Health and Advanced Physiotherapy

Healthy living is a combination of many things, including good nutrition, regular exercise and a positive attitude. Taking care of your body and feeling pride in your accomplishments can improve both your physical and mental health. There are many things you can do to improve your quality of life. No matter how small you start, you can make a big change and an improvement in your life.

In accordance to the present time and needs, a health care giver is an individual or an institution that provides preventive, curative, promotional or rehabilitative health care services in a systematic way to individuals, families or communities. To forsee, Allied Health Professions are clinical health care professions distinct from medicine, dentistry, and nursing which are making up 60 percent of the total health workforce. They work in health care teams to make the health care system function by providing a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and direct patient care and support services that are critical to the other health professionals they work with and the patients they serve.

Physiotherapy alias physical therapy is considered as one of the fastest growing allied areas of present generation medicine. Being an important rehabilitative service needed in a community and a vital therapeutic supplement of the medical profession, it's the treatment of diseases and disabilities using physical exercises, heat radiations, cold therapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and therapeutic massage. It is a health care specialty concerned with evaluating, diagnosing and treating disorders of the body to restore maximal functional independence for the patient by enhancing their ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent any or further disability.

As doctors, physiotherapists or physical therapists are essential in helping the patient to recover and rehabilitate from a state of incapacity, due to genetic defect or the result of an accident or an illness. They must have a thorough knowledge of the human anatomy and the way the bones, muscles and nerves move and function. Physiotherapists treat a wide range of ailments, so specialization is possible in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, integumentary, orthopedics, sports physical therapy, neurology, vestibular, women's health, clinical electrophysiology and, cardio-vascular and pulmonary therapy. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy. They can practice in outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation trainings, private homes, education and research centers, schools, hospitals, industrial workplaces, occupational environments, fitness centers, sports training facilities, health policy, health care administration and as health care executives and medical-legal field experts.

This therapy is the interaction between physical therapist, patients/clients, other health professionals, families, care givers, and communities using knowledge and skills unique to physical therapists. Physical therapy or PT management includes prescription of or assistance with specific exercises, manual therapy, education, manipulation and other mentioned interventions.

In order to work as a physical therapist, one must first graduate from a physical therapy educational program with a Master or Doctorate degree. Coursework includes biology, chemistry, and physics, biomechanics, anatomy, neurology, human growth and development, manifestations of disease, examination techniques, therapeutic procedures and clinical sciences (e.g., content about the cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, metabolic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, integumentary, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular systems and the medical and surgical conditions frequently seen by physical therapists). In order to practice, graduates from physical therapy programs must pass international, national and state licensing exams. In order to retain their licenses, many states require PTs to take continuing education classes and workshops. A good physiotherapist should be familiar with the standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field and should rely on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Capability to perform a variety of tasks and certain degree of creativity and latitude is also required. The median expected salary for a typical physical therapist holding a masters degree in the United States is $74,336.

On a typical day a physical therapist -examines patients' medical histories, tests and measures the patients' strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, performance, respiration, sensory and motor function, determine patients' ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness and develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and its anticipated outcome.

Historically, Hippocrates and later Galenus are believed to have been the first practitioners of physical therapy, advocating massage, manual therapy techniques and hydrotherapy to treat people in 460 B.C. The earliest documented origins of actual physical therapy as a profession date back to Per Henrik Ling, "Father of Swedish Gymnastics," who founded the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) in 1813.In 1887, PTs were given official registration by Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare. Modern physical therapy was established in Britain towards the end of the 19th century. The first school of physical therapy was established at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. following the outbreak of World War I. In 1974, the International Federation of Orthopedic Manipulative Physical Therapists was formed,which plays an important role in advancing manual therapy worldwide.

The speciality and common treatments of the profession include, Cardiovascular & Pulmonary (cystic fibrosis, heart attacks, post coronary bypass surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis), Clinical Electrophysiology(EMG/NCV), Geriatric (arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, incontinence), Integumentary (conditions involving the skin and related organs), Neurological (Alzheimer's disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke and common impairments including impairments of vision, balance, ambulation, activities of daily living, movement, muscle strength and loss of functional independence), Orthopedic (post-operative orthopedic procedures, fractures, acute sports injuries, arthritis, sprains, strains, back and neck pain, spinal conditions and amputations), Vestibular (vertigo, disequilibrium, mobility and balance disturbances),Pediatric (developmental delays, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, torticollis may be treated), Sports (athletic injury management, including acute care, treatment and rehabilitation, prevention, and education), Women's health (issues related to child birth, post partum, lymph edema, osteoporosis, pelvic pain, prenatal and post partum periods and urinary incontinence).

It is a vast field of exploration and gradually, physiotherapy is achieving a non conservative approach as an important human health and rehabilitative resource and holds a tremendous scope for quality. What all it lacks is the awareness.

Florida Health Insurance Rate Hikes and Quotes

Florida Health Insurance Rate Hike

Florida Health insurance premiums have touched new heights! Every Floridian has the common knowledge that most annual health insurance contracts will endure a rate increase at the end of the year. This trend is not new and should be expected. Every time this issue pops up it seems as though the blame game starts. Floridians blame Health insurance companies; Health insurance companies blame Hospitals, Doctors and other medical care providers, Medical care providers blame inflation and politicians, well, we really don't know what they do to help the issue... No one seems to be interested in finding the real cause of the health insurance premium rate increase. Most individuals, self employed, and small business owners have taken Florida Health Insurance Rate Hikes as the inevitable evil.

Hard Facts

What are various reports telling us? Why do Health insurance premium have annual rate increases?

Rate of inflation and heath insurance premium rate increase.

America's health expenditure in the year 2004 has increased dramatically, it has increased more than three time the inflation rate. In this year the inflation rate was around 2.5% while the national health expenses were around 7.9%. The employer health insurance or group health insurance premium had increased approximately 7.8% in the year 2006, which is almost double the rate of inflation. In short, last year in 2006, the annual premiums of group health plan sponsored by an employer was around $4,250 for a single premium plan, while the average family premium was around $ 11,250 per year. This indicates that in the year 2006 the employer sponsored health insurance premium increased 7.7 percent. Taking the biggest hit were small businesses that had 0-24 employees. There health insurance premiums increased by nearly 10.4%

Employees are also not spared, in the year 2006 the employee also had to pay around $ 3,000 more in their contribution to employer's sponsored health insurance plan in comparison to the previous year, 2005. Rate hikes have been in existence since the "Florida Health Insurance" plan started. In covering an entire family of four, a person will experience an increase in premium rate at every annual renewal. If they would have kept the record of their health insurance premium payments they will find that they are now paying around $ 1,100 more than they paid in the year 2000 for the same coverage and with the same company. The same item was found by the Health Research Educational Trust and the Kaiser Family Foundation in their survey report of the year 2000. They found out that the premiums of health insurance that is sponsored by the employer increases by around 4 times than the employee's salary. This report also stated that since 2000 the contribution of employees in group health insurance sponsored by employer was increased by more than 143 percent.

One business man predicts that if nothing is done and the Health insurance premiums keep increasing that in the year 2008, the amount of health premium contribution to employer will surpass their profit. Professionals within and outside the field of Florida health insurance, think that the reason for increase in Florida health insurance premium rates are due to many factors, such as high administration expenditure, inflation, poor or bad management, increase in the cost of medical care, waste etc.

Florida health insurance rate hikes affect whom?

Rising rates of Florida health insurance generally affects most of the Floridians who live in our beautiful state. The highest affected individudals are the minimum wage and low wage workers. Recent drops in the renewal of health insurance are mostly from this low income group. They just can't afford the high premiums of Florida health insurance. They are in the situation where they can not afford the medical care and they can not afford the medical insurance premiums that are assosiated with adequate coverage. Almost half of all Americans are of the opinion that they are more worried about the high health insurance rate and high cost of health care, over any other bill they have on a monthly basis. A survey also finds that around 42% of Americans can not afford the high cost of health care services. There is one very interesting study conducted by Harvard University researchers. They found out that 68% of people who filed bankruptcy covered themselves and their family by health insurance. Average out-of-pocket deductibles for people filed bankruptcy were around $ 12,000 per year. They also found some co-relation between medical expenditure and bankruptcy. A national survey also reports that main reason for people not to take health insurance is the high premium rate of health insurance.

How to reduce Florida's high health insurance cost? Nobody knows for sure. There are different opinions and experts are not agreeing with each other. Health professionals believe that if we can raise the number of healthy people by improving the lifestyle and regular exercise, good diets etc. than naturally they will need less medical care services which decreases the demands of health care and hence the cost.( This year in Florida the smoking rate has increased by 21.7 percent) One Floridian sarcastically suggested that there are 'highs' and 'lows' in health care that are needed to reversed. That the state of Florida is to 'high' in cost of medical care compare to other States and 'low' in the quality of health care.

Florida Health insurance rate hike has attracted many frauds. These frauds float many bogus insurance companies and offer cheap health insurance rate which attract many people to them. These companies usually through assosiations that are based in other states.

Meanwhile reputable Florida health insurance companies provide different types of health insurance like employer sponsored group health insurance, small business health insurance, individual health insurance etc. to vast number of employees and their families. Still there are many people in Florida that lack any health coverage. Today the employer also has found it challenging to decide how to offer employer sponsored group health insurance to their employees, so that both of them arrive at some point of agreement.

For Floridians it is very important to shop around for a quality health insurance program that doesn't break the bank.

7 Healing Tips - Navigate the Health Care System

Are you sick? Are you having trouble getting well? 7 tips to help you navigate the health care system and heal are: you heal your self, manage your own case, do your own research, make a healing plan, keep records, include complimentary/alternative healing services and attitude. When illness strikes, it is devastating physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. You present yourself to the health care system and you are at their mercy. Medicine in the USA is great for things like trauma from an auto accident. We can work miracles. We can bring folks back from a heart attack or acute congestive heart failure. We don't do well with prevention. Most medical treatments of chronic conditions are just symptom management. Treatment often involves multiple doctors from a variety of specialties, and they often don't talk to each other.

All healing is self healing. No one heals you, you heal yourself. Our bodies are wonderful in that given the chance; it will do everything in its power to heal. The practitioner just sets the stage for your healing. This may be in the form of the operating room, or medication, or therapy.

Nobody is managing your case., if you have a complicated case and many doctors. So with the aid of your primary doctor, self manage your case. The doctor, therapist, healer are consultant to you, the patient. They are some of the experts that you will consult for information that can help you heal. You get to take their expert information and make the choice to go that route or not go that route.

Do your own research. Learn about your disease, medications, treatments, and alternative or complimentary services. If you can't do that, have a family member or friend do the research for you. Remember, you are the one that makes the choices that will help you. The internet and the library can be a great place to start.

Make a healing plan, work your plan and be willing to adjust as needed. When I was having my children, I choose to study the Bradley Method, rather than Lamaze. In the course, I learned to set up a birthing plan. The "plan" was my ideal birth experience. Neither birth went totally according to "the plan". Life doesn't go according "to plan." We plan, God Laughs. However, both births were wonderful experiences, I learned a lot about myself and they were "all natural." The plan helped me to remember my goals even if the route meandered around a bit. Make a healing plan, it is worth the effort.

Keep logs and records of you medicines, treatments, and responses, what worked what didn't.

Consider incorporating complimentary healing modalities in your treatment plan. They can decrease anxiety, stress, and side effects from medical treatments. They often increase sense of peace and well being. They will help you through the process. Some complimentary healing modalities include energy healing, essential oils, and magnets.

Attitude is the one thing you have control over. Keep a positive attitude. A positive attitude is your best chance of better outcome. It is difficult to be positive when you are in pain and not feeling well. Do the best you can to distract your mind from your current illness and pain. You can pray, watch TV or a movie (funny is best), and focus on somebody else for a while. Think positive, uplifting thoughts.

New Report Reveals Impact On Young Carers

A new report from The Children's Society shows that Census data reveals the number of five to seven year old young carers in England has increased by around 80% over the last decade to 9,371.

A staggering 166,363 children in England are caring for their parents, siblings and family members. This is up by a fifth from when the last Census was conducted in 2001.Nearly 15,000 children up to the age of 17 are providing more than 50 hours of care every week.

The Children’s Society’s own analysis also reveals that young carers are one and a half times more likely to have a long-standing illness or disability or special educational need than their peers.

Young carers are lagging behind in school and missing out on their childhoods because of the demands placed on them, according to Hidden from View - released today by The Children’s Society to coincide with census statistics.

Hidden from View analyses government data tracking 15,000 children across England. It reveals the significant long-term impact that caring has on a child’s life, confirming The Children’s Society’s experience of working with young carers and their families throughout England.  
Hidden from View findings include:

You can read the full press release here: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/news-views/press-release/report-reveals-impact-young-carers

Refugee Week 2013

Monday, 17th June - Sunday, 23rd June is Refugee Week.

Refugee Week provides a platform where positive images of refugees can be promoted in order to create a culture of welcome throughout the UK.

Bedford Central Library, in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and other organisations is hosting a week of events to mark Refugee Week. These include:

Monday 17th June
11.00 am - 6.00 pm
Launch of Refugee Week Bedford
Harpur Square outside the library.
Pick up an information leaflet from our market stall.
Find out how you can get involved.

7.00 pm
An evening with Agnes Grunwald-Spier
Bedford Central Library
Juice bar and light refreshments from 6.00pm
Free tickets available from Bedford Central Library

Sunday 23rd June
1.30 - 4.00 pm
Family Football Fun Day
Alexander Sports Centre, Sidney Road, Bedford.
5 a side football tournament (adults only), plus a
range of activities for all the family, including a
bouncy castle, football competitions, children’s
play area, treasure hunt, refreshments, and
an ice-cream van. Bring a picnic!
Please contact:
Kimberley 07851803621,
Kerry 07926221995 or
Brian 01234 211381.

You can find out more about Refugee Week on the Bedfordshire Libraries website at: http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.books_reading/refugee_week.htm

including general information about immigration, nationality and asylum, useful websites and a booklist.

Impact of Parental Drug Abuse on Children

Parental drug abuse can have severe implications on children's lives. Children of parents who abuse drugs are found to have various behavioral problems, social problems, emotional/mental problems, developmental issues etc. Such children are prone to get affected by problems like depression, poor academic performance, improper social behavior, delinquency etc. It is also found that children of drug addicted parents are more likely to take up drugs or alcohol in their later life. Parents who abuse drugs affect the children in number of ways.

Impact on Children's:
The family life of drug abusing parents is characterized by unpredictability, aggressive behavior, lack of communication etc.

Health
The children with parents who abuse drugs are found to have number of health related issues. Parents who abuse drugs are more likely to have sudden mood swings, aggression, improper behavior which casts a lasting effect on children. Children can suffer from stress related health problems like gastrointestinal disorders, migraines, headaches, or asthma. There are also chances of children getting injured due to neglect from parents. Even drug abuse by mother during pregnancy is associated with long term effects on the child. Some harmful effects on unborn child include brain deformities, growth irregularities, developmental issues, neonatal withdrawal syndrome, cognitive impairment, mental retardation etc. The children in the drug abusing families suffer from other health problems due to maltreatment and malnourishment arising out of neglect.

Education
Drug abusing parents will also have disturbing consequences on academics of their children. The children are likely to suffer from learning disabilities, academic deficiencies, poor performance at schools, repeat more grades etc due to continuous unhealthy and stressful atmosphere at their homes. The children can not concentrate on their studies and homework as their mind is preoccupied due to verbal abuse, stress in their homes. Also, the children cannot work to their maximum potential as their attention is gripped on the drug abusing parent. The children may develop behavioral problems in schools like not communicating with anyone, slow, crying etc.

Financial Status
The parents who abuse drugs have wider implications on financial status of the family that also affects children. As parents may spend their entire earning in obtaining the drugs, the education, basic amenities, and requirements of children get neglected. The addicted parents may neglect to fulfill necessary obligations like paying rents, mortgage repayments etc. The parents also stand chance of losing their jobs due to decreased ability to work. Also, the families have to bear the cost towards treatment of the drug addict parents due to various ailments which disturbs the financial status of family. The further education of children also hampers as parents put money from resources to fund their drug addiction.

Affection
Parents who abuse drugs often show behavioral problems, personality disorders, depression etc. Such mental condition affects the relationship, interaction, and social fabric between parents and children. Parents who suffer from such problems will be in a depressed state of mind, show less inclination towards communication and less affection for their children. Such children who receive less affection from their parents develop low self esteem, low confidence, insecurity etc.

The children of parents who abuse drugs also suffer from various emotional effects like mistrust, guilt, shame, confusion, insecurity etc. Parental drug abuse affects the overall development of the children as parents suffer from unemployment, illnesses, domestic violence, legal problems etc.

New Books For April 2013

Careers Advice & Help

Need some careers advice?

The UoB's Careers & Employment pages can be viewed online here.

They have a huge range of services and online guides available including:

• Choosing a career
• Upcoming events & workshops
• CVs & applications
• Volunteering
• Further study

If you'd like to see a careers advice for a quick chat then use the drop-in service. At the Bedford Campus this is located at the SiD desk in the Learning Hub between 10.00 - 12.00 on Mondays.

Alternatively, if you'd like a longer guidance interview you can book an appointment at either Bedford or Luton campus by calling: 01582 489293 OR call at the SiD desk in the Learning Hub.

Students and Graduates can also use the online e-guidance service for career related questions and CV checks.They offer a five working day response time for the e-guidance service.     

The National Careers Service offers information, advice and guidance to adults about all aspects of learning and work. For University of Bedfordshire graduates no longer living in the area, a helpline is available for all career related enquiries.Call the helpline on 0800 100 900 or visit the National Careers Service for details.

Postgraduate Virtual Open Day

The University will be hosting its  next Postgraduate Virtual Open Day on 12 and 13 June 2013.  If you would like to learn more please register via the link below:  

http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/openevents/postgraduate

You'll be able to find out about postgraduate courses across all the faculties. For further information  visit:

http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/openevents/postgraduate/postgraduate-virtual-open-day

In addition to finding out information about all of Bedfordshire's postgraduate courses, the virtual open day will also enable students

to:

● Talk to academic experts

● Find out more about our Taught Master's and Research Degrees

● Learn more about the University's Postgraduate Jubilee Scholarship and 50 per cent discount on course fees  

● Chat to support staff about funding, making their application and careers advice  

● Find out more about the University's paid Postgraduate Student Internship Scheme

The Most Costly Drug of All - Alcohol and Its Consequences

Here's to alcohol: the cause of, and answer to, all of life's problems.
The Simpsons

Chronic alcoholics often bleed to death. Their liver gets so fibrotic that it blocks blood flow to the heart. The blood backs up into the esophagus, which bleeds. When the patients came to the emergency room, the Interventional Radiologist (me) was called in to do a TIPS procedure, a complex and difficult operation to relieve the pressure. If it works, the patient might live long enough to get a liver transplant, provided they can find a donor. All of this work and expense to fix a preventable disease, it is enough to make you stop drinking (or start).

Alcohol abuse causes about 100,000 avoidable deaths in the USA each year, ranking third behind tobacco and obesity, but is the most costly to treat. In addition to healthcare costs, the accidents, violence, missed work, depression, suicide, child abuse and other associated problems have been estimated by the world health organization to be between 2-6% of a countries GDP.(at least $280 billion dollars in the USA).

Alcohol and modern man are remarkably intertwined. The invention of Beer, by killing human waste contaminates in the water, allowed people to live together in cities. Wine is mentioned frequently in the bible and ancient literature. Production of alcohol has changed agriculture, shaped nations, and caused wars. Alcohol in its myriad forms is available on every USA street corner and store. It is such a integral part of our social fabric that life without it is inconceivable for many.

The health impact of alcohol abuse are legion. These are some statistics as quoted from 2000, (dollar numbers in 2010 are probably doubled due to inflation)

1. Twenty-five to forty percent of all patients in U.S. general hospital beds (not in maternity or intensive care) are being treated for complications of alcohol-related problems.
2. Annual health care expenditures for alcohol-related problems amount to $22.5 billion. The total cost of alcohol problems is $175.9 billion a year (compared to $114.2 billion for other drug problems and $137 billion for smoking).
3. In comparison to moderate and non-drinkers, individuals with a history of heavy drinking have higher health care costs.
4. Untreated alcohol problems waste an estimated $184.6 billion dollars per year in health care, business and criminal justice costs, and cause more than 100,000 deaths.
5. Health care costs related to alcohol abuse are not limited to the user. Children of alcoholics who are admitted to the hospital average 62 percent more hospital days and 29 percent longer stays.
6. Alcohol use by underage drinkers results in $3.7 billion a year in medical care costs due to traffic crashes, violent crime, suicide attempts and other related consequences. The total annual cost of alcohol use by underage youth is $52.8 billion.
7. Alcohol-related car crashes are the number one killer of teens. Alcohol use is also associated with homicides, suicides, and drownings-the next three leading causes of death among youth.
8. Alcohol is the drug most frequently used by 12 to 17 year-olds-and the one that causes the most negative health consequences. More than 4 million adolescents under the legal drinking age consume alcohol in any given month.

For an estimate of the costs that alcohol problems may be causing your workplace, and suggestions on what a company can do to identify and treat costly alcohol problems, go to the Alcohol Cost Calculator: http://www.alcoholcostcalculator.org.

One difference between alcohol and smoking and obesity is that alcohol causes short term problems in addition to chronic disease. Intoxication and the impairment it causes, negatively impacts the highways, workplace and household.

Perhaps because of the experience with Prohibition, and the ubiquity of alcohol, there was surprisingly little discussion in the healthcare bill about alcohol abuse. Reducing the consequences of alcohol might be the single most effective way to reduce healthcare costs.

Present programs are not very effective. Behavior programs (such as 12 step) have a 95% recidivism rate. Education programs to prevent teenage drinking have not been proven effective. Pharmacological intervention hasn't been effective, and is falling out of favor.

It appears to me that much of the money and research devoted to terminal alcohol problems, might be better spent on biochemical manipulation of the alcohol experience. If some progress could be made in reducing alcohol addiction, or preventing the long term effects, huge amounts of money might be saved. The immense amount of effort directed at the terminal stages of alcoholism compared with the inadequate efforts to prevent the problems in the first place reflect the many ironies of American Healthcare policy.

Natural Health Options Today

In addition to conventional medicine, consumers today have a number of natural health treatment options from which to choose. While it is always best to check with your primary care provider before starting any new health regimen, individuals should also do a little homework on the different kinds of natural health care systems that are available to them.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the many natural health care options assessable to patients today. Some of the various health treatments that TCM provides patients include acupuncture, herbal medicine, or Tuina (Chinese medical massage). Other health services provided by professional Oriental medicine practitioners may involve Tai Chi, Qigong, meridian therapy, moxibustion, cupping, and ear acupuncture, among others.

If you're searching for a better way to relax and to relieve stress and anxiety, then natural health therapies like massage may serve your needs. Though there are over 80 types of massage modalities, most licensed massage therapists are trained in sports massage, Swedish massage, and deep tissue therapy. However, a growing number of massage practitioners have gained advanced training in therapeutic modalities like craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, infant and prenatal massage, and chair massage, among others. In addition to its natural health attributes in promoting overall wellbeing, massage therapy is also helpful in relieving aches and pains associated with musculoskeletal conditions, like fibromyalgia.

Naturopathy or homeopathy are also natural health medicines that may be helpful in treating common and chronic health problems. For example, an experienced homeopathic practitioner may treat patients with homeopathic remedies that are derived from animal, mineral, plant and synthetic substances. Other common, natural healing treatments facilitated by both homeopathic and naturopathic practitioners include flower remedies (i.e., Bach flower remedies) and energy healing therapies.

Chiropractic is also a form of natural health care that is used by patients everywhere. This complementary medicine is practiced by licensed chiropractors, who gently manipulate the spinal column to remove "blockages" and to restore health.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding educational programs in the healing arts, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massotherapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore natural health [http://school.holisticjunction.com/clickcount.php?id=6634739&goto=http://www.holisticjunction.com/search.cfm] programs near you.

Natural Health Options Today
© Copyright 2008
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Some Useful books For Social Science Dissertations & Honours Projects

How Vacuum Therapy System Can Increase Your Pleasure Levels

Yes, vacuum therapy system can indeed increase your pleasure levels. Each year you find more and more people trying to make use of contraptions and pills as a way to fight out the problem. Now an easy solution has come in their way in form of penis pumps. Once you start using the organ you can feel the pleasure of being sexually satisfied and in this way you become habituated using the organ in the most effective way. The number of men having small penis is great and thus they are looking for ways to put an end to this problem. Thus, a pumping mechanism would be apt in this case.

Why do men suffer from ED problems? There are several physiological and psychological reasons responsible for this. Too much drinking can cause sexual problem in men. When you drink in leaps and bounds you tend to lose your normal capacity of experiencing a sexual arousal. Moreover, the organ becomes all the more lose and insensitive. Thus, you must find out a way by which you can take care of the condition and a vacuum therapy would be the apt answer in this case.

Hormonal imbalance can even lead to ED problems. This is a sort of physiological problem which can be rectified by using proper medication. Thus, medicines combined with a proper vacuum therapy can give way to perfect solution to libido problems. Smoking can also cause ED problems. Thus, these are bad habits which can indeed cause health deterioration and can even cause immense sexual disorders. So, if you can get rid of these bad habits you can be saved from the condition of acute erectile dysfunction and if situation goes out of control you can indeed take the help of vacuum therapy as a form of cure to the condition.

The concept of a penis pump is to improve erectile dysfunctional problems. They are built in a way to provide you with maximum relief and sexual pleasure. With the help of a pump you can improve conditions of erection. The mechanism can also take the best care of several ED problems. These are vacuum pumps which help in drawing blood to the penis. Some men may also use the device as a form of masturbator to become more sexually engrossed. Most men are trying to give this device a try to solve several sexual problems. Thus, if you are suffering from the same then it is time you should try out the mechanism.

There are several companies coming up with the latest versions of the penis pump. They have adopted all safety measures in giving shape to these tools. However, not all companies are authentic. Most organizations would not worry about your sexual health. They would be more interested in selling their products. Thus, you must make sure about the reputation of the company before opting for the device. Moreover, the pump comes with several instructions. You must read them well before using the device. For more safety you can speak to a physician who would indeed guide you in using the penis pump in the most trusted way.

Auto Insurance Principles Should Apply to Health Insurance

Many Americans rely on their automobiles to get to work. No automobile means no job, no rent or mortgage money, no food. A single parent, struggling to make ends meet in the suburbs with 100,000 miles on the odometer, would presumably welcome the guaranteed opportunity for low-priced insurance that would take care of every possible repair on her auto until the day that it reaches 200,000 miles or falls apart, whichever comes first. Especially if the insurance is valid regardless of whether she even changes the oil in the interim.

So why aren't the auto insurance companies writing such coverage, either directly or through used auto dealers? And given the importance of reliable transportation, why isn't the public demanding such coverage? The answer is that both auto insurers and the public know that such insurance can't be written for a premium the insured can afford, while still allowing the insurers to stay solvent and make a profit. As a society, we intuitively understand that the costs associated with taking care of every mechanical need of an old automobile, particularly in the absence of regular maintenance, aren't insurable. Yet we don't seem to have these same intuitions with respect to health insurance.

If we pull the emotions out of health insurance, which is admittedly hard to do even for this author, and look at health insurance from the economic perspective, there are several insights from auto insurance that can illuminate the design, risk selection, and rating of health insurance.

Auto insurance comes in two forms: the traditional insurance you buy from your agent or direct from an insurance company, and warranties that are purchased from auto manufacturers and dealers. Both are risk transfer and sharing devices and I'll generically refer to both as insurance. Because auto third-party liability insurance has no equivalent in health insurance, for traditional auto insurance, I'll examine only collision and comprehensive insurance -- insurance covering the vehicle -- and not third-party liability insurance.

Bumper to Bumper

The following are some commonly accepted principles from auto insurance:

* Bad maintenance voids certain insurance. If an automobile owner never changes the oil, the auto's power train warranty is void. In fact, not only does the oil need to be changed, the change needs to be performed by a certified mechanic and documented. Collision insurance doesn't cover cars purposefully driven over a cliff.

* The best insurance is offered for new models. Bumper-to-bumper warranties are offered only on new cars. As they roll off the assembly line, automobiles have a low and relatively consistent risk profile, satisfying the actuarial test for insurance pricing. Furthermore, auto manufacturers usually wrap at least some coverage into the price of the new auto in order to encourage an ongoing relationship with the owner.

* Limited insurance is offered for old model autos. Increasingly limited insurance is offered for old model autos. The bumper-to-bumper warranty expires, the power train warranty eventually expires, and the amount of collision and comprehensive insurance steadily decreases based on the market value of the auto.

* Certain older autos qualify for additional insurance. Certain older autos can qualify for additional coverage, either in terms of warranties for used autos or increased collision and comprehensive insurance for vintage autos. But such insurance is offered only after a careful inspection of the automobile itself.

* No insurance is offered for normal wear and tear. Wiper blades need replacement, brake pads wear out, and bumpers get dings. These aren't insurable events. To the extent that a new car dealer will sometimes cover some of these costs, we intuitively understand that we're "paying for it" in the cost of the automobile and that it's "not really" insurance.

* Accidents are the only insurable event for the oldest automobiles. Accidents are generally insurable events even for the oldest autos; with few exceptions service work isn't.

* Insurance doesn't restore all vehicles to pre-accident condition. Auto insurance is limited. If the damage to the auto at any age exceeds the value of the auto, the insurer then pays only the value of the auto. With the exception of vintage autos, the value assigned to the auto goes down over time. So whereas accidents are insurable at any vehicle age, the amount of the accident insurance is increasingly limited.

* Insurance is priced to the risk. Insurance is priced based on the risk profile of both the automobile and the driver. The auto insurer carefully examines both when setting rates.

* We pay for our own insurance. And with few exceptions, automobile insurance isn't tax deductible. As a result, the fear of increasing insurance rates due to traffic violations and/or accidents changes our driving behavior and we sometimes select our automobiles based on their insurability.

Each of the above principles is supported by solid actuarial theory. Although most Americans can't describe the underlying actuarial theories, most everyone understands the above principles of auto insurance at the intuitive level. For sure, as indispensable automobiles are to our lifestyles, there is no loud national movement, accompanied by moral outrage, to change these principles.

Unsustainable Market

In contrast, similar principles are routinely violated in health insurance. To demonstrate this, let's return to the same suburban mother from the opening paragraph. She's busy working, driving to and from work, and driving her kids to school and activities. She ends each day exhausted, sitting on the couch with fast food. She's obese, has a sedentary life, a bad diet, and hasn't taken the time to go to the doctor in years. After a simple injury doesn't heal for weeks, she turns up at the emergency room and learns she has type II diabetes. Although type II diabetes is controllable, changing diet and exercise habits and properly tracking her condition takes time and effort and she's never quite successful in implementing the necessary lifestyle changes.

So the initial emergency room visit is only the first of a long list of health care related to non-controlled diabetes and other problems associated with obesity. Whether she has individual or group insurance, her insurance pays for each episode of care, without singling her out for a premium increase, and without charging her any more cost sharing than is charged to the healthiest and most medically diligent insureds. Her coverage continues until she voluntarily changes insurance companies and/or employers or becomes eligible for Medicare. If she's covered under group insurance she may not even pay any premium. Her insurance continues unabated, even though the disease was caused by neglecting her body and she maintains her poor lifestyle even after the disease becomes known.

This just wouldn't happen in auto insurance. This scenario is the auto insurance equivalent of guaranteed access to low-priced auto insurance that takes care of every possible repair, including damage already done, until the day the car falls apart so completely it's unsalvageable (death) or reaches 200,000 miles (Medicare), regardless of whether she even changes the oil (takes care of herself) in the interim.

As a society, we don't expect this in private-market auto insurance, but we expect it in private-market health insurance. Furthermore, there's a chorus of national and state interests, which continuously pushes us further away from the auto insurance principles.

The current private health insurance market isn't sustainable. Prices have been consistently increasing faster than inflation for decades. Each year, insureds use more health care than ever before and more people have no insurance at all. Most actuaries and other people in the private health insurance market don't want national health insurance with its bureaucracy and one-size-fits-all benefits. Yet, we're trying to sustain a private insurance system, which violates the very principles we know are necessary for private insurance markets.

Yes, health insurance involves the sacredness of human life and is therefore different from auto insurance. But if we're to sustain a private-market solution to health insurance, actuaries need to explain to the larger society, in terms that society understands, the rationale for the following principles:

* As sacred as health care is, it's still an economic transaction that has to be balanced by individuals and societies, against other economic choices. It can't be unlimited. Sometimes it will be secondary to other choices. On a given day, for example, the mother in our scenario may value her car more than her health.

* Insurance premiums should be paid by the individual and tied to controllable risk factors. This will provide the best incentive for the control of risk factors.

* Although it's hard to draw the line between abuse, neglect and ignorance, self-abuse shouldn't be insured and we need to draw that line somewhere.

* The private market can't provide unlimited, self-directed health insurance.

* Routine care and ongoing treatments of chronic conditions can be pre-funded, can even be subsidized, but they don't constitute "insurable events."

* Insurance can't be expected to keep every human body in pristine condition. No amount of health care will prevent everyone's ultimate death.

* Comprehensive, unlimited, non-subsidized private-market coverage isn't possible for people with severely impaired health.

* The private health market can provide limited non-subsidized health insurance, such as protection from accidents, to even health-impaired individuals.

* Individuals who can afford to do so and who take good care of themselves should be able to "buy up" to better coverage. People have the option of buying up for everything else in life.

Discussion of these principles is lacking from most of the current health insurance debate. If society can intuitively understand how similar principles apply to health insurance, then they should be able understand the principles in the health insurance context. We need to initiate the debate.

This commentary is solely the opinion of its author. It does not express the official policy of the American Academy of Actuaries; nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions of the Academy's individual officers, members, or staff

Natural Health Therapies For Fertility

When it comes to boosting your fertility and living a healthier life, you do not have to turn to just one solution. In fact, if you are looking for natural therapy options as a way of promoting better health and fertility, you can consider a variety of options, including but no limited to the following:

Nutritional Therapy for Fertility: Known as a holistic and preventative type of therapeutic approach, nutritional therapy has been in use since the days of the Greeks. The approach involves using specific nutritional and dietary approaches to help balance hormones, promote healthy menstrual cycle, and healthy eggs.

Herbal Therapy: For fertility, herbal therapy is the one of the most effective natural treatments. Since herbal therapy involves the use of plants and plant substances as treatments rather than man-made treatments, the body is better able to absorb their benefits and more effectively promote healing and health. Herbal therapy can be used for any fertility issue. They work to nourish the body, promote ovulation, balance hormones, prepare the body for conception, and cleansing the body of toxins.

Supplement Therapy: Depending on the fertility issue, supplement therapy involves the use of specific supplements, including certain vitamins, elements, and minerals to promote improved health and fertility.

Naturopathy: As its name states, naturopathy involves the use of natural substances to create a healthier, more balanced internal environment. It does not involve the use of any man-made drugs or supplements. A Naturopathic physician can help you to determine which natural remedies and therapies best suits your fertility situation.

Homeopathy: This particular option involves treating individuals with small doses of medicine, rather than large quantities which are often believed to trigger more symptoms than they cure.

Chiropractic: Taking into account the interactions between the body's function and its structure, chiropractic medicine aims to correct and manipulate certain parts of the body in order to stimulate recovery. Chiropractic helps to increase circulation to the reproductive system and free up any stuck areas of the pelvis.

Massage: Most forms of massage are designed to encourage healing and promote good health. While massage is an excellent way to relax, massage is also very effective for fertility. A specific form of massage can be applied to the lower abdomen helping to increase circulation, clear out old contents, and prepare the uterus for conception.

Reflexology: Designed to treat the entire body by applying pressure and manipulation to specific reflex point on the feet, hands, and ears that in turn will stimulate healing on other connected areas and organs of the body.

Acupuncture/Acupressure: Developed in China, acupuncture is a helpful method of treating strategic points in the body in order to stimulate everything from blood flow to ovulation. Acupressure works by bringing balance back to the body.

Hypnotherapy: A mental method of promoting wellness, hypnotherapy involves the use of hypnosis and other suggestive techniques to create an altered mental state that s conducive to creating behavioral, emotional, and physical health.

Fertility Enzyme Therapy:Enzyme therapy uses specific systemic enzymes to increase circulation, clear scar tissues, help with blocked tubes, endometriosis, blood clotting, and many other fertility issues.

Aromatherapy: Using essential oils and aromatherapy involves using oils taken from flowers, herbs, and even trees to promote health, relaxation, and clarity. I love aromatherapy because they make me feel so happy. Make sure to use them daily for their accumulative effect.

Flower Essence Therapy: With the belief that diseases often have underlying emotional causes, flower essence therapy uses specific flower essences taken orally to stimulate and promote better health and healing. Flower essences can help if you are feeling frustrated or sad from fertility issues.

Qigong Tai Chi:If you are looking for a kinesthetic approach to fertility, Qigong consists of a combination of movement and meditation in order to improve the flow of energy, improve circulation, and boost the immune system. Great for the type A woman.

Mediation and Prayer: Great for the body, mind, and soul, meditation and prayer can be an excellent way to get away from daily troubles and get back in touch with the more important aspects of life.

Understanding The Beauty That Wins A Man's Heart

Once, I asked a guy who was madly in love with a girl, "Why are you so madly in love with this lady?" "Oh! she is very beautiful", he said. Then, I asked him again, "what makes her very beautiful to you?" He confusingly and with a stammering voice replied,"I....I caaaan't really tell. I am so attracted to her, but you see Theo, there is this thing like a magnetic force that compels me to be with her always. The problem is, I can't pinpoint exactly what makes her beautiful. Oh yes!, but I know for sure that she is too beautiful. Isn't she, Theo?" Not knowing what to say, I spontaneously replied, "That's it, pal!"

When I was in college, I often hear my room-mates argue about the looks of their female course-mates in the room. They would always argue out saying, "Getty is beautiful". But another will argue out, "no!, she is pretty." Yet still, the third pal would strongly protest, "Getty is just cute, and not beautiful." As I listened to all this confused friends, I realized that there is this common denominator in how they all see their ladies: there is this thing emanating from their ladies that seems to enchant them.

In my attempt to decode this confusing aspect of beauty, I discovered that apart from the unusual external beauty, there are so many other things ladies are endowed with which conquer the hearts of men. I was actually enlightened when I suddenly remembered what my Sunday School Tutor once said about the two wives of Jacob in the Bible. This was what he actually said, "Rachel was beautiful and well favored, but Leah was tender eyed." I recall asking him what he or better still, the Bible meant when it says, "Leah was tender eyed."

He patiently explained to me, "When you ask any married man or mature guy, they will attest to you the fact that beauty is vain. But there are so many other things that make people glad and happy. But aside from the striking physical beauty, there are other things which are not easily spotted that make them attractive. These are what Leah had." "You see", he continued, "On Saturdays, it is not the most fine looking ladies who get married. If it was just physical beauty, then these ladies would all be married long time ago."

I have come to the realization that, what truly wins the hearts of men is the "tender eyed" qualities of women. I would like to underscore the several things that constitute the "tender eyed" nature of ladies that enchants men. By this acquisition of revealed secrets, I hope men would easily identify now, those inconspicuous things that make them "madly" love their women. Let's go through them now!

1. Beauty emanating from the sanguine nature of a woman.
Most men are subconsciously attracted to a woman's strength that correspond to their weakness. A woman who is sanguine by temperament is naturally easily spotted even in a crowd because she is adorable. They are loved by men because:

- they are easily befriended and they genuinely love.
- they always have a sweet spirit, easily forgiving them that hurts them, knowing well that everyone has faults and makes mistakes, and are quick to sincerely apologize when they offend others. Why wouldn't any man like to be with such a person?
- they are full of life, exhibiting great taste for fashion, always looking good and sweet, making all men desiring to be with them.

Because of their charming nature, men feel comfortable around them. They, being sexually aggressive and usually doing the inviting, drive their men crazy.

2. Beauty emanating from the choleric nature of a woman.
By their make-things-happen nature, choleric women believe they can do whatever they set their mind to. As forceful women and very productive, they assist with the finances of the home which makes men greatly appreciate them. When they are in love with a guy, their tenacious attitude make them hold on firmly and stubbornly even when their desired guys resist or shun them, but they won't let go, trying every romantic moves to make the men feel special and needed.

When they finally win their men's heart, the men love them for their boldness and confidence.

3. Beauty emanating from the melancholic nature of women.
A woman who is a melancholic by temperament is truly charming. She is able to get her husband literally running home, ignoring all his friends at work just to taste her connoisseur cook. She truly understand the saying, "the way to a man's heart is through food." She keeps her man's house well-organized and in a self-disciplined manner. Her beauty even enchants her man's friends due to her wonderful hosting abilities when they do visit, making her man always gleeful just to be around her. Her extreme loyalty to her man attracts much adoration.

As a frugal woman, she spends wisely and knows how to manage money no matter how much money she has or she is given. She is superlatively romantic and her moods are as perceptible as the bright morning star. In bed, she totally prefers quality in sex life to quantity. She is an exciting and fulfilling love partner. What an inner beauty!

4. Beauty emanating from the phlegmatic nature of a woman.
The source of her beauty radiates from her following attributes:

- she is very thoughtful, always thinking about her man, what his needs may be and tries to help. Her man also tends to show her much love, care and becomes strongly intimate with her.

- her peaceful demeanor makes her home peaceful and always welcoming.

- she has her earnest passion to gratify her man by using the technique of never insisting on having things done her way.

- she upholds a deep and abiding relationship, exhibiting an attitude that say: "Man! once I am yours, I am yours for keeps." In fact, she is truly loyal to her man. With her, a man who is in love with her hardly gets jealous when she is around other guys. He really trusts her. She has the knack to stick with a difficult and stormy relationship long after most women would have given up. She will be there even in rough times.

- she hardly gets angry and has that propensity to absorb emotional pain and still maintain her commitment in her relationship.

Throughout the tips, you would have realized that I used the strengths of the four main types of temperament to make you understand the beauty that wins a man's heart forever. Yes, you can win your man's heart forever, because at least one of the four beauties above is associated with any woman and it is inborn and is naturally exhibited. Therefore, women, you have what it takes to keep your men forever. Use them. Develop them. Enhance them. Do not be filled with self-pity. You have tender eyes!

Always remember: the physical beauty may attract a man to come for you, but it is the real, inner, inborn, natural beauty that keeps the man forever.

Fitness Software - Body Bot Health Fitness Software Reviews

Body bot is the revolutionary new fitness software taking the health fitness software market by storm! It combines state of the art technology along with ingenious video exercises.

Of all the fitness software reviews this one beats all the rest, bar none!

So what exactly is the body bot robot all about? Body bot is actually a unique video fitness software program which enables you to create 4 minute workout sessions by choosing a set of different exercises to suit your fitness needs. Each segment includes a brief 20 second video with instructions by creator and fitness expert Ryan Lee. You are free to arrange the workout sessions as you like in accordance to your own individual fitness goals. The software is incredibly easy to use and very user-friendly.

What sets this[ ] software apart from all the rest is that it really helps keep you motivated! By having short,4-minute bursts of exercise sessions it's "virtually" impossible to get bored with this software!

Other fitness software reviews of other products can't compare to the deluxe features of the Body Bot health fitness software.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of the software:

ADVANTAGES

1. Body bot gives you a complete workout with little to no equipment
2. It's incredible easy to use and user-friendly
3. Accessible from any computer
4. Comes with an unconditional 60 day money-back guarantee!
5. Ability to create countless,custom-made workouts
6. Keeps you motivated! Motivation factor of 10!!
7. Excellent for frequent travelers or people with busy schedules-You can even do the 4 minute workouts in your office!

DISADVANTAGES:

1. Takes a little time to get used to the workouts
2. The music can be annoying at times to some people, but there is a mute button(and your ipod if needed!)
3. Some of the exercises could've been more explanatory

The body bot fitness software comes in handy the most when your traveling and have no access to a gym of fitness equipment or when you want to workout at home or get a quick burst of motivation that you couldn't get from other health fitness software.

Altogether the body bot is the best fitness software reviews you'll see anywhere around.This is simply the best software out there for fitness motivation and results!