Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Emergency Responders come to the aid of Hurricane ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Emergency Responders come to the aid of Hurricane ...: Today, I will dedicate this blog to doing one thing: A call to action and prayer for those devastated by the hurricane. If you would li...

Emergency Responders come to the aid of Hurricane Sandy victims

Today, I will dedicate this blog to doing one thing: A call to action and prayer for those devastated by the hurricane. If you would like to volunteer your time or resources, below are some organizations whom have rolled up their sleeves and would welcome you with open arms:



Red Cross: (http://www.redcross.org//support/volunteer/interest-form)

Rapid Response Team (Billy Graham organization): (http://www.billygraham.org/rrt_index.asp)

Jewish Federation: ( http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=258452)

Catholic Charities: (https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=2357)

Islamic Relief Organization: (http://www.irusa.org/emergencies/hurricane-sandy-emergency-relief/)

Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints: (http://www.irusa.org/emergencies/hurricane-sandy-emergency-relief/)

The Huffington Post provided some great resources for several of the emergency responders (see link http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/fema-hurricane-sandy_n_2046805.html)

If you have the time and resources, help wherever needed. This storm is far from being over. The destruction to lives and property loss from this storm will take months and years to restore back to any semblance of normalcy. Anything you can do to help will not be too small or insignificant. Most of all, remember to pray.

Please provide any additional outreach/emergency response information in the comments section of this blog.

Thank you and God bless!

Pat Ferguson

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Safety Alert: Monster Energy Drink leads to teen’...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Safety Alert: Monster Energy Drink leads to teen’...: How much caffeine is too much caffeine? Depends upon who you are and what your body can handle. But to put that into perspective, think ...

Safety Alert: Monster Energy Drink leads to teen’s death

How much caffeine is too much caffeine? Depends upon who you are and what your body can handle. But to put that into perspective, think about trying to drink 7 caffeine loaded drinks all at once. The jolt alone might at the very least cause you to become nauseated and may cause death. In the case of one teen, the “jolt” made an already known heart condition become her final straw after taking her young life following two days of consuming 48 ounces of the Monster Energy drink.

“Parents of 14-year-old Anais Fournier filed a lawsuit against Monster Energy claiming the caffeine in the company’s drinks killed their daughter. Fournier reportedly consumed two 24-oz. Monster Energy drinks in 24 hours and her autopsy attributed her death to “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity.”

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/24/are-energy-drinks-fatally-caffeinated/#ixzz2AUokGiTi

Energy drinks are not regulated by the FDA because they are considered "dietary supplements" and do not fall under the FDA's authority to regulate. Since 2004, five deaths have been reported as related to the Monster Energy drinks under the Red Bull and Rockstar labels. Emergency room reports from 2005 to 2009 increased “tenfold”. Underlying health problems are often associated with the symptoms and complications from consuming these beverages. Fournier was diagnosed prior to consuming the Monster Energy drink. However, her doctor did not recommend limiting her caffeine consumption or (apparently) restrict her diet otherwise.

So who’s to blame? Is it the consumer’s responsibility to be responsible in consuming such highly caffeine induced beverages? Is it the FDA’s responsibility to regulate, investigate and remove anything from the market once a problem is known? Is it the doctor’s responsibility to tell anyone diagnosed with a “cardiac arrhythmia” what they cannot consume (i.e. Caffeine)? Yes, yes and yes.

To make matters worse, alcohol mixed with energy drinks has become the latest “high” amongst drinkers. Anyone, with common sense, should know that the two simply don’t mix.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Healthy “energy” doesn’t come in a can or a bottle.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is the “ship” sinking? The great debate over heal...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is the “ship” sinking? The great debate over heal...: Unless you’re a magician, trying to balance the Medicare budget would be impossible. With more being spent than what is being set aside, ...

Is the “ship” sinking? The great debate over health care trust funds

Unless you’re a magician, trying to balance the Medicare budget would be impossible. With more being spent than what is being set aside, the “well” is bound to dry-up in the very near future.

Medicare is at the top of the “must fix it now” list that our current and/or future administration must find a solution. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Instead of trying to, I’ll redirect you to a brilliantly written article on the current condition of Medicare. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-illusion-of-health-care-trust-funds/2012/10/18/844047d8-1897-11e2-9855-71f2b202721b_story.html).

The opening statement in the article just about say’s it all:

“Machiavelli famously advised princes to use deception to win power and to get things done. Five centuries later, a deception used by our leaders to win power is making it harder for them to fix the biggest issue facing our nation.
If we do not reduce the growth rate of healthcare costs, they will consume the federal budget. We risk a debt crisis rivaling the 2008-09 crash. Changes that other countries have made soberly, achieving lower costs and better health outcomes, will be imposed on us by our creditors. Their goal will be the return of their money, not the quality of Americans’ health care.”

Basically, the problem with Medicare is very straightforward:

*$549 billion spent versus $325 billion in assets under the existing Medicare program

*Only 38% of Medicare is covered with payroll taxes versus 62% in 1990

*Beneficiary current premiums cover only 13% of Medicare costs

*The Federal government will need to deposit $27 Trillion into Medicare, and $11 Trillion into Social security to cover retiring babyboomers

*Life expectancy in America is now over 80+ years of age for both male and female

*Women are outliving men by 5+ years

*The current economic crisis has depleted most retiree’s income from their investments, lowering their financial resources while increasing their need for government assistance

*Effective October 1, 2012 “The Affordable Care Act” (aka Obama-care) began penalizing hospitals for too many re-entering of Medicare patients

*The National Debt has increase four fold in four years

In 2000, the National Debt hovered slightly above 5.4 Trillion. Since 2008, it grew from 10.6 to $16 Trillion, and it’s still growing. Under the current administration, the answer is to keep doing more of the same. There hasn’t been a balanced budget in four years, and there isn’t an answer currently in sight under the Obama administration. All of this will mean one thing: Medicare will run out unless we have a solid answer to fix the current debt crisis.

Starting January 1, 2013, the Affordable Health Care Act will begin penalizing anyone without health care insurance by way of a “tax penalty”. Currently, health insurance premiums are not regulated, leaving the door wide open for American’s to be at the mercy of whatever insurance companies wish to charge for coverage. Doing something as simple as regulating insurance companies and what they can charge for health insurance coverage would make a lot more sense.

Unemployment remains at a staggering 7.8%. Less tax dollars are going towards future needs. We’ve simply spent more than we have saved, and it is now coming back to haunt our retirees.

The debate over taxing the rich doesn’t work. The current federal tax rate on the mere 1% would have to jump from 24% to 80%, and we all know that isn’t likely to happen. Once you start making the “rich” poorer, you start making the “poorer poorer”. See Thomas Peterfly’s commercial (http://youtu.be/UnX7TNFIELg).

I’ve taken a humble stab at a particularly large problem we all will face one day. If anyone has an answer, I’d be delighted to hear back from you. Enjoy!

Quick Tips for Wellness: Socialism is not the answer. Vote for the President you feel will bring our budget back into balance and can work with both political parties.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Sleep positions: What your body might be telling ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Sleep positions: What your body might be telling ...: Most of us fall asleep in a position that seems natural to us. However, could our body be telling us something we may or may not already k...

Sleep positions: What your body might be telling you

Most of us fall asleep in a position that seems natural to us. However, could our body be telling us something we may or may not already know?

According to Dr. Janet Kennedy, a licensed clinical psychologist who created “NYC Sleep Doctor”: A comprehensive source for sleep solutions” (http://www.nycsleepdoctor.com/), said the way we sleep tells us a lot about who we are and possibly where our health is headed. Watch Dr. Kennedy’s interview with CBS (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7417136n) to get a first hand report from the sleep expert.

Fetal position - Dr. Kennedy claims the “fetal position” is the healthiest sleep position because it preserves your back alignment, reflects your personality (sensitive and shy) and is the most popular position (41% sleep in this position).

The “Log” position – (aka side sleepers) 15% of us sleep this way. Their personality reflects someone who is typically social and easy going.

Yearner – About 13% of the population are “Yearner’s” when they sleep (more open to what other people have to say). Someone who sleeps with “outstretched arms” reflects their inner desire to “reach” (or yearn) for something more in their lives. However, “Yearners” have a tendency to be a little suspicious and cynical at times.

Free-fallers - Approximately 7% of the population sleep in the “free-fall” position, on their stomach, with their arms positioned at each side of their head. While children and babies usually sleep in this position because of their flexibility, this is the absolute worse position for adults. They often experience stressful lives and feel anxious when they awake.

Soldier – Quiet and reserved, 8% sleep with their body in a uniform position, on their back with their head on the pillow and arms at their side. Those who sleep like “soliders” usually possess “high standards” in their life.

Starfish – Only 5% of us sleep like a “starfish” (on their back, with arms raised up around their head). These folks tend to make new friends easily.

Back sleepers face one big problem: They usually “snore” which can lead to problems with sleep apnea.

Here’s the kicker: Eleven to thirteen times we change positions when we’re sleeping….so go figure.

Quick Tips for Wellness: How you sleep may be telling you who you are!

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Increased drug, alcohol and cigarette use associat...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Increased drug, alcohol and cigarette use associat...: Weight Loss surgery patients, who once used food as their drug of choice, may now be turning to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes for comfort....

Increased drug, alcohol and cigarette use associated with post-Weight Loss Surgery

Weight Loss surgery patients, who once used food as their drug of choice, may now be turning to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes for comfort. According to a recent report in “JAMA Archives of Surgery”, patients turned to these choices post surgery in an attempt to feed their addictive behavior. The participants included 155 patients, of which 122 were women. The report provided and concluded the following:

• “Participants reported significant increases in the frequency of substance use (a composite of drug use, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking, hereafter referred to as composite substance use) 24 months after surgery.”

• “Patients may be at increased risk for substance use following bariatric WLS. In particular, patients who undergo laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery may be at increased risk for alcohol use following WLS.”
Resource: http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1379763

The study was conducted from a Compulsive Behavior Questionnaire completed by the volunteers. Initially, the study revealed alcohol abuse was under control during the time-period directly following surgery, but increased within 24 months following surgery.

“Based on the present study, undergoing RYGB surgery appears to increase the risk for alcohol use following WLS,” the authors conclude. “Risks and benefits should be weighted when recommending LRYGB surgery to patients who may be at increased risk of developing problems with alcohol after WLS, such as those with a personal or family history of alcohol abuse or dependence.”

The part of the brain which controls binge eating disorders (BED) also controls drug/alcohol addiction, often producing the same response with food addictions. Alexis Conason, Psy.D., New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center and fellow colleagues conducted the study involving individuals who underwent weight loss surgery. One hundred of those studied received laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, with the remaining fifty-five patients receiving laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery. The baseline of the study was performed over a time span of 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post surgery.

The study revealed the “frequency” of substance consumption increased post weight loss surgery, specifically laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. However, more research may be required to determine exactly why and which factors contributed to the use.

It would seem to make sense that abusing or consuming drugs and alcohol, which can pass easily through the body, would become the substitute for their past addiction to food. The overwhelming emotional trap, for anyone who is suffering from obesity, is much greater than anyone can fathom. They feel stuck in their body, unable to engage in physical activities, while recovering and limited to the resources used in the past for comfort. It takes an enormous amount of courage for anyone to make the decision to stop the behavior and look for an answer. Part of the long term answer must include counseling/therapy. Only addressing the obesity and not the behavior never changes the future.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Before you choose surgery for your weight problem, choose to get to the root of the problem through therapy and counseling.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Poisoning is now the leading cause of death from i...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Poisoning is now the leading cause of death from i...: A 2008 study revealed misuse and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs, used to treat injuries are continuously on the rise. In 1980, traffic accid...

Poisoning is now the leading cause of death from injuries in the United States

A 2008 study revealed misuse and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs, used to treat injuries are continuously on the rise. In 1980, traffic accidents outnumbered deaths 5 to 1 in comparison to drug poisoning. However, those two statistics now compete side by side as the problem with prescription drug deaths continues to escalate.

The Center for Disease (CDC) reported that almost 50% of Americans were using some form of Therapeutic Drugs (47.9% to be exact) between the period of 2005-2008. The data included in the report:

•Percent of persons using at least one prescription drug in the past month: 47.9% (2005-2008)
•Percent of persons using three or more prescription drugs in the past month: 21.4% (2005-2008)
•Percent of persons using five or more prescription drugs in the past month: 10.5% (2005-2008)
(http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db81.htm)


The answer to the problem isn’t always as simple as a “yes or no”. Many prescription drugs, when used properly, are needed as part of the healing process. However, long term use of pain medication can lead to complications that require professional guidance to “wean” you off of them.

The weaning from the use of the prescribed drug and the length of time the drug is used is the greater concern. Pain Management physicians can provide guidance and oversight in the administration of noninvasive and nonpharmaceutical pain therapy for pain relief. Rarely will they recommend pharmaceutical drugs as part of their therapy.

Alcohol or other drugs can have severe, if not deadly, effects when combined with prescribed medication. New studies are constantly on the rise revealing that the combination of prescription drugs mixed with alcohol has deadly, neurological effects.

“The Science of Addiction” (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction) provides substantial evidence that present the harmful effects of drugs mixed when alcohol and their long term consequences.

One fascinating topic covered is how the brain continuously desires the drug of choice once it feeds the “reward” portion of the brain that causes addiction:

“Our brains are wired to ensure that we will repeat life-sustaining activities by associating those activities with pleasure or reward. Whenever this reward circuit is activated, the brain notes that something important is happening that needs to be remembered, and teaches us to do it again and again, without thinking about it. Because drugs of abuse stimulate the same circuit, we learn to abuse drugs in the same way.” (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drugs-brain)


Drug addiction isn’t a character weakness; it’s a natural tendency the brain desires once the reward circuitry is activated. Avoiding the use of drugs that stimulate the part of our brain’s circuitry, or at the very least avoiding long term use is extremely crucial to enabling our body to heal.

If you or someone you know have a prescription drug dependency, seek immediate treatment by a trained medical expert specializing in prescription drug addiction.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Be aware of the long term effects from any drug you are consuming.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Does “Obama-Care” reflect the name? The story of...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Does “Obama-Care” reflect the name? The story of...: Today’s blog won’t reflect statistics, politics, or polls. What it will reflect is a personal experience shared through an aging senior c...

Does “Obama-Care” reflect the name? The story of Bob and Sue

Today’s blog won’t reflect statistics, politics, or polls. What it will reflect is a personal experience shared through an aging senior couple who can attest first hand to the effects of Obama-Care’s October 1, 2012, policy changes and how they are now being affected by them through the Medicare program. To protect their identity, I’ll call them Bob and Sue. However, rest assured they are not fictitious characters, and their story will likely be, unfortunately, repeated silently for years to come should Obama-Care continue.

Bob is 78 years old and suffers from heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and severe obesity. Sue is significantly healthier than Bob but suffers from minimal age related symptoms. Due to Bob’s obesity a recent fall required ambulatory assistance and immediate hospital care. Within a few short hours, Bob was sent home but only to fall, again, at least three more times which left him rendered on the floor until the emergency team could rescue him. After the initial fall, the EMT’s only offered to return Bob to his bed or chair but not to the hospital. In speaking with Sue, she believes the reasons Bob is not receiving any further care, treatment or consideration for admission into a nursing home are highly due to the recent changes in Medicare.

Currently, Bob visits his doctor almost every month, but those visits are slowly being narrowed down to less frequent returns, and Sue seems to know why. “They’ll be sued if he keeps going back to the hospital,” Sue said. I quickly corrected her and explained that hospitals are "not being sued” but are facing stiff penalties lest they not provide quality care during hospital visits, which later require the patient to return within 30 days. But here’s the kicker: Sue say’s his personal physician and emergency room doctors aren’t even recommending entry into either a hospital or nursing home, even though Bob’s condition is significantly worsening daily.

Another keen observation Sue shared with me was from their recent emergency room visit. “There was this room surrounded by glass, filled with doctors sitting at computers. When I asked the nurse what they were doing, she explained they were analyzing and reviewing the incoming patient’s condition before they went to see them to diagnose, treat and evaluate them in person.” I informed Sue that the process wasn’t so unusual, especially given the amount of patients who come through an emergency room and how their symptoms and conditions are collected/reported back to a doctor before the patient is seen. However, Sue wasn’t buying my explanation. “The doctor barely spent any time with us when he came in the room and seem to hurry back to the glass room.” You can't fool a senior citizen, I thought to myself as I silenced my response.

Upon leaving the hospital, Sue and Bob returned home, but only to have Bob fall again and again. With Bob’s condition worsening, I asked Sue what she was going to do now that Bob can’t walk, falls down constantly and appears to be experiencing mounting symptoms (i.e. Hallucinations). “I don’t know, since Medicare isn’t allowing Bob to re-enter the hospital or a nursing home.” I asked if her doctor had any prognosis or recommendations for Bob. Sue simply replied, “No.” I urged her to make a list of Bob’s current condition, to keep a diary of his falls and response to medicine, so that his doctor could have enough evidence to admit Bob for more intensive care. Overwhelmed, Sue simply looked lost after listening to my advice. I can’t say I blame her.

The following is where I’m genuinely struggling with Sue and Bob’s experience with the recent changes in the Medicare policy. In the past and for much less severe situations than the one they’re current experiencing, Bob would have entered the hospital. However, now Bob is simply sent home and Sue is left with no further explanation or help. Sue has now been left with the full responsibility of being Bob’s caretaker, however, Sue’s no match for Bob’s condition or equipped to provide the medical treatment he needs. To matters worse, Bob’s current list of prescribed medicine revealed major to minor drug interactions after a quick online review, most of which he was already experiencing including hallucinations and extreme dizziness.

Outwardly, the first two are obviously affecting Bob. Inwardly, who knows what’s going on inside. The initial fall rendered Bob a concusion, severely sprained ankle and the onset of extreme halucinations, none of which were considered worthy of Bob receiving any more care than an emergency room visit.

What does appear to be apparent is this: Bob is being sent home to either die or be cared for by Sue until he does, and doctors are not admitting him into the hospital even though they would have done so in the past. Not once did the suggestion to treat Bob in the hospital or through a care facility become subject matter for discussion between the doctors, patient or family members. Bob’s immobility has now become Sue’s problem, even though Bob outweighs Sue 3 to 1. What happens the next time Bob falls? What happens when Sue calls an ambulance for the umpteenth time to pick Bob back up again? So far, Sue’s been informed that as long as Bob doesn’t go into the ambulance Medicare doesn’t pay the bill. So guess what’s been happening thus far? Bob hasn't seen the inside of an ambulance except once and he was quickly sent back home after a short visit to the emergency room.

Thus, the local volunteer fire department has been Bob’s saving grace, graciously lifting him back up and propping him into bed while Sue offers a small “donation” from her already pinched finances as a gesture of goodwill. Sue’s greatest fear is that the donations will run out and the EMT’s might not be able to “afford” helping her the next time.

So here’s my response to the whole matter: How terribly sad, disgusting and pathetic. Bob and Sue represent a prime reason why Obama-Care does not live up to its name – especially for senior citizens. Prior to the October 1, 2012, changes in Medicare, Bob and Sue felt they had a fairly reasonable assurance Medicare would kick-in when they needed it the most. Now they do not. Simply put: Medicare should now be called “We don't care” because that’s what it’s become.

With all politics set aside, ask yourself this question: Can I live with the current care under the Obama-care policies? If your answer is “yes”, go back to the beginning of this blog and reread it. You may need to, over and over again, as you let it sink in what you might be facing should Obama-Care remain in place in the near future.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Can you or a loved one afford to live like Bob and Sue for another four years?

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: "Seasonal allergies" might really be "food allergi...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: "Seasonal allergies" might really be "food allergi...: The long hot summer is the playground for fall allergies and the culprit behind the delayed flu season for many of its sufferers. Ragwe...

"Seasonal allergies" might really be "food allergies"

The long hot summer is the playground for fall allergies and the culprit behind the delayed flu season for many of its sufferers.

Ragweed (see picture above) is very common throughout Virginia. Along with dust, pet dander and general pollen, most of us may not be able to nail down the exact cause. Allergy testing will usually net one of two things:

*Everyone is usually allergic to something

*Most allergist will prescribe some form of treatment or product to make your living area more condusive to eliminating allergens, even when your allergy test doesn’t pin-point the cause behind your allergic reactions.

About three years ago I had been suffering from allergies for long enough and decided to go the method of allergy testing. Even though, my allergist told me that not every allergic reaction appears on the testing, I felt it might tell me something I hadn’t known before. However, it did not. With his advice, I began receiving two shots a week and agreed to continue the treatment over a period of several months.

The first onset of allergy shots felt like a “jolt” to my body. However, my system slowly started resisting the effects, and I returned to my “sneezing, wheezing and hacking” self.

About six months into the shot routine I began changing my lifestyle, becoming more aware of what I was eating/consuming and started living much healthier (nutritionally and physically) than I had in previous years. Once I began this new lifestyle I noticed a dramatic change in my “allergic” condition: My allergies went away. Those changes included the following:

*Whole, natural and organic foods
*Eliminated preservatives
*Exercise 30- 45 minutes a day
*Eliminated all “red” meat and pork

My conclusion after changing my lifestyle was that it must have been a culprit behind my allergic condition, especially since my allergies were not just problematically related to the season but had remained a continuous problem for years.

Quick Tips for Wellness: If you are suffering from seasonal allergies and have tried over the counter drugs (i.e. Antihistamines) and you are still suffering, try changing your nutrition. You might just be surprised how quickly your allergies go away!


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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Olive Garden and Red Lobster test the Obama-Care w...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Olive Garden and Red Lobster test the Obama-Care w...: Imagine having employer paid health insurance suddenly ripped away from you because your employer legally reduced your employment status f...

Olive Garden and Red Lobster test the Obama-Care waters by reducing employees hours

Imagine having employer paid health insurance suddenly ripped away from you because your employer legally reduced your employment status from full-time to part-time? This rarely talked about provision in Obama-Care will hit countless numbers of employees who had (if only for a short time) a false sense of security through their employer paid health program, come 2014. Some are feeling the pain now.

By simply reducing their hours to less than 30 a week, some of the largest corporations in America quickly took away the security of health insurance from their faithful employees this week. In the case of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, about 75% of their current employees were already considered part-time.

Now, even more of their staff will be added to that list as they “test the waters” by analyzing the impact of the impending changes all employers will face in 2014 under the current Obama administration.

Starting 2014, under Obama-Care employers would be required to provide healthcare to their full time employees. Many employers are being forced to think ahead now, as they prepare to make a choice between reducing hours or eliminating staff to pay for what they will face in the near future.

So what is the possible domino effect should Obama-Care remain intact? Downsizing, reduced hours and business closures are three of the likely decisions most companies, large and small, will be forced to consider. Unemployment will undoubtedly rise to an even higher rate in the near future as employers prepare for the change. New business start ups will be profoundly affected, as well.

Downsizing will shift the already overworked staff at many corporations into accepting additional responsibilities or face no responsibilities at all through job loss. There are few alternatives left when it comes to an already pinched bottom line, especially when we’re living in a failing economy with a not so bright future at the present time.

Anytime, an administration requires businesses to bear the burden of a healthcare policy, designed to slowly eat away at their ability to stay profitable, someone pays for it. Typically that “someone” is the employee. It’s a lot easier for an employer to require more from an employee or reduce their hours, than it is to keep the same amount of staff and pay out more benefits.

The inevitable outcome of Obama-Care is headed in a devastating direction. The results will either be underemployment or unemployment; both will throw our economy even further under the bus.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Remember the impact of what you’re voting for on November 6th.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Generic drugs get a second look at effectiveness

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Generic drugs get a second look at effectiveness: If you have the choice between the “real McCoy” and their cheaper counterpart, which one would you choose? As long as the strength and ...

Generic drugs get a second look at effectiveness

If you have the choice between the “real McCoy” and their cheaper counterpart, which one would you choose? As long as the strength and quality are the same, you’d be a fool not to choose the lesser priced product, right? Most of us would say yes, but many of us are still convinced there must be something more to the “brand” name than whatever is packed into the generic substitute. Think again.
According to the FDA, generic drugs are equal counterparts when it comes to comparing the brand name label against the lesser known substitute. Nothing says it better than the “horse’s mouth”. The following is provided via the FDA website (http://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/understandinggenericdrugs/ucm167991.htm)

FACT: FDA requires generic drugs to have the same quality and performance as brand name drugs.
• When a generic drug product is approved, it has met rigorous standards established by the FDA with respect to identity, strength, quality, purity, and potency. However, some variability can and does occur during manufacturing, for both brand name and generic drugs. When a drug, generic or brand name, is mass-produced, very small variations in purity, size, strength, and other parameters are permitted. FDA limits how much variability is acceptable.
• Generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand name product. Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the brand name product.
• The generic drug manufacturer must prove its drug is the same as (bioequivalent) the brand name drug. For example, after the patient takes the generic drug, the amount of drug in the bloodstream is measured. If the levels of the drug in the bloodstream are the same as the levels found when the brand name product is used, the generic drug will work the same.
• Through review of bioequivalence data, FDA ensures that the generic product performs the same as its respective brand name product. This standard applies to all generic drugs, whether immediate or controlled release.
• All generic manufacturing, packaging, and testing sites must pass the same quality standards as those of brand name drugs, and the generic products must meet the same exacting specifications as any brand name product. In fact, many generic drugs are made in the same manufacturing plants as brand name drug products.

FACT: Research shows that generics work just as well as brand name drugs.
• A study evaluated the results of 38 published clinical trials that compared cardiovascular generic drugs to their brand name counterparts. There was no evidence that brand name heart drugs worked any better than generic heart drugs.[1]

FACT: FDA does not allow a 45 percent difference in the effectiveness of the generic drug product.
• FDA recently evaluated 2,070 human studies conducted between 1996 and 2007. These studies compared the absorption of brand name and generic drugs into a person’s body. These studies were submitted to FDA to support approval of generics. The average difference in absorption into the body between the generic and the brand name was 3.5 percent[2]. Some generics were absorbed slightly more, some slightly less. This amount of difference would be expected and acceptable, whether for one batch of brand name drug tested against another batch of the same brand, or for a generic tested against a brand name drug. In fact, there have been studies in which brand name drugs were compared with themselves as well as with a generic. As a rule, the difference for the generic-to-brand comparison was about the same as the brand-to-brand comparison.
• Any generic drug modeled after a single, brand name drug must perform approximately the same in the body as the brand name drug. There will always be a slight, but not medically important, level of natural variability – just as there is for one batch of brand name drug compared to the next batch of brand name product.

FACT: When it comes to price, there is a big difference between generic and brand name drugs. On average, the cost of a generic drug is 80 to 85 percent lower than the brand name product.
• In 2010 alone, the use of FDA-approved generics saved $158 billion, an average of $3 billion every week.[3]

FACT: Cheaper does not mean lower quality.
• Generic manufacturers are able to sell their products for lower prices because they are not required to repeat the costly clinical trials of new drugs and generally do not pay for costly advertising, marketing, and promotion. In addition, multiple generic companies are often approved to market a single product; this creates competition in the market place, often resulting in lower prices.

FACT: FDA monitors adverse events reports for generic drugs.
• The monitoring of adverse events for all drug products, including generic drugs, is one aspect of the overall FDA effort to evaluate the safety of drugs after approval. Many times, reports of adverse events describe a known reaction to the active drug ingredient.
• Reports are monitored and investigated, when appropriate. The investigations may lead to changes in how a product (brand name and generic counterparts) is used or manufactured.

FACT: FDA is actively engaged in making all regulated products – including generic drugs – safer.
• FDA is aware that there are reports noting that some people may experience an undesired effect when switching from brand name drug to a generic formulation or from one generic drug to another generic drug. FDA wants to understand what may cause problems with certain formulations if, in fact, they are linked to specific generic products.
• FDA is encouraging the generic industry to investigate whether, and under what circumstances, such problems occur. The Agency does not have the resources to perform independent clinical studies and lacks the regulatory authority to require industry to conduct such studies. FDA will continue to investigate these reports to ensure that it has all the facts about these treatment failures and will make recommendations to healthcare professionals and the public if the need arises.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Generic (according to the FDA) is every bit equal to the brand name counterpart. If it isn’t, let the FDA know.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: 5 tips for "Wellness" after 60

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: 5 tips for "Wellness" after 60: Aging is something no one can stop from happening. Aging gracefully, however, is a choice. Every day you must make that choice through i...

5 tips for "Wellness" after 60

Aging is something no one can stop from happening. Aging gracefully, however, is a choice. Every day you must make that choice through intentionally establishing a pattern that you can easily stick with and one you like, as well.

Everybody knows they must eat healthy food to stay healthy. However, everyone doesn’t quite know which foods they should consume on a daily basis.

Nutrition
*30-40% percent of your diet should consist of healthy lean protein (fish, chicken). Soy is no longer the best choice since 90% of soy in America is genetically modified, so try other lean proteins
*Green vegetables (broccoli, dark lettuce, beans)
*Fiber (whole wheat (versus whole grain), fruits and vegetables)
*Heart healthy oils (found in Avocados, walnuts, almonds and oily fish like salmon and sardines)
*Low sodium foods (read the label and stay under 1500 mg per day)

Exercise should focus upon resistance building and strengthening routines.
*Build strong muscles (but you don’t have to bulk up)
*Use opposing muscles throughout your routine (don’t just work on one set of muscles but on various muscles within the same area of your body)
*Build a strong core (stomach and back)

Focus on losing excess body fat versus weighing-in
*Muscle weighs more than fat!
*Losing inches = losing body fat

Practice “agility” movements through physical activity
*Aerobics, Jazzercise – Both are excellent, easy to learn and fun to do!
*Dancing – Builds strong body-mind connection and helps you move fluidly throughout the day

Have Faith!
*Daily prayer and meditation is the best way to stay emotionally and spiritually fit. Whatever “guides” you throughout your day has the strongest impact on how you perceive yourself, your wellbeing and your future

Quick Tips for Wellness: Set small, achievable daily goals and stick with them!

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The Body Mind connection: Wellness for the brain

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The Body Mind connection: Wellness for the brain: Why is it that centenarians (someone over 100 years “young”) amaze us with their alert and youthful ability to live well beyond the average ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Whispers: 15 “Female Cancer” signs your body...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Whispers: 15 “Female Cancer” signs your body...: For the most part, women are very in tune with their bodies and understand the importance of taking care of their health. Yet, for some re...

Body Whispers: 15 “Female Cancer” signs your body is telling you not to ignore

For the most part, women are very in tune with their bodies and understand the importance of taking care of their health. Yet, for some reason, we ignore some pretty obvious signs that would seem to “jump” out at us in a heartbeat.

Perhaps, it’s because we just don’t have the time to do something about it or that we’ll be treated as if we’re overreacting. Maybe, it’s because we’re the caregivers to our family, friends and neighbors and we put ourselves last way too many times. However, just like anything else, if we don’t take care of the “little” things they will grow into bigger things that take over our lives making it worse and not better.

According to WebMD, the following are the top 15 cancer signs you never want to ignore (http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/15-cancer-symptoms-women-ignore):
*Unexplained weight loss without dieting/exercising
*Bloating, without being associated to the menstrual cycle. These symptoms may produce pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly and/or causing frequent urination
*Breast changes (rash/redness on the skin, discharge from the breasts)
*Bleeding in-between a period or excessively/heavily beyond a normal menstrual cycle
*Skin changes, moles
*Difficulty swallowing
*Blood in the stool
*Abdominal pain and depression
*Frequent indigestion
*White spots inside the mouth or on the tongue
*Unexplained pain that suddenly occurs and lingers
*Lymph node changes (arm pits and neck) increasing/swelling in size
*Fever (not related to any other known illness and/or infection)
*Fatigue
*Persistent cough

Many of the above could be related to something else, but ignoring them or not informing your doctor that they are occurring is a dangerous mistake. If you are not having an annual “Pap smear” and mammogram, consider having both immediately. If you are experiencing the above symptoms for a prolonged period of time, write down your symptoms including when they began, how/when they occur and talk to your doctor immediately.
If you don’t have a gynecologist and live in Hampton Roads, I highly recommend mine, Dr. Ebenezer NiMoii (757-547-4500). He is compassionate and an excellent doctor. His office staff is beyond proficient in their work. He is located in Chesapeake. Their website is www.greenbrierobgyn.com. Tell him “Pat” sent me!

Quick Tips for Wellness: “Signs” are our bodies whispering to us. Never ignore what your internal instincts are trying to communicate to you.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Meningitis outbreak hits Virginia

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Meningitis outbreak hits Virginia: Pain killing injections, and possibly antiseptics and anesthetics associated with administering them, are the suspected culprit behind a h...

Meningitis outbreak hits Virginia

Pain killing injections, and possibly antiseptics and anesthetics associated with administering them, are the suspected culprit behind a high alert meningitis outbreak in several States, including Virginia. The drug, “methylprednisolone”, is commonly used for pain management and is given through injection to the spine. Symptoms of the tainted injection include: Dizziness, fevers, problems with gait and sensory, headaches, slurred speech, nausea and stroke. Meningitis results from inflammation of the meninges which cover the spinal-cord and brain.

Roughly 26 cases have been reported and over 700 patients in Tennessee alone have possibly been exposed. According to the CDC, those cases have led to 4 deaths and more may be expected. Just in the past 24 hours, five new cases were confirmed.
The known five States susceptible to the contaminated drug include Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Maryland.

According to Fox News, a treatment center in Tennessee, St. Thomas Neurological Outpatient Center in Nashville. CDC officials are now reviewing cases that may have occurred within the past 2-3 months, as well.

If you or someone you know has received this treatment, report any suspected side effects immediately to your doctor. Incubation period can last from 2 – 28 days, before symptoms appear.

Visit the following link to see if your symptoms are likened to this condition (http://www.meningitis-trust.org/meningitis-info/signs-and-symptoms/adults/) and seek treatment immediately if you suspect this condition might be related.
Treatment can range from outpatient to inpatient/hospitalization (http://www.emedicinehealth.com/meningitis_in_adults/page7_em.htm).

Quick Tips for Wellness: Do not dismiss the symptoms and seek the advice of a medical professional immediately if you suspect meningitis.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Medicare recipients receive a wake-up call from Ob...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Medicare recipients receive a wake-up call from Ob...: Effective October 1, 2012, Obama-care’s Affordable Healthcare Act delivers on one of its promises: To cut healthcare costs while providi...

Medicare recipients receive a wake-up call from Obama-care starting today

Effective October 1, 2012, Obama-care’s Affordable Healthcare Act delivers on one of its promises: To cut healthcare costs while providing affordable care to seniors. However, it’s at the expense of their health. How so, you might ask? The Medicare clause hands a swift and expensive penalty to hospitals that have too many readmissions due to complications, should they attempt to readmit a patient within 30 days from the date they were released. The premise is to enforce quality care before you are released.

The Obama-care Medicare policy not only is a deterrent for hospitals to retreat a patient who may earnestly need treatment but it’s a safety risk for every aging patient who may not heal as quickly, may need retreatment or received poor initial treatment. The penalties hospitals will face are expected to average $125,000 per incident (based upon expected averages). Now if that isn’t enough to make a doctor send you home before sending you back to the hospital then what is? Can we only imagine the red tape seniors will now face due to no cause of their own and how much more difficult it might be should they (the victim of poor quality care) need to re-enter the hospital after discharge? No one can convince me that hospitals will not exercise putting a system in place to avoid these penalties.

As we age, so will our body’s ability to recover fully and/or timely. To impart a policy that penalizes the provider because we need to be readmitted within 30 days from the date of our release seems absurd, especially considering the science of medicine and the possible interaction it has with our body. Is there some crystal ball method being used to determine this timeframe of readmission? Some magical reasoning that states we’re all the sudden eligible for retreatment after 30 days versus 29 days? Of course not. So how did they come up with the system of checks and balances? I would assume it was based upon some methodical timeline that appeared reasonable to the “powers-that-be” (aka government officials who drafted the policies which we’ve now been forced to accept).

So what say you President Obama on this matter (now that it’s been set in motion)? According to President Obama the new plan is “expanding” the coverage offered to Senior Citizens and stepping up customer service. Through preventative coverage and prescription drugs, the new law allows about $500 more in spending while cutting back about $7,385 in coverage. To help seniors avoid costly medical expenses and unpleasant procedures is a good thing, but what about those seniors who are already suffering from disease and need ongoing treatment or what happens it the treatment received failed during a hospital stay? What about those whose lives might be in danger due to the “savings minded hospitals” too afraid of the steep penalties least they readmit too soon? Well, I guess we’ll all find out soon enough.
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/04/valuebasedpurchasing04292011a.html

Of course, the outcome at this point is speculation but the reality is Obama-care is here at least through December 31, 2012. After January 1, 2013, we’ll either have another four years to see how it will affect our lives or a fresh start to find another method for solving the healthcare problem in America. There are parts of Obama-care that are needed, but there are too many parts that will tax the average middle-class American beyond what seems reasonable.

To learn more about the timeline of Obama-care, visit the following link (http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/)

Quick Tips for Wellness: Medicine is a science, not a guarantee. Hospitals are care facilities, not hotels providing customer service experiences. A healthcare program need not get the two confused.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The Body Mind connection: Wellness for the brain

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The Body Mind connection: Wellness for the brain: Why is it that centenarians (someone over 100 years “young”) amaze us with their alert and youthful ability to live well beyond the average ...