Social Medical » health care

State Drug Testing

orens — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:44:05 +0000

Things got a bit awkward in the Indiana State House this week as Republican Jud McMillian withdrew a bill that would require welfare recipients be subject to drug testing. McMillian withdrew the bill after a Democrat added a clause saying that elected officials should also be made to take drug tests. The Democrat, Ryan Dvorak, said “if we’re going to impose standards on drug testing, then it should apply to everybody who receives government money”.

McMillian withdrew the bill promptly but claimed he was ready to pee in a cup right then and there to prove he wasn’t on drugs. He is in the process of amending the bill to make it less stringent on law makers siting ‘constitutional issues’. Drug testing of political candidates was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1997 under the 4^th amendment protection against unlawful search and seizure. This Supreme Court’s ruling on the law however dealt with private citizens running for office as opposed to already elected and employed government officials.

Some 30 other states are debating whether to pass similar laws that would require welfare recipients be drug tested. Nationally it is unclear wither these laws are constitutional and the issues is already on the way up to the Supreme Court. More social programs are coming under scrutiny this election year.

THE WONDERS OF POMEGRANATE

Nancy — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 08:15:36 +0000

With the fear of experiencing the unknown side effects of medicinal pills produced by pharmaceutical companies, it is not surprising why people have turned to natural remedies in addressing their health issues. A fruit which has grown abundantly in Iran and Northern India, and now presently being grown in Middle Eastern Countries, Southern Europe and California, has high level of antioxidants which help destroy those nasty cancer cells and even lower cholesterol levels. This is just the tip of the ice berg, because drinking this wonder of nature will also help address respiratory problems since it will help circulate the needed oxygen to our blood cells and prevent them from clumping with another, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. Some people choose to drink pomegranate juice since it can also prevent, or even slow down Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing this, maybe we better switch to drinking pomegranate juice instead of iced tea or orange juice, what do you think?

A NASTY BURN

Nancy — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:51:44 +0000

When people go to the beach, they tend to lose themselves in the sand and in the waters as they wade through it. Beneath the blistering sun, the only protection people have are their hats, their sunglasses, and their sunblock lotion. However, doctors would even agree that sunblock alone cannot protect us from the harmful rays of the sun. Yes, while we bask in the sun enjoying the feel of the summer waves, we are unwittingly exposing ourselves to greater and more serious health problems such as skin cancer. To avoid this ugly situation, it is suggested that application of sun block lotion be done 15-30 minutes before going out to the sun and re-applying the same 15-30 minutes after the initial application. Also, it is deemed advisable to re-apply sun block lotion if the person has profused sweating or had just taken a dip in the water. But then, when we get lost in the fun and excitement, would we even remember reapplying it?

PEPPERY GOOD HEALTH

Nancy — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:27:49 +0000

Not many people are aware of the fact that peppers contribute a lot to a person’s well-being and good health. It has been proven that eating peppers could help deal with those nasty colds and sinuses, and even decrease the number of headaches which one may be having. It has proven to be a good depository of Vitamin C, though it is not often advertised as such, and helps ease blood circulation. In fact, this vegetable can help out those people who love to smoke a lot since ingesting this food helps circulate the blood very much. Who would have thought that this little red thing would be able to contribute a lot to a person’s well-being? Now while adults may have grown accustomed to these peppers, the next difficult thing would be how to make our kids eat it because most of them do not eat this stuff. Nevertheless, mom and dads would agree that eating these peppers, while admittedly hot and even cause a tingling sensation, can still prove to be one of the very few vegetables which can give the total health package.

SLEEP ANYONE?

Nancy — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:51:36 +0000

For insomniacs, the search for the cure to their sleeplessness is never ending. A lot of companies have come out with medicines practically assuring a good night’s sleep, though none has ever come so close in fulfilling it. Fortunately, there are certain natural remedies available which can help insomniacs with their problem. The use of lavender or chamomile actually helps sooth and relax the mind, which paves the way for the road to snoredom. It is actually even better to try out these natural remedies since it does not pose much health risks, as compared to medicines suggested by pharmaceutical companies where we do not know what effects it will have on our bodies. For these natural remedies to work, it takes time, like ordinary sleep medications. Sleep inducement under the natural method does not happen overnight. While it is quite understandable that the typical insomniac would want immediate results which is why they resort to prescription medicines, the consequences and risks may well not be wroth it.

SO YOU HAVE THE FLU

Nancy — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 08:46:15 +0000

With the climate becoming far unpredictable nowadays, it is not surprising why many people get sick. However, if you are running a high fever and your whole body is sore all over or even have the sniffles, you might be coming down with the flu. So what can you do about it?

People get sick because the immune system of their bodies have weakened. Having the flu is no laughing matter, and the best way to deal with it is to take a rest at your home, lie down, and drink plenty of liquids to go along with the medications prescribed by your doctor. Sometimes, to hasten the recovery period, antibiotics are given to deal with the virus. So when you have the flu, you can do three things, you can either immediately accord direct treatment to the flu or to the accompanying symptoms, or you can just take the necessary precautions to protect yourself against the flu virus. The choice is yours.

Knowing your migraine triggers

Nancy — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 07:24:04 +0000

There is no hard and fast rule on what triggers a migraine attack since the person suffering from it is the only one who knows how it came about. A migraine trigger for one does not necessarily mean that it is also a migraine trigger for the other. An example would be a cup of coffee may trigger a migraine for some people while others take coffee to relieve themselves from a migraine attack. As you can see, there are no exact causes of migraine triggers as each is personal. One thing is certain though, some people see an aura and know for one that they will be having a migraine attack shortly. So the best way is to assess yourself so you could know what triggers your migraine attack. It is essentially a trial and error method, and thereafter applying the process of elimination. Only you can name those triggers, and not anyone else, not even your doctor.

Problem with your bones?

Nancy — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:24:04 +0000

Osteoporosis – a common bone problem encountered by all walks of life. Calcium and phosphate are two components needed to develop healthy bones. As we age, our bones become brittle because these two minerals are reabsorbed into our bodies, thus denying our bones of their sustenance. Since our bones do not receive the much-needed minerals to stay strong, it grows weak and later develops into a major bone problem.

The osteoporosis problem is brought about in the drop of estrogen level for women or testosterone drop in men. It is prevalent in people aged over 50. Though there are no known symptoms in its early stages, people who suddenly feel tenderness in their bones, back and neck pains or stooped posture are likely candidates for osteoporosis. The best way to determine if we are suffering from it is to undergo a bone mineral density testing or even a spine CT scan, in rare cases.

Pay Little for a Long Life

Nancy — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:30:05 +0000

If you are suffering from diseases like type 2 diabetes then there is just one thing you need to do and that is invest in things that are healthy. This helps you a lot in cutting the cost on medicines. By things I mean health fruits and vegetables, avoiding junk food and taking just homemade food in limited amounts and insurance.

The above mentioned this are the best way to reduce the cost of medicines especially insurance. See by taking healthy limited homemade diet you can easily put a control on intake of bad and junk thing which effects your health the most. It is the best to take small servings of fruits and vegetables to keep yourself healthy and fight off the disease.

Insurance is good because it helps in cutting the cost of medicines. All you need to do is just contact an insurance company and start your medical insurance.

Medical Tourism

Nancy — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:31:01 +0000

With the advancement of technology, the diseases have also become very complicated. The complexity in the diseases requires the treatments to be specialized. Thus the specialized skills of treatments are not available at the same place, and are distributed across the world.

Thus in order to ensure that the right kind of medical treatments are obtained for the diseases. The travel and media agencies across the world have come up with a concept of medical tourism. This is growing in popularity at a fast pace. Some of the specialized surgeries include joint replacement (could be Knee or Hip), Heart Surgery, Dental Surgery, or can be to get a make-over through cosmetic surgery.

This helps overcome the difficulties faced by patients in claiming insurance, wherein the feedback is that the surgery does not get covered by the insurance you have taken. Thus through medical tourism, you will still get the best care for a lesser price.