Remedies | Health and Hospital Resource

Finding the Best Physician for Your Needs

You need a new doctor. Let’s just say your current physician doesn’t listen to you or doesn’t seem to have the needed time. Perhaps you want an older doctor, or a younger doctor, a man or a woman, or someone who specializes in back problems. How do you find one? And how do you choose?

Here’s some help:

Start at the beginning. Narrow your list. For example, if you just don’t want a male doctor, that limits where you start. If you want someone who specializes in back problems, that narrows your list considerably.
Check with your insurance company. Make sure that the physician you have in mind is on the list. Also, check to see the hospital where the doctor does surgery.
Find a doctor you can trust. If that means meeting with a few doctors before making your decision, so be it. Ask questions. Let the doctor know you haven’t yet made your final decision. See how you work together.
Check the doctor’s credentials. Ask questions about where the doctor went to medical school, what she does to keep abreast of the latest news in medicine, if he is affiliated with any medical associations.
How much medical experience does the doctor have? A new doctor will have less, of course, but a new doctor will probably be more aware of the newest advances in medicine.

The best physician for your individual needs will rarely come from a phone book; most often, you will be recommended to that doctor by a good friend, a trusted work associate or a family member. When you have to rely on a phone book, an advertisement or an online website for information, it’s especially good to initiate a personal consultation and check through all of the items on the above list before making your final decision.

Filed Under: Health, Medication, Remedies Tagged With: Health, Medicine, Physician

Beyond Medicine—What you can do to get rid of Your Next Headache

You get it every time you are overwhelmed or underpaid. The headache will come upon you when you have a huge project coming up, or your daughter has just informed you she has lost yet another job.

You know its stress causing that heart beat to echo un-mercilessly through your brain. But what can you do?

Here are some tips:

Relax. Take a deep breath. Imagine you are making what you need, that the project will be finished on time, that your daughter will get a job soon. Visualization is a great key to increasing productivity.
Take a nap. Give yourself 15 minutes to do nothing. Take a short trip to your favorite beach; lounge for a moment in the Caribbean.
Try something new. Promise yourself that the next time you feel a headache coming on that you will work on something new whether it be a new craft or a walk around the neighborhood.
Talk about what is causing your frustration or write down your feelings on paper. Once talked out or written down, you can move on with your day and the tasks at hand.
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and drinking enough water.
Be encouraging. Encourage your daughter that you have high hopes she will get another job soon. Walk through the good points of your current project, and write down the positive reasons why you were given the assignment.
Laugh at yourself. If you have messed up at a job interview, laugh at yourself, and keep a list handy of what you did right.
Forgive someone. Forgive yourself. Often, it’s the pent up, unreleased stuff that is running the most havoc within our brain.

Headaches are like unruly children that just need some boundaries and taming to function best. Instead of allowing your mind to run wild with negative possibilities, tame it by trying some of the positive tips above.

Filed Under: Health Care, Medication, Remedies Tagged With: Caribbean, Headache

Choose an Emergency Care Center or Clinic for Your Next Emergency

Your son has just fallen from a tree—you think he’s broken his leg. The doctor’s office is closed. Your daughter gets burnt; you cut your hand and need stitches. Should you go to the hospital?

Fortunately, in many cases, a clinic or urgent care center will not only save you time but money. Instead of jumping through the paperwork hoops of a hospital, you may want to consider traveling to your local clinic or emergency care center to get the help you need.

Here’s why:

Save more out of pocket money. Clinics and urgent care centers are substantially cheaper than an ER visit.
Get in to see the doctor quicker. Avoid overcrowding in the ER facility. If your local clinic is closed, visit an urgent care center; they are usually open 24 hours.
Decrease your stress. Know that many injuries can be handled within a clinic or urgent care center with the same accuracy and in room speed. According to consumeraffairs.com “about 17 percent of all visits to hospital emergency departments across the United States could be treated at retail medical clinics or urgent care centers…”
Keep your children busy. Many centers/clinics have a book area, a toy area, even a movie area for children. ERs typically have magazines, newspapers and a fish tank to stare at, with a movie that you cannot hear attached to the far wall.

Remember that the ER takes on greater medical conditions than your local clinic or emergency care center. If the problem involves suspected heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding, major burns, seizures, severe headaches that come on suddenly, abdominal pain, or poisoning, check with your local ER for help.

Getting the help you need from proficient personnel without spending a bundle should be at the top of everyone’s list. And if you can get the help you need with less stress added to the injury, why not?

Filed Under: Clinics, Health, Remedies Tagged With: United States, Urgent care

Are you Healthy? 7 Questions to ask Yourself

What do you really need to do to be considered healthy? Is eating chocolate really that bad? Do you really have to exercise? What is the perfect weight for your height and body type?

These questions will help you.

Being skinny does not equal healthy. Doctors measure your health by calculating your BMI, kilograms/meters squared. The number should be between 18 and 25. This number is not always accurate, however. A muscular person might have a high number, and someone who is petite may have a number lower than 18. Fortunately, doctors know how to judge these numbers.
How is your skin? Your hair? Dryness and dullness will tell a doctor that you’re not as healthy as you could be. Drink more water. Chapped lips is a sure fire sign of dehydration.
Professionals suggest that “being able to walk a mile in 15 minutes is an indicator of a reasonable level of fitness” (bbc.co.uk).
Are you emotionally healthy? How do you handle stress? Sudden changes in your life? The daily struggles of living? Do you incorporate Yoga or some other form of meditation in your day? If not, do.
Do you eat regular meals? (Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Do you overeat? An occasional chocolate bar never hurt anyone.
Do you constantly diet? Fad diets can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to viruses.
Do you smoke? We’ve all heard of the dangers of smoking. But did you know that every cigarette you smoke will shorten your life by 11 minutes? Read more here: http://no-smoking.org/august02/08-05-02-1.html. Even second-hand smoke can be harmful.

Being healthy is more about eating right and getting out and less on becoming the next jock or bathing beauty. In fact, much of the time, you will know if you are healthy or not just by the way you feel.

Filed Under: Health, Health Care, Remedies Tagged With: Health, Passive smoking

Why Getting a Yearly Physical is Important

Many people hate to visit the doctors. No matter that their doctor has a charming bedside manner. The fact is, most of us hate the fact that someone we barely know is seeing more of us than is normally acceptable or comfortable. And that’s why we forgo the standard yearly appointment in favor of going in when we’re really sick.

These facts might just change your mind:

A yearly physical gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your body. Things change. And if you’ve been with your doctor for multiple years, she is going to know your body well enough to give you specific rather than generalized feedback about your concerns. These concerns may include allergies, sudden weight gain, how to regulate your menstrual cycle, and more.
Your doctor knows when particular tests should be administered based on certain questions he asks you, as well as questions you ask him.
Because previous symptoms and habits are recorded, your doctor can analyze your progress and let you in on anything you should be doing differently to live healthier.
Your yearly physical forces you to get your blood pressure checked. It assists you in following through with blood tests.
Catch a problem early on, rather than discovering the problem in its advanced stages. Often, symptoms don’t manifest until the problem is in its more advanced stage; a doctor will be able to spot the problem early.
Get some peace of mind. A small problem can develop into a large one, but if we nip it in the bud early on, our peace of mind will be that much greater because we have tackled the problem.

Getting your yearly physical will probably not hold a candle to say, even a day off of work, but it will help you to see more clearly where you are physically and what you can do to improve where you are today.

Filed Under: Health Care, Remedies, Women's Health Tagged With: Menstrual cycle, Physician

Healthy Food Safety Measures.

Most of us strive to have as healthy a lifestyle as possible. Although it isn’t always an easy thing to do now a days, especially with the processed foods we eat, it is possible to have a healthier body with a little practice and perseverance.

Nutrition and food safety play a major role in keeping the body running as smoothly as possible. Eating fresh foods as opposed to processed foods can help. Most foods that we buy in the grocery stores today have been manufactured with chemicals and preservatives, not to mention possibly hormones and pesticides. Eating certified organic foods can be a good way to stay healthier. If this isn’t possible, then the handling of the foods we prepare should be paid special attention to.

Fresh fruits should be thoroughly washed before eating. Studies have shown that many fruits such as peaches, apples and strawberries most normally contain high amounts of pesticides on the peels or skin, even after being washed at the plant in which they are packed. Using a fruit wash that can be purchased at the grocery store or even a very mild detergent can help make sure that the pesticides are nearly completely washed away. Better yet, it may be best to peel the fruit before eating.

The same goes for most vegetables. Because vegetables are being grown on farms all across the world, we can’t always be sure that proper regulations for safety are being followed. Vegetables in some countries are often times watered with unsanitary watering methods which can cause illnesses such as outbreaks of E Coli bacteria or even Hepatitis.

Meats should always be cooked thoroughly. Chicken and other poultry should be washed before preparing. It is important to wash your hands after handling any type of meat and to clean any surfaces such as counter tops where the food prep was done, with a strong antibacterial solution.

Filed Under: Health Care, Remedies Tagged With: Organic food, Pesticide

Dealing with Insomnia

If you don’t get enough rest, your mental and physical health suffer. Millions of people each year struggle with insomnia, the technical name for difficulty sleeping. Although many people have trouble falling asleep on occasion, sometimes it becomes a longer term problem that can cause other issues such as fatigue, blurred vision, irritability, and even hallucinations. Insomnia falls into three categories: transient insomnia, when symptoms lingers for less than a week; short-term or acute insomnia, which lasts one week to three weeks; and chronic insomnia, anything longer than three weeks.

The following tips can help you deal with insomnia and get the rest you need.
• Set a regular sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day, even on the weekends. If you have to, set an alarm to help you get up.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages in the late afternoon or early evening, as well as alcoholic night caps right before bed.
• Develop an exercise routine, ideally working out for 20 minutes daily about four to five hours before your bedtime.
• Don’t go to bed hungry.
• Create a relaxing environment by adjusting the lights, noise level, temperature, and so on.
• Resist the urge to nap during the day, which can throw off your sleep cycle even more.
• Listen to your body. Go to bed when you feel sleepy.
• If you don’t fall asleep after 30 minutes, get up and try some relaxation techniques, such as meditation, soothing music, or deep breathing.
• Try a glass of warm milk with honey. If you don’t love milk, mix two tablespoons of honey with water and take that right before bed.
• Relax. Worrying about your lack of sleep can make the problem worse.
• Consider herbal remedies such as chamomile, valerian root, passion flower, kava kava, or California poppy

Filed Under: Health Care, Medication, Remedies Tagged With: Herbalism, Insomnia, Sleep disorder

Understanding Heart Disease

A term that encompasses several types of heart conditions, the most common kind of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease, which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to your heart. As the plaque accumulates, your arteries narrow, which can lead to chest pain, angina, and heart attack.

Several factors impact your risk for developing heart disease, including heredity, lifestyle, and certain conditions. Heart disease and vascular conditions tends to run in families, so if a parent or close relative has had a heart attack or other problems, you may have a greater chance of developing heart disease. Bad habits and a poor diet can also contribute to your heart health, so make good decisions that will help ensure your wellbeing.

To reduce your odds of having heart disease and similar issues, consider these tips:

Make sure you exercise. Cardiovascular activity will not only help you lose weight and get fit, but it also increases your heart’s endurance and stamina so that you can more effectively fight heart disease.

Eat a balanced diet that includes five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Fruits and veggies, especially fresh produce, contain vital nutrients that help your body ward off illness and stay healthy.

Incorporate fish into your menu. If you eat fish twice a week, you get omega-3 fatty acids, which have are important to the normal growth and development of young children, but have recently been linked to heart health as well.

Choose whole grains over refined wheat. Replacing regular cereal, bread, and even bagels, with the whole grain versions will help your heart, and your waist line too.

Cut out processed sugars, trans fats, and artificial preservatives as much as possible. These foods can increase your resting heart rate and raise cholesterol, so opt for healthy snacks, like low fat cheese, carrot sticks, or a banana, instead.

Filed Under: Health Care, Health Tips, Remedies Tagged With: Heart Disease

Common Home Remedies That Really Work

: Image via Wikipedia

As the expense and hassle of traditional medicine has risen, home remedies have become a popular alternative. Besides offering convenience, home remedies also provide a more natural approach to treatment, which supports the rising trend of using more holistic therapies. Although home remedies won’t take the place of the advice and treatment recommended by your healthcare professionals, they can offer safe, practical solutions for many common ailments.

Consider the following home remedies:
• Mix vinegar with baking soda to take the pain out of bug bites and stings.
• Chew on the seeds of aromatic spices such as cardamom, clove, or fennel to help with bad breath.
• Soak a minor burn in milk for about 15 minutes to soothe the skin.
• Combine 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar in a small, sealed container to make cough syrup. Take one teaspoon every four hours.
• Place honey on a gauze pad and apply it to a cut, sore, or scrape, which leaves the wound clean and hydrated.
• If you have a colicky baby, try making a cup of chamomile tea, letting it cool, and putting the tea in the bottle.
• Apply a small amount of Maalox to a cotton ball and wipe it on your baby’s bottom to cool irritated skin and neutralize the acid that causes diaper rash.
• To help with diarrhea, adults can mix 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds in water and drink the mixture.
• Rub a dab of peppermint oil on your temples to ease a tension headache.
• For a stubborn case of hiccups, try swallowing a teaspoon of dill seeds.
• Ask your doctor about taking a melatonin supplement, about taking one to three milligrams, before bedtime if you suffer from insomnia.
• Try ginger tea, gingerbread, gingersnaps, or crystallized ginger to relieve nausea.
• Soak a wart in pineapple juice, which has a dissolving enzyme, and watch it disappear.

Filed Under: Medicines, Remedies Tagged With: Cardamom, Home remedy, Peppermint, Sodium bicarbonate, Vinegar