Different Types of Health Insurance in California
Whether you buy group or individual health insurance in California, the options you have regarding the different types of health insurance are generally the same. In some groups you can even choose from available plans. These different types are traditional health insurance, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and preferred provider organizations (PPOs).
California goes beyond the Federal requirements for offering health insurance to its residents. Examples of this include Industry Advantage plans (IAHP), short-term health policies, Insurance for high risk Individuals and special plans for children and teens.
Additional Health Insurance in California
The traditional health care delivery system is based on a fee-for-service type of arrangement. In a fee-for-service system, you pay or each itemized medical service you receive. In the days of the frontier, “Doc” often received a chicken as payment. Today, physicians are paid with money, lots and lots of it. Fee-for-service health insurance recognizes this practice and is designed to reduce or even eliminate your duty to pay directly for your medical care. Traditional health insurance comes in three parts:
California has four basic options for choosing a health care plan:
- 1. Health through an employer or association
- 2. Health Insurance through Income eligibility such as Medicaid
- 3. Health care for high risk individuals such as those that have had cancer or a heart attack
- 4. Private Insurance
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Hospitalization
Hospitalization covers defined expenses incurred while in the hospital. Generally, the insurance will pay for all of the covered services rendered by the hospital staff. However, if the insurance benefit is an indemnity payment, the payment will be for a fixed sum regardless of the actual expenses incurred. This fixed sum will usually be far below the daily charge actually made by the hospital.Medicalsurgical
This part of a traditional health plan covers the expensive costs of medical care other than the bill from the hospital. Services such as doctor visits, treatment charges, etc., are covered here. Medicalsurgical usually has a deductible and requires co-payments by the insured (payments you make for charges not covered by the insurance), typically 20 percent of the doctor’s fee.Catastrophic or major medical
There are usually lifetime maximum payments that hospitalization and medicalsurgical plans will pay, after which the well runs dry. Unfortunately, these maximums may not be sufficient to pay for all of the care required if a major illness or injury should strike, since such afflictions can eat up hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds worth of health services. Thus, catastrophic coverage adds to your umbrella of protection in an amount sufficient to protect you from the horrendous expenses of such serious and prolonged illnesses. These policies also fill in some of the gaps not covered by hospitalization or medicalsurgical.Health Maintenance Organizations or Private Insurance in California
The health maintenance organization (HMO) is a relatively new player in the health insurance game, although it has been around in a limited fashion since the 1930s. The idea behind an HMO is to pay one premium and receive all of your health care at no or a nominal additional cost. The point is to save money compared to traditional health plans that cost more to purchase and require more out-of-pocket payments from the insured. What you, the insured, give in exchange for reduced cost is a substantial loss of your freedom to choose who will take care of your health needs.Preferred Provider Organizations
Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) seek to give both the benefits of traditional health plans and the money savings of HMOs. They do this by paying higher benefits as a reward for your using the doctors or hospitals they preselect for that purpose.Disability Insurance
Disability insurance does not pay for health care; rather it pays for lost wages caused by a disabling injury or illness.How Health Insurance Is Priced
Ask anyone how health insurance is priced and you will get a simple answer: expensively! Beyond that, there are underwriting criteria used by health insurance providers, whether they are for-profit or, like Blue ShieldBlue Cross, nonprofit.Underwriting Criteria
Age
The older you are, the more likely you are to get sick; therefore, the higher your health insurance premiums will be.Number of people covered
Many people buy family coverage rather than individual policies. This means that there will be adults as well as minor children protected by the same plan. Some companies will charge based on the size of the family. Others charge a basic family rate without regard to the number of members.Gender
Unlike life insurance, where women get the better end of the bargain than men, in health insurance women often pay higher premiums. This is based on health insurance industry statistics which indicate that the female of the species tends to need medical care more often than the male.Health history
Insurance operates on statistical probabilities. If you have had a poor health history, statistically you are more likely to have a more expensive health care future. This, in turn, means that you will pay higher premiums-if you can get health insurance at all.Occupation
The more likely you are to suffer injury or illness because of the work you do, the more likely the health insurance industry will be to charge excessively for benefits. This may be well and good for professional deep-sea divers. But the industry has begun to stretch the concept into areas that have nothing to do with the inherent danger of the work.Lifestyle
In your application for health insurance you will be asked questions about your personal habits. Your answers will have a lot to do with the cost of your premiums. If you smoke, you will probably pay more for health insurance. If you drink to excess, you will probably pay more for health insurance. If you are known to be under a great deal of stress, you may pay more for health insurance. California does reward the health care Insurance consumer with lower premiums if they have practiced good health policies.One of the most important things you can do as a health care consumer is to engage in preventive care. Not only will you be able to spot serious diseases at an early stage, thereby increasing your chances of effective treatment and cure, but you should be able to save money as well, since it is usually far less expensive to treat a disease when it’s a molehill rather than a mountain.
About The Author:
Medical-Ins.com is a leading broker of health insurance in California. We provide detailed information and cost breakdowns of Blue Cross, PacifiCare California and many more. Visit our site for a free quote and to help sort through the various health insurance plans to find the more affordable option for your family.
Commonwealth Of Virginia Low Cost Health Insurance
If you live in the Commonwealth of Virginia and are looking for low cost health insurance, you andor your children may be eligible for coverage under one or more of the three FAMIS health plans sponsored by the Commonwealth.
The three FAMIS (Families Access to Medical Insurance Security) plans are as follows:
FAMIS The Children’s Health Insurance Program: This program for children covers services such as:
doctor visits
Well-baby checkups
Hospital visits
Vaccinations
Prescription medicine
Tests and x rays
Dental care
Emergency care
Vision care
Mental health care
FAMIS Moms: This program provides health care for pregnant women up to two months after the pregnancy.
Smiles for Children: This program provides diagnostic, preventive, restorativesurgical procedures and orthodontics (Basically the same coverage as provided through Medicaid) Since this program is primarily for children, it provides limited necessary diagnosticoral surgery services for adults (emergency only)
The beauty of this program is that the co-payments are only 2.00 or 5.00. Regular check-ups are free and there are no monthly premiums or enrollment costs. With Smiles for Children, there are no co-payments or cost for dental services. However, you must use dental providers that are within the network.
To qualify for any of the FAMIS programs the applicant must be a US citizen under 19 (for the Children’s program), live in Virginia and not covered by another plan. You must not have had insurance for 4 months and are not eligible for Medicaid. There are also income requirements. For example, the gross income for a family of 4 must not exceed 40,000 annually. The FAMIS website (http:www.famis.org ) has a family income calculator in which potential insureds may check their income to see if they qualify.
The Commonwealth of Virginia realizes that quality medical care is important, and has successfully provided a low cost health insurance program for their low income residents.
Dishing Out Healthy And Delicious Meals
People with a gift for serving up delicious-but healthful-dishes say it’s important to present food that tastes good, is made with natural ingredients and is good for you. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to mean skipping many classic recipes. These tips may help:
• Portion Size-You can help control weight gain by being wary of portion size. If you’re serving meat, for instance, nutritionists say not to give a portion that’s larger than a deck of cards. Fill the empty space on plates (and in stomachs) with veggies and whole grains.
• Something On The Side-Try serving a healthful vegetable soup and a side salad before dinner. That way, people can fill up on veggies, instead of less nutritious foods. Also, if you’re trying to eat a little less, remember that our bodies often mistake thirst for hunger. So before you dig into dessert, try having a big glass of water and waiting a few minutes. You may turn out to be less hungry than you thought.
• Cooking Tips-Something as simple as switching to nonstick oil sprays can make a difference in how healthy a meal is. For instance, new Mazola Pure™ Cooking Spray is a healthier alternative to high-saturated-fat products such as butter or margarine. It adds Pure™ taste and Pure™ aroma to food, is perfect for fat-free cooking-and unlike other leading sprays, it does not contain alcohol or silicone. It comes in canola oil, extra virgin olive oil and natural butter flavors. It’s also cholesterol free and has 0g trans fat per serving.
The spray can be used in a variety of ways including: adding light flavor when grilling sandwiches, making popcorn, holding seasonings in place on meats and vegetables, sauteing, pan searing seafood and chicken, flipping pancakes and browning foods in the microwave.
Try this delicious and healthful recipe:
Seasoned Roasted
Potatoes
2 lbs mini red or golden potatoes
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
2 teaspoons rosemary, dry
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
14 teaspoon black pepper, cracked
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
Mazola Pure Cooking Spray -Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. Spray 9″ x 13″ baking pan with olive oil spray.
3. Combine garlic, rosemary, Kosher salt, and black pepper to make seasoning blend. Set aside.
4. Under cold running water, scrub potatoes to remove excess skin.
5. Cut potatoes into approximately 1″ x 1″ cubes. If using very small potatoes, do not cut.
6. Place potatoes in baking pan and spray with olive oil cooking spray until potatoes are coated. Mix potatoes after spraying to ensure even coating.
7. Add reserved seasoning blend and Parmesan cheese, and mix well. Spread mixture in a single layer and spray tops again, lightly with additional spray to help browning.
8. Bake at 450F for 25 to 30 minutes.
Serves: 6
PrepTime: 10 minutes
Discount Vitamins and Nutrition Products Offer Equal Health Benefits
When it comes to discount vitamins and nutrition products, the old adage, “You get what you pay for,” simply doesn’t hold true. Many retail outlets and websites tout overpriced products that promise the moon and don’t deliver. The results you obtain from high quality discount vitamins and nutrition products are as sound as those you get from higher priced products.
Here are a few examples:
Multi-Vitamins – Although some people like taking an assortment of specific vitamins, many more prefer the convenience of a multiple vitamin supplement. Different brands of vitamins – and different multi-vitamins within a given brand – contain different formulations, so it’s important to look at the labels rather than the price tags.
A general multi-vitamin is appropriate for most adults, although special formulations tailored to specific groups of people are available for women, for men, for older adults, and for those who are engaged in sports or other very active lifestyles.
When choosing discount vitamins, look for those that offer multiple sources of nutrients and natural sources of trace minerals and micronutrients. Each person’s ability to absorb nutrients is unique, so multiple sources ensure that virtually everyone can benefit.
Acidophilus Powder – Acidophilus powder is a somewhat generic term for a group of dietary supplements that are probiotics. Probiotics are microorganisms that help the body’s own beneficial bacterium and yeasts. Acidophilus powder and capsulestablets are available in both regular formulations and those specialized for women, vegetarians, and so forth. As with discount vitamins, you can find online sources of acidophilus powder at steeply discounted prices.
St John’s Wort – Everyone from ancient Greeks to modern-day medical professionals have explored the benefits of St John’s Wort. Found to affect the levels of serotonin in the brain, the herbal supplement can improve mild depression, help balance mood swings, and help with sleep problems. Some nutritional products include complementary formulas (such as anti-oxidants) that can also enhance well-being.
Fat Burners and Weight Loss Aids: Some companies that sell the best fat burners charge premium prices, but there’s no reason for you to pay high retail prices when you can buy the same products at deep discounts. Said to stimulate the body’s ability to metabolize fat, the best fat burners contain no ephedrine. HydroxyCut, a popular weight loss supplement said to increase your energy, burn calories, and control appetite, is but one example of a brand name product that can be found online at a steep discount over retail prices. Similarly, you can find a carb blocker through an Internet health and body source at a fraction of the price you would pay at a retailer.
Sports Nutrition: Sports nutrition is big business, but that doesn’t mean that you need to spend big bucks for protein powders, health shakes, muscle formulas, and nutrition bars. Again, you can get a wide variety of high quality, brand name products at the same place where you buy your discount vitamins.
Of course, prices aren’t everything. When you select your online source of discount vitamins, be sure that it also offers expert advice, perhaps in the form of a free weekly newsletter. Look for writing that reflects the knowledge base of the site’s owners. Insightful advice gleaned by trial and error is more valuable that the stale reiterations found on many health websites.
Detoxify Your Way To Health And Beauty
How many times have your brain felt so sluggish that you can’t even think clearly? How many times have you felt so tired that even climbing a single flight of stairs takes a lot from you? Or how about those times when you felt so unpretty that even your best outfit can’t lift your mood? You’ve tried every known trick to stay fit and scoured every shelf in the health and beauty aisle for that wonder product that could revive you but still to no avail. Why not try looking at home and the produce section of your grocery? What am I talking about? I’m talking about detox.
Detoxification is not merely sweating buckets on the gym or starving yourself with a water diet. It is a wholistic approach to health and beauty. It encompasses everything from diet, fitness, and your sense of well-being. Try it for a weekend and start the new week with a renewed and more revived you. Detoxifying your way to health and beauty is possible with a few things which you could conveniently find in your home. With a loofah or brush, scented candles, aromatic oils, herbal tea, and a free, me-time weekend, you’re all set to rejuvenate and renew yourself.
Start on a Friday by eating light (think salads and fruits) and drink lots of water the whole day. At night, slowly dry-massage yourself with a loofah or brush with slow and long strokes. Move in one direction: upward and towards your groin. Refresh yourself with tea or water then soak in a bath of warm water and drops of aromatic bath oil. Light some scented candles while gradually adding cool water within a half hour until your bath becomes slightly cold. This is the beginning of your new health and beauty routine. This process is done for the stimulation of the blood vessels. Dry yourself and dress warmly for bed.
Begin the next day by drinking hot lemon water. Go for a walk while breathing deeply. Give yourself a steam bath or go swimming. You could also ask your partner or therapist for a massage. Again, end your health and beauty detox regimen with a dry-massage brush and bath. Spend your Sunday, doing the whole process but add another activity. Make a list of people or things, such as your work, that are toxic to you (read: bad vibes). Assess how you should deal with them to lessen their toxic effect. After this, pamper yourself or do meditation exercises.
Be reminded though that you may experience excessive sweating, slight headaches, and skin rashes. These are signs that your body is releasing toxins and that they are temporary. Detoxifying is effective, safe, and inexpensive enough to be part of your weekly health and beauty routine. Just remember to avoid this during your period, pregnancy, and sickness. Lastly, talk to your doctor if you encounter any problem while detoxifying.
Dangers Posed By Smoking on Women’s Health
Everybody is aware of the dangers of smoking. It is absolutely damaging to the human body. While carcinogens in cigarettes pose a hazard to everyone, women are three times as likely as men to get aggressive forms of lung cancer and more likely to develop it at an earlier age. Women are also more likely to die of lung cancer than breast cancer.
Quitting smoking is easier said than done. And women, it turns out, have an even harder time quitting than men. Stronger withdrawal symptoms may be attributed to hormones or the bigger nicotine dose absorbed by smaller female bodies. Regardless of women’s age, the dangers of smoking contribute to infertility, anxiety, blindness, and osteoporosis. Pregnant women who smoke risk not only their health but their babies’ as well. Second hand smoke affects the children and other people around mothers who smoke.
Smoking is a vice that almost always begins during adolescence. When teenagers finish from high school without ever smoking regularly, they probably never will. However, while boys and girls are equally likely to start smoking, the latter get the worse health complications. Young people may exhibit symptoms of addiction within a few days or weeks right after they started smoking.
While cigarette smoking was rare in women during the beginning of the 20th century, the tobacco industry realized the potential of women as a market for the expansion of the cigarette industry. In fact, tobacco companies launched the campaign slogan Instead of a sweet, reach for a smoke to encouraged women to smoke so as not to gain weight. This was followed by You’ve come a long way, baby as a tribute to the burgeoning women’s liberation movement.
These marketing campaigns not only depicted women smokers as beautiful, independent and fun, but also sent subliminal messages that smoking helps women control their weight. Cigarette ads are banned in kids and teens magazines but billion of pounds are spent on t.v., billboards, and adult magazines which can easily be accessed by the youth.
Since 1987, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. About 87% of all lung cancer cases in America is directly attributed to smoking. Smoking causes heart disease, which is the number one killer of women in the U.S. The dangers of smoking contribute to respiratory diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as well as many kinds of cancer.
Women who smoke also harm their appearance as smoking speeds up the aging process and produce more facial wrinkles, gum disease, dental decay, and halitosis. Mental health is also affected due to depression and anxiety disorders. Women are more likely to be depressed than non-smokers, and that women with anxiety disorders are more likely to smoke.
Some women, however, are finding creative ways to break the habit for good. Engaging in activities where smoking wouldn’t fit, such as exercising, biking, mountain-climbing, as well as turning to a non-smoking lifestyle that includes going to smoke-free places with your kids.
The dangers of smoking for women has increased attention and awareness from women’s organizations, resulting in a number of projects that focus on supporting tobacco cessation efforts specifically for women.
Types of Health Insurance
Health insurance is designed to protect against loss of income and expenses for medical care. There are two broad categories of health insurance policies: disability income policies and medical expense policies.
Disability income policies can also be referred to as loss of income, loss of time or replacement income. This type of policy will pay benefits to an insured who is disabled and can no longer work to earn a regular income. Payments can be weekly or monthly depending on the policy.
Medical expense policies are represented by a wide range of coverage from very minimal to comprehensive packages with multiple coverage. Some include both accidents and illnesses, various hospital expenses and other costs pertaining to medical care such as accident and sickness policies, hospital-stay policies, basic medical expense policies and major medical expense policies.
Any of these policies might cover various combinations of the above and may be paid in a lump sum.Some policies cover only accidents and not illness. As you might imagine, policies like this are very specific about what is considered an accident.
It is important to understand what is defined as an accident as it pertains to the health insurance industry: an accident is an event that is unforeseen and unintended.
Keep in mind that any discussion of this type of policy also applies to any type of policy that includes accidental coverage, not just accident specific policies.
Accident benefits are most commonly paid for accidental loss of life (also called accidental death), accidental loss of limb or sight (dismemberment), loss of time andor income, hospital expenses, surgical expenses, and medical expenses like visits to the doctor.
Accidental death benefit can also be referred to as principal sum. This type of coverage should not be confused with life insurance. There is a world of difference between the two. Life insurance policies will generally be paid regardless of the cause of death. An accidental benefit is paid ONLY if the death is accidental as opposed to a death by natural causes or illness.
The person who receives the death benefit is called the beneficiary. The policy owner has the right and responsibility of naming beneficiaries. Usually there is a primary beneficiary however heshe can assign a second and even a third beneficiary.
The primary beneficiary is the first person in line to receive the benefit in the event of the death of the policy holder. The policy owner can also name a second beneficiary who would receive the benefit in the event the primary beneficiary dies before the insured. Some policies can include a third beneficiary who would be in line after the first two.
There is another important element in regard to accident policies: An accidental death may not be instant. A person can die as a result of an accidental injury months after the accident occurrence. Read your policy carefully because most stipulate that the accidental death benefit will only be paid if death occurs within three months of the accident.
Cheers To A Healthy Lifestyle!
Some people drink alcohol occasionally or socially during special dinners or cocktails. Others use it to steady their nerves before making that very important speech or scheduled public appearance. Still, others who are suffering from a sleep disorder drink a generous amount of alcohol to get themselves that much-needed rest and sleep. So, who says that alcohol is bad? Even the Bible agrees with its medicinal properties as cited in the Old and New Testaments no less that 191 times.
We all know that alcohol is a by-product of fruits, grains or vegetables through a process called fermentation. It makes use of yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol which may come in different forms for purposes of cleaning, as antiseptic, and as a depressant or sedative.
Studies show that moderate drinkers tend to live longer and are less likely to suffer heart stroke than those who either abstain or drink heavily. While it is true that moderate alcohol intake offers some benefits such as longevity and healthier life, too much consumption can offset all these potential benefits which could lead to serious health conditions such as liver disease, heart attack, pancreatitis, brain atrophy, or miscarriage, among others. These conflicting information should not confuse anyone. Indeed, for every benefit of alcohol consumption entails a counterpart risk one must take into consideration.
Moderate alcohol drinking standard is about two drinks a day if you’re a male under 65 years old, or one drink a day if you’re over 65 regardless whether you’re a male or female. One drink is equivalent to 12 ounces (oz.) of beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits. The older the person becomes, the slower the ability to break down alcohol. This is why adults become more intoxicated more quickly as well as more prone to alcohol’s harmful side effects.
Certain health conditions can be made worse by drinking any amount of alcohol. Those who have history of a hemorrhagic stroke, liver disease, pancreatic disease and those with evidence of pre-cancerous stages in the esophagus, larynx, pharynx, or mouth must never take any alcohol. People with a family history of alcoholism are at higher risk of becoming alcoholics themselves. Most importantly, women must avoid alcohol drinks at all cost during pregnancy as this will put the unborn baby at health risks.
Moreover, alcohol intake may interact with over-the-counter sleeping pills, antibiotics, antidepressants, pain relievers, diabetes medications, antihistamines, anticoagulants, anti-seizure medications and beta blockers among other many common prescription medications.
Aspirin combined with alcohol increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding while alcohol’s effect on acetaminophen may cause some liver damage. The Food and Drug Administration requires all over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers to carry a warning label advising those who consume three or more alcohol drinks a day to consult with their physicians first before taking the drug.
Drinking alcohol can help a person feel a little bit relaxed or anxious because alcohol is a depressant. It slows the function of the central nervous system and blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain, affecting perception, emotion, movement, vision, hearing. Too much alcohol consumption will result in intoxication, making a person lose coordination of movement and affect even coherence of speech. They become disoriented and show changes in their usual behavioral. Depending on the individual’s tolerance level of alcohol, intoxication can make a person very friendly, talkative, aggressive or violent. It also slows down a person’s reflexes and reactions making driving a dangerous activity for someone who is intoxicated.
There is extreme danger when large amounts of alcohol is consumed over a short period of time. When a person begins to vomit violently and experiences extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, alarmingly low blood sugar, and seizures — these can be signs of extreme intoxication. When the body has become poisoned by too much alcohol, even death may occur.
Some people may not realize it but too much alcohol, like drug use, can develop into abuse and even addiction which may become a problem for them and those around them. Without you knowing it, you may have been influencing even the young people to use alcohol when they are not yet of age. In spite of it being illegal to purchase alcohol when a person is below 21 years old, still, teens can easily get access to it in different ways.
To drink or not to drink alcohol is a question only you and your physician can answer. Very few health care professionals would advise non-drinkers to drink alcohol for the sake of a healthier condition. However, if you are a moderate drinker and manage to maintain great health, there is no pressure to stop but always remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
CDC Issues Health Alert Notice for Travelers to USA from
CDC Issues Health Alert Notice for Travelers to USA from Hon
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on Saturday began distributing cards at airports receiving flights returning directly from Hong Kong warning travelers returning to the United States from Hong Kong & Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China & Hanoi, Vietnam that they may have been exposed to cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The cards are being handed out by quarantine officials at Chicago, O’Hare International Airport; Los Angeles; old York City, JFK International Airport; Newark; & San Francisco. These airports are the only U.S. airports receiving direct flights from Hong Kong. No U.S. airports receive direct flights from Hanoi or the Guangdong Province. CDC officials expect to expand the distribution of cards to Anchorage, Alaska & the territory of Guam later today.
The cards also offer guidance designed to assist physicians in making a diagnosis by advising travelers to tell their physicians about recent travel to the affected regions, & whether they’ve been in contact with individuals who displayed symptoms of SARS.
The travel cards warn those returning from the three areas that they should monitor their health for at least three days. they’re also advised to contact their physicians if they become ill with a fever accompanied by a cough or difficulty in breathing.
The CDC advises physicians & other clinicians to be alert for travelers who:
As of March 15, 2003, the CDC had received reports of SARS cases in Hong Kong & Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; Hanoi, Vietnam & Canada, Singapore & Thailand. For that reason the World Health Organization has issued emergency guidance for travelers & airlines so that persons displaying symptoms of the illness can receive immediate health care & can be brought to the attention of public health authorities. These individuals are also advised against travelling while ill.
Have a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher;
one or more symptoms of respiratory illness including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, hypoxia (deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching tissues of the body), X-rays indicating the presence of pneumonia, or respiratory distress; &
one or more of the following:
History of travel to Hong Kong or Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, or Hanoi, Vietnam within three days of symptom onset;
Close contact with persons with respiratory illness having the described travel history. Close contact includes having cared for, lived with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions & body fluids of a person with SARS.
Additionally, airlines should:
Alert the destination airport of any passengers meeting the case definition criteria;
Arriving passengers who are symptomatic should be referred to health authorities for assessment & care;
The passengers & crew should provide all contact information for how passengers can be reached for the subsequent 14 days to airport health authorities.
Aircraft passengers & crew should be informed of the person’s status as a suspect case of SARS;
BP Medication Plus Healthy Lifestyle Is Stable Blood Pressure!!
The word ‘blood’ has plenty of significance! Among all the parts of the body, the status of blood is the most eminent! It touches and is ever in contact with all the parts of the body, at all times! In other words, it is omnipresent.
We call our close relations, ‘blood relations’! Why not nose relations or ear relations?
Any damage to any part of the body, and the first thing that comes out is blood!
Blood can be compared to a super power! Super power influences the political activity anywhere in the world! Similarly, blood can influence physical activity anywhere in the body. Therefore, any severe damage to the quality and quantity of blood becomes fatal!
One such damage to the blood is blood pressure, which could either be high or low.
For lowering high blood pressure, many ‘antihypertensive’ medications are available in the market. A sub-category of antihypertensives, known as ‘beta blockers’ are used to reduce the heart rate. The intention of this medication is to reduce the output of blood from the heart.
One more category of antihypertensives are ‘nerve inhibitors’. The sympathetic nerves, the respective duty-allotted nerves go from the brain to all parts of the body, arteries included. They can cause the arteries to constrict, raising the blood pressure levels. This type of drug reduces the blood pressure by prohibiting these nerves from constricting the arteries.
Some more drugs are: Vasodilators, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and calcium antagonists (calcium channel blockers).
Medication is not the be all and end all of blood pressure treatment. Certain lifestyle changes could also help you maintain a stable blood pressure. Diet and exercise also play an important role in controlling both high and low blood pressures. While treating blood pressure, self-medication can be dangerous. These drugs sometimes cause side-effects such as strokes or heart attacks. Keeping your weight under control is one of the sure-shot methods of controlling blood pressure.
Apples are considered invaluable in the treatment of high blood pressure. The apple diet has a rapid and considerable diuretic effect which causes increased urination, thus bringing the blood pressure down to normal. It also relieves the kidneys by reducing the supply of sodium chloride to a minimum. In addition, the high level of potassium in apples lowers the sodium level in the tissues.
And last but not the least, try to live a tension-free life, as it has a lot of advantages. This would help you to control your blood pressure levels. Now, you may ask, how to start living such a life?
Well, you can start by starting!