Medicare Supplement Comparisons

Author:

Bridgette Dry

Most people who have their own Medicare health insurance often feel the need for a Medicare supplement plan to make way for additional medical benefits. With a number of available options for Medicare supplement plans today, some have a hard time choosing the best plan and the best company to work with. In line with this, plan holders must see choose a Medicare supplement plan that is suitable for their needs.

The best option for a Medicare supplement is something that can give the Medicare plan holder the maximum coverage he/she needs, sans overspending. When choosing the best Medicare supplement, it is best that Medicare plan holders are aware of the status of all Medicare supplement plans. These plans, regardless of the company, are all federally standardized. This means that each of the plan\'s coverage is exactly the same from company to company.

In this case, Medicare plan holders (who are mostly senior citizens) get confused with their Medicare plan and Medicare supplement plan. These individuals must examine their Medicare insurance plan carefully before signing up for a Medicare supplement plan. All Medicare supplement plans are named from letters A-J. This means that any plan without any of these letters is not considered as a legal Medicare supplement plan.

When doing Medicare supplement comparisons, remember that all the same letter plans have equal coverage. This way, individuals can focus more on the prices of each company\'s supplement plans, without the need to get more information on the coverage of the supplement plan.

Another effective way to do Medicare supplement comparisons is to get price quotes from all the plans available. It\'s important to turn to qualified brokers for help. They must be vigilant enough to list down all the price quotes from all the companies that offer the specific Medicare supplement plan of choice.

One of the best ways to carry out Medicare supplement comparisons is to make a choice based on the quotes collected, and the reports on the reputation of the plan provider. For Medicare plan holders, the best way to choose and compare Medicare supplement plans is to get the lowest quote from the best company for them.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/medicare-supplement-comparisons-4985112.html

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If you have questions, please visit us at www.medicaresupplementshop.com for complete details and answers.

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Food Allergies and Food Allergy Testing Methods

Author:

Monica Levin

The term food allergies has recently taken on a meaning that is synonymous with food sensitivities and food intolerances. In this article the words 'food allergies' are used to mean any adverse reaction to food, whether it involves the immune system or not.

Food allergies can affect you in many ways other than anaphalaxis, affecting the skin, the skeleton, the digestive system, the heart and blood vessels, the airways, the muscles, the kidneys and bladder, and the nerves and brain.

Examples of Food Allergy Reactions

The Skin: read and itchy eyes, eczema, psoriasis, itchy skin, hives, rash

The Skeleton: aching joints, rheumatoid arthritis

The Digestive System: mouth ulcers, canker sores, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, Chron\'s disease, infant colitis, colic, itchy anus

The Heart and Blood Vessels: migraine headaches, irregular heart bear, inflammation of veins, high cholesterol, bruising, high blood pressure

The Airways: runny or congested nose, nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis, asthma, ear infections

The Muscles: aching muscles, fibromyalgia

The Kidneys and Bladder: kidney stones, nephritic syndrome, frequent urination, bed wetting, urinary tract infections

The Nerves and Brain: headache, fatigue, depression, anxiety, memory loss, ADD, ADHD, hyperactivity, epileptic seizures, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia

Diagnosing Food Allergies

Skin Prick Tests: The standard test for food allergies used to be (and often still is) the skin prick test. In this test, suspected allergens are placed on the skin and a prick or scratch is made under the drop.  A reaction to the skin is then looked for. Skin prick tests can work for some types of allergens, particularly inhalants, but when the allergen is in a food they do not produce a positive result except when the reaction is immediate and violent.

Medical Blood Tests: Some blood tests have accurately diagnosed food allergies but the blood tests can be expensive and often are not covered by insurance. If you want a medical food allergy blood test, look for a physician who has a lot of experience in this area in order to get a good blood testing lab and accurate results interpretation.

Elimination Diet: Finding your food allergies by doing an elimination diet is the most time consuming method but it is also the most economical. In an elimination diet you avoid all (or most) of the foods that you normally eat.  If after three weeks your health improves then you know that you are allergic to (intolerant to) something that you eliminated. Reintroduce one of the foods for three days. If you do not react after three days, add another food on the fourth day. If, however, you did react to the food, eliminate it from your diet again until all symptoms subside (5 to 10 days). Keep repeating this process until you have tested all of your foods.

Muscle Testing (Applied Kinesiology): Another test for food allergies is muscle testing (also knows as Applied Kinesiology). In this method you hold a vile containing a suspected food allergen and the practitioner tests your muscle strength (usually your arm). If holding the vile makes you weaker then you are intolerant to it and need to stop eating it. If the vile makes you stronger then you are not allergic to that food. This food allergy testing method has not been extensively scientifically tested but if you manage to suspend your disbelief you will be pleased with the results! Fortunately the cost of being tested for 100 to 120 food items is reasonable, usually $90 to $120.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/allergies-articles/food-allergies-and-food-allergy-testing-methods-4966609.html

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Drug abuse and denial

Author:

NEO@OGILVY

Drug abuse can be ruinous to an addict\'s health and mental well-being and can also be devastating to the family and friends of an addict. Yet a denial of their drug abuse often blinds addicts to the cause of their problems - their dependence on drugs. It allows them to pretend that their using is not destructive.

Addiction is characterised by compulsive behaviour that the addict is unable to curb, despite the serious consequences. Addicts are often in denial that the negative effects of their behaviour are outweighed by any perceived benefits - making them unable to stop.

Denial in addiction

Like in all forms of addiction, denial is a natural defence mechanism taken to extreme and unhealthy lengths - becoming an obstacle to recovery and a 'safe' delusion in which the addict can hide.

People generally do not like to feel helpless and out-of-control and this is particularly true for the addict. An addict will blame everything and everyone except their own substance abuse for their problems.

Another reason is that the addict may be using drugs to deny the fact that they struggle to find other ways to cope with stress, disappointment, anguish, fear and anger without resorting to substance abuse. Some even believe that there is no hope and that they are failures or people with poor morals.

It is this cycle of drug abuse and denial that makes an addict believe that one more drink wouldn\'t hurt, that they have their drug habits under control or that they need them to feel 'normal.'

Accepting responsibility

Denial is painful and causes frustration for those who care about the addict as the destructive progression of the drug abuse becomes obvious to everyone except the addict.

This does not mean that concerned friends and family members are powerless to act. In consultation with a professional, it may be possible to stage an intervention to help convince the drug abuser that there is a problem.

Those suffering from drug abuse need to acknowledge that they have a problem. They need to put the denial aside and realise that they have lost control over their lives. Once they have accepted responsibility for their actions, the drug abuser can seek help through counselling and treatment.

Drug addiction can be arrested and managed

Those in denial about their drug abuse need to understand that drug abuse is a manageable condition, and it is possible for drug addicts to overcome their addictive behaviour and re-enter their everyday lives as productive members of society.

This does not mean that addiction can simply be cured, or that treatment is a passive process, requiring no effort from the addict.

The most effective treatment for drug abuse can be found at an extended primary care rehab facility where individual therapy, group counselling and a daily programme of recovery can be instituted.

The value of a holistic course of treatment in conjunction with a 12 step programme is that it will provide addicts with the tools they need to deal with their own emotional problems and to relate better to loved ones and to society in general.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/drug-abuse-and-denial-4983852.html

About the Author

About the author:
Oasis Counselling Centre offers professional addiction recovery programmes in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Oasis understands the cycle of drug abuse and denial and offers proven counselling for drug abuse.

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Alcohol and Your Health

Author:

Sarah Cornish

Alcohol has a wide range of negative effects on an individual\'s health. If used to excess over a significant period of time, it can cause serious damage and health complications.

The body can become physically dependent on alcohol and those addicted to alcohol may need to undergo alcohol detox so that they can stop drinking safely and in the long-term.

One of the misconceptions about alcohol is that it\'s a stimulant; it is in fact a depressant. This is why it can cause people to slur their words, make poor judgements, lose their memory and perhaps become violent.

Alcohol cal also cause stomach problems and is a major irritant. Drinking a lot can cause vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea. It\'s very dehydrating and this is the main factor that contributes to the unpleasant feelings associated with a hangover.

Short-term risks

In the short-term, the risks associated with drinking too much include anxiety and depression, sexual dysfunctions, problems with judgement and reasoning leading to risky behaviour, losing consciousness, choking on vomit, slowed breathing and heart rate and poisoning.

Drinking heavily regularly is also associated with weight gain, which has numerous health risks of its own associated with it. Just an extra three or four units per day could lead to gaining a stone in two or three months.

Long-term risks

In the long-term alcohol abuse can cause a range of serious health problems. These include liver disease, damage to an unborn child, pancreatitis, high blood pressure, strokes, brain damage and many more conditions besides.

Safe drinking

To prevent developing long- and short-term health problems such as these, it\'s strongly advisable to stay within the maximum alcohol unit limits outlines by the Government. This is a maximum or three or four units of alcohol per day for men and two or three for women.

This means not binge drinking – if you stay within a weekly limit but drink all the units on one night, you\'re still risking your health.

If you\'re concerned about your drinking, monitor how many units you\'re drinking and try to cut down so that you\'re within limits. If you find that you can\'t cut down, consult your GP or an alcohol professional. They will assess your drinking and be able to advise you whether you need professional help and alcohol detox.

A medical professional will be able to tell you what effect alcohol is having on your body and your health. They\'ll be able to give you information and guidance on the next steps for cutting down drinking.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/alcohol-and-your-health-4984547.html

About the Author

Wellington Lodge is an established not-for-profit specialist alcohol detox and rehab provider. We offer triage, screening and rehabilitation at our comfortable in-patient facility at Wellington Lodge in North London. We also offer out-patient facilities at specialist clinics in Harley Street, London or at Queens Square in Bath, Somerset.

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Tips for Stopping Drinking

Author:

Sarah Cornish
You may be concerned about your drinking for a number of reasons – perhaps you\'re worried about your health or the damage that drinking is doing to your relationships. If you have not become physically dependent on alcohol, you may be able to stop drinking by yourself.
If you are dependent on alcohol, you still might be able to quit drinking without alcohol treatment but you should speak to your GP or an alcohol support professional as there can be some nasty side-effects so just stopping without support can be dangerous. Your doctor may refer you for alcohol rehab or offer you ways to help you detox from home.
1. Define your goals
Ask yourself why you want to stop drinking and think carefully about it. Understanding what you want to achieve and why is a good way to stay motivated, focused and on track. It may be that you\'re concerned that your health is suffering or perhaps drinking is affecting your performance at work. Many people simply want to feel in control again. Write your reasons for wanting to stop drinking down and refer to them often, especially when you\'re tempted to drink.
2. Plan ahead
It can help to plan your non-drinking in advance, especially in the early days. Pick a day to quit or cut down when you\'re least likely to be stressed and temptation won\'t be in your way. Pick a day of the week to go without alcohol and then gradually build it up, adding an extra day. Eventually you\'ll be out of the habit of drinking altogether or you\'ll feel in control of your drinking.
3. Stay focused
Stopping drinking or even cutting down dramatically is not easy and there most likely will be setbacks. If there are days when you break your own drinking rules or drink too much, don\'t give up altogether. Tomorrow is a new day and it\'s well worth persevering.
4. Get support
If you feel comfortable doing so, talk about your plans to stop drinking with friends and family. This will help motivate you to succeed and you\'re also likely to get a lot of support. In addition, friends and family will avoid offering you alcohol and perhaps even refrain from drinking in front of you. In the early days, especially at social occasions this can be really helpful. 
If you\'re finding that you can\'t stop drinking and are breaking your drinking rules regularly, it may be a good idea to get professional help. Talk to your GP or an alcohol professional. They won\'t judge you and they\'ll discuss options with you such as alcohol detox, rehab and non-residential alcohol treatment. 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tips-for-stopping-drinking-4984554.html

About the Author

Wellington Lodge is an established not-for-profit specialist alcohol rehab provider. We offer triage, screening and rehabilitation at our comfortable in-patient facility at Wellington Lodge in North London. We also offer out-patient facilities at specialist clinics in Harley Street, London or at Queens Square in Bath, Somerset.

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Posted in: Health Articles