Archive for July, 2009

Obama Blows His Presidency — Top Ten Health Care Reforms He Won’t Do

For the first time in memory, Bill O’Reilly, arch Fox conservative, and Chris Matthews, arch MSNBC liberal, reacted the same to an event — both found that Barack Obama failed entirely to explain his plans for health care reform in his televised press conference.

And virtually all commentators noted the same flaw in the Obama presentation and explanation — he’s afraid to tell Americans that — well, remember that old sign: "You can have it cheaper, better, and more of it — but not all at the same time"?

I watched the sacrificial Democrat (you know, the one labeled "Democratic strategist" sandwiched between two nuts like the host himself on one of those Hannity panels) who intoned: "Health care reform will maintain current coverages, give access to everyone, and save money." You can see why Hannity selected her — to make the nuts look reasonable!

But Obama, David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel — and the entire Republican leadership — are just as bad. Ask them what will have to be sacrificed, and they (the Dems) indicate "Nothing — just a few millionaires will pay more taxes." And, oh, there is one health care player Obama is willing to punish — insurers (even pharmaceutical manufacturers escape his opprobrium).

Republicans, as usual, are living in some other time and place. Their claim? "American health care is the best in the world. We’ll reduce the costs with tort reform, and give everyone greater access by incentivizing (a popular Obama term) private coverage."

Oh, and both sides will eliminate waste, duplication, and fraud. That should save a trillion or two right there!

Here are the top ten health care reforms neither side will propose:

1. Means test Social Security and Medicare
2. Pay only for effective treatments
3. Channel patients to providers who accept a prix-fixe pay schedule
4. "Incentivize" individual care choices (i.e., make people pay for more of what they use)
5. Tax employer health care benefits as income
6. Make managed care de rigeur
7. Mandate that every American must have health care coverage
8. Favor treatment for the young and fixable over the old and incurable
9. Eliminate private insurance
10. Put Obama’s birth certificate on the back of the one dollar bill (oops, wrong post!)

Failing to do these things will not produce better care for more people at lower prices. Rather, it will mean a diminishing group will receive unlimited (but but not necessarily effective) treatment costing everyone more.

And Barack Obama is just too nice a guy, too good a politician, and too reluctant to give people bad news to blow the whistle on this three-card monte — or, better, Ponzi — scheme. You know, the kind of deal where you collect more and more money for an unsustainable and unproductive enterprise until the entire house of cards collapses?

Get this and other drug rehab and addiction information from http://www.stgregorycrt.com if you or a loved one is suffering from chemical addiction, my heart goes out to you. PLEASE take a moment to watch this short video, it just might save a life. http://www.stgregoryctr.com/help.php

(non 12 step, alternative to 12 step programs, non religious treatment center)

Drug rehab in Des Moines, IA Alcohol Treatment Center, 50312, DSM heroine treatment center, alcohol detox detoxification teen oxycontin addiction offering all female treatment centers and all male drug rehab centers in central iowa

As we all walk this road called life, there will be different challenges that will confront us. And one such challenge or obstacle may be of a physical nature. Because of the complexity of our bodies, there could be several people with some sort of a physical aliment, yet, each situation completely different from the other. Each individual could relate to their own situation, and at the same time, know nothing at all about another person’s physical condition.

However, I have discovered that there is a common condition, situation that most of us at one time or another have suffered from, some individuals have on a daily basis, and it is called stress! Now, I have been in the ministry for over half my life, along with being a pastor for nearly ten years. Also, I have been a chaplain at a maximum security prison. So, I qualify to know what it is to deal with stress. Anytime you have to deal with the public, people in general, it will always involve encountering stress. I remember once telling my doctor, during my annual physical, that I was wanting to reduce the stress in my life. He knows that I pastor a church and asked, how was I going to that-retire?

Therefore, I have come to the conclusion, unlike a physical condition that could be a temporary situation, stress is here to stay. Since I am not going to change what I do in life as far as work is concerned, I one day determined in my heart to learn how to reduce the stress level in my world.

Now, one good motivator to learn how to reduce stress is this thought: Reducing stress will lengthen your life! All kinds of things can develop due to stress, such as for example, your heart, blood pressure, and even your cholesterol level to name a few, can be effected due to not learning how to reduce the stress in your life.

There are numerous ways that are very effective in reducing stress, and in this article I want to share with someone what helps relieve the stress level in my life. First of all, I am married to a wonderful woman, who is my best friend, who is always in my corner. She is on my side, and is there for me when I need moral support when things get rough. However, I have found that it is good to have a friend that you can relate to besides your spouse. I have been blessed with a older pastor,who is a father figure to me, a mentor, who I can call and talk to, which helps me to deal with stressful issues. Also, going to church, participating in the services has helped me to deal or reduce my stress level. The idea of just being with other people has a way of relieving stress in a person’s life. Many times I have gone to a church service with a heavy load on my mind, but was helped, able to better cope with what was going on in my world, the stress for a short time had gone away. I must include, that what greatly reduces my stress level is my daily prayer and Bible reading.

The next two techniques that have always worked for me, which I enjoy very much, is a great stress reducer for me. I love being around children. They have a way of helping you to forget everything that may be going wrong in your life. Perhaps a phone call to one of my children or the children in my church will come and give me a hug, and tell me that they love me. This has never failed to help me deal better with the current stress in my life. Then, there is my extended family, my dogs and cats. My pets, these friends of mine have always been able to reduce the stress in my life. I do have a indoor cat named Aaron or I should say Sir Aaron. He is not your typical independent cat. But, he needs my attention, and I must say that I need his attention as well. On any given day, Aaron will jump on my lap and purr himself asleep. Once in a while he will pat me with his paw as though he is telling me, it’s going to be alright.

Here are a couple of other ways I have found useful in helping to reduce stress in my world. I have discovered that playing a game on the computer, such as solitaire, helps reduce stress. Now, this next technique is going to seem hard to believe. I have three acres of grass that I mow, and cutting the lawn has become a great stress reducer for me. When I am on my riding lawn mower, this has become my outlet of getting away or occupying mind on something else other than the stress related issues in my life.

I know that we are all different individuals who deal with stress on an on going basis. Also, I acknowledge the fact that what may help reduce stress in one person may not work in another. But, the important thing to remember is this, find something that does help you to reduce your stress. Your life depends on it.

Hello, my name is M. Lee Miller. I am married to a beautiful woman named Elizabeth. We have four wonderful children and three fantastic grandchildren. I have a Doctorate in Theology and a Ph.D in Religion. I have been in the ministry for 30 years and a pastor for over nine years. I really enjoy life and the opportunities that I have had in trying to help others during difficult periods in their lives.

Author Link: Personal Website:
http://www.millerdoctorofphilosophy.com

Article Source: Tips On How To Reduce Stress

The major factor that distracts an alcohol rehabilitation procedure is the environment. If the alcoholic does not feel comfortable or neglected, he will search out escape routes. If the people carrying out the rehabilitation procedures are not caring or the alcoholic feels uncomfortable, he or she may act as if they have rehabilitated just to end the procedure. Alternatively, they may react violently towards the people carrying out the rehabilitation procedures.

An alcoholic has reached this state definitely because of some reason. The only way to rehabilitate him or her is by making them desire for rehabilitation. The rehabilitation cannot be forced. Either alcoholics will require rehabilitation because they may lose their lives if they are not rehabilitated, or they are suffering from a health problem caused by consuming too much alcohol.

However, whatever may be the case it’s the alcoholic’s own will power that will do the trick. An alcoholic must have the will to live and to stop drinking. This is what a rehabilitation procedure is supposed to do. If the recovering alcoholic cannot get on with the psychiatrist or psychologist, how is he going to recover? If he feels that he is devoted with insufficient time, he’s not going to recover.

If after rehabilitation, he has to go back to the same environment. Facing the same set of social and family problems, he will return to drinking. Therefore, a number of factors matter in a rehabilitation procedure. First is the attitude of the staff of the rehabilitation center. They must recognise that an alcoholic is a disease like any other disease, and requires proper nursing and care.

They must not be treated with disdain or like social outcasts. They should not be made to feel rebellious. In fact, they must be treated as normal human beings. Alcoholics are human beings who are suffering from an acute problem! Secondly, the atmosphere of the rehabilitation center must be serene and soothing. However, most important is getting the alcoholic to speak about what drives them to alcohol, and how can this urge be removed.

The family plays a major role in this. Family support, acceptance, and spending time in good company are what an alcoholic needs. The alcoholic may be deeply disturbed and may feel a sense of loneliness. Having no responsibilities, an ample income and nothing to do can drive a person to alcohol. There are no wonder cures for this ailment and even the best rehabilitation procedures can fail.

The doctors can be the best, the atmosphere friendly and serene. Yet the rehabilitation procedure can fail. Until the alcoholic is not ready to change and has the will to change, the procedure is doomed to fail.

Rehabilitation requires building a one on one relationship with an alcoholic. Getting them first to speak about what drives them to drink, then building their will power to leave drinking and making them mentally strong. This is what will work. An alcoholic must genuinely believe in change. Only when they develop this attitude, the rehabilitation procedure will work. One on one session group therapy and other procedures can fail if the alcoholic refuses to budge mentally.

Are you looking for reliable Residential Rehabilitation Clinic Glasgow? Look no further, try us for proper information about Drug Rehab Clinics

Article Source: Factors Distracting Alcohol Rehabilitation Procedure

Everybody has experienced nightmares at some point in their lives. They are experiences that can be very frightening and incredibly disturbing. The feeling when awoken is of relief and the thought that it was only a bad dream nothing more. However, the feelings and images of these nightmares can frighten some people for the whole day or even for years.

What causes nightmares has been studied and discussed for thousands of years and unfortunately even with the most modern technology the scientists haven’t been able to come up with a precise answer for this question.

Nightmares can be caused by physical conditions that affect health. Stress is one of the causes for nightmares. If someone is under extreme stress, nightmares are a way that Mother Nature finds to release all the pressure suffered by the dreamer.

Post-traumatic stress disorders can also cause the individual to have nightmares. This is where someone has been through some kind of event that caused emotional or physical trauma. The memories and feelings about that specific event can cause sleeping disorders, especially nightmares.

Worries are also a big trigger for nightmares. If someone is worried about something at a particular time then it is very likely they will have a nightmare around that time. Some people are classed as ‘worriers’. With constant worrying about something they are the most affected ones as they are likely to have regular nightmares.

Nightmares can also be genetic; studies showed that individuals with frequent nightmares have a family history of similar sleeping disturbances.

Childhood is when nightmares are the most common because this is a time of our emotional development when we all have to come to terms with, well, raw, primitive emotions such as aggression and rage.

The imbalance of our emotions can also cause us to have frequent nightmares. Primitive emotions such as rage and aggression, profound resentment, excessive fear and an over competitive character may trigger frequent nightmares.

There are some techniques you can use to ease frequent nightmares. You must try this every night until the problem is resolved.

- Write down your nightmare in as much detail as you can remember. Tell the whole story even if it is extremely scary.

- Try to end the story of your nightmare with a happy ending. Do not include violence of any sort when writing the story. Keep it as peaceful and compassionate as you can. Don’t forget that you are working with raw emotions and trying to turn them into more refined emotions.

- After you finish writing the new story, go through it in your head over and over again. You must do this every night straight after you go to bed. Don’t do anything in between as it will weaken this powerful technique. Do it when you go to bed so you are not tempted to do things in between.

- Then do some relaxation exercises. You can choose anyone that you are comfortable with such a yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises.

If you suffer from nightmares you may want to try a magnificent book that takes you step-by-step in the most advanced techniques on how to stop nightmares for good. I was a terrible sufferer of nightmares before I read this book and although they have not stopped from happening every single night, I can now say that I sleep peacefully at least 90% of the time more, than before I read it.

For more tips and resources on how to stop nightmares visit the website at the bottom of this page.

For lots more information about what causes nightmares and how to stop them from happening go to http://www.whatcausesyournightmares.com

Article Source: What Causes Nightmares: And How To Stop Them

When choosing a health care plan you have to keep certain things in mind. Some of the important points are as follows:
An individual health insurance cover, simply stated, is an agreement between you and the insurance firm, aimed at protecting you against any financial constraints on account of a medical emergency. The one pertinent question you need to ask yourself is -what are the factors to be analyzed before deciding on an individual health insurance policy?

It is indeed a fact that medical and preventive sciences have made rapid advancements in today’s world. Nonetheless, it would be prudent to arm yourself with the best individual health insurance cover to protect yourself against any unforeseen illness. Indeed, America’s best health insurance companies are vying with one another in putting together some of the most imaginative individual health insurance policies designed to overcome any medical contingency. If you are unemployed, or self-employed, an individual health insurance policy is the right choice.

Consult with your insurance company if you can have your individual health insurance policy incorporated in its group policy. You may be paying a higher rate but the terms would be more advantageous than if you had to buy your own individual health insurance policy. If you are married, find out if your spouse’s employer is willing to include you in its group policy. If you are left with no option, then it is wise to buy an individual health insurance policy. Even though the insurance cover may be limited and the rates high, you would still be ensuring protection for yourself or your family against financial problems if you are suddenly confronted with a serious illness or medical emergency. Search for a good health insurance professional to help you with the best individual health insurance policy that offers you good value for money.

You have plenty of choices while selecting individual health insurance plans – The PPO Plan or the Preferred Provider Organization, the HMO Plan or the Health Maintenance Organization, the HDHP or the High Deductible Health Insurance and HAS or the Health Savings Accounts Qualified High Deductible Plan.

When considering individual health insurance plans a worthwhile option may be a health savings account plan which has few unique benefits. With individual health insurance plans, you can trade lower deductible health insurance for a plan that has a higher deductible. This will help you save money each month by lowering your premium. Besides the lower cost, higher deductible health savings account plan also has the added benefit of a tax favored savings account. Yet another interesting aspect of these individual health insurance plans is that the money you save rolls over year after year.

Even if you are already covered by your employer’s insurance scheme, you may still need to get additional coverage through an individual health insurance plan. This becomes necessary because employer-sponsored programs often fall short of individual needs. Extensive coverage for self and family can be achieved through a separate individual health insurance plan.

Individual health insurance plans are of two types: – Indemnity plans – Managed care plans. Indemnity plans are costlier but best suited for those who have particular health issues and need to be treated by specific doctors. Managed care plans cost less because you will be visiting a doctor or a hospital that is provided under the plan. If the treatment requires you to visit a specialist, you will need special permission from the insurance service provider. This plan is best suited for individuals without specific health problems, and wanting to pay less.. If you have to choose a new physician from the health care plan then do a little bit of research work by calling the medical office she works for or checking with the AMA. Other factors like location and availability have to be considered while choosing a doctor.

Sometimes in life you may need a specialist for specific medical conditions you need to find out how you will be able to use a specialist. Find out do you have to contact your primary care physician first or find out if the current specialist you use is an in-network doctor. While choosing a health care plan many forget to confirm that their pre-existing condition will be covered. Pre-existing conditions can vary between plans from being excluded to being covered fully and sometimes somewhere in-between like being covered after a specific amount of time. Find out what type of emergency rooms and hospitals are covered on your plan. Also find out if you have to contact your primary care physician first before getting emergency care. Most of the managed care plans do provide regular physicals and health screenings yearly, but some independent insurance plans do not cover them at all. If you’re using a prescription drug on a regular basis or you may need in the future, then choose a plan that has good prescription drug coverage. This coverage type can vary enormously from plan to plan. If you’re visiting a gynecologist regularly, find out if your doctor is covered in the plan. Find out what additional benefits do the plan offers when comparing health plans like drug and alcohol rehabilitation, mental health care, counseling, home health care etc. After finding what you want in your health care plan you have to compare costs. Find out your deductibles, co-payment details etc. Co-payments are the fees you need to pay when visiting your doctor, hospital or emergency room. Do know your limits. Some plans have lifetime limits on how much the health care plan will pay and some have lifetime limits along with yearly limits. The last thing is the exclusions list. You will want to review each plan’s exclusions list to find out what is not covered and to see if any condition you currently have or expect to have in the future, is included on that list.

Peterjohn is a Expert author for Blue Cross Insurance In California,California health insurance. He has written articles like Good health quotes,Health Insurance California,Individual Health Insurance Plan. For information visit our site Health insurance quote

Article Source: Points to remember while choosing a health care plan

Some persons are blessed by nature, upbringing, or simply good fortune to develop and experience personal authenticity. Most others of us however are called by the psychological and spiritual pain of inauthentic living.

When faced with such personal pain and suffering, how then shall we respond? Shall we flee pain’s sharp edge, or shall we embrace it thereby engaging ourselves in an unparalleled adventure of self-discovery?

Rumi, the Persian ecstatic, sang, ‘These pains that you feel are messengers. Listen to them.’ What?! Not numb or run from pain, but listen to it? Why?

A principle of holistic medicine perhaps can shed some light. Commonly we caricature allopathic medicine as treating the symptom rather than the cause of disease. In contrast, we value holistic medicine’s understanding of illness as the body’s signal that there is something wrong whose cause, not effect, needs curing.

So too psychological pain is the psyche’s signal that there is something wrong with the soul that needs remedying. To numb ourselves by losing ourselves in television or computer games, binge eating, boozing, manic busyness, etc. is similar to the allopathic strategy of dealing with the symptom not the cause of our pain. We may experience relief of symptoms, but not a cure. We may sleep better at night, but die impoverished of a life of personal meaning. Instead, a holistic approach to our pain would be to seek its cause by inquiring into our selves and our lives.

So psychological pain then is a messenger to whom we would hearken were we to heal the soul, rather than numb the symptoms of our suffering. And were we to listen as Rumi’s counsel, what might we find? We might find that the ultimate cause of our pain is the inhibition of our authentic nature – a life lived distantly from our deepest selves.

Each of us is endowed with a nature that expresses itself uniquely; each of us is born to unique life conditions; each of us experiences life with a style and perspective that is distinct; each of us stands in a place that cannot be occupied by another; and, each of us is called to manifest the magnificence of our distinct individuality.

Yet each of us also is socially conditioned to be like everyone else. Fit in. Listen to authority, not yourself. Yet, the road to personal authenticity is not to become like someone else, but to become more like your own unique self.

So rather than our psychological and spiritual pains being threats to our existence that we would numb and shun, perhaps these pains are the very calls of our souls to an authentic life. If heeded, perhaps they would liberate us from the thralldom of lives that have been hobbled by our efforts to live like everyone else, not our deepest natures.

Michael Nagel is author of this article on Portland counseling.
Find more information about Portland therapist here.

Article Source: Heeding the Call to Personal Authenticity

Some persons are blessed by nature, upbringing, or simply good fortune to develop and experience personal authenticity. Most others of us however are called by the psychological and spiritual pain of inauthentic living.

When faced with such personal pain and suffering, how then shall we respond? Shall we flee pain’s sharp edge, or shall we embrace it thereby engaging ourselves in an unparalleled adventure of self-discovery?

Rumi, the Persian ecstatic, sang, ‘These pains that you feel are messengers. Listen to them.’ What?! Not numb or run from pain, but listen to it? Why?

A principle of holistic medicine perhaps can shed some light. Commonly we caricature allopathic medicine as treating the symptom rather than the cause of disease. In contrast, we value holistic medicine’s understanding of illness as the body’s signal that there is something wrong whose cause, not effect, needs curing.

So too psychological pain is the psyche’s signal that there is something wrong with the soul that needs remedying. To numb ourselves by losing ourselves in television or computer games, binge eating, boozing, manic busyness, etc. is similar to the allopathic strategy of dealing with the symptom not the cause of our pain. We may experience relief of symptoms, but not a cure. We may sleep better at night, but die impoverished of a life of personal meaning. Instead, a holistic approach to our pain would be to seek its cause by inquiring into our selves and our lives.

So psychological pain then is a messenger to whom we would hearken were we to heal the soul, rather than numb the symptoms of our suffering. And were we to listen as Rumi’s counsel, what might we find? We might find that the ultimate cause of our pain is the inhibition of our authentic nature – a life lived distantly from our deepest selves.

Each of us is endowed with a nature that expresses itself uniquely; each of us is born to unique life conditions; each of us experiences life with a style and perspective that is distinct; each of us stands in a place that cannot be occupied by another; and, each of us is called to manifest the magnificence of our distinct individuality.

Yet each of us also is socially conditioned to be like everyone else. Fit in. Listen to authority, not yourself. Yet, the road to personal authenticity is not to become like someone else, but to become more like your own unique self.

So rather than our psychological and spiritual pains being threats to our existence that we would numb and shun, perhaps these pains are the very calls of our souls to an authentic life. If heeded, perhaps they would liberate us from the thralldom of lives that have been hobbled by our efforts to live like everyone else, not our deepest natures.

Michael Nagel is author of this article on Portland counseling.
Find more information about Portland therapist here.

Article Source: Heeding the Call to Personal Authenticity.

1. Hands should be washed thoroughly before using a nebulizer and make a thorough check that the nebulizer is absolutely clean.

2. If you are using a multi-dose bottle, a dropper should be used to give the correct dosage of medication into the cup with saline solution.

3. Then, connect the mouthpiece or mask to the T-shaped elbow. The unit should be then fastened to the cup. For children older than 2, using a mouthpiece is recommended as it will deliver more medication than a mask.

4. Connect the tube of the nebulizer to the port on the compressor.

5. Turn on the device and check the nebulizer for misting.

6. If you want to correctly use a nebulizer, it should be held up in an upright position. This will prevent spillage. However, in case you are using a handheld portable nebulizer, you can use it!it can be used in any position.

7. Check the mouthpiece is placed between your teeth and your lips are closed around it. Do not allow the mist into your eyes during the operation.

8. Breathe out at first gently and then inhale. After that, as the mist starts, it should be inhaled slowly through the mouth. The subject should hold his/her breath for up to about 10 seconds. In this way the medication has time to settle down in the airway.

9. Check to tap the side of the nebulizer to allow the medication to drop down to where it can be misted.

10. Continue to breathe from the mouthpiece until when the nebulizer starts to sputter, which will mean that it is finishing.

If you follow the above suggestions when you use a nebulizer. It will give you an effective therapy .

David Massey is an expert author for a variety of subject matters including health and medical equipment. He writes independent consumer research reports and also owns an online business. If you would like to know more about portable nebulizers and blood pressure monitors check out: => http://nebulizer-store.com/

Article Source: How do you use a nebulizer