| Businesses work to curb costs of health insurance
Businesses are looking for ways to reduce health care costs as they strive to continue coverage for workers. Open enrollment periods have begun for several health insurance providers, and some companies and individuals have already negotiated deals, while others are still working. For the past few years, insurance premiums have continuously fattened, squeezing the pockets of employers and employees. The good news: Rates, though they still are going up, aren't increasing by as much as they were two years ago. With premiums still relatively high, businesses and employees are looking to find remedies to this nationwide health care headache. "Each individual company has its own needs, so companies here are making decisions to walk a fine line to fulfill budgets," said Wanda Soto, broker and owner of Client First Inc.
Kenya: Aquatic Exercise Could Help You Keep the Doctor Away
Fred Sambu, a physiotherapist, helps a patient to exercise in the hydro pool at Karen Hospital November 6, 2007: The first and most predominant thought that comes to your mind when one mentions a hospital is illness. Usually people go to hospitals either as patients or when they are accompanying patients. But imagine going to hospital for a dip in a hydro pool. Welcome to Karen Hospital in Nairobi. "We allow clients to walk in and use our hydro pool, which is basically exercising in water," said Elizabeth Nyokabi, a physiotherapist at the hospital. So who uses this pool that is heated to body temperature? .
New Lung Association Research: Millions More May Have COPD Than Previously Estimated, Canada
Startling research findings released by The Lung Association demonstrate that as many as three million Canadians may have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Canada's fourth leading cause of death. This is nearly double previous estimates and includes over one and a half million (1.6 million) undiagnosed Canadians (1) and one and a half million (1.5 million) who say they currently suffer from this chronic lung disease.
The research also shows that the disease is highly prevalent among younger Canadian baby boomers - one in seven Canadians aged 45 to 49 (375,000) may have COPD.
This research confirms recent global prevalence data published in The Lancet which states "…evidence suggests that rates of disease (COPD) are generally underestimated." (2)
"Smoking is the number one cause of COPD and it is astounding that millions of Canadians who may have COPD haven't been tested," said Dr.
Calling in sick when nothing hurts
Most of us have called in sick, sometimes even when we feel fine. But have you ever gone through the trouble of typing up, printing up and handing your boss a phony doctor's note?KOMO 4 News conducted a few experiments to find out what it takes to sell a fake sickness to the boss.First we bought several phony excuses from the Web site phoneyexcuses.com, which specializes in just that. Then, with the help of three employees of Jones Soda, we sent in our hidden cameras to see whether their bosses bought the phony excuses. Our first accomplice handed over a phony doctor's note for a future medical visit. And we mean business when we say "phony." The list of doctors on the slip was actually the list of the cast members from the ABC show "Grey's Anatomy." And the address of the phony doctor's office was that of the Space Needle.
An Economy of Scales
On my way home from dinner with a friend the other night -- 22-ounce rib-eye, potato skins, tall beer, pure gastronomic bliss -- I called my wife and said, "We need to negotiate." The point of contention: How much she would pay me per pound to lose weight. She said, "Five dollars." I said, "Seven dollars." .
Nutrition: Fighting cholesterol through diet
It's possible. Studies show that you can lower your cholesterol through diet. It often takes a little bit of a lifestyle change, but chances are, with a little hard work, you'll feel better. Diet therapy should really be the first line of treatment with elevated cholesterol, and if medication is involved, diet should also be included. A change in diet, if on cholesterol lowering medications or not, will help decrease the overall risk of heart disease. A low-cholesterol diet is classified as a daily intake of less than 300 mg of cholesterol, less than 7 percent calories from saturated fat, and less than 30 percent of calories from fat, and an increase of complex carbohydrates in place of the refined, processed carbohydrates. Sound familiar? It's a standard healthy diet. But the reduction in cholesterol and total fat as well as refined carbohydrates will benefit health in a variety of ways.
International Communication Award Recognises And Rewards Journalism Thatextends Public Awareness And Understanding Of ...
The independent judging panel of the Eloquium Award has named three journalists as winners of the 2007 competition for excellence in reporting on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the fastest growing cause of death in the world's most advanced economies. Currently, 600 million people live with COPD which is projected to become the world's third-leading cause of death by 2020.1,2
The Boehringer Ingelheim Communication Award - Eloquium - attracted submissions from 13 countries, including Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, England, Japan, Lebanon, Sweden and Venezuela. Entries were judged by an independent panel of global COPD experts and leading journalists.*
The three winning entries of the Eloquium Award are:
1st: Annu Likkanen, Veteranen, Two cigarettes were Ulla-Britt's Undoing (Sweden)
2nd: Gilson Monteiro, Rádio Eldorado, Unknown enemy (Brazil)
3rd: María de los Ángeles González Izurieta, Vea, Tobacco is consuming you (Chile)
"It is important that patients seek early diagnosis and treatment for COPD and key to this is improving education and awareness about the disease," commented Professor Klaus Rabe, Chair of the Judging panel and Chairman of Pulmonology, Department of Pulmonology at Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden, The Netherlands.
Top Stories
ONLY 7.5% of Scottish police officers are available for frontline duties despite record recruitment, according to shocking new figures obtained by Scotland on Sunday. More officers are on holiday or doing paperwork than are on patrol at any one time, the disturbing statistics from the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) reveal. .
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