E Cig Health Risks

Used to an increasing degree over not simply the United States but the entire world, e-cigarettes represent an incredibly fast growing and popular new technology. While on the outside e-cigarettes seem completely safe there is a troubling element to their growth, and that’s the fact no one really knows much about them or what the long-term health implications over smoking them is.

It’s up to each individual to decide what level of risk they’re willing to take on in their life and with the habits they adopt. Still, that doesn’t mean you should start (or continue) to smoke e-cigarettes without having some idea what problems they could potentially cause you.

The Only Real Long-Term Health Risk

There is only one health risk associated with e-cigarettes which we’re absolutely aware of and that’s the fact we are largely ignorant over them. The biggest health risk surrounding e-cigarettes is their uncertainty. They could produce lots of health risks which we aren’t aware of and which won’t come to light for another decade.

On the other hand they may also be completely safe. Consider the example of lazik eye treatments. This form of vision correction met a similar level of public hostility and alarm when it first arrived on the market. People came up with all sorts of horror stories over what lazik treatments could potentially do.

-some people felt lazik treatments would initially work and then your eyes would revert to their initial state very quickly

-some people thought lazik treatments would cause serious problems for the first few weeks after treatment and then not even improve vision

-some people predicted lazik treatments would cause blindness after a few years

So what happened with all those early adopters of lazik, not to mention the millions of other people who have gotten it more recently? Nothing bad. A few people had a bad experience or two but overall the vast, overwhelming majority of people who have gotten lazik received massive vision benefits which lasted. Additionally the treatment itself has improved over the years and become faster, more effective and safer.

It’s easy to think up horror stories for e-cigarettes but chances are most of these concerns are unfounded and won’t stand up to scrutiny over time. Similar to lazik, e-cigarette technology will also improve over the years and minimize any problems which may pop up with their first couple years on the market.

We can speculate endlessly over the health risks surrounding e-cigarettes but at the end of the day the only real risk is using a device whose long-term effects are unknown. Like most new medical technologies there’s a good chance e-cigarettes have no negative long term health effects. Chances are e-cigarettes, like lazik, will prove over time to be harmless.

Home Health Aide Certification Requirements

If you are considering becoming a home health aide, then it is probably best for you to become certified in the field. Obtaining home health aide certification is very critical when it comes to finding a job. Being certified, you are establishing yourself and showing employers that you have the qualifications needed for this position by obtaining the minimum standard of education required. Understand more about this career along with home health aide certification requirements.

In the United States, every state has its own set of requirements when it comes to home health aide certification. This is why it is important for you to check in your area what the exact requirements are. By doing so, you can be sure that the home health aide training you receive is within the law of the state you plan to get certified. For some states, a certified nursing assistant certificate is required before being allowed to proceed with home health aide training.

Typically, certification for this home health aides consists of 75-100 hours of course work and practical training. After training is completed, all applicants must take and pass a written state exam along with a practical skills exam.

When deciding to become a home health aide, obtaining certification is necessary. The main reason for this is because Medicare provides for most individuals in need of a home health aide. To meet state laws, it is a must that home health aides are certified in the state they work in. This is why if you want to get employed by home health agencies without encountering any problems, it is best to get certified. This way no one can tell you that you arent qualified for the job.

After youve successfully completed training and acquired your certificate, the next step is to apply for a position through a healthcare agency. The good thing about being a home health aide is that you have the opportunity to work outside of the agency. You can obtain your own personal clients and work at your preferred schedule. Of course each individual has his or her own set of special needs, which you will have to accommodate to.

There will always be a demand for home health aides because the truth is that healthcare facilities are just too costly. Elderly homes, hospitals, healthcare centers, and assisted living institutions are expensive to maintain compared to hiring a home health aide. This is why if the person is in need of minor assistance and isnt suffering from a serious medical condition, most individuals go for this option.

Home health aides are needed in various settings. Aside from working in homes, there is also a demand for this profession in nursing homes, hospices, and other similar facilities. Of course the duties may vary in each work setting and depends on the need of the particular individual being cared for. Essentially the tasks still falls under providing assistance to individuals from basic household responsibilities to basic medical care.

If you are thinking about entering a home health aide career, you need to make sure that you are fond of being around people and enjoy taking care of them. Your job is all about caring for others so being kind, considerate, compassionate, and patient should be natural to you. Showing concern for others will bring you a long way in this career. So before even considering it, make sure that this is the right position for you.

Make health Your Number One Priority

Ill tell you why. We are focusing on the wrong goal. For whatever reason, we must not perceive our weight loss as being “important enough” to achieve. So what would be “important enough” to stick to our new healthy eating habits? Your HEALTH! Nothing in this world is more important than the state of your health. Think about it, your health affects everything else in your life. Once our health is compromised we automatically change our lifestyle habits. Just look at President Clinton. Not until he had the ultimate health scare did he really change his eating and exercise habits. Lets not wait until our bodies completely have a break down before we decide to take care of ourselves. If you feel lousy, everything you do that day is lousy. Likewise, if you feel great, everything you do that day is great. So this year, lets not focus on just losing a few pounds, lets focus on Health, the #1 thing in our lives.

So ask yourself, “How important is my health to me? How do I want to live the rest of my life? Sick and feeling horrible or healthy and feeling vibrant? Do I want to play golf and tennis in my retirement or do I want to spend it in the hospital?” The answer to these questions will ultimately dictate your weight and your health for the future. Any lifestyle habit that affects your health in a positive way will automatically cause you to lose weight or maintain a good healthy weight.

Follow this checklist towards health and you will see weight come off automatically.

1.Make the time to focus on health.
The number one reason people do not eat healthy or exercise is because they “dont have the time”. But why is it that once we get sick, have a heart attack, are diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes or cancer, we all of a sudden have the time? This doesnt make any sense. We wait until our bodies have become so ill to finally take measures towards taking care of it. This is the equivalent to never getting an oil change or servicing your car and letting it completely break down before doing anything about it. Prioritize your day. What could possibly be more important than your health? Your children, yes, I agree. But guess what? If something happens to you, who will be there for your children? I know that sounds terrible but its true. How many times have we heard stories of young children losing parents to heart attacks and strokes? Choose health not only for yourself but for your children as well. Prioritize your day so that making healthy meal choices and exercising are right at the top.

2.Take a long hard look at what you are putting into your body.
For one week, read every ingredient of every food you eat. This could potentially be a scary experience. Some ingredient labels on packaged foods sound more like a college chemistry class than anything we should be eating. As a golden rule, if you cant pronounce it, chances are you shouldnt be eating it. The majority of the foods you should be eating shouldnt even have an ingredients label. They should be vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, chicken, fish, eggs, meat. If you make 90% of your diet, fresh food, I guarantee you will significantly change your weight and your health. No time to make fresh food? (please refer back to #1). Cook more than one portion at a time when you do cook so that there are always healthy leftovers in the fridge. You can always have for lunch leftovers from the night before. Cook several portions of one meal and freeze some. A good example of this is healthy soup or turkey chili. Put a portion of chili in a small Tupperware and freeze. You can grab this when in a hurry for lunch or dinner.

3. How much are you eating?
In the United States, our perception of one portion is extremely distorted. Restaurant portions are about 3 times more than what we should be eating in one sitting. If we become accustomed to seeing this much food on our plate at a restaurant we tend to do the same when we are at home and serve ourselves. According to a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, women are eating 300 more calories a day and men 168 more calories than 20 years ago. All it takes is 100 extra calories a day to gain 10 pounds a year.

For one week, reduce your portions at lunch and dinner by half. There is no need to “clean your plate”. Most times whats on your plate is double what you should be eating anyway. If you feel some hunger in the afternoon, add one small apple with a handful of raw nuts as a snack. Your body will quickly become accustomed to the smaller portions and you will eventually not be able to eat as much in one sitting as you did before. Remember, you have access to an abundance of food every day. You dont need to eat it all at once.

3.Drink WATER!
Dehydration has directly been linked to several forms of diseases including colon cancer, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels. Many people also mistake thirst for hunger. So it may not be that youre hungry all day, you may just be thirsty and dehydrated. In due time, dehydration will cause a gradual gain in weight from overeating as a direct result of confusion of thirst and hunger sensations.

Take a look at what you are drinking each day.

Coffee or Soda (Diet Coke included)? The caffeine in both will dehydrate you even more and will cause you to feel hungrier during the day.

Diet drinks and sodas? The artificial sweetener actually enhances your appetite and increases food intake.

Orange Juice and other Fruit Juices? The sugar and calories can add up to 10 teaspoons of sugar per drink, which can be anywhere from 150-200 calories. Not to mention the fact that sugar eventually makes you crave more sugar.

Every person should be drinking half of their body weight in ounces of water each day. So if you weigh 150 lbs, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water each day. If you drink coffee or any other caffeinated beverage during the day, the ounces of water needed increases.

4.How much do you move each day?
Your body was designed to move! Your heart is a muscle and must be worked just like every other muscle in your body. You dont have to join a gym to move, you just have to challenge your body and your muscles each and every day.

The two best time saving exercise options I always suggest to clients are:

1.Go for a walk. You can go for a walk anywhere and anytime. No time you say? Please refer back to rule #1.

2. Set up your home with some free weights and an exercise ball. You will be amazed at the number of exercises you can do with just your body, some free weights and a stability ball. If you dont know how, hire a trainer to show you or get a good book. Get into the routine of scheduling your exercise time each and every day. No ifs, ands or buts. Make your exercise time more important than phone calls, laundry, errands or lunch dates.

Make a promise to yourself that this time will be about health, not about short term weight loss. Really evaluate how you are treating your body on an everyday basis. Is that the same way you would treat a highly valuable, expensive piece of equipment? Because thats what your body is. There is no amount of money in the world that will buy you another one, so you might as well take really good care of the one you got!

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost Per Month

For many non-insured people, the question of how much does a health insurance policy cost today can make or break their decision to pick a plan. It must be emphasized that insurance is a necessity in our times especially with the rising costs of health care.

Even if you have to take the cheapest plan with basic coverage, take it for indeed it is better to have health insurance to help shoulder the costs of medical care than to have no protection at all. Besides, many factors will affect the cost of your insurance plan such that you might be persuaded to think that indeed the premiums you pay are worth every penny.

Factors Affecting Costs

Health insurance plans are not islands unto themselves. Just like other aspects of modern life, it is dependent on varying degrees on the economic and political environment as well as on the applicant’s personal circumstances and preferences.

On one hand, economic and political factors include use of insurance plans amongst people and advances in medical science and medical technology. As modern medicine finds newer and better ways to prolong the lives of human beings, insurance costs will rise to meet the consumer demand. And with the proposed health care reform, we may see a shift towards greater burden on consumers of insurance plans.

On the other hand, personal circumstances will also affect the cost of the insurance policy. These personal factors will include:

– Age – As you age, your premiums will increase.

– Gender – Women will pay for higher premiums than their male counterparts

– Medical history – Your past and present health can either swing the favor of premiums for or against you.

– Lifestyle choices – Alcohol consumption, smoking habits, use of street drugs and obesity will affect the costs of the plan

– Place of residence – Each state has its own insurance laws especially where coverage and caps are concerned

– Types of plan preferred – Comprehensive plans are more expensive to pay for than scheduled benefits plans. Fee-for-service plans, preferred provider organizations, point-of-service plans and health maintenance organizations all have their costs.

The insurance company will evaluate all these factors before providing you with a quote.

Actual Costs

As can be expected, each individual’s insurance quotes will vary depending on the personal factors. If the 2008 figures for the United States is the basis, an average individual will spend around $5,000 while an average family of four will spend up to $18,000 on health insurance policies per annum.

Unfortunately, health insurance rates now cost more than compact cars. However, you have to remember that a compact car will not provide financial protection in times of medical emergencies, unlike the health insurance policy.

It cannot be denied that health insurance costs are on the slight rise. You may grumble about it but the fact still remains that health insurance is an essential part of modern life.