractice Lawsuits posted at Physician Entrepreneur. Editor’s note: Frivolous lawsuits are definitely a factor in increasing the cost of healthcare.

alternative medicine

Rickey Henderson presents Aaaargh, Rickey's Back! posted at Riding with Rickey. Editor’s note: Some good advice on sciatica in the comments on this blog.

David Richeson presents Beginning my Detox from Toxic Mercury Dental Amalgam Fillings posted at 360 Degree Success, saying, "Why dental amalgam fillings are so toxic, and how to safely detoxify your body." Editor’s note: Thanks for bringing attention to the dangers of amalgam fillings. Most people do not realize that the silver amalgam used by dentists contain mercury which is highly toxic.

Lovelyn presents Self Massage: Trigger Point Therapy posted at The Art of Balanced Living. Editor’s note: Some excellent information on performing self massage to relieve discomfort at trigger points.

Amy S Quinn presents The Top 50 Alternative Medicine Blogs posted at Online Nursing Degree Directory. Editor’s note: A comprehensive list of alternative medicine blogs.

Deb Serani presents Understanding Research: Antidepressant Data posted at Dr. Deb, saying, "This post looks at how one needs to consider "research" when making healthcare decisions." Editor’s note: Some good information on anti-depressant medications can be found in this blog post.

Lori Jewett presents Yes Virginia - There is a Perimenopause posted at Between Us Girls, saying, "What you should know about perimenopause that your doctor may not be telling you."

Burton Kent presents Legal Drugs Kill Far More People Than Illegal Drugs! Acupuncture Marketing for Clinics posted at Acupuncture Marketing for Clinics, saying, "Discusses how healing can only come from the body's natural healing processes. Attempting to bypass or repress these processes just makes things worse."

Ellen Landauer presents Stress from Electromagnetic Fields: Natural Solutions posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Stress from electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution is more significant than most people know. Simple tips can help you feel more happy and relaxed at home, and minimize deleterious effects when you are out and about."

Chris presents Tai Chi Ruler: The Cure For a Sore Lower Back posted at Martial Development, saying, "Learn this simple Tai Chi form to cure and prevent back pain. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels."

consumer driven health care

Jose DeJesus MD presents Doctors Get Bonuses for Raising the Bar posted at Physician Entrepreneur. Editor’s note: Dr. DeJesus discusses how some insurance and health management companies are paying a bonus to physician’s who emphasize preventative care.

Rachel Walden presents Tips for Savvy Medical Web Surfing? - A Critique posted at Women's Health News, saying, "This post is my critique, as a medical librarian, of CNN's recent "Tips for Savvy Medical Web Surfing" article. Another's commentary on this article is linked in the post."

Eric Cech presents Essential Oils for Aromatherapy from Synergy Essentials posted at Synergy Essential Oils, Aromatherapy for Professionals and Enthusiasts. Editor’s note: You will find some excellent descriptions and good information on various essential oils on this site.

Pete Quily presents Top 10 Ways to Manage Adult ADHD posted at Adult ADD Strengths. Editor’s note: Very informative article listing various alternatives for dealing with adult ADD.

Aparna presents Correcting a gummy smile posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "A gummy smile is one where the gums outsize the teeth, making your teeth appear shorter and the gums more prominent. Or it could be that the gum line is not symmetrical with the teeth. If you have a gummy smile you may feel self-conscious to smile or laugh freely with others. You need not live with it. So if it’s bothering you, ask your dentist about the corrective techniques."

Aparna presents Sleeping for long hours is not good for health posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Insomnia is by far the most talked about and discussed sleep disorder. Tons of information is available on this topic and countless remedies are suggested by all and sundry to overcome this problem. Comparatively, excessive sleep and its effects on health rarely get so much attention and this issue hardly finds a place in the conversation of laymen."

Charles H. Green presents Who(m) Do You Trust? posted at Trust Matters, saying, "Trust in your doctor isn't just a matter of knowing he's skilled, but in knowing he will listen to you, not just dictate to you."

Raymond presents My Experience With Lasik Eye Surgery - Thoughts About Laser Vision Correction - Is It Worth The Cost and Risks? posted at Money Blue Book. Editor’s note: Very informative post about Lasik eye surgery. This is certainly a viable and safe alternative for people who want freedom from contact lenses or thick eyeglasses.

Silveral presents Celebrity skin care – secret to perfect skin posted at Celebrity News, and Gossip. Editor’s note: Good information on skin care and celebrity skin care products.

diet & fitness

Sagar presents 20 Simple At Your Desk Exercises For Web Workers posted at Online Nursing Degree Directory. Editor’s note: Some great exercises that can be easily performed right at your desk.

Mike Remer presents Celebrating! My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog. Editor’s note: This post will help motivate you to start exercising again.

Mike Remer presents Wish Exercise wasn’t so Hard? My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog, saying, “When you were a kid, what did you do when you went out to play? Right, you ran around, climbed trees, jumped rope. You were moving and called it ”play.” What physical activities can you add to your life or increase today — or at the very latest tomorrow -and call it play?”

Life. Money. Development. presents Diet Tips for Preventing High Cholesterol Levels posted at Life. Money. Development., saying, "A neat collection of diet tips for keeping cholesterol in recommended levels."

Alex Blackwell presents 45 Tips for a Happier, Simpler and More Productive Life posted at The Next 45 Years, saying, “Every now and then we need a nudge, a little extra help. Life can be challenging and sometimes it can test our resolve.” determination and faith. When Life surprises us with a pop-quiz, it’s good to know where we can find some of the answers.” Editor’s note: 45 tips to help you stay mentally fit and happy.

Anwar Daniels presents Eat Healthier. Try Black Eyed Peas. posted at cannedfitness.com, saying, "A great write up on the benefits of black eyed peas and how they can help you with your goals of living a healthier life."

Joshua Seth presents 10 Reasons Why Weight Loss Diets Fail posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, ": "Did you know that over 90% of people actually gain weight within 6 months of dieting! Here are the top 10 reasons why...""

James D. Brausch presents Is Your Keyboard Making You Fat? posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: I have to admit that I am guilty of eating at the computer, but actually the no eating at the computer rule can help you stay fit.

James D. Brausch presents This Week's Supplement: Calcium posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: James Brausch reports here on his experience with various supplements and weight loss results.

Kavit Haria presents Easy weight loss by counting your calories posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Editor’s note: Some good advice on using calorie counting as a weight loss method.

Kavit Haria presents Top five tips to healthy meal planning posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria, saying: “A common reason many people don’t eat healthy is because “they don’t have the time”. By carefully planning your meal in advance, you set yourself up for a healthy week as well as saving time and money when you go shopping. “

Louis presents Learn To Dance Like The Stars And Lose Weight At The Same Time! posted at "Finally, You Too Can Master Ballroom Dancing Easily From Dancing With The Stars' Louis van Amstel", saying, "Who says losing weight can't be fun?"

The Push Up Coach presents Pros And Cons Of A Personal Trainer posted at The 1000 Push Ups Club, saying, "1000 Push Up Club will help you stay motivated as you do every push up and help you reach your goal - whether it is 50, 100, or 1,000 push ups."

Neelakantha presents 100 Weird Facts About the Human Body posted at Bootstrapper. Editor’s note: Some very interesting facts about the human body posted here. A good read.

Neelakantha presents The Webmaster?s Guide to Better Health ? 101 Tips and Resources posted at WHDb. Editor’s note: Well researched list of resources and articles on various health matters.

Anmol Mehta presents Free Online Yoga Videos Launched posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "Free online yoga videos to help you achieve physical, emotional and mental mastery."

Wenchypoo presents The "No-Label Diet" One Year Later posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. Editor’s note: This diet will help reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol. Good low calorie salad dressing recipe in the comments section.

Ellen Landauer presents Insomnia: Better Sleep Can Be Yours posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "A wealth of sleep-optimizing tips, including the recipe for my special supplement nightcap, diet tips for better sleep, and details on a number of other natural ways to get better sleep."

Randy Powell presents Cardiovascular Health posted at Eating-Veggies.com: Alkaline Diet blog. Editor’s note: Some very good dietary advice that we can all follow.

Miscellaneous

Ariah Fine presents What If We Wiped for Our Great, Great, Great, Great Grandchildren? posted at Trying to Follow. Editor’s note: Sometimes small steps can make a big difference when it comes to conservations. Thoughtful article about conservation.
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James Chambers presents Combat Hyperhidrosis with Botox posted at Hyperhidrosis. Editor’s note: Good information on a possible treatment option for excessive sweating.

James Chambers presents Natural Deodorants Do They Stop Sweating? posted at Hyperhidrosis. Editor’s note: Some good information on natural deodorants that can help if you suffer from hyperhidrosis.

zerg presents Suffering in Mesothelioma posted at Mesothelioma News Blog, saying, "Some information on how to treat and what actions take when somebody suffers from mesothelioma - how to find best lawyer."

Asbestos presents Suffering in Mesothelioma posted at Mesothelioma News Blog, saying, "It is possible to live well with mesothelioma."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival

Take Charge of Your Health Care February 23, 2008

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:10:00 +0000

take charge of your health care - February 23, 2008
Blog Carnival
take charge of your health care

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Welcome to the February 23, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. February is heart health month, so read through some of our diet and fitness, consumer directed healthcare, and alternative medicine selections to help you stay fit and healthy.

If you are a U.S. resident, and are interested in a career in the health benefits industry, see my article “The AmeriPlan Business Opportunity” which is posted below. This month, AmeriPlan, the discount medical and dental benefits company that I am a Senior Regional Sales Director for, has an excellent promotion going on. You can start your own health benefits business for just $25.00. There are still a few days to take advantage of this opportunity.

Again we received many quality posts this month. I do accept about 80% of the submissions because they are generally quite good and on topic. If you submitted more than 2 posts, you will find that I have posted your 2 articles most relevant to this carnival. Feel free to resubmit your post to next month’s carnival.

Happy reading and stay healthy.

health insurance

Raymond presents How To Avoid A Major Cause Of Bankruptcy By Getting Basic Health Insurance Coverage posted at Money Blue Book, saying, “Currently, unpaid medical bills due to unforeseen and catastrophic medical related ailments compete with debt mismanagement and credit card bills as the number one contributor to personal bankruptcy.”

Helene Zemel presents Finding an Affordable Dental Plan - Questions to Ask posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Seven out of 10 Americans do not have dental insurance. A discount dental plan may be an affordable alternative. Here are some questions to ask when searching for an affordable dental plan."

D.A. presents What You Need to Know When Choosing Dental Insurance posted at Dental Aggregate. This post provides some excellent advice for selecting a dental insurance plan plus an explanation of insurance terms you should know.

Health Chaos presents The wheel goes round and round posted at Health Chaos. Editor’s note: An interesting commentary about the problems caused by a lack of health insurance.

save money on health care

Helene Zemel presents The AmeriPlan Business Opportunity Get Started for $25 posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "For a limited time only, you can start your AmeriPlan business for just $25.00 for the first month. This promotion begins on February 1, 2008 and ends February 29th, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. This is an excellent opportunity to try a new business and see if it is right for you with minimal financial risk."

Pinyo Bhulipongsanon presents Health Insurance, Medical Expenses, and Unscrupulous Doctors posted at Moolanomy. Editor’s note: The author makes the good point that it is important to question your healthcare provider about all procedures, medications, and tests.

Raymond presents Deadline Approaching To Use Up Your Flexible Spending Account - Use It Or Lose It Money Blue Book posted at Money Blue Book. Editor’s note: This post has excellent information regarding flexible spending accounts and is a reminder to max out your flexible spending account by the end of the year.

TheNourisher presents Forgotten tooth decay cure : heal your cavities and prevent root canals posted at Nourished Magazine, saying, "Contrary to popular belief, cavities aren't avoided by brushing your teeth, and you don't need a dentist to prevent tooth decay. In his search for a cure for his one-year-old daughter's cavities, Rami Nagel came across the work of Dr Weston A Price, a dentist who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, discovered the true cause of dental decay." Editor’s note: This informative article is a real eye opener and should help those of us who suffer from an above normal amount of tooth decay.

Walter presents Living Healthy Isn’t Cost Saving, It’s Cost Effective posted at Highlight HEALTH, saying, “The value of healthy-living is reduced yearly healthcare costs earlier in life and increased life expectancy. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”.

alternative medicine

Mitch McDonald presents All Natural Home Remedy for Acne Breakouts posted at FYI About.com. Editor’s note: Some good information on acne is posted here.

Christian Goodman presents How Being Overweight Increases the Risk of Hypertension Christian Goodman posted at Christian Goodman, saying, "Hypertension and obesity are the two most serious health threats we face."

Christian Goodman presents Tired? It could be Fibromyalgia posted at Christian Goodman, saying, "Fibromyalgia has no known cause. Doctors all over the world suggest several catalysts for the syndrome, some conflicting with each other. Others even think it’s all in the mind. But simple exercises can heal Fibromyalgia."

Joe Lasiter presents Arthritis: Home Remedies posted at Natural Pain Relief, saying, "Soaks, Rubs, Teas and supplements have been used for centuries to reduce the pain of arthritis, here are a few you may not have tried."

Michael H presents Deodorants, Antiperspirants and Your Health posted at ControlYourImpact.com. Editor’s note: Thanks for informing us of the dangers of antiperspirants. I’m so glad that my father, many years ago, believed that stopping perspiration was very unnatural.

Joe Lasiter presents Herbal Home remedies posted at Natural Pain Relief, saying, "Medicinal plants have been used for centuries to provide healing before western medicine as we now know it with its manufactured pills and chemicals."

Spencer Jones presents Why Take Colloidal Silver? posted at Colloidal Silver Secrets, saying, "One of the easiest ways to take charge of your health is through the use of colloidal silver for boosting immunity and fighting infection."

Ellen Landauer presents Nutritional Supplements for Depression and Anxiety posted at Health Freedom Coaching. Editor’s note: Thanks for the great information on nutritional supplements that can aid in depression and anxiety. These supplements are certainly a much better alternative than the expensive drugs with their dangerous side effects which are pushed by the pharmaceutical companies.

Kavit Haria presents Facial Yoga - Get rid of your wrinkles faster posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Editor’s note: This is certainly much safer than either Botox or cosmetic surgery and attending classes has social benefits too.

consumer driven health care

James Chambers presents Hyperhidrosis Treatment Advice and Options posted at Hyperhidrosis. Editor’s note: Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis can be problematic. Here are some treatments to look into.

James Chambers presents Hyperhidrosis Causes posted at Hyperhidrosis. More on hyperhidrosis.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Plasticity, Health and Fitness Books posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Enjoy this list of 20 great books on the brain, learning and healthy aging."

MT presents How To Protect Yourself From Bird Flu Or Avian Flu? posted at MT Herald Dot Com. Editor’s note: Some good information especially if you are traveling to a country where there have been bird flu cases.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Fitness/ Training Newsletter: January Wrap-Up posted at SharpBrains, saying, "A selection of articles on cognitive and emotional training, focused on implications on health and wellness."

Mitch McDonald presents Maintain The Basics Of Elderly Personal Hygiene posted at FYI About.com. Editor’s note: This is good information for anyone who must care for the elderly.

Joyce Dowling presents Solution to TMJ! & should reduce tinnitus, too - why didn't I know? Everyone should know! posted at UU Mom, saying, "Not sure if that category totally fits, but I didn't give up until I found a solution to my health problem & even my holistic doctor missed the right diagnosis. Now I know the cause, the solution is soon to come. People need to know they don't need to suffer like this."

Aparna presents Can a shampoo session at a beauty salon trigger strokes in the elderly? posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Shampooing hair at a salon can prove to be dangerous and even fatal to the aged. Ever heard of the ‘Sink Shampoo Syndrome (SSS)’? During a shampoo session at a beauty salon, the head is bent backward over the edge of a basin and if this position is maintained for a long time it can trigger strokes in elderly persons." Editor’s note: I never would have thought of this danger, but it certainly makes sense. Thanks for informing us of this hidden danger

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Preparing For Medical Tests posted at Tip Diva, saying, "Most people have to take medical tests at some point in their lives, whether one-off or recurring. Here’s how to make preparing for these medical tests easier." Editor’s note: excellent information on preparing for medical tests.

FruitfulTime presents Are you sleeping enough? posted at FruitfulTime Blog. Editor’s note: Thanks for reminding us of the repair benefits of sleeping.

Daniel Lafleche presents A fascinating clip from the film Malaria Parasites posted at Film and Video Marketplace Blog, saying, "Why is it that 30 years ago malaria in Africa was no more serious than the flu? This 5-minute video provides an overview on what has happened, and pointers to help solve this health problem."

diet & fitness

Joshua Seth presents Weight Loss Tips posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, ""‘I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of all the misinformation from the weight loss industry causing people to waste their time and money on fad diets that only end up making them fatter! The CDC reports that over 120 million Americans are overweight and the problem is just getting worse. Together we can do something about it."

Mike Remer presents Oh, Oh! Here Come the Holidays and the Cold Weather My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog. Editor’s note: It’s several weeks past the holidays, but these Winter fitness tips are great for those of us in colder climates.

James D. Brausch presents Does The Switch Diet Work Long-term? posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: What a good idea switching diets! Most diets don’t work because people get bored with the same eating plans. People might even look forward to their new diet each week.

James D. Brausch presents Bathroom Scales posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: A humorous commentary on modern bathroom scales.

Joshua Seth presents Your Weight Loss Mindset posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, ""Answer these four questions to start improving your health today. By doing so you’re taking the steps to do something good for yourself, as well as the people who love you. You’re taking charge of your health and your life. The greatest gift you can give yourself and those who love you is good health. Why wait any longer?" Editor’s note: It certainly makes sense to focus on your mindset for success with dieting rather than on diet pills or drastic diets.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Chronic Neck Pain Patients - Danish Study Describes Effective Treatment posted at Physician Entrepreneur. Editor’s note: Good article on the effectiveness of strength training and exercise for chronic neck pain.

Tiffany Washko presents Raw Food is Easier on the Budget posted at Raw Food Blog. Editor’s note: Raw foods are not only beneficial to your good health but can help reduce your food budget.

Roger Haeske presents I'll Be Eating At A Steakhouse Tonight posted at Raw Food Diet, Bodyweight Fitness and Peak Performance Living. Editor’s note: A very interesting post about the author’s experience in attending a friend’s restaurant party while adhering to his raw diet plan.

MT presents New Year Health Care Resolutions posted at MT Herald Dot Com. Editor’s note: It’s not too late to make New Year’s resolutions concerning your health.

Frederic Patenaude presents 24-Hour Special for Lightning Speed Fitness Program posted at Frederic Patenaude Talks, saying, "This is a blog entry for a program which makes fitness easy (with some effort) and affordable. No more fancy equipment or expensive gym memberships....for the average "joe" who wants to stay in decent shape, these exercises help you to use your own body weight to achieve fitness. The exercises can be done anytime, anywhere, within roughly 15-20 minutes. Convenient and efffective!"

Mike Remer presents Celebrating! My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog. Editor’s note: Thanks for your inspirational message about exercising.

Daniel Lafleche presents Sell Sheet Sampler: Fascinating clip from documentary 'Shredded' posted at Film and Video Marketplace Blog, saying, "5-minute clip that provides a unusual glimpse into the problem of body-image for teenage males, and warns about steroid use."

Randy Powell presents Good Fats! posted at Eating-Veggies.com: Alkaline Diet blog, saying, “The long term effects of an alkaline diet and consumption of healthy fats and oils will improve the quality of life for these people long into their adult years and help them bypass some of the health problems experienced by our elders.”

Anmol Mehta presents Free Online Hatha Yoga Poses Galleries posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "Free online e-book of illustrated Hatha Yoga poses and exercises to help you start or deepen your Yoga practice."

Karl presents Self Hypnosis: Handle Stress with Self Hypnosis posted at SELF HYPNOSIS: Weight Loss, Quit Smoking Self Hypnosis!. Editor’s note: Some good tips on the use of self hypnosis for stress reduction and relaxation.

Frederic Patenaude presents Staying a Step Ahead of Aging posted at Frederic Patenaude Talks, saying, "As we age, increasing one's fitness levels is imperative to succeed with youth, vitality, and weight loss goals."

Alfa Mercado presents 40 Ways To Lose Weight Fast? And Keep It Off posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Editor’s note: Here are some excellent tips for losing weight.

Alfa Mercado presents Five awesome ways to improve breakfast posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Editor’s note: You’ll be hungry for breakfast after you read this article.

miscellaneous

Sagar presents Online Nursing Degree Directory » Blog Archive » 10 Terrible Patients You’ll Find In Every Hospital …And How To Deal With Them posted at Online Nursing Degree Directory. Editor’s note: A humorous look at various patients that you will come across as a healthcare provider.

Rebecca Suzanne Dean presents How To Research 5 Times Faster posted at Rebecca Dean. Editor’s note: Some good information on the value of speed reading.

Rob Moshe presents Live Your Best Life By Serving Others posted at Rob Schaumer, saying, "This is not necessarily a fitting post for your carnival. Once the project starts, each day I will recognize a fellow blogger that "Helped""

Joshua Wagner presents Focus on One Thing at a Time (Diversity is Death) posted at Total Possibility, saying, “If we lose our focus and diversify our life so much that we spread ourselves thin, all we are going to be able to do is to stare at someone when they need a response.”

jozy presents Asbestos can be fully removed - invention from Poland. posted at Mesothelioma Survivor Portal, saying, "Great invention."

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival January 22, 2008 Edition

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:02:00 +0000

Take Charge of Your Health Care - January 22, 2008

Welcome to the January 22, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. First of all, I wish all of my readers a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year. I hope that all of you were able to spend some good, quality time with your friends and family. My own family is small, but I feel that I have made so many friends through business, on the internet, and in the blogosphere.

Our blog is becoming more and more popular each month. This month we have received 54 posts. Since I am the sole host for Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival, I would like to request that each author send in no more than 2 posts per carnival. In future issues, I will select your best 2, if you submit more than 2 good content articles. All posts must be on topic, provide good content, and be family friendly to be included. Submissions that consist primarily of a sales landing page will not be included.

Here in the United States we are busy with the primary process which culminates in the selection of which candidate will be the nominee for president at each party’s convention. November 2008, we will be electing a new President of the United States. This new President will have formidable challenges, one of which will be to fix the broken U.S. health care system in which 47,000,000 Americans do not have health insurance and even more are underinsured. With this in mind, I would like to begin this carnival with some posts on health insurance.

This being the New Year, many excellent posts have been submitted on diet and fitness. Hopefully these posts will help you with your New Year’s Resolutions.

health insurance

Helene Zemel presents The Shame of the American Health Care System posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Over 47,000,000 Americans have no health insurance—more than 15 % of the population. Even more Americans do not have any dental insurance. With the exception of the United States, most developed countries have a National health system which benefits all of its citizens both rich and poor. Although the United States is a first world country, for the more than 47 million uninsured, medical care is third world."

Bill presents What are the Benefits of a Dental Plan? posted at I Need a Dental Plan. There is some good information on choosing a discount dental plan in this post plus some advice on dental hygiene.

Helene Zemel presents A Little Known Secret - Patient Assistance Programs posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "For over 15 years, more than 200 pharmaceutical companies representing 1,100 brand-name drugs have been providing prescription medications to eligible individuals through Patient Assistance Programs. These programs assist eligible individuals who cannot afford their prescription medications due to limited income or other financial hardships. A major problem is that few people know about the existence of these programs or understand the complicated application and approval process required to participate in a Prescription Assistance Program."

consumer directed health care

Here is your opportunity to get some good recommendations on some common problems by a licensed registered pharmacist:

Carla presents 5 most common pharmacy questions posted at Carla
In another informative post, Carla presents Got a stuffy nose? Cough and cold medication explained posted at Carla.

Staying on the topic of medications, Dr Martin W. Russell presents Self Help For Sleeping Pills - The Campaign posted at Dr Martin W. Russell, saying, "Save money on your sleeping medication the best way possible." For those readers with sleep problems, Dr. Russell includes a link for people who want to get a good night's sleep, but who have been worried about the risks of sleeping pills or potions.

There is increasing evidence that computer based cognitive training can help prevent memory loss in the elderly. Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Training: No Magic Bullet, Yet Useful Tool. Interview with Elizabeth Zelinski posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Newsweek says that "computer-based brain training has shot up from essentially zero in 2005 to $80 million this year, according to the consulting firm SharpBrains". Here goes an interview with a leading scientist."

Andrew Michaels presents Relearning to See: My Plan to Regain My Waning Eyesight and Hurl My Glasses Off A Cliff posted at Lifecrafting, saying, "One man's quest to repair his vision." Editor’s note: I hope that Mr. Michaels will report back on the benefits that he finds from this vision improvement course. I remember that my childhood optometrist was very big on visual training. I know that some supplements such as lutein, bilberry, eyebright, and carnosine can have a positive effect on vision problems.

Save Money presents LASIK Eye Surgery - My Experiences - Day 1 posted at How I Save Money.net. Editor’s note: If you are considering Lasik eye surgery, this is a very informative blog to read.

Kate Baggott presents Labor and Birth from A to Z posted at Babylune, saying, "Everything you should know about labor and delivery with even more fun stuff thrown in." Editor’s note: Excellent blog for anyone expecting a baby.

jonn presents Mesothelioma Survivor posted at Mesothelioma News Blog, saying, "Psychology on what to do when diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer." Editor’s note: This is very positive advice which will help you advocate if you are a victim of this serious illness. The author recommends a book by a Mesothelioma survivor.

diet & fitness

James D. Brausch presents New Years Resolutions posted at Weight Loss Dude. This is a good place to start your New Year’s reading.

Alex Blackwell presents Five Good Reasons to Exercise posted at The Next 45 Years. Editor’s note: Excellent post about the physical and mental benefits of an exercise routine and the importance of “me time.”

Maria Fernandez presents Weight loss myths demystified posted at Health and beauty - blog, saying, "This post gives you an assessment of long-held myths about dieting, and tips of how to lose weight successfully." Editor’s note: The author gives some excellent and sound diet advice which will help you lost weight sensibly.

andrew784 presents 100 Weight Loss Tips & Tricks posted at Personal Hack, saying, "Simple, quick and easy weight loss tips that cover every aspect of weight loss: Physical Activity Level, Eating Habits, and the right weight loss Mindset." Editor’s note: Another excellent post. These diet and weight loss tips are sure to help you lose weight sensibly.

Lucynda Riley presents Onions are Medicinal posted at Flower, Field, and Forest. This is an informative blog post about the medicinal and health benefits of onions.

For some good diet tips read the following posts by Lucynda Riley:

Handeling Cravings posted at A Public Diet.

Its not how much were eating its what were eating. posted at A Public Diet.

Dieting during Christmas posted at A Public Diet.

Mike Remer presents Wish Exercise wasn’t so Hard? My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog. The author reminds us that: “When you were a kid, what did you do when you went out to play? Right, you ran around, climbed trees, jumped rope. You were moving and called it ”play.” What physical activities can you add to your lifeor increase today — or at the very latest tomorrow -and call it play?”

Roger Haeske presents This Hang-Up Is Killing You, But You Don't Care posted at Raw Food Diet, Bodyweight Fitness and Peak Performance Living. Editor’s note: Some good advice from our Raw Food Diet expert.

Lucynda Riley presents Ham Bone Soup posted at A Public Diet. Editor’s note: This recipe sounds hearty, nutritious, and just perfect for the frigid weather we are having in much of the U.S. this week.

Abdulrasool Sumar presents Gardening & Good Diet Leads to Less Lung Cancer Risk posted at Mesothelioma Cancer, saying, "Cancer scientists at the The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center say that by simply eating 4 or more servings of green salad a week, and doing their gardening once or twice a week, people (both smokers and non-smokers) will be able to substantially reduce their risks of developing lung cancer during their lifetimes. This is a matter of doing physical exercise by gardening, and having good nutrition by eating green salads and other healthy meals."

Samuel Bryson presents High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): posted at Total Wellbeing. Editor’s note: Some good information on exercise physiology is presented in this article.

Alfa Mercado presents How to add more tofu to your daily diet posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Tofu can be a much healthier substitute for meat while supplying protein and calcium to the diet. The author gives some excellent tips for cooking with tofu.

Alfa Mercado presents How to cut the fat and feel good posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Obesity is becoming a global problem, not just an American or British problem. Alfa Mercado gives some good tips for losing weight.

Samuel Bryson presents Why Diets Don’t Work: posted at Total Wellbeing. This post focuses on the psychology of dieting. The author states that: “Dieting is a flawed concept. It has become associated with short term goals.”

Samuel Bryson presents Cycling and your wellbeing: posted at Total Wellbeing. Mr. Bryson suggests using cycling as a means of transport saving you money on gasoline, time being stuck in traffic, and also as an actual means of daily exercise.

Carey Yang presents Peppermint Oil for Curbing Appetite and Losing Weight posted at Carey for Fitness. This post reviews the many benefits of peppermint oil.

Carey Yang presents Experience the #1 Antioxidant Power to Fortify, Replenish and Rejuvenate Your Body posted at Carey for Fitness. Information about a powerful but good tasting antioxidant drink.

alternative medicine

Candida or Yeast Infection can be a stubborn health problem with uncomfortable symptoms. Michael Winicki submitted several short, excellent posts containing excellent information and treatment advice for treating this condition. If you suffer from yeast infection, you will want to read these posts:

What is Candida? posted at Michael Winicki

Candida Symptoms posted at Michael Winicki

Candida Diet posted at Michael Winicki.

articles_Signs_of_a_Yeast_Infection_during_Pregnancy.html posted at Michael Winicki.

The Real Problem With Candida Yeast posted at Michael Winicki.

Chronic Yeast Infection Cure posted at Michael Winicki.

Andrew Michaels presents Never Suffer A Headache Again posted at Lifecrafting, saying, "You need never suffer a headache again. Follow the steps in this article and become free of migraines and headaches." The author gives 5 steps which should help prevent headaches.

TherapyDoc presents Anxiety, Ethics, and Blogging posted at Everyone Needs Therapy. Some thoughts on blogging as well as a book recommendation are presented in this blog post.
Mitch McDonald presents Chemotherapy vs

Natural Alternatives posted at FYI About.com. Editor’s note: There is definitely controversy on this topic, but if you suffer from cancer, you should definitely look into alternative therapies as part of your treatment options.

Angela Williams Duea presents Eskridge & Associates: Try Hypnosis! posted at Eskridge & Associates, saying, "When I was was ready to face my tobacco habit, I found hypnosis helped me kick the addiction." In fitting with our New Years Resolutions edition, the author reports on his success in using hypnosis to cure a tobacco habit.

FitBuff presents How to Be Happy: 10 Mood-Boosting Moves FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "Sometimes the best way to boost your physical health is to boost your mental health first. You'd be surprised at just how connected the two are. Try it out now with these 10 easy mood-boosting moves..."

Lucynda Riley presents Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) posted at Flower, Field, and Forest. Information on an herbal remedy for colds and earaches.

James Chambers presents Hyperhidrosis Causes posted at Hyperhidrosis. Author’s note: Good content on hyperhidrosis, also know as excessive sweating, and what can be done about it.

Joe Lasiter presents Inside Look - A Bowen Session posted at Natural Pain Relief, saying, "A Bowen session lasts about the same as a typical massage 30-45 minutes. The therapist "rolls" over the muscles with their fingers. This rolling action increases the energy flow and causes the muscles to relax."

Anmol Mehta presents Free Online Yoga Breathing Exercises (Yoga Pranayama) E-Book posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "Collection of powerful yoga breathing exercises to help you lose weight, cure diseases and get fit."

Alfa Mercado presents 5 Ways to Get Rid of a Cold posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Some good tips on treating colds.

werelax presents The Health Benefits of Dancing - Found in Relaxation Activites posted at Where We Relax, saying, "Did you know that something as fun as dancing could have health benefits?"

Jose DeJesus MD presents Chronic Neck Pain Patients - Danish Study Describes Effective Treatment posted at Physician Entrepreneur. Dr. DeJesus cites an informative study which demonstrates that strength training can be helpful to people with chronic neck pain.

Hueina Su presents My Young Living Story and Exciting News posted at Intensive Care for the Nurturer's Soul, saying, "Ever since a health scare last summer, I've found the tools to help me regain my physical & emotional health. My husband and I are amazed at the turnaround I've made since last winter. Here's my healing journey and some exciting news to share."

Lovelyn presents An Introduction to Self Massage posted at The Art of Balanced Living. This post describes how self massage can be an effective therapy for carpal wrist syndrome, sciatic nerve pain, tension headache and stress.

Heidi Whitaker presents Work from Home Choices: Top Ten Reasons NOT to Choose Getting a Flu Shot posted at Work from Home Choices, saying, "Article focuses on little known negatives to getting a flu shot. Also recommends alternatives."

Miscellaneous

Pat B. Doyle presents Feng Shui and Clutter posted at Barton Pond Feng Shui.

SJ Yee presents The Best of RichGrad.com in 2007 posted at Personal Development for the Book Smart, saying, "21 of the Best Personal Development Articles from RichGrad.com in 2007... Have a blessed 2008!"

Kingsley Tagbo presents How to Overcome Procrastination in 8 Easy Steps: The Fastest Way to Learn Technical Skills or Get a Job posted at HOW TO LEARN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING FAST OR GET A JOB EASILY.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Take Charge of Your Health Care - December 22, 2007

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:49:00 +0000

Take Charge of Your Health Care

December 22, 2007

Special Holiday Edition

Welcome to the December 22, 2007 edition of take charge of your health care. First of all I want to wish all of our readers a Happy Holiday. This is truly a time to spend with your family and closest friends. My best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

Since this is our Holiday and New Year’s edition, I will begin this edition with our diet and fitness section. Again, I was very impressed with the quality and content of the submissions, and know that you will enjoy reading this edition as I did editing it. Happy Reading!

fitness & diet

Shamelle presents

Staying Motivated When We Don't Loose Weight, The Way We Want! posted at Enhance Life. The author provides some very practical and down to earth tips for staying motivated while dieting.

Sagar presents

Negative Calorie Foods: 15 Foods That Actually Burn More Calories Than They Contain posted at Bootstrapper. The author suggests some low calorie and delicious fruits and vegetables which can keep hunger at bay while adding vitamins and minerals to our diet and jumpstarting our metabolism.

As a complement to good diet, Helene Zemel presents Family Fun and Fitness posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "The author remembers a time when families ate dinner together and children engaged in healthy outdoor activities instead of spending countless hours playing video games, surfing the web, watching 300 plus television programs, and talking on cell phones. These sedentary activities have led to an increase in lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The author suggests a family fun night to bring back family togetherness and increase physical activity noting that the "family that plays together stays together."

Helene Zemel presents

Gift Ideas for Mental and Physical Fitness posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Whether you are shopping for holiday gifts or a gift for a special occasion like a birthday or graduation, why not choose a gift that has real educational value—a gift that promotes physical and mental fitness. These gifts will be appreciated by both young and old alike."

Peter25 presents

Stay Fit at Home posted at Small Business, saying, "It is possible to get fit even if you lack enough time to visit your local community center or gym. To achieve physical fitness under a tight schedule, you could opt for home fitness regimes."

Jose DeJesus MD presents

Behavior change to healthier living habits opens opportunities in physician entrepreneurship posted at Physician Entrepreneur. The author stresses the role of health care providers in addressing behavioral issues such as poor diet, poor exercise habits, and stress which can and do affect health.

Alvaro Fernandez presents

Jogging our Brains for Brain Vitality, Healthy Aging-and Intelligence! posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Commentary on several recent articles on the importance of cognitive exercise to improve willpower, memory, and brain health." Editor’s note: This blog post points out the importance of exercising our minds to stay sharp and fit.

Alvaro Fernandez presents

Robert Emmons on the Positive Psychology of Gratitude posted at SharpBrains, saying, "can we enhance our happiness and health by nurturing gratitude?"

Marcus Ryan presents

An Super Anti Aging Diet That Will Make You Look 10-20 Years Younger posted at Wrinkle Creams Review, saying, "This is a fantastic diet and lifestyle that's great for longevity and prevention of health problems common in Western society - the Okinawan diet. It's called one of the healthiest diets in the world." Editor’s note: Some very good anti-aging tips here plus a great recipe for Miso soup.

Steve Pavlina presents

Why Vegan? posted at Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog. The author recounts his experience in going vegan and how it led to more energy, more mental clarity, more vitality, and more endurance.

Roger Haeske presents

Having Trouble Staying Raw, It May Not Be Your Fault posted at Raw Food Diet, Bodyweight Fitness and Peak Performance Living. Editor's note: This blog post is must reading for those of you who want to follow a 100% raw diet.

Doug Ragan presents

E3 Success Blog » Blog Archive » Cleansing for Weight Loss posted at E3 Success Blog, saying, "According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 66 percent of U.S. adults are overweight. 32 percent are obese. A new study by researchers at RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control estimates that U.S. obesity-attributable medical expenditures reached $75 billion in 2003 and that taxpayers finance about half of these costs through Medicare and Medicaid. Some estimates claim that obesity contributes to over 300,000 deaths per year in the U.S. and has surpassed smoking as the #1 killer."

Dan-O presents

Have You Benefited from the Revolutionary Magic of Internet Self Help? posted at Danogo.com - Discover. Inspiring . Media, saying, "Highly informative article about how the Web has changed self help and a huge resource of online personal development information."

SJ Yee presents

How to live each day and get from where you are to where you want to go posted at Personal Development for the Book Smart. The author states: “Are Olympics athletes who come in last place failures? No… as long as they complete the race, they are winners. As long as you do it and give the best of yourself, you are never a failure. “

alternative medicine

Aparna presents

Drumsticks for health posted at Beauty & Personality Grooming, saying, "Drumstick or Moringa Oleifera is named so for its long bean-like fruit. Just about the whole plant is edible. The roots, flowers, leaves, pods are used in curries, salads and soups. The leaves are the most nutritious of all, and hence worth including in one’s diet. However, for maximum benefit, it should be consumed raw or in raw form. Don’t be put off by that characteristic aroma of the leaves. Just take a look at their nutritional value and then decide for yourself. Nutritional value of drumstick leaves * Seven times more vitamin C than oranges to fight many illnesses including cold and flu....." Editor’s note: Interesting post about the nutritional and medicinal benefits of this herb. I look forward to seeing this herbal supplement in the U.S.

Mitch McDonald presents

Chemotherapy vs. Natural Alternatives posted at FYI About.com, saying, "Are you suffering from cancer? Maybe you know that chemotherapy is one of the most common cancer treatments. Also, do you know that you won't come out healthier after you've had chemotherapy treatments? In most respects, you will come out of it worse than before you started the chemo." Editor’s note: This idea is certainly controversial as it goes against what the medical establishment recommends. At the same time, there is growing evidence that many alternative therapies do work without poisoning and aging the body.

Chris presents

Energy Medicine Becomes Front-Page News posted at Martial Development, saying, "Last year, I predicted that Qi Gong and energy medicine therapies would become big business over the next decade...Sorry to say, I was right. Read on about two victims of "energy medicine" quacks."

Pat B. Doyle presents

How We Can Find Healing in Nature posted at Barton Pond Feng Shui saying, “Think about ways that you can bring nature into your life, whether by going out and doing things in nature or by bringing some of it into your home.”

Jose DeJesus MD presents

Stem Cell Breakthrough - New Possibilities in Breast Reconstruction and Augmentation posted at Physician Entrepreneur. Editor’s note: An interesting post that shows the importance of stem cell research.

Anmol Mehta presents

Kapalbhati Yoga Breathing Exercise for Optimum Health & Healing posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "One of the best Yoga breathing exercises for optimizing health and promoting self-healing."

Raj presents

How Often Should You Deworm? MT Herald Dot Com posted at MT Herald Dot Com. Editor's note: Good practical advice especially if you live in an area where this problem is prevalent.

DavidR presents

Herbal recipes for shampoo. posted at All Natural Magazine. Editor’s note: This is an interesting herbal recipe although the ingredients may be difficult to find in the States and Canada.

Rod BeDuhn presents

Fish Oil Benefits posted at Rod BeDuhn's How to Stop Pain Tips & Techniques Blog. The author discusses the benefits of fish oil in reducing inflammation and pain in the body.

save money on health care and health insurance

cashmoneylife presents

Where to Find Inexpensive Flu Shots posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "This article is about some great places to find inexpensive flu shots, which is very important this time of year!"

Doris Chua presents

On Health Insurance posted at Doris Chua: Organics & Your Health, saying, “With the rising costs in health and medical care, health insurance should be looked into in a more serious light.” Editor’s note: And here in the States, we need to make this vital insurance accessible to all.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents

Of Black Holes And Insurance Claims posted at The Digerati Life. Editor’s note: A humorous but true account of dealing with the insurance bureaucracy here in the States with some advice for navigating the system.

Health Chaos presents

Do We Really Need These Drugs? posted at Health Chaos. The author asks the following: “As a health professional, I have encountered patients/clients/members who are on as many as 21 medications each day. This is incredible. Who is monitoring this regimen? How can people keep this straight? How do you do this? And what is really necessary? And what interacts with what other medications? Contraindications? And what are the side effects?”

consumer directed health care and everything else

Health Chaos presents

More About Diagnoses And Pharmaceuticals posted at Health Chaos. The author suggests better health habits as a means of avoiding problems like restless leg syndrome, constipation, and insomnia which the pharmaceutical industry would rather have you take a drug for.

Doris Chua presents

Healthcare in the Air posted at Doris Chua: Organics & Your Health, saying, “Isn’t it nice to know that you can be treated anywhere with the facilities available with air ambulance services? “

Jose DeJesus MD presents

Improving Patient Satisfaction and Patient Compliance posted at Physician Entrepreneur, saying, “Many of today’s patients want to play a more active role in their health care, say two new studies monitoring physician communication."

Health Chaos presents Shingles Virus posted at Health Chaos. An informative post about Shingles which is caused by the same varicella virus that causes chickenpox.

Abdulrasool Sumar presents

Surviving Lung Cancer - Thoracic Surgeons Roll Out New Tumor Removal Procedure posted at Mesothelioma Cancer, saying, "Every year, 170,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer. Surgery performed to remove these lung cancer tumors require patients to stay in the hospital for weeks after weeks, and can be very expensive. However now, Thoracic Surgeons have pioneered a new procedure called thorascopic lobectomy where surgeons make three incisions or cuts into the chest and use new tools to reach into the lungs. A specialized camera helps them see the tumors that have developed around the lungs and these are removed through a bag. Thorascopic lobectomy is a lot less painful than compared with other tumor removal procedures such as pleurectomy where the surgeon opens up the patient's chest and removes tumor from the surface of the lung."

Take Charge of your Health Care - November 22, 2007

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:54:00 +0000

Take Charge of Your Health Care -

November 22, 2007

Welcome to the November 22, 2007 edition of take charge of your health care. Today is Thanksgiving, and I would like to wish all of my friends in the blogosphere an enjoyable day with your family and friends. We are continuing to receive a large number of well written and informative blog posts.

Save Money on Health Care

Adam Zekmueller presents You can NOT be charged or refused your contact prescription! posted at Get Better Glasses!, saying, "Go to your existing optometrist, get that prescription, and order online!"

Adam Zekmueller presents This is Why Glasses at Brick and Mortar Stores are so Expensive posted at Get Better Glasses!, saying, "Buying eyewear online is a great way to save money on vision expenses. In this article, I discuss why traditional glasses stores are so expensive."

Helene Zemel presents A Little Known Secret - Patient Assistance Programs posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "With so many uninsured and underinsured people in the United States and the high cost of prescription drugs, you hear stories about people who have to make a decision about whether to pay for their groceries or their prescription medications. Now with prescription advocacy and patient assistance programs, eligible people may be able to qualify for free prescriptions."

Helene Zemel presents Prescription Advocacy - Frequently Asked Questions about Patient Assistance Programs posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Patient assistance programs run by large pharmaceutical companies have been in existence for more than 15 years. A major problem is that few people know about the existence of these programs or understand the complicated application and approval process required to participate in a Prescription Assistance Program." Plans Plus

Jimmy Atkinson presents 5 Little-Known Giant Health Care Issues Facing the United States NOEDb posted at NOEDb: Nursing Online Education Database.
Alanna presents Health Coverage: Finding the Right Fit BBB Consumer Education posted at BBB Consumer Education. Alanna presents some things that you should look into before purchasing a health insurance plan.

Alternative Medicine

Todd Goldfarb presents Advantages of holistic doctors and alternative techniques over Western medicine posted at We The Change, saying, "hi there-- really interesting piece here comparing western MDs to holistic doctors...enjoy!" This is a well written and informative post comparing Western medicine with holistic medicine in which Todd Goldfarb states: “Where Western medicine is primarily focused on treating symptoms, alternative practices look at the whole body.”

Anmol Mehta presents 5 Healthy Weight Loss Tips from Ayurveda posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "5 great weight loss tips from the ancient science of self healing - Ayurveda." Five weight loss tips from an Ayurvedic perspective. Ayurveda is an effective system of natural medicine practiced in India.

Lucynda Riley presents MJB 2 posted at Quietly Into the Night. This post describes and innovative way to cure a yeast infection.
Wenchypoo presents I've just come back from the fastest dental appointment I ever had... posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket, saying, "Re; saving money on DENTAL care." This post reports on the author’s experience in good diet and supplementation as a preventative measure for tooth and gum disease.

Healthcare Issues

Jimmy Atkinson presents How to Research a Doctor's Credentials Medical Tourism Guide posted at Medical Tourism Guide. Another important post by Jimmy Atkinson. As a recent case on Long Island in which Hepatitis C was spread because of a physician’s lax sterility techniques, this information could save your life.

Tiffany Washko presents Action Alert: Vaccinate Your Kids or Else! posted at Natural Family Living Blog. This post discusses the vaccine controversy in which the state of Maryland threatened to arrest parents who failed to vaccinate their children. There is some controversy that mercury based thimerosol, which had been used as a preservative in vaccines some years ago, has caused brain damage and autism in young children.

Ron King presents ActiveAmericans.com Online Community Announces Launch as Independent, Alternative Voice for Americans 50+ posted at bloglongtermcare.com. ActiveAmericans.com will provide them with resources and innovative solutions about health care, finances, lifestyles, legal issues, life stages, family relations and more.

Sharon Lee presents Huge Rise in Asian Diabetes Rates posted at Asian Diabetes Association. This post reports on the rise in the number of diabetes cases in Asian countries.

Aahz presents Applied Anarchy - Free Market Health Care : Philaahzophy posted at Philaahzophy. More along the lines of the Consumer Directed Healthcare Movement, Aahz states how removing the government from the health care system lowers costs and increases benefits to the consumer. Government spending has led only to worse care and higher costs, just as government interference in any industry does.

Aparna presents Beware of dust mites on your pillows posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Dust that gets accumulated in our houses is a host to millions of germs and microorganisms. Dusting and cleaning the house in itself is a cumbersome task, what with dust settling on sofas and beds, carpets, curtains and clothes. We all bother so much about insects, mosquitoes, houseflies and do our best to get rid of them. But we often forget about the tiny, almost invisible creatures called dust mites, which are present and booming in millions in the cozy comforts of our homes."

Health Chaos presents Be Your Own Advocate posted at Health Chaos. This post presents important information for the consumer of prescription drugs and warns the public of mistakes that are made in the hurry to dispense medications.

Holly Ord presents America: The Country That Kills It’s Citizens posted at Menstrual Poetry. Holly states the following: “There are 50 million people in the United States today that do not currently have health insurance, and the biggest reason for that is because it costs too much. There are also thousands of people dying all over this nation because of illnesses that could have been prevented and treated, but weren’t because of health insurance and again, because of it’s cost.”

Dr Martin W. Russell presents Why Help Yourself? posted at Dr Martin W. Russell. Dr. Russell discusses the huge cost of healthcare and predicts a future healthcare meltdown and urges self help and self reliance.

Diet, Fitness and Exercise

Lucynda Riley presents Hold me Accountable posted at A Public Diet. Thanks for sharing your diet progress. This will be an inspiration to many. Thanks for the tip that marshmallows are only 10 calories apieceJ

James D. Brausch presents The Problem With Exercise posted at Weight Loss Dude. James Brausch states: “Instead of taking time out of your life to go to the gym and “exercise”, why not actually live life and actually do the real activities that exercising is meant to simulate?”

Wenchypoo presents Meet “Epi”—the Ghost in Your Genes posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. This is good advice on preventative medicine.

Wenchypoo presents An Investment in Life and the Family Orchard posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. For a different perspective on the meaning of the holidays, check out this blog.

Alternative Medicine

FitBuff presents 7 Easy Breakfast Recipes: Healthy Breakfast in Less Than 5 Minutes posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "You probably already know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But, the RIGHT breakfast is needed to get you started right and keep you energized and productive all day long. Here are 7 healthy and easy recipes you can whip up in less time than it takes you to find your keys."

FitBuff presents Bill Maher Quotes on Health and Fitness posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "You may never see Bill Maher on the cover of Men's Health, but love him or hate him, he makes some absolutely brilliant points about a number of health issues in this sound off. From health care to medicine and diseases, it's nice to hear someone tell it like it is!"

Davex presents Acne Acupuncture Is An Effective Natural Treatment posted at Mr. Clear's Acne Blog. This post gives both information on herbal treatments and acupuncture for acne treatment.

pnreddy presents Alternative Cancer Medicine - An Effective Remedy For Your Cancer Symptoms posted at Alternative Medicine Zone. Different forms or alternative medicine are discussed in this informative blog.

Trevor K. Neuman presents Why Doctors Don’t Know? posted at Diabetes Research & Diabetic Diet Plans. This article stresses the importance of seeking natural cures for diseases such as high cholesterol of diabetes to avoid some of the serious side effects caused by many prescription drugs.

I hope that you enjoyed reading these informative blog posts. I know that I did. Stay healthy for the holiday shopping season and come back for our special holiday edition on December 22nd.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Take Charge of Your Health Care - 2nd Edition

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 03:46:00 +0000

Take Charge of your Health Care - October 21, 2007

Welcome to the October 21, 2007 edition of Take Charge of Your Health Care. Although this is only the second month of publication for Take Charge of Your Health Care Blog Carnival, we received close to 40 submissions. Most of these submissions were well-written, quality blogs that addressed important health care issues. We will publish our next edition on November 20, 2007, but beginning with our New Year’s edition, we will start publishing on a bi-weekly basis.

This month I would like to celebrate Al Gore’s winning of the Nobel Peace Prize. On Friday, October 13, 2007, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to former Vice President Al Gore and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of international scientists dedicated to climate research, for their role in spreading awareness of the danger of man-made climate change and the need to come up with solutions to solve this problem which threatens our environment. Environmental pollution is definitely responsible for birth defects and an increase in cancer rates and autism and climate change will be responsible for even more health concerns. For more about the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize read:

Helene Zemel presents Al Gore - A Man of Vision posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Al gore has truly been a man of vision in protecting our environment. The danger of climate change will affect the health of present and future generations."

Save Money on Health Care

The main purpose of the Take Charge of Your Health Care carnival is to feature quality blog posts that address various health care issues. Over 47,000,000 Americans do not have any medical insurance. Here are some blog posts that address this issue:

Jimmy Atkinson presents Comparison: Presidential Candidates on Major Healthcare Issues NOEDb posted at NOEDb: Nursing Online Education Database. This is a must read article for people in the United States. The article introduces various healthcare issues and summarizes each of the Presidential candidates views on these important issues.

Staying with the topic of Presidential politics, Ian Welsh presents Questioning the Hillary Health Care Plan posted at The Agonist, saying, "Hillary Clinton's health care proposal isn't universal health care, it's universal insurance -- and that's an important distinction." Nice picture of Hillary too!

Let’s not forget the importance of good dental care for keeping you and your children healthy. Helene Zemel presents Affordable Dental Plans posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "This article discusses the fact that 7 out of 10 Americans do not have a dental plan, and even among those that do have dental insurance, most are underinsured. Discount Dental Plans are mentioned as a means of providing individuals and families with affordable dental care."

Matthew Paulson presents Minute Clinics Open Nation Wide, Provide Additional Healthcare Choices to Consumers. posted at Getting Green. These inexpensive walk in clinics in big box stores are an interesting concept for providing affordable health care to those who might other wise not be able pay for a private physician.

Shaheen Lakhan presents The Inherent Problem with Health Insurance posted at GNIF Brain Blogger. Read this physician blogger’s October 3rd blog post to see how the private insurance sector places an emphasis on their bottom line at the expense of insuring everyone.

Health Chaos presents No Health Insurance posted at Health Chaos. This is an interesting commentary on the control that the insurance industry and big pharmaceutical companies have on our health care.

Anthony presents The Lives and Times... of Anthony McCune: They Call It Customer Service At The Health Plan posted at The Lives and Times... of Anthony McCune. The author recounts the difficulties that he had with an HMO.

Ian Welsh presents Old Folks Is the US Unhealthier than Europeans. A LOT Unhealthier The Agonist posted at The Agonist, saying, "The key to better, affordable health care lies in better government healthcare policy." Good information in both the blog and the comments to the blog.

For a different perspective on saving money on health care: Wenchypoo presents Affordable Health Care on Every Corner posted at Mental Wastebasket. This article emphasizes the importance of good nutrition and prevention for saving money on health care.

For an opinion on President Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): Madeleine Begun Kane presents SCHIP Haiku posted at Mad Kane's Political Madness.

Jimmy Atkinson presents Top 100 Health and Wellness Blogs NOEDb posted at NOEDb: Nursing Online Education Database. We can always count on Jimmy Atkinson to provide us with well researched resources.

Alvaro Fernandez presents 10 Highlights from the 2007 Aspen Health Forum posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Check out this overview of the Health and Science trends discussed in this recent policy event."

Phil B. presents Cancer versus Terrorism « Phil for Humanity posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "About 13% of all deaths worldwide are caused by cancer, however less than 1% of 1% of all deaths are caused by terrorism." Phil questions why so much more money is spent on fighting terrorism than on finding a cure for cancer which causes far more deaths.

Consumer Directed Health Care – Mental Health

Helene Zemel presents Ritalin - The Truth about ADD posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "ADD and ADHD may be a trumped up diagnosis so doctors can write more prescriptions for drugs like Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta enriching the pockets of the big pharmaceutical companies. This article points out some of the dangers involved."

Tiffany Washko presents The Vaccine Issue - My Son’s Story posted at Natural Family Living Blog. Can vaccines contribute to autism and minimal brain damage in children? The author recounts her experience with her son.

TherapyDoc presents Secrets and Therapy posted at Everyone Needs Therapy. Good advice on children and secrets by a doctorate in social work.

Karen Halls presents Types of Alcoholism Treatments posted at Addiction Recovery Blog, saying, "Once you’ve acknowledged that you have a problem with alcohol, it’s time to start finding ways to treat the problem in an ideal and effective manner."

Kilroy_60 presents Things I Think I Learned ...from You Do It Our Way posted at Fear and Loathing - The Gonzo Papers, saying, "Have you had a look at the Gonzo Blog Carnival Series?" This blog presents mental health therapy from the patient or client’s point of view.

Here is some good mental health advice: Robinson Go presents Start Everyday With A Smile posted at The Robinson Go Blog, saying, "Take charge of your health care with this often overlooked AWESOME tip."

Alternative Medicine

Anmol Mehta presents Introducing Ayurveda- Alternative Medicine for Self Healing posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "The workings of this comprehensive science for Self Healing are discussed here." Good explanation and definition of Ayurveda.

Aparna presents Kapalabhati Pranayam posted at Beauty & Personality Grooming, saying, "‘Kapalabhati’ Pranayam breathing exercise is an excellent way of maintaining good health and fighting diseases. ‘A regular practice of Kapalabhati for 10-15 minutes everyday will give you a tight forehead sans wrinkles for many years to come. Why resort to botox injections and other expensive chemical or surgical procedures to get rid of your age lines, when there is such a simple and natural alternative available to you in the form of ‘Kapalabhati’."

Anna presents Essential Oils and Pregnancy posted at Our Family Village, saying, "When I got pregnant, I had this epiphany that I could cure most pregnancy “symptoms” with essential oils and bypass the icky phase entirely."

Petra Ioni presents Omega 3 Reduces Childhood Diabetes Risk posted at Medopdedia. Omega 3 oils have many health benefits, the author gives evidence in its role as a Type 1 diabetes preventative.

Food & Fitness

Paying attention to what you eat and staying fit can keep illness at bay and as a result help reduce health care costs.

MT presents How To Keep Heart Healthy? MT Herald Dot Com posted at MT Herald Dot Com. Good advice on how to keep your heart healthy.

FitBuff presents Lose Belly Flab, Earn Cash: Would you drop 10 pounds for $350? posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "Many people don't realize the best way to save money on health care is to keep yourself healthy! But, you have to be motivated, so what would it take for you to get your butt in gear? How about $350?"

Wenchypoo presents Food for the Grist Mill posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket, saying, "Tells a story of how a wheat-and-gluten-allergic person (me) delved into the fiber realm and came out with an answer." For some additional information on nutrition see: Wenchypoo presents The Return of NNR Food Scores (L-O-N-G) posted at Mental Wastebasket, saying, "Tells how to find the most nutritious foods while shortening the shopping list--a BIG money-saver, let me tell ya! We are bombarded with way too many choices of food--even in the produce aisle. Free trade is costing us in more ways than one."

Wenchypoo presents Book Review: Healthy At 100 posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket, saying, "A d-i-y primer on how to live longer and healthier with minimal doctor interference."

Health Tips and Advice

Here are some more tips and advice for staying healthy and reducing your health care costs.

With the holidays coming up, The Career Counselor has some good advice at: The Healthiest Habits for Office and Seasonal Snacking posted at ask the Career Counselor.

Tristan Loo presents How to Power Nap for Optimal Productivity posted at The Synergy Institute, saying, "In this article, Life Coach Tristan Loo, explains how to use a short 20-minute power nap to maximize personal effectiveness, increase productivity, reduce stress, while promoting good health and vitality." Good advice for us busy folk.

Strabo presents This could save your life. The best wrist mounted blood pressure monitor. posted at Kosher Wisdom, saying, "Discusses how you can monitor your blood pressure with a simple and cheap home device."

Kevin Surbaugh presents Need New Shoes! - Exploring My Options posted at Becoming & Staying Debt Free. Good advice on orthopedic shoes.

Save Money presents How to keep your Skin Clear posted at How I Save Money.net. Great skin care tips.

Holly Ord presents The Male Pill posted at Woman Tribune. News on a non-hormonal male contraceptive pill.

Vanalli presents Testosterone replacement therapy posted at Nick, saying, "Is testosterone replacement for you?”

This post is a bit off topic for our site, but some of you blog writers might be interested. Submit your travel writings to this contest for a chance to win prizes. For more information see: Michael@TSM presents Fall TSM Travel Writing Contest: Win $125! posted at Traveling Stories Magazine.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival - 1st Edition - September 21, 2007

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 06:25:00 +0000

Welcome to the September 21, 2007 edition of take charge of your health care.

This is our first monthly edition of Take Charge of Your Health Care. This month we have 10 articles focusing on various healthcare issues such as the high cost of medical and dental care, ways to save money on health care, alternative medicine, consumer directed health care, and current issues in health care.

Good Information Resource

First, I would like to thank Jimmy Atkinson for presenting 100 Web Resources for Medical Professionals NOEDb posted at NOEDb: Nursing Online Education Database. This blog post presented in the Nursing Online Education Database contains 100 web resources for both medical professionals and patients alike. Sources include hospital and physician directories and information sources on nursing, dentistry, oncology, psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, and job databases for medical professionals.

Save Money on Health Care

The focus of our first edition of Take Charge of Your Health Care Blog Carnival is on ways to save money on your health care benefits.

Alanna presents Health Coverage: Finding the Right Fit BBB Consumer Education posted at BBB Consumer Education. This article in the Evansville Better Business Bureau blog starts out by stating: “Oh, the ever-daunting topic of health coverage! It’s intimidating for everyone, and for good reason. The kind of health coverage we have dictates the kind of health care we get, it’s often the one big “Unknown” in our budgets, and unexpected medical bills directly cause around half of all U.S. bankruptcies!” This blog provides 5 helpful hints on how to find the best health insurance benefits to suit the needs of your family.

Helene Zemel presents What Are Discount Health Plans? Part 1 posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Discount health plans are one alternative to helping individuals and families save money on their medical and dental care costs." This discussion of discount health benefits is continued in What Are Discount Health Plans? Part 2 also posted at Health Plans Plus. These articles explain how discount health plans work and how they can be used as stand alone plans for people that don’t have health insurance, as supplemental benefits to fill in gaps in coverage, and how businesses can save money by combining a discount health program with a high deductible health savings account.

Consumer Directed Health Care

Health Chaos presents Research Results, Including HRT posted at Health Chaos. Written by a health professional, this blog post raises questions and concerns about Hormone Replacement Therapy and the need for honesty by pharmaceutical companies and researchers.

Tiffany Washko presents What Did You Think? Autism on Oprah posted at Natural Family Living Blog. Tiffany Washko reports a guest appearance by Jenny McCarthy, author of Louder than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism. Although the medical establishment claims that autism cannot be cured, Jenny McCarthy was able to cure her son of autism through the use of a gluten-free, dairy free diet. The connection between autism and vaccines was also made in this show.

Alternative Medicine and Healthy Living

Carole Fogarty presents Design your own health and well being affirmation: posted at THE HEALTHY LIVING LOUNGE, saying, "Everyone has their own very personal health and well being affirmation whether they realize it or not." This blog post stresses the importance of positive thinking on physical health. Why not create a positive affirmation like: “I am now growing younger with more energy”

Phil B. presents 9 Suggestions for Exercising More « Phil for Humanity posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "We all want to be healthy and fit, yet we really don't want to exercise. Do we?" I am one of those people who needs to exercise more. Thanks Phil for the tips on working exercise into your daily schedule and having fun while doing so.

TherapyDoc presents Paranoia posted at Everyone Needs Therapy. This is a very informative article about paranoia written by a mental health clinician. Advice is provided on how to help someone that you are close to who suffers from this disorder get into treatment.

Rickey Henderson presents Guess What Rickey Isn't Doing Anymore? posted at Riding with Rickey. Ricky reports about his decision to stop smoking with good humor. Good luck Rickey.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Take Charge of Your Health Care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Welcome to Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival

hlzmarketing@gmail.com (Helene) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:17:00 +0000

Welcome to Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival. Access to good health care, especially in the United States, has become quite costly in the last 10 to 20 years. With big pharmaceutical companies and health maintenance organizations in charge of our health system, things are not likely to get any better until some changes are made. The purpose of Take Charge of Your Health Care is to blog about the high cost of health and dental care, suggest ways to save money using the present system, focus on consumer directed health care where patients can make choices for their best interest, expose attempts by the big pharmaceutical companies to lower acceptable blood pressure and cholesterol values so they can sell more expensive medications or drug our children for made up mental disorders, and seek alternative medicine solutions to health problems.

The carnival will publish each month so we are looking for article submissions on various healthcare issues such as the high cost of medical and dental care, ways to save money on health care, alternative medicine, consumer directed health care, and current issues in health care.

Our first edition will be published on September 20, 2007, and we will publish around the 20th of each month. If you would like your blog article to be published in the next edition, please submit no later than September 19th. For more details visit: www.blogcarnival.com.